Page 5 of You Are Enough

A soft laugh came from her chest, and her face lit up, causing her expression to finally relax. She was even more beautiful when she laughed and let herself go a little.

“Don’t put your ego into overdrive, Casanova. I haven’t asked any questions about you. Desiree talks, and so do some of my friends. You are quite the conversation piece. The girls you dated before Desiree were a bit . . . how can I describe them . . . Brainless? Fake? Easy?”

Damn, that made him sound shallow. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry. He really needed that drink. “Hey, benice. They all had their own special qualities and talents, but did Desiree say we were dating?”

Leila’s brows raised, and she put a little more space between them. “No, I just figured with as much time as you two were spending together, it had to be called something.”

“So, is that maybe a bit of jealousy I’m detecting from you?” Adler wiggled his brows. Maybe she did think of him, even a little.

Again, she laughed, but this time her head tipped back, exposing her neck. His heart stopped. Her skin was a smooth ivory, and he longed to caress her neck with his lips. To feel the vibration from her throat against his lips as she moaned his name.Adler, what the hell is going on with you?

Her smile lit up her face, and her gaze met his. “Not a chance, Adler.”

His dark eyes held hers, and he shook his head slightly to clear the thoughts that were taking over. Thoughts of his lips on her skin and the erotic sounds he could imagine coming from her throat. He pulled her closer and tightened his grip, adding in some fancy two-step footwork as he led her around the dance floor.

His mother had forced Tristan and him take a ballroom dance class in high school. She said it would help them with the company dinner parties they had to attend. At the time, he’d hated it. As an adult, it helped to impress women.

Well, usually. Again, not so much today. apparently.

But he enjoyed dancing with Leila. They fit together well. She was the perfect height. He’d guess five-foot-seven, which fit his six-foot frame perfectly. He slid his hand down over the arch in her lower back as he continued his trek around the dance floor.

A smile lit up her face. He winked, and his hand slipped lower on her waist. He could feel a soft panty line under the light fabric of her dress. He slowed to a more comfortable speed andgave her a chance to catch her breath. “Why don’t you tell me something about yourself, Leila? What brings you here to the wedding?”

Leila tilted her head, holding his gaze as she reached around and raised his hand up a bit and stepped back to put more space between them. “I work with Elizabeth at Main Street Boutique in town. She’s my boss.” Her eyes traveled around the tent.

Adler smirked. Again, his advances were being ignored, and now he got the feeling that he annoyed her. “Got somewhere to go?” He followed her gaze.

She stopped dancing. “Honestly, yes. I need to get home, so I figured I’d go tell Elizabeth and Brady bye. I’ll be working for her while they go on their honeymoon.” She pulled out of his arms. “Thanks for the dance and the conversation. It was surprising. I’ll talk to you later.”

She gave him a small smile and walked away, leaving Adler alone on the dance floor. That was a first. He watched her retreating form and knew he needed to see her again.

“All single women need to meet on the dance floor immediately. All single women.” The DJ’s voice thundered through the speakers. “Single guys, don’t go far. You’re next.”

Adler found himself surrounded by Tristan and his friends Chad and Jacob. Tristan handed him a beer. Thank God. He was spitting feathers.

“Thanks man.” He raised the beer to his lips and downed half the cold liquid immediately. God, that tasted good. He was thirstier than he’d thought. “Where’s the girls?” He wasn’t used to seeing Tristan alone. Stacey was usually glued to his side. What had happened to them being single guys enjoying all girls? Oh well. He’ll need to get in touch with some of their friends from college.

Tristan pointed with his beer. “Out there. It always amazes me how excited women are about catching the bouquet.”

Jacob and Chad started talking with Tristan, but Adler wasn’t listening. His attention was across the dance floor. He spotted Leila between Jessica, Stacey, and Stacey’s best friend, Kristen, and they were surrounded by women of all ages. Even in a crowd, Leila stood out to him like she was the only woman at the wedding. He couldn't tear his gaze from her.

As quickly as the women gathered, music was played. Elizabeth entered the floor and turned her back on them. Then she tossed the bouquet over her head, and it was like she threw gold. The women jumped toward it, hands flailing in the air. Some of them fell to the ground as they tripped over each other. Limbs sprawled everywhere, screams were heard over the roar of the music, but then Jessica hooped and hollered congratulations.

The mob of women stepped away from a wildly blushing Leila who was left in the center of the floor holding the white and pink bouquet of roses. The blush put some extra color on her already pretty features, and Adler’s heart missed a beat.

“What?” he asked as the guys were being pulled onto the floor. He found himself in the center, joined by Tristan, Jacob, Chad, and other men. None of them were as excited as the women, as they stood there with their hands in their pockets or clasping their beer with both hands, and there was a fight—which no one wanted to win—over who would stand in the front.

Before he knew what happened, Adler was pushed to the front of the mob just as Brady let the garter fly, and it landed right in his hands. There was no fight, no screaming, no one falling on the floor. Just a bunch of men acting like getting touched by the garter would give them cooties—if they still believed in those childhood creatures.

“Well, Adler, have fun.” Tristan gave him a hard pat on the arm as Adler was drug over to Leila by the DJ.What the hell is going on?It was like he was in a dream. First, he was alone onthe dance floor, now he was with Leila again, but everyone’s eyes were on them. He tried to catch her gaze, but she was looking anywhere but at him.

“Okay, everyone,” announced the DJ, “It’s time for the bachelor to put the garter on the bachelorette.” He leaned in close to Adler as if he was going to tell him a secret but whispered into his microphone. “Okay. Now, you’re a good-looking guy. She’s a pretty lady. We want a show. Don’t we?” He yelled the last two words, getting the crowd riled up.

And yes, they got involved. Everyone cheered, and there were a lot of cat calls. Adler was certain he should be embarrassed, but luckily embarrassment wasn’t within his range of emotions. Leila, on the other hand, had a blush on her face which matched the pink of the roses in the bouquet, and it was getting redder by the minute.

When he looked over at Tristan and the guys, they were all laughing and jeering.

“Go ahead and kneel in front of her,” instructed the DJ. “When the music starts, put that garter on her leg and put it up as far as you can. Keep going until the music stops.”

---