Page 96 of Rebel Secrets
His lips quirked in a sexy grin.“You look beautiful.But I hope you’re not wearing that to the wedding.I might have to defend your honor.”
I smiled then laughed.I was just so damn happy to see him.Coupled with the days I’d spent avoiding him during camp, I felt like I’d been deprived of him for way too long.
I wanted to stand here and stare at him all day.But we had a wedding to go to.And we both needed to change.
“Come in.I just need to put on my dress, and we can leave for the church.”
He walked into the house, glancing around at the grand entrance, a garment bag over his shoulder.
“Hello again, Mr.Lawrence.”
My mom appeared at my side, startling me as she reached out to shake Rebel’s hand.
“How are you, Mrs.Wright?”
“Honestly, I’m ready for the reception so I can have a drink.”Her dry humor made Rebel smile and surprised the hell out of me.“Why don’t you and Erin go upstairs to change.We need to leave for the church in half an hour.”
Rebel looked back at me.“Lead the way.”
My nerves made a return, twisting my stomach in a knot.
This was really happening.Rebel was here and would be my date for the wedding.I couldn’t wait to show him off.And it wasn’t because my ex was going to be there.
My ex and I hadn’t talked since I’d left New York City and moved to St.David.Most people probably thought he was the reason I’d stayed away.And maybe that had been one of the reasons, at first.But I’d stayed because I’d grown to love the small town and the people who lived there.One, in particular.
I tilted my chin toward the staircase.
“Just up to the second floor.You can use the guest room.”
Turning, I hurried up the stairs, knowing he followed, knowing my mom watched from below.I was lucky I didn’t trip.
The second we turned the corner to head down the hallway, Rebel wrapped his hand around my upper arm.I stopped as a zip of electricity shot through my blood.
“Hey, you okay?”
I wanted to melt into his arms and press my cheek against his chest, but it would mess up my makeup.His voice, so rough and deep, lit tiny fires low in my body.
“I’m fine.”
I wanted to add, “Now that you’re here,” but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.I couldn’t be that vulnerable.Not until I knew why he’d agreed to come.And I couldn’t bring myself to ask him that.I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.
What if it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear?
“Then let’s do this.”
He sounded so sure of himself, so confident.I really didn’t want to go to the wedding, but I also couldn’t wait to arrive with him.The other women would drool over him.And if they didn’t, they were blind or stupid.
“Thank you.”
His eyes glinted.“You can thank me later.”
It got hard to breathe.I knew how he wanted to be thanked.And I had absolutely no qualms about giving him what he wanted.
“Now go get dressed before I mess up that lipstick.”
It was such a male thing to say.I swear if he smacked my ass when I turned around to go to my room, I might spontaneously orgasm.I should return my feminist card now.
The man made a sound low in his throat.“If you keep looking at me like that, it’s not going to be just your lipstick that’s messed up.”
