Page 100 of One and Only

“Nice isn’t even close to describing you right now, Greer,” I said. “It’s far too tame.”

She stopped close to me, but we didn’t touch. We both knew that would happen at the wedding, where we’d be on display, and my hands itched to reach forward.

“Dare I ask how you would describe me?” she asked.

Most women wouldn’t have pressed. And I liked that she did. It was an unfortunate realization, that I seemed to like everything about Greer Wilder.

“Relentless,” I answered immediately. “There is no escaping how beautiful you are, Greer.”

Her cheeks blushed pink, eyes softening when I uttered that inconvenient truth.

Her lips curled in a pleased little smile. “For a man of few words, you sure do pick the right ones, Beckett Coleman.”

It shouldn’t have felt so good, to make her happy in this way.

I blew out a slow breath as we walked toward the car. “Not always,” I admitted. “But maybe today I will.”

She laughed, and I tucked the sound of it away, so I could think about it later.

The drive to the church was short, and we arrived early, parking in one of the front rows because Olive asked if she could see us before her big walk down the aisle.

“How nervous is she?” Greer asked.

I waited for her by the front of the car, holding out my arm when she met me there. With a happy gleam in her eyes, she tucked her hand into the crook of my elbow.

“Josie sent me a text this morning, said it’s been a little rough while the bridal party was getting ready. She doesn’t want to walk down the aisle anymore. We thought she’d be okay with Micah’s nieces walking with her, but she said everyone would be watching her in case she messed up with the flowers.”

Greer glanced up at me. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.

I shook my head. “We just try to encourage her as much as possible and don’t let her back out of things like this unless she really starts panicking, just so she can see she’s capable of doing it.”

Entering the church with Greer on my arm was a fairly surreal experience. We’d existed in our little bubble for a bit over a month, and to have our relationship on display in such a public place had me feeling a strange sort of weight tugging on the center of my chest.

We made small talk with Micah’s parents, and his dad nudged my elbow before we walked away, raising his eyebrows meaningfully at Greer. Then he whistled under his breath. His wife shook her head but smiled.

Greer didn’t see the exchange, turning to wait for me to catch up. Beyond her was a small group of guys that looked like they’d climbed straight out of their fancy corporate offices. Two of them eyed Greer unashamedly, a telling gleam in their eye as they murmured quietly to each other. One of them stared at her ass, and I wondered briefly what would happen if I broke someone’s nose in the lobby of a church.

I cleared my throat pointedly, sliding my hand around the curve of her waist until it rested on her hip. They straightened, averting their gazes immediately.

Greer turned, mouth gently hanging in shock. “Did you just … mark your territory?” she whispered, a gleeful smile curving her lips.

I clenched my jaw. “No.”

She laughed, turning toward me, her hand smoothing down the lapel of my jacket. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll have to before the night is over too,” she said. The feel of her hand on my chest had my head spinning. “Some tipsy bridesmaid is going to get one look at you across the room.” She sighed. “And that’ll be it.”

“What will?” With her flush against my chest, it was so easy to study every inch of her face.

She gently toyed with the button on the top of my shirt, her finger dangerously close to making contact with the skin at the base of my throat. Everything about our pose screamed of intimacy, an ease that took me by surprise.

It didn’t feel fake.

It didn’t feel like a lie.

Didn’t feel like we were performing for any one of the number of people who could have been watching.

Greer looked up, her gaze locking unerringly on mine. “I’ll have to throw down if they try anything with my husband,” she said lightly. “Because if there’s only one shot to be had with you tonight, then it’s fucking mine.”

I tipped my head back and laughed. My skin felt warm and relaxed, my blood hummed effortlessly as we stood that way. I could hardly imagine a world where relationships felt like this all the time. I’d certainly never experienced it.

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