Page 26 of Mine to Love

“You just want that title for yourself.” As soon as we round the house, she yanks her arm from mine.

“You’re calling me a prince?” I can’t help the pull at my upper lip.

“You have that prim and proper stuck-up thing going for you.” She crosses her arms and my gaze dips to the cleavage pushing up above her dress.

“I wouldn’t call what happened in the front seat of my car prim and proper.”

Reese gasps and takes a step back. Her heel gets stuck in the grass, and she stumbles. I reach for her before she can fall.

“I love me some Jimmy Cho’s, but heels and a backyard wedding don’t mix well,” Cami says as she comes up behind us.

Curtis wears a goofy grin and keeps Cami’s arm hostage in his. Last week, I was worried he’d make an inappropriate move on Reese. Now it seems I’ll have to play interference for my sister’s sake. Not that Curtis is a bad kid, but Cami has six years on him.

“I should have listened to you and wore wedges, but it isn’t often I get to break these out.” Reese turns her back on me and holds out her foot, showing off her fancy shoes to my sister.

They are sexy, for sure. A thin beige strap crosses over her foot and another thin piece of leather around her ankle. Other than that, and the thin spike on the heel, the shoe is basic. Not that it matters. An old ratty sneaker would look sexy on Reese.

I manage to survive the photographer snapping hundreds of pictures but not enough poses with my hands on Reese’s hips. She tensed when the photographer told the groomsmen where to place our hands.

And if I happened to lean into her more than was necessary, well, who could blame me? She smelled like jasmine. I only knew the scent because my sister and mother are obsessed with flowers, and I make it a point to pay attention and send them their favorites for their birthdays and to pick up a bouquet every now and then when I visit.

I make it through dinner and my speech and find myself enthralled in Reese’s speech. She lights up a room with her looks, but it’s her smile and her laugh that really have everyone’s attention. She speaks fondly of Emerson and makes everyone in the room laugh and even tear up a little.

When it’s time for the first dance, my heart speeds up. It’s a formality. If Reese had her way, we wouldn’t dance at all, I’m sure. I have one shot at holding her again, and I pray I don’t screw it up.

A slow country song about forever love plays and everyone watches as Holden holds Emerson close and moves slowly in the middle of the dance floor. They only wanted to be out there alone for the first chorus, and then Skylar and Nick, Cami and Curtis, and Reese and I are to join in, as well as the parents.

“I get that I’m not a prince.” Reese’s heels bring her closer to my height so I barely have to dip my head to whisper in her ear. “But you are definitely a princess. You look beautiful, Reese.”

She won’t look at me and shakes her head. “I’m not doing this, Logan. You’re my boss.”

“All I said was that you look beautiful.”

“Would you say that to Amanda? Would you be holding Naomi this close and dancing with her?”

“This is different.” I pull our joined hands between our bodies and force my other to stay at a respectable spot on her hip.

“It’s not.”

“It is. They’re only a part of my work life. You’re in my personal life as well.”

“I don’t have to be.”

“I want you to be.”

“Logan.” Reese sighs and looks up. “I don’t do second chances.”

The song ends and she slips out of my grasp and off the dance floor.

“Second chances? When was the first?” I grumble under my breath.

Since dancing isn’t my thing, I head over to my parents’ table and take a seat next to Reese’s father.

“Beautiful wedding,” Johnny says when my parents get up to dance.

“It is.”

“Emerson is like a second daughter to me, so I feel like I’ve gained a son-in-law. And since you’re my new sort of son-in-law’s brother, I consider you family as well.”

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