Page 69 of If You Claim Me
The remorse swimming in his eyes makes me regret saying anything. He’ll spend the next few hours swirling in self-loathing, and by the time I get back with Meems, he’ll have returned to his shell. So instead of waiting for him to kiss me, I slide my hand up his chest and curve my fingers around the back of his neck. I tug gently, and he drops his head.
“I love the dress,” I say against his warm lips. “And Meems looks adorable.” I flick his top lip with my tongue and step quickly out of his arms so I don’t end up sucking face with him in front of his grandmother. Ignoring the chemistry these days is a challenge, mostly because I haven’t. Instead I’ve been doing things to purposely wind up in his arms.
Making it through an entire year without falling into bed with this man will prove difficult. My previous intrigue has shifted, and most of the time I find that I like him, even when he’s being a problem.
Connor rubs the back of his neck. “I have something for you.”
“Besides all of this?” I motion to my attire.
“It’s little.” He slips his hand into his breast pocket and retrieves a small box. Freeing the lid, he reveals a stunning goldcharm bracelet interspersed with teal and wine gemstones. And of course Meems has one to match.
“This is beautiful,” I murmur, running my fingers over the delicate chain. “Will you help me put it on?”
His smile is radiant and something I want to see more of. “Of course.” He carefully frees the clasp and adds to the string of bracelets already decorating my wrist.
Meems is all smiles. “You two are perfect.”
“Mildred is perfect. I’m just better with her at my side,” Connor says.
I stifle a laugh. Surprisingly, he looks serious.
“Let me get a picture of the two of you before you go.” He pulls his phone from his pocket, and I stand beside Meems, posing for a few photos.
Briefly, I wonder what this memory will be like for him. What will it be like for me? All these celebrations of love, and the only part of it that’s genuine is the way we feel about the woman connecting us to each other.
My phone buzzes. “That’s Lexi.”
“Did she bring the girls?” Connor’s face lights up.
“She did not. Callie has hockey practice, and Fee is coming with Tally since they’re both at Tilton.”
“Ah, right.” His face falls.
My heart melts a little at his disappointment. “We can go to her game next week.” It’s been a challenge to make them with all the wedding preparations, which has been unfortunate.
He offers us both an arm and nods. “I don’t want to keep missing them.”
“Me either.”
Connor walks us down the steps and helps us into the car. He stands there with his hands shoved into his pockets, looking stupidly delicious and equally worried as we drive off.
Meems and I sit in the back seat, while Hemi is in front with Lexi.
“When will we have book club again?” Meems asks on the short drive.
“Soon, hopefully. It’s been busy with all the wedding prep and season startup for Connor.”
“We’ll have to plan a date once the wedding has passed,” Lexi suggests.
The drive over is the fun part of this event, and it basically goes downhill from there.
Courtney’s smile slides right off her face when Meems and I enter her daughter’s home, but she quickly recovers and ushers us in with a forced smile. I assume it’s the matching dresses. Or at least what they represent. Connor’s family seems like a ball of wool unraveling, and I’m trying not to get tangled in the mess.
Portia waits until her mother is out of earshot before she whispers, “You and Meems look cute. This was Connor?”
“It was Connor,” I affirm.
She gives me an empathetic smile. “He should know better.”
