Page 29 of A Little Twist

I almost cry out,No…as he steps back, bracing me against the bookcase.

Blinking slowly, I look up into his eyes, and he quirks a grin. “You okay?”

Nodding, it takes me a minute to find my voice. “Yeah…”

“Good.” He turns, sweeping his jacket off the chair and pulling it over his still-unbuttoned shirt. “We can’t act like we’ve never done that before if we’re engaged.”

I look down, giving my head a little shake to get my brain going again. I need a fresh pair of underwear. I need a moment alone to finish what he’s started.

“Ready to head back to the party?” He’s so casual.

Is he seriously unaffected by what just happened? I’ve never been kissed like that in my life, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t imagining the possession in his embrace. I definitely didn’t imagine that growl or the curl of his fingers against my scalp.

He straightens his collar and reaches for my hand, pulling it into the crook of his arm. Then he opens the door, and we’re walking down the narrow hall, past the enormous wooden barrels of whiskey, to the event space where the sounds of the “Cha-Cha Slide” echo.

“Not sorry we missed that one.” He exhales a laugh, nodding at the bartender serving a pair of guests leaning against the tasting bar.

“Hey, where have you been?” I recognize Piper’s voice and realize the couple at the bar is Piper and Adam.

Alex straightens beside me. “What are you two doing out here?”

“We had to get out of there.” Piper waves her hands towards the event space. “If I’m forced to do the Cha Cha Slide one more time… It’s bad enough they do it at every single school function.”

“I asked Sam to open the tasting bar for us.” Adam motions to the stocky guy behind the bar, who gives Alex a nod.

“Can I pour you something, Mr. Stone?”

“Sure, give us two?” He glances at me, and I nod. “Two special reserves.”

He’s so confident, like the earth didn’t completely move just now in his office.

By contrast, I can’t meet his eyes without blushing—and it’s the last thing I need Piper and her inquiring mind to see. She’ll be on us like a duck on a june bug.

“What’s the Charlie Brown anyway?” Piper’s still fussing about the music.

“It’s a little back and forth donkey move.” I show her, and she snorts a laugh.

“How do you know that?”

“Preschool dance classes.”

The song starts to fade, and the “Cupid Shuffle” kicks off, mixing into the beat.

“Somebody needs to unplug that DJ,” Piper groans. “Excuse me, Miss Wedding Planner, did you know he was going to play these songs?”

“Britt asked for them! She said the kids will love it, and they’re easy for the older people who don’t know how to dance that well.”

“I do not call following orders dancing.”

“When are they cutting the cake?” Alex touches my arm. “I can’t wait to taste it.”

The rumble in his voice sends my mind to the very naughty place I described to Drake. I’d be happy for Alex to taste mycake by the ocean, but I distract myself before my face bursts into flames.

I nod at the antique clock above the glass double doors of the main entrance to the brewery. “It should be getting close. It’s after eight.”

“Shit! We’d better get back there before Britt comes looking for us.” Piper puts her glass down and loops her hand in Adam’s arm. “Ready to move to the right, to the right, and kick three times?”

“I’m a pro when it comes to the ‘Cupid Shuffle.’” Adam smiles at her like he wants to do a little cake-eating of his own.

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