Chapter 6 The Kiss #4
“I agree—they’re ready to vilify you, buddy.
Sorry. I’m not sure you could afford me with that much work to transform your image, but I might be willing to make a deal.
” Sophie had never felt comfortable flirting, considering it a cheap and inauthentic ruse, but for some reason, the lines fell from her like she was a drunk frat guy at a college party.
And better yet, they seemed to be working.
“Oh yeah?” Brad chuckled, rubbing her palm in the circles he’d been making earlier.
Was the intimate move a leftover habit from his relationship with Julia?
She swallowed that question back into the depths of her stomach before it consumed the moment, though.
She didn’t want to spend much time ruminating on Julia, not especially when she was this close to having her college dreams come true.
“Sophie, I was wondering,” Brad started, but then loud piano music boomed over the speakers and the guests around them all turned to greet the wedding party. Sophie tried to turn as well, but Brad pulled her back towards him. Instead of finishing his sentence, he pressed his lips to hers.
Sophie melted into him, no longer caring what was appropriate or otherwise.
She was transported across time, every decade-old wish she’d had outside of graduating with honors coming true with that one gesture.
Brad’s hand cupped her chin, closing the last few centimeters between them, which she obliged willingly, eagerly.
His lips were soft, like the sheer fabric that separated the lace of her dress from her body that grew warmer with every passing second.
His tongue lightly trailed her bottom lip, teasing her mouth open more.
When he pulled away, her lips stayed parted, her eyes closed. She was afraid to open them and find that the kiss hadn’t really happened, that it hadn’t been as earth-shatteringly wonderful as it was—better than any kiss her imagination could have drummed up.
“Wow. Um, sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” Brad sputtered. His face was flushed a pale pink, a color that matched the tulle and lace bordering them on all sides, but was much better suited for him than furniture. Sophie brushed one of the warm patches of skin with her thumb and smiled.
“Don’t apologize. Unless you don’t plan on doing it again. Then you can be downright weepy with regret.”
Brad smiled and licked his lips, biting the bottom one in a way that made her want to take him straight away, audience or not. He tucked his finger under her chin and brought her mouth to his again, stopping just before they touched.
“I don’t want to stop, that’s the problem,” he whispered.
His warm breath on her lips sent a shiver of desire down her chest, into her abdomen.
Her heart beat loudly, but this time she didn’t care about the way it announced her every intention because her hand on Brad’s chest showed their hearts beating in unison.
“Let’s not, then,” she replied, leaning in to close the last of the distance between them.
One of his hands still tangled with hers, and the other rested on her thigh, making her very aware of the tiny bit of fabric some might call a dress standing between him and the part of her that wanted him most.
The music stopped abruptly, and the bridal march began, cuing all the guests that it was time to stand and admire the bride. Static grated the recording this far back in the hall and they jumped, both sober with the reminder of why they were there.
Brad held her hand tightly as they both watched the doorway.
He stood behind her but close enough that she could now feel his breath on her neck.
Goose pimples rose on her skin from her shoulders to her ankles.
Brad’s other hand slipped around Sophie’s hip, resting there, his thumb rubbing the small of her back.
She felt safe.
Suddenly, Julia was there in front of them, her father to her left.
Even though she didn’t want to be judgmental, Sophie couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under Julia’s eyes, the way her blond curls looked frayed at the ends.
Even her arms looked like she’d stopped running, though her tan and her breasts looked the same as when they’d all been in college.
She was beautiful, as all brides were and should be, but Sophie could plainly see the sadness captured in her smile.
Brad’s breathing was calm and measured behind her, something Sophie marveled at.
She was worried seeing Julia, especially in her wedding gown, would spark Brad’s memories and interest again, but he was resolute as far as she could tell, his fingers rubbing the outsides of hers, interlacing their hands every moment or so.
She turned her head to face him, and he pecked her cheek, a gesture that was at once sultry and intimate, like they’d been together years and not minutes.
When she turned back around to the aisle, Julia stared at her, tears built up in the corners of her eyes, her mouth open and chin trembling.
Sophie gulped and tried to pull away from Brad’s grasp, but he held her in place.
She followed Julia’s gaze to her hip, where Brad’s hand sat like it had been carved out for him.
Julia turned forward, and with her right hand, wiped a solitary tear from her cheek.
Her steps were hitched, off the cues of the march now.
What was that?
Surely Julia couldn’t begrudge Brad for finding a date—albeit a last minute one—when she was the one who broke off their relationship to be with his best friend.
Still, Sophie, a woman who had seen her share of heartache, knew that look.
It was the same one she’d had when her father had walked out of their home, his new bride in the car she hadn’t bothered to turn off so he could load his belongings and say goodbye to his daughter.
It was the same look she’d had when she’d read the letter of intent from Drew, wishing it was a ring instead.
There was no mistaking it. The bride-to-be was both heartbroken and in love with someone—it just wasn’t the groom.
It seemed she and Julia had something in common after all, and his hands were turning Sophie around for another kiss. Good or bad, this might turn into a night she would never forget.
That was the last thought she had before Brad’s lips found hers again and her mind went blank.