Page 38 of I Choose You
“You know that was fucking weird, right?” Reid leaned toward me and whispered in my ear.
I laughed. “Welcome to the DeLuca house. And truthfully, until a few months ago, no, I don’t think I did know that it was weird.”
“What changed a few months ago?” His gaze was on me, studying me.
“I distanced myself from it all. From my parents, from Will.” I shrugged. It was the truth. Well, the real truth would have been telling Reid that it was him. Watching him interact with his workers, his family, his friends.
He nodded, a softness reflected in his eyes. “You’re a badass, Claire. I hope you know that.”
My heart kicked at my ribs at his words. I had never felt like a badass in my life. Was that really how he saw me?
Just as we hit the staircase, Leon appeared from around the corner, a stack of folded clothes in his hands.
“Mr. Wilder.” Leon handed the clothes over to Reid. He must have borrowed another suit from my father’s wardrobe, although my father tended to gravitate more toward dark blue than black. “If you’d be so kind as to return that when you’re done. It is from my personal collection, and this one happens to be my favorite.”
“Leon,” I gasped. “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure I can find another suit from my father that he can wear.”
“Yeah, man. I’m the one that came unprepared. I don’t want to put you out.”
“You and I are of a more similar build. I’m sure you’ll find this one a more comfortable fit.” With that, he turned and walked away. Reid and I exchanged a bewildered look.
My dress for the wedding wasn’t my fanciest dress, but it was my classiest. The black fabric clung tightly to my figure and swept all the way to the floor. A sweetheart neckline showed off my girls, but not in an in-your-face kind of way, not like yesterday’s deep V-cut. The off-the-shoulder design and the high slit added some sex appeal, but overall, it was elegant and classy.
I showered first, knowing I would need more time to get ready than Reid. I left the bathroom in nothing but a towel, swapping with Reid so he could shower.
“Bathroom’s all yours,” I said brightly.
His eyes raked down my body before quickly looking away. “Thanks,” he said, grabbing his stack of clothes and walking past me without another glance. I didn’t know why that bothered me, but it did.
He stepped out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, and my jaw hit the floor. The black suit fit him perfectly. He forwent shaving, leaving his scruff lining his cheeks and jaw. His hair had grown out slightly from when he got it cut a few weeks ago, the added length allowing him to style it but still leave it a little messy.
He quirked his brow at me, his lips tugging up slightly as he tried to keep the smile off his face. I could feel my cheeks getting warmer, so I pulled my gaze away, but not before I saw him sweep his eyes over me.
“You look fantastic,” I told him truthfully. He came up tome, standing beside me at the mirror. He held his arm out to me, and I wrapped my hand around his bicep. The picture we made in our reflection was stunning.
“What do you think? Think the bride’s going to be pissed you went and showed her up on her wedding day?” I laughed at him, swatting his abs with a light backhand, not that he would even feel it through all those muscles. “Seriously, you look beautiful,” he said, his dark eyes trained on mine through the mirror.
“Thank you. And for coming this weekend. I don’t know how to thank you enough, but it means a lot to me that you’re here.” His eye contact felt too intense, and I had to look away.
“I should have been here from the beginning. I’m sorry I was late.”
I turned to face him. Leaning in, I brushed my lips against his cheek. His slight scruff scratched lightly on my face. Light-headed and breathless, I lingered just a moment. Tension filled the room like oxygen. “You were right on time,” I said, stepping back.
Reid’s tongue swiped over his bottom lip. The column of his throat bobbed on a rough swallow, captivating my attention.
His gaze bounced from my lips to my eyes. He shook his head, a grin playing across his face. “Let’s get this party started, trouble.”
* * *
The wedding was beautiful, as expected. Madison was the picture of a blushing bride, her ivory-colored dress huggingher curves and flaring out at the bottom in a mermaid-style gown. The vows were well written, even adding a small dose of humor at just the right time.
The reception was an elaborate affair. No expense was spared—as the bride and groom ice sculpture indicated. The ballroom was at the five-hundred-person capacity, with some minor celebrities even in attendance.
The table was set with a thick white tablecloth. The crystal centerpieces glinted in the light, gems hanging from the tall gold base like mini chandeliers. The band was playing a fun, lively song that I was bopping my head to.
“Get out there and dance,” Reid said, leaning in to talk over the music. His breath warmed my cheek, and it sent a flurry of awareness through my veins.
“It’s fine. I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.”
