Page 7 of The Curvy Girl's Father of the Bride
Chapter seven
Louisa
I kick off my shoes and plop flat on my back on the perfectly made bed.What a day.
My dad needed to stick with his typical early to bed, early to rise routine. He has a busy week ahead, so we called it a day after Gilly and Thomas left for the airport. We’re leaving tomorrow. It will take two seconds for me to pack and I’m not tired. Bored maybe, but wired.
I crawl on my belly and grab my phone off the nightstand to check my messages. And …nothing.Not one new text? I toss my cell on the bed and flip over.
So, the dance with Jeremy didn’t happen. Which is fine. I’d already decided I was going to keep my distance and let him soak up every moment of the day without any interruptions from me. And the whole fantasy about supporting him, and being there in case he felt lonely, was just something I dreamed up. He didn’t need me. I didn’t see him get choked up once, not even during his speech. And truth be told, I’m relieved. The thought of Jeremy being sad about anything pretty much wrecks my soul.
Our rooms aren’t far from the reception tent and I can hear the band is still playing. They’re doing one of those old R&B slow songs with a sultry, heavy bass. I imagine everyone dancing close, bumping and grinding under the twinkly lights.
Jeremy looked so incredibly handsome today.I didn’t see him dance with anyone besides Gilly, but I wasn’t watching him every minute. He sure wouldn’t have had any trouble finding a partner. Every woman was drooling over him in that tux.
Still, there were stolen moments throughout the day when our eyes met, and those electric sparks of unspoken words and feelings passed between us. Unless … Unless I’m letting my imagination runaway with me.
He’s probably sound asleep by now.
I stare up at the ceiling fan, watching it rotate around and around, trying to lull myself to sleep, or to at least close my eyes. I’m still dressed. The reception is in full swing. I never even tried the cake and I’ll bet there are a few slices left. I rise to my feet and check myself in the mirror. Maybe I should change into my bathing suit and take a jacuzzi to wind down. But secluding myself while a party is raging within earshot makes me feel ancient. I might be mature for my age, but I’m not eighty.
Decision made; I touch up my makeup, brush my hair and slip back into my heels. There. I straighten my dress. Good as new. So, with a final glance at my reflection, I leave my hotel room, heels clicking against the polished marble floor and take the path to the reception.
As I round the corner near the grand tent pitched by the moonlit lake, the sound of the celebration grows louder with a mix of cheers, giggles and drums. With each step, my heart picks up the pace, pounding in time with the rhythm of the music. Is it possible Jeremy’s still here and not asleep?
I inhale a calming breath before I enter the tent to compose myself. Just as I take my first step into the shindig, a strong hand reaches out and grabs my waist. My heart slams against my rib cage and takes off like a freight train. I whip my head around and make a fist.
“Looking for someone?”
Chapter eight
Jeremy
Louisa looks at me like I’m a ghost, an apparition from another planet. Her succulent lips are parted, her startled blue eyes lock on mine but she doesn’t say a word. I tighten my hold around her waist and nestle her against my side. “Walk with me?”
She stays silent but nods so I usher her to the closest area with privacy I can find. It’s a picnic spot under a grove of redwoods near the shore. The moon is bright enough to see her clearly. I glide my hands up over her velvet arms, feeling goosebumps rise in their wake. “You haven’t answered my question.”
“Jeremy…” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of the music.
“Were you looking for me?”
“I was,” she says softly.
“Then why did you disappear? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
She turns her head to the side, making her hair spill over her shoulder like a waterfall of silk. “Because I promised you a dance yesterday?”
“Oh, we can dance darlin’, but it would only be an excuse to hold you,” I say simply, pulling her closer until every inch of her body is flush against mine. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Louisa.”
She shivers in my arms and wraps her hands around my waist. “But what about—”
“Shh…” I murmur, my breath hot on her skin as my lips brush over hers gently. I kiss her tenderly at first, relishing the way her warm, lush body fits perfectly in my arms. I force myself to try to take it slow, but our kiss goes from zero to a hundred and I’m ready to tear her clothes off. The sound of her low moan goes straight to my cock as it oozes precum and prods against my zipper, dying to sink into her.
“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve dreamed of doing this?”
She tugs me closer and kisses me in response, tasting like some addictive blend of vanilla, strawberries, and sex. I deepen the kiss, my tongue exploring the depths of her mouth, savoring the taste I’ve longed for … God how I’ve waited.
“Jeremy…” she moans breathlessly, her fingers tangling in my hair as she grinds against my erection, destroying any possibility of me stopping.
