Chapter 18
Dylan
I stared at all the box trucks lining the street in front of Aunt Wendy’s house. This seemed a little over the top for a first birthday. Granted, Austin had gone all out for Wyatt’s fourth birthday. The kid had lost it when he saw the petting zoo in their backyard. But Fliss was only turning one.
I parked my bike in the first spot I found and grabbed her present out of my saddlebag—board books of the classics, both fairytale and literature. Maddie was going to love them. And Fliss loved reading time with her mom.
Indy had disappeared early this morning for a change.
Her, Hope, and Maddie had been thick as thieves this morning, bouncing from one condo to the next to get ready.
I was happy she was making friends with my friends and family.
But I was still annoyed that I hadn’t gotten time with Indy since I hadn’t seen her in so long.
Not that I was going to think about whose fault that was.
Of course when I got to the front door, no one was there to greet me.
I ducked into the house, taking in all the people running around.
Caterers I’d never seen before bustled around in Aunt Wendy’s kitchen.
People running in and out of the backdoor, carrying folding chairs and décor outside.
It was mayhem, and I had yet to see anyone I knew.
Walking deeper into the house, I headed for the busy backyard, but the sight that met me had me stopping in my tracks.
A huge metal arch stood at the far end of the backyard with rows and rows of folding chairs facing it. Someone was twining fabric through the metal while another laced flowers through the fabric here and there.
This wasn’t a birthday party.
Ryan and Hope were getting married today.
“Surprise,” Ryan rumbled behind me.
I spun around to face him.
My brother stood there in a tux with a little pink rose pinned to his lapel and grinned at me. “You interested in standing up there with me? I need a best man.”
“I—of course. Always. I’m here for you, bro. You know that.”
“Good. There’s a chance I might pass out when she gets to the altar, and I might need someone to hold me up.”
“Like there’s a chance you’d run.” I laughed. “More like we need to make sure that Hope hasn’t changed her mind. Found someone better.”
“Fuck you.”
I laughed. “Love you too, bro.”
“Come on. We have a changing area set up in Aunt Wendy’s office. Hope’s claimed the main bedroom for her and her friends.”
A few minutes later, I was in a tux with a matching but smaller rose pinned to my lapel.
“Here.” Ryan pushed a ring box at me.
“I thought I was the best man. Why am I holding this?” I looked down at the small black box now in my hands.
“You really think we’re trusting Wyatt with the actual ring?” Ryan laughed. “The kid is cute, but that sucker cost me a mint. Like hell am I giving it to a four-year-old.”
I snapped open the box and the large stone Ryan had put on Hope’s finger months ago winked up at me, but now it was twined with another silverish band. I shook my head. “I still can’t believe we’re old enough to be getting married.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m more than ready to tie this one down.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like there was a chance you two wouldn’t be together. You’ve been through so much. Plus she makes you a better man. And she made you a father.”
“I could almost say the same thing about you and Indy.”
“Wha—no. Not even. We’re not…” I trailed off ineptly.
“I mean, sure she hasn’t made you a father—yet—but she has made you a better man. For once in your life, you’ve been thinking about someone else. Putting someone else’s needs first. And I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’re just as gone on Indy as I am with Hope.”
I sighed heavily. I hadn’t gotten around to telling my brothers the truth about Indy. About what I’d done to her. Honestly, I was still too ashamed to face it.
So clearing my throat, I changed the subject. “How’d you get around not having the cameras here? I thought they wanted to film the wedding.”
“They weren’t interested in filming Fliss’ birthday party, and they still haven’t gotten around to booking a venue for the wedding yet.” He lifted his hands. “What are they going to do? Fire me? They’re the ones holding up the plans.”
“You’ve always been a squirrely son of a bitch.” I laughed.
“I like to think of it as brilliant, but whatever.”
The door opened, and Austin stood in the doorway. “You ready?”
“Finally.” Ryan clapped. “Let’s get me married.”
Shoving the ring into my jacket pocket, I exchanged grins with my brothers, and the next thing I knew, I was standing next to Ryan at the gleaming metal arch and facing the crowd of chairs.
The opening strains of some instrumental number played, and the crowd turned to watch Maddie lead Wyatt and Fliss up the aisle. I grinned at the sight of my niece and nephew all dolled up and toddling up the grass aisle.
But then my eyes snagged on someone sitting in the front row next to Aunt Wendy and Brian.
Indy.
Only not the Indy I knew.
The ripped jeans and dark t-shirts were gone, and in their place was an ethereal dress I never would’ve pictured her in.
But it was so her at the same time. A slim leather jacket draped over a dark green printed dress with a neckline that veed low on her chest to show off a delectable amount of cleavage.
The dress was tight on her slender waist before flowing down to the ground.
And when she shifted on her chair, I spotted a flash of thigh peeking out from a slit that ran almost up to her waist.
I almost swallowed my tongue.
The traditional wedding march played and the crowd stood to turn to watch Hope walk down the aisle.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off of Indy.
My Indy.
With her hair flowing down to her shoulders in a riot of waves.
Then her eyes flicked toward me and my knees felt weak.
So much emotion and need flowed through her to me.
It took everything inside me to stay up at the altar and not run to her side.
Also, Ryan jabbed his elbow into my belly.
“Focus,” he hissed.
“You coulda warned me,” I whispered back.
He snickered. “Worth it.”
It took everything inside me to face the couple getting married and not stare at my gorgeous Indy.
And honestly, I was doing a horrible job at it.
My eyes kept flicking to the side so I could at least get a glimpse of her.
Now she was holding Fliss as Aunt Wendy bounded up to run after Wyatt since he’d slipped off of Brian’s lap.
“I’m so sorry,” Rachel murmured before shoving her bouquet at Maddie and taking off after her kiddo.
Maddie juggled her bouquet, Hope’s, and Rachel’s as she also fought to keep a straight face despite the giggles rising up from the audience. Sabrina held out a hand for one of the bouquets to help her out.
And through it all Indy’s face glowed with happiness as she let Fliss stand on her lap and wiggle around.
Fuck me, she was gorgeous.
“Bro.” Ryan’s sharp elbow found my side again.
“What?” I jerked around and found everyone at the altar staring at me.
“The ring.”
Flinching, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the little black box and then passed it to my brother. He didn’t even blink. He also couldn’t take his eyes off of his girl. I had to physically put the box in his hand.
I managed to keep it together for the rest of the ceremony.
“You may kiss your partner.”
Ryan wrapped his arms around Hope, spun her to the side, and dipped her dramatically as he kissed her.
And kissed her.
And kissed her some more.
The crowd murmured and giggles broke out here and there.
“Ryan, bro. There are children present,” I muttered. “Let’s keep it PG for the masses.”
He finally broke the kiss and pulled his bride into his arms and carried her down the aisle almost at a run. Catcalls and whistles rang out and Hope’s face blazed red as she laughed and held on.
I was probably supposed to follow them back down the aisle, but clearly we were not doing anything by the book today. The rest of my brothers partnered up with their girls and headed down the aisle while I noped out and headed straight for Indy.
Brian, Aunt Wendy’s new/old guy, saw me coming and swooped down to take Fliss out of Indy’s arms. I jerked my chin at him in thanks, grabbed Indy’s hand, and pulled her away from everyone and around the side of the house.
“Dylan!” She laughed. “What are you—where are we going?”
I pulled her to a stop next to the side of the house and caged her in my arms against the siding. “Fuck. I couldn’t concentrate on shit the second I saw you looking all gorgeous and confident and so fucking happy.”
She blinked up at me with her impossibly wide eyes and sighed. “Dylan. This isn’t really me. It took three people to get me looking like this. I didn’t…this isn’t—”
“It’s all you. I was supposed to be there to hold up Ryan, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.”
Indy looked up at me with this expression that was both tender and heartbreaking, like she was afraid to believe my words. Like she didn’t really think she was worthy of my attention.
It was my mission to put an end to that shit.
Leaning down, I took her lips in a gentle kiss at first that quickly grew demanding. I wanted her to know how much I wanted her.
Indy moaned under her breath and kissed me back. Her lips just as hungry on mine. And when her tongue peeped out and flicked teasingly against mine, I lost it.
I burrowed a hand in her hair and twined my fingers through it and took the kiss deeper. Her body arched up to meet mine as her hands clutched at my shoulders. I ground my hips into her, and she bucked against me.
I was inches away from saying fuck it and taking her right here.
But the murmur of the wedding guests in the distance reminded me of exactly where we were standing. In my aunt’s yard in broad daylight. Anyone could come around and see Indy like this.
Not in this lifetime.
I had to get my shit under control. She deserved better than to be taken out here.
Fuck.
Fuck!
She arched her hips and then rolled them in a way that brought her soft center in perfect contact with my dick.
I tore my lips away from hers and panted. “Sweetheart, you keep that up and I’m liable to take you here and now. Crowd be damned.”
“Promise?” She batted those dark lashes at me as her eyes shone with her newfound power. She was confidence personified, and it was a fucking gorgeous sight.
“Indy,” I groaned, dropping my head in her luscious tits. Her skin was so goddamn soft and smooth. I groaned again.
And I couldn’t resist a cheeky little kiss on her supple skin.
It was her turn to moan. “Here and now sounds pretty good to me. Actually, Maddie recommended the bathrooms. Something about them having locks and to use the one furthest from the living room.”
“Yeah, I really don’t want to picture whatever the hell my best friend was getting up to inside said locked bathroom with my brother, thank you very much.
” I pressed another quick kiss against her chest then stood upright and mostly on my own steam.
I might’ve had to lean against the house a little.
“And I think you deserve a little more than being bent over a sink for your first time.”
The anticipation in her expression leached away. “I’m not…this wouldn’t be my first time, Dylan.”
I waved a hand. “I should’ve said our first time. You deserve a little more than being bent over the sink our first time. I want to take my time with you. Learn all the little things that make you shudder. Find that sweet spot in your cunt that drives you crazy.”
She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and went up on her toes to kiss me again, her lips so hungry and insistent.
We lost ourselves in the kiss again.
Indy was just so pliant and delicious.
My hands wandered on their own and soon I was teasing and caressing her delectable tits, learning her curves. And also the fact that she definitely wasn’t wearing a bra. I could feel her nipples so hard and no doubt aching behind the thinnest bit of material.
It would be so easy to just thumb that scrap of silk aside and take her pointy little nipple in my mouth. Suck on it. Tease it.
Fuck it.
Bathroom, here we come.