Page 31 of 40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
Iris frowned. “Kirk is making sure they’re not going well at all.”
Gavin gathered that was the soon-to-be ex when Scarlett added, “That man is such an asshole.”
Iris took a long sip of her drink. “He definitely is.” She brightened. “But enough about me.”
Scarlett laughed. “It’s okay to talk about you, Iris.”
Her friend shook her head. “I want to think about happy things today.”
Gavin thought he knew a way to help with that. “Ladies, how about we go over to the photo stand and I take your picture?”
The photo stand was a vintage car parked in the snow with a Christmas wreath on the windshield. The ladies piled into the back seat, bundled together, and smiled for the camera as he took shots from different angles and flattered them mercilessly—every word of which was true. And he loved that Scarlett didn’t get jealous, just laughed along with her friends and soaked up the fun. When they stepped out, Erin insisted on taking Gavin and Scarlett’s picture together. He brushed the snow from the hood of the vehicle, took Scarlett by the waist, and lifted her to the surface. “Perfect.” When he kissed her, Scarlett opened her mouth, moaning a little as his tongue met hers.
The sound of Erin’s phone clicking reached his ears. “Nice one, Gavin!”
Breaking away from Scarlett, he gave Erin a wink. “I’m never content with just the one,” and he proceeded to bombard Scarlett with kisses while Erin laughed and took numerous photos.
“You are such a flirt,” Scarlett told him when he finally let her down, flushed and blushing from their play.
“And ya love it,” he pointed out.
“I’d never admit to that,” she teased. “You’re arrogant enough as it is.”
He pretended to be wounded, hand placed dramatically on his heart, then hustled her onto the dance floor.
An extravagant dinner followed, and Claire’s desserts won amazing accolades. The wedding cake was chocolate, iced in white with candy evergreen trees and sugared cranberries to decorate. Beautiful as well as decadent—Gavin had never seen anything like it.
Night had fallen when Lily and JD interrupted the dancing to announce their departure. No throwing garters for Lily, which JD had told him was an old-fashioned tradition here in the States. She did toss a small bouquet that landed as if on purpose in Iris’s hands. Scarlett’s friend blushed as many of the younger single men sauntered over afterward.
At least they had good sense.
The crowd followed the bride and groom to the front of the mansion where their SUV awaited. Gavin put a hand on Scarlett’s elbow to hold her back for a moment.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“O’ course.” He smiled, reaching up to push a hanging curl back behind her ear. Why did he feel nervous all of a sudden. “It was a beautiful weddin’.”
“The best.”
Enough about them.He cleared his throat. “I like seein’ ya so happy, lass.”
Her eyes went wide, staring into his. “Thank you.” She brought a hand up, rubbing against the stubble that he could never keep permanently gone.
He put his hand over hers, holding her close. “Stay with me tonight?”
“I’d like that.”
Just that—no equivocation or hesitance. Scarlett wanted something and wasn’t afraid to tell him so.
He couldn’t help but kiss her, crowd wandering around or not. He didn’t care who saw them, only that his lips were on hers. It might be the best kiss he’d ever had, because as he delved into her mouth, he realized what he tasted wasn’t only Scarlett. It was hope. He wanted that hope, had been missing it in his life for longer than he’d known. And now here it was, standing in his arms.
He wouldn’t ignore it. If he could keep this woman in his life for longer than one week, he would do it. One week or ten, even one hundred, it didn’t matter. He wanted more time with her. He wanted to find out where this feeling would lead. And he would start tonight.
ChapterThirteen
By the time they closed the door behind them that night, Scarlett’s feet were aching more than her legs had that morning. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much at a wedding, but I also don’t think I’ve ever worked off that much food at a wedding. That dance floor was insane.” She flopped back on the bed, raised one foot, and attempted to unbuckle the dress shoe she’d worn since noon.
Gavin came to stand in front of her, grin in place. He took her foot in his hands and finished the job, tossed the shoe over his shoulder to Lord knew where, then held his hand out. “Gimme.”
