Chapter 13
First dance – an excuse to touch the man you just married who you can never have
Chloe
W eston raps his fork against his champagne glass and I groan. He’s one of the few people who know this wedding isn’t the real deal but the knowledge hasn’t stopped him from trying to get me and Lucas to kiss again and again.
“Don’t worry,” Lucas murmurs against my lips. “Friendly fire will take him down.”
“I’ll help you bury the body. I have a list of locations prepared for such an occasion.”
He barks out a laugh. “Of course, you do.”
Since his arm is wrapped around my shoulders, I can feel his body shake with humor. I wish I could feel his body move against mine while we’re naked in bed. I bet Lucas is a thoughtful lover. I bet he’d ensure I get off before he comes.
I shiver as excitement rolls through me.
“Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?”
He needs to stop being considerate. At this rate, I’m going to strip him down before the reception is finished. But we’ve agreed. No sex. No sharing the same bed. No kissing. Although, we kicked the ‘no kissing’ rule to the curb at the ceremony.
“I’m not cold.” It’s the height of summer.
“But you shivered.”
“I—”
“Stop being a crabapple!” Nova’s scream cuts me off.
“Who’s yelling at the owner of this resort?” Lucas asks.
“It’s Nova.” I contemplate explaining the history between Nova and Hudson, but it’s Nova’s story to tell.
He stands. “Shit. I’ll handle this.”
I stop him. “Let them be. They’ve been at loggerheads ever since he came home after his career in the NFL crashed when he was injured.”
I suspect before then but Nova refuses to discuss anything having to do with Hudson.
His eyes widen. “I knew I recognized him.”
“Don’t fangirl on him. He gets grumpier than normal when people remind him of his career.”
“I don’t fangirl.”
“Do you prefer the word fanboy?”
“I am not a fanboy,” he grumbles.
Oh boy. I better not tease him anymore because his grumbly voice has my panties dampening with excitement.
“Yeah. Yeah. Save it for someone who believes you.”
He tickles my ribs. “I am not a fanboy.”
I swat his hands away. “No tickling. I don’t want to ruin this dress.”
His gaze drops to my chest, and his eyes flare. “Wouldn’t want to ruin this dress,” he mumbles.
I fist my hands before I slip the spaghetti straps off my shoulders and reveal my naked chest to him. Bad idea, Chloe. Bad idea.
Weston raps his fork against his glass again. I glare at him but he isn’t shouting kiss, kiss ! He’s standing.
“I believe it’s time for a toast.”
I groan. Great. Weston has known me since I was five years old and followed Sophia home like a puppy every day after school. He knows all my secrets. Almost all, I correct. He doesn’t know everything about dear old mom. Time for some preventive action.
I raise my glass. “Here’s to the bootleggers. Masters of sneaky snips and secret stashes. Thanks for keeping the party alive.”
“To the bootleggers!” The crowd cheers.
“Nice try, wild child,” Weston says. “As the best man, it’s my obligation to make a toast. The more it embarrasses you the better.”
Lucas growls before stealing the microphone from him. “You are not embarrassing my wife at her wedding reception.”
Heat hits my chest and radiates through my body at his words. My wife. He doesn’t sound as if he’s faking it now.
Weston chuckles. “This is fun.”
I narrow my eyes at him and he winks back. Lucas slaps him upside his head and he bursts into laughter. Fun, he mouths at me.
The singer of the band taps his microphone. “I believe it’s time for the couple’s first dance.”
Lucas offers me his hand. “You ready for this?”
I bite my tongue before I giggle. I’m ready, but I don’t think he is.
He leads me toward the dance floor and gathers me in his arms. “What song did you pick?”
“You’ll hear.”
“Ladies, gentlemen, and mermaids, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Fellows,” the singer announces before beginning to strum his guitar.
Recognition lights in Lucas’s eyes. “Wild horses?”
“What can I say? I love the Rolling Stones.”
“Another layer to unpeel,” he murmurs.
“Layer? What are you talking about?”
He sways to the music. “Nothing, wildcat. Nothing.”
Wildcat? Butterflies flutter in my stomach. Did he just give me a nickname? A sweet nickname to match me but isn’t rude the way wild child is?
The music ends and I realize my eyes are closed. And I’m clinging to Lucas. So much for keeping this marriage strictly professional.
“Um…” I step away. Lucas holds on for a second longer before releasing me.
An electric guitar plays a mellow rock intro and Sophia, Nova, Maya, and Paisley rush to me. Lucas backs away. “Have fun,” he says with a wink.
“I take it all back!” Sophia yells as she and the rest of my friends dance in a circle around me. “I love this marriage!”
I raise an eyebrow at Paisley. “What changed her mind?”
“I believe the fact you appeared ready to copulate with Lucas on the dance floor.”
“You were making goo-goo eyes at each other.” Maya presses her palms to her heart.
Nova beams at me. “Even Hudson the crabby crab tree can’t ruin this moment.” My happy friend is never down for long.
But she’s wrong. There were no goo-goo eyes. There is no love or affection. This is a business arrangement.
“We’ve got one more activity for our bride and groom,” the singer announces when the song ends. “The cake.”
“The cake?” My brow furrows. “I didn’t order a cake.” I would have but all of the bakers claimed they didn’t have time to make one.
“We did!” Sophia squeals as she nudges me toward the corner.
My mouth drops open as I step closer and notice the multi-tiered cake is covered in seashells. There’s also a mermaid sitting on top of the cake with a merman. It’s the perfect wedding cake for Smuggler’s Hideaway.
“It’s chocolate stout cake,” Paisley explains. “Parker used the Five Fathoms Out of the Blue Stout in the cake batter.”
Natalia sprints in our direction and crashes into me. “Come on, Chloe. Dad says I can’t have a piece of cake until you cut the cake. I said I could cut it but I’m not allowed to use the cake knife.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I guess I better cut the cake then.”
The wedding photographer rushes forward. “Can I get some pictures with you and the cake?”
“Where do you want us, Melody?” I ask as Natalia and I join Lucas at the table holding the cake.
Melody’s a few years younger than me. She’s not a professional photographer but it’s her dream to be one. Since I’m all for women following their dreams, I asked her to be our photographer today.
We pose for shots until Natalia complains. “I’m ready for cake.”
I pick up the cake knife. “I guess I better cut this cake then.”
Lucas wraps a hand around mine. “I believe we better cut this cake.”
“Ready?” He nods and we slice one piece of cake before plating it.
“Are we really going to feed each other a piece of cake?” I ask.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
Gah. I could fall in love with this sweet man. He really needs to stop being nice to me. Good thing I have the best idea to help him stop being so sweet.
“I’m good.” I give him my back so he won’t notice me pick up the entire piece we just cut.
“Me first,” I say before whirling around and shoving the entire piece in his face.
“Best wedding picture ever!” Melody shouts.
“Great,” Lucas mumbles as he wipes cake out of his eyes. “I was worried you didn’t capture the moment.”
“Stop fooling around, Dad. I want cake.”
“You want cake? I’ll give you cake, my little cupcake.” Lucas lunges at Natalia and she screeches before running away. He chases after her.
Sophia throws an arm over my shoulders. “Look at you, with your little readymade family.”
I slap her arm away. “They’re not my family.” I lower my voice. “This isn’t real, remember?”
“I remember. The question is – do you?”
I can’t pull my gaze away from Natalia and Lucas goofing around. I do remember this isn’t real. Even though I also wish it were.
But it’s not meant to be. I can’t be a mother and Lucas doesn’t want me.
Today is a show. Tomorrow, we go back to ‘normal’.
With a start I realize. I don’t want to go back to normal.