Page 63 of No Place Like Home
I placed my hands on her arms, feeling the need to tell her the truth. “Lance was being his typical jackass self and needed to be put straight.”
“That’s what I figured,” Summer said. “You never answered me. Who were you sticking up for? And tell me the truth. If it was me, I can take it.”
“What makes you think it was you?”
“If it was anyone else, one of the other guys would have punched him. He said something to get to you, so I’m figuring it was about me.”
“Beautiful and smart.” I nodded. “Yeah, it was, but don’t make me repeat it.”
“I won’t, because I don’t care what he thinks of me. Never have. He’s too much like his old man, and I don’t have time for that kind of shit in my life.” She wrapped her arms through mine, stood onher toes, and kissed my lips. “Thank you for still being my knight in shining armor—or, I guess, my knight in one hot tux.”
She kissed me again, soft and sweet. I hovered there a moment, enjoying her scent and warmth. Then I smirked and said, “Thought we couldn’t mess up your lipstick.”
“It’s long-lasting. It won’t wear off that easily.” She winked and smiled. “Even if it did, I can reapply.”
“Okay everyone,” Susie announced. “It’s time for pictures, then we need to get a couple married.”
“We’ll continue this later,” I said to Summer as we joined everyone outside.
Chapter 28
Summer
The wedding was perfect, and having Rowan across from me made it even better. His tight-cut hair, the scruff that covered his face, his brown eyes, and the perfectly fitted tux made him look like a billionaire businessman—yet more handsome and hot than any billionaire businessman I could imagine.
We sat at the head table and watched as Kora and Kai took their first dance as husband and wife. Then Kora danced with her father, and Kai surprised everyone when he asked Tonya to dance with him, since he didn’t have a mother. She was shocked speechless and beamed. She might be a pain most of the time, but she loved her people big, and she deserved to be in the spotlight.
“Now the bride and groom want the wedding party to join them on the dance floor,” the DJ announced.
The couples walked hand-in-hand onto the dance floor, and as soon as Rowan wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me close, my heart fluttered, and my knees went weak—but the look he gave me made my insides liquify. I couldn’t pull my eyes from his. How could he look at me like that and still have composure on thisfloor? Or expect me to? Shoot, I was having a hard time not ravaging his lips on the spot or pulling him from the dance floor and finding a storage closet—or better yet, a large tree or stable stall—to take advantage of him. He was too delectable to ignore.
“What’s going through that mind of yours?” Rowan asked as we spun slowly to the beat of the music.
“If you really want to know,” I snickered, “I was wondering where I could take you to let you have your way with me. You in that tux is . . . mmm, mmm, mmm.” I skimmed my tongue over my lips and got the exact reaction I was hoping for: his mouth on mine.
I could tell how much he wanted what I wanted. I could feel it in his kiss. The need, the desire, the want. I pulled away just enough to say, “People are watching.”
“Good,” he said. “Let them watch.”
My eyes trailed over his face as we swayed in each other’s arms. This seemed all too familiar. “Do you remember prom?” I asked.
“How could I forget it,” he said. “I’d just broken up with Melinda and your boyfriend had dumped you, so you wore the dress you’d already bought, I wore the tux I’d already rented, and we went together.”
“Yeah, we did. We danced the entire night. It was so much fun, as far as a high school dance went. It didn’t feel like this, though.”
Rowan’s eyes held mine. “Maybe for you, but I was at prom with my dream girl.”
I was his dream girl. My heart swooned, yet it didn’t seem possible. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
He pulled away more. “I was afraid I’d scare you off, and then I would have also lost my best friend.”
He was probably right. My headspace sucked senior year, well all through my teen years. I didn’t think I was worthy of anything and was lost in my depressed world.
But now, I had to know something, “Why tell me now?”
I didn’t get an answer.
“Okay, lovebirds,” the DJ interrupted, “let’s get this party started and open up the dance floor.” He turned up a fast tune and the floor filled quickly.
