Page 86 of Always a Bridesmaid
“Not never. Once in a blue moon I get all thoughtful-like.”
She snuggled closer. “Sounds dangerous.”
“Oh, it is,” he said, brushing his lips across hers, and there was the serenity he’d been missing. “Primarily for you. Most of my thoughtfulness involves getting you naked.”
Even in the dim light, he could see the blush, and he savored the fact that it hadn’t dimmed in spite of how many times they’d had sex this past week.
Muted laughter drifted toward them as they crossed the wooden walkway. Light spilled from the windows, the glow yellow and happy.
Various greetings met them as they stepped inside. Ford guided Violet through the narrow alleyway between the kitchen and living room area.
“It’s so good to see you,” Lexi said, leaning across the table to hug Violet. “One might even say you’re looking rathersucculent.”
Violet giggled, and Ford shared a glance with Addie, since the two of them were the butt of the joke.
Night before last, they’d gone to a floral shop to finalize bouquets and arrangements.
“What about succulents?” Violet had asked Lexi when she suggested they add a bit of greenery to the white and yellow daisy and sunflower bouquets.
“Succulents?” Addie bounded closer to the counter. “Are those flowers you can eat?”
Since Ford could get on board with that, he’d peeked over the top of the women’s heads. He and Addie had exchanged a WTH expression when they saw the plant the florist had placed on the glass countertop. “Isn’t that a cactus?”
Addie touched the end of one of the fat leaves and jerked back her finger. “Ouch, it’s pokey. What, you guys don’t think wearing a dress will be uncomfortable enough? Like hey, let’s add stabby plants to the mix?”
“Oh, come on,” Violet had said. “They’re cute.”
“Putting a bow on a turd doesn’t make it a present,” Ford countered.
Lexi carefully lifted the plant by the tiny stem. “It’s like a lovely reminder to nurture your relationship.”
“But cacti don’t need nurturing. That’s the beauty of them.”
Simultaneous sighs had come from Lexi and Violet, and eventually the hoity-toity cacti were vetoed in favor of seeded eucalyptus, which was apparently different from regular kind. What he and Addie had agreed on was that it smelled good and looked nice, and Violet and Lexi were so thrilled they’d agreed on anything that they ran with it.
“Very funny,” Ford said now, adding waggling eyebrows as he looked Violet up and down. “Although not untrue. You’re absolutely succulent tonight.”
“Are you saying I’m only a little prickly?” The pinch Violet gave his side was more affectionate than prickly.
Easton paused his shuffling, half the deck in each of his hands. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
“Bro, you’re missing a lot of things,” Ford teased, adding a smirk. “But this particular thing’s a bridesmaid thing.”
Ford turned to Violet and placed his hand on her lower back. “You know how to play Texas hold ’em?”
“In theory,” she said. “In reality, it’s been a while.”
“We can be a team if you’d like.” He settled into his usual chair and pulled her onto his lap.
“Good idea. Ford needs all the help he can get,” Easton said, and Ford shot him the bird.
It took a few rounds, but Violet caught on to the game and the house rules. Right as Ford was about to bet, she twisted her head, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, “Addie didn’t get the card she was hoping for. Raise twice your usual amount and see what she does.”
Without thinking, he almost looked at Addie. But that would give him away.
Still, she was the hardest one of them to read, so he struggled to believe Violet already had her pegged.
Pegged. Now that’s something I’d like her to do to me.
