Chapter 4
Delilah
The rehearsal dinner at the Silverpine Lodge is in full swing, and I can”t tear my eyes away from Stylz. He”s seated a few chairs down, engaged in conversation with Wyatt, but I track every movement and gesture. The way his large hands wrap around the condensation-beaded glass. The deep rumble of his laughter. The way those long fingers toy with the knot of his tie in an unconscious, effortlessly sexy motion.
He looks good in a suit—like, really good. Not stuffy the way my corporate colleagues do, but with this untamed edge that has me itching to run my hands through his tousled hair and tug him closer by that loosened tie.
”You”re staring.” Daisy”s playful murmur beside me snaps me out of my daze. I blink, my cheeks flushing as I turn to find her grinning at me with a knowing look.
”I am not,” I scoff, even as my eyes betray me by darting back toward Stylz.
Daisy laughs. ”Oh my god, you so are! You”re practically eye-fucking the man from across the room.”
”I am doing no such thing,” I hiss, casting a furtive glance around to make sure no one overheard her crass observation. ”We”re just friends.”
She snorts indelicately. ”Please! The amount of sexual tension between you two is enough to set this whole lodge ablaze.”
I open my mouth to protest again, but she cuts me off with a dismissive wave. ”Save it, Lala. You can lie to yourself all you want, but you can”t lie to me. I”ve never seen you look at someone like that before.”
There”s no judgment in her tone, only warmth and a hint of amusement. Daisy has always been the more carefree of the two of us, free-spirited and unafraid to embrace her desires. I”m envious of that, if I”m being honest with myself. My carefully cultivated life has always been dictated by checklists and five-year plans, leaving little room for spontaneity or whimsy.
And that”s precisely what Stylz represents—pure, unrestrained desire and the thrill of the unknown. Part of me longs to simply let go, but the ever-present voice of reason holds me back, whispering warnings about temporary flings and permanent regrets.
I”m at war with myself, caught between opposing desires, trying to decide what to say to Daisy, when suddenly, the lights go dim, and a projector screen flickers to life.
I blink in the sudden darkness as the first slide pops up—a candid shot of Wyatt and Daisy mid-kiss, her arms flung around his neck, his hands cradling her face with unmistakable tenderness.
A chorus of good-natured ”awws” ripples through the crowd, and I can”t help the grin that spreads across my face as I glance sidelong at my little sister. She”s beaming, cheeks flushed with happiness and—if I”m not mistaken—a touch of giddy disbelief, like she still can”t quite wrap her head around the fact that she”s marrying the man of her dreams.
The slideshow continues, a rapid-fire montage of images and video clips documenting their whirlwind romance—everything from adrenaline-fueled selfies mid-skydive to intimate, unguarded moments cuddled together on the couch. Thanks to Daisy’s vlog, their love is splashed all over social media, their lives an open book of daring adventures and heartfelt affection.
I lean over to nudge her gently. ”You two are utterly shameless, you know that?”
She shrugs, entirely unabashed. ”What can I say? We”re hopeless romantics.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. ”Speaking of romance...”
My brow furrows in confusion until the next slide pops up, and suddenly, I understand her meaning. It”s a candid snapshot from the bachelorette party—Stylz and I huddled close together at the bar, our bodies angled toward each other. We”re not quite touching, but the image is heavy with anticipation, the two of us frozen forever in that breathless moment.
A low murmur ripples through the crowd, and I can feel the weight of eyes flickering between Stylz and me with undisguised curiosity. My cheeks burn.
The slide shifts to another photo, this one capturing Stylz and me mid-embrace during our impromptu dance lesson. My head is tipped back in laughter, and his arms are looped securely around my waist, holding me flush against him. But it”s the look on his face that steals my breath.
There”s no trace of his usual cocky bravado or playful teasing, just an open sincerity that has my heart clenching painfully in my chest. Because the truth is glaringly obvious in that frozen moment, written plainly across his handsome features for all to see.
Stylz isn”t just flirting or pursuing a casual fling.
No, the emotion blazing in his stare as he looks at me is far deeper, far more intense than I’ve been willing to admit.
Whistles and teasing ”oooohs” fill the air. Across the room, Stylz catches my gaze, those green eyes holding mine.
”Well, well,” Wyatt pipes up, his voice laced with unmistakable amusement. ”It looks like the best man and maid of honor have been getting awfully... close.”
A fresh wave of laughter ripples through the crowd, and I glance at Daisy to find her grinning like the cat who got the cream.
”What can I say?” she quips with a wink. ”I wanted my wedding party to really hit it off.”
The innuendo hangs heavy in the air, and despite myself, I can”t quite stifle the startled laugh that escapes. My gaze darts back to Stylz, and I”m relieved to find him grinning as well, his expression a mixture of chagrined amusement and something that looks an awful lot like pride.
The teasing continues for a few more minutes until Wyatt finally calls for order, rising from his seat with a broad smile. ”Alright, alright, back to the matter at hand. Let”s hear from the best man.”
Stylz stands, and a hush falls over the room as he straightens the lapels of his suit jacket and picks up his glass. I’m captivated by the confident set of his shoulders and the way he seems utterly unfazed by the weight of dozens of eyes trained on him.
”Wyatt and I have been friends longer than I can remember,” he begins, his deep voice carrying effortlessly through the hushed space. ”We grew up raising all kinds of hell in these very mountains, getting into more trouble than any two kids had a right to.”
A smattering of laughter ripples through the crowd, and I smile at the thought of a mischievous younger Stylz tearing through the wilderness with his best friend.
”But through all the crazy stunts and misadventures, one thing was always clear—Wyatt was missing something.” His gaze drifts to Daisy, and there”s a warmth there, a sincere affection that takes me by surprise. ”And when he met you, Daisy, it was like witnessing a force of nature. You came crashing into his life like a wildfire, and from that moment on, nothing was ever the same for him.”
Stylz pauses, his expression turning thoughtful as his eyes flit briefly to mine. ”See, the thing about wildfires is that they don”t just burn hot and leave everything in ash—no, they clear the way for new life, for new growth. They breathe fresh air into the world and make it just a little bit brighter, more vibrant.”
I hold his gaze, my breath catching at the undisguised sincerity in his words, at the weight of meaning behind them. Is he speaking about Wyatt and Daisy, or is there a deeper truth woven between the lines?
Stylz clears his throat, his intense stare softening as he turns back to the happy couple. ”You two were made for each other, and I can”t think of any two people more perfectly suited to tackle whatever adventures life has in store. Here”s to a lifetime of new beginnings and growth—together.”
He lifts his glass, and the rest of us follow suit, a chorus of heartfelt cheers and applause filling the air.
The rest of the rehearsal dinner passes in a bit of a blur, the food and wine flowing freely as laughter and boisterous toasts fill the air. But through it all, I can”t quite shake the heated awareness of Stylz”s presence, can”t stop replaying the weighted sincerity of his words over and over in my mind.
For all his bravado and swagger, there”s an unmistakable tenderness simmering beneath the surface, a steadfast sincerity that draws me to him. I had glimpsed it before, but seeing him lay himself bare here, in front of friends and family...
It”s enough to make me start questioning everything I thought I knew about Stylz Steele.
Everything I thought I knew about myself.
When the revelry finally starts to wind down, I slip outside onto the veranda for a moment to catch my breath and gather my scattered thoughts. My solitude doesn”t last long before the French doors creak open behind me, and a familiar set of boots scuffs across the wooden planks.
”There you are,” Stylz rumbles, sidling up alongside me. ”Was wondering where you disappeared to.”
I shrug one shoulder. ”Just needed some air.”
He nods, seemingly content to let a comfortable silence fall between us. For a few heartbeats, the only sounds are the distant chirping of nightbirds and the gentle whisper of the breeze through the pines. My thoughts drift to my sister and her wedding, and I suddenly remember something.
”You know that cabin Daisy and Wyatt rented for their honeymoon?” I ask.
”Yeah?” He angles toward me slightly, leaning against the railing.
”With the snow we”ve been getting, I was thinking I should probably go out there. Make sure the generator”s running, stock the fridge, that kind of thing.” I chance a sidelong glance at him, my next words leaving my lips in a rush. ”Would you want to come with me?”
A slow, wolfish grin spreads across Stylz”s face. ”Trying to get me alone, princess?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
With a sly smile I don’t wholly like, he says, “Yeah, I’ll go with you.”
“Great, thanks,” I say, pushing off of the railing. “I guess I’ll see you—”
”Actually,” he starts, and his voice stops me. “I was wondering if you”d like to grab dinner with me once the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon.”
I blink at him, momentarily thrown by the unexpected invitation. Part of me is tempted—the thought of spending more time with him, of seeing where this could lead, is undeniably enticing. But the ever-present voice of caution pipes up, reminding me of all the reasons this is a terrible idea.
”I”m not sure that”s wise,” I hedge, wrapping my arms around myself. ”We lead very different lives, Stylz. I don”t want to stir up any unnecessary drama.”
His brow furrows slightly, and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. ”Look, I”m not saying you need to uproot your whole life or anything. But isn”t it worth exploring other options? Taking a chance?”
I open my mouth to protest, but his next words stop me cold.
”Or are you just going to keep playing it safe, princess?”
The challenge in his voice ignites a spark of defiance within me, that same reckless urge that led me to act so brazenly with him that night at the bar. I lift my chin, meeting his stare head-on.
”You don”t know a damn thing about me or my life,” I bite out.
Stylz holds up his hands in a placating gesture and steps closer. ”You”re right, I don”t. So why don”t you show me?”
I should pull away, put some distance between us before I do something reckless. But Stylz”s heated stare holds me rooted in place, his proximity sending my pulse into overdrive.
My gaze drifts helplessly to his lips as he leans in a fraction closer. He pauses, giving me one last chance to pull away.
But I don”t move a muscle.
With a low rumble that sends a delicious shiver down my spine, Stylz closes the remaining distance and crashes his mouth against mine. The kiss is demanding and passionate, his tongue sweeping past my parted lips.
A soft whimper escapes me as I fist my hands in the lapels of his suit jacket, pulling him against me. The hard planes of his chest press into the soft curves of my body, and I can”t get enough—of his taste, his scent, the scorching heat of his touch as his hands settle at my waist.
It was supposed to be a one-time indiscretion, a momentary lapse in judgment brought on by too much alcohol and a man who knows how to work his charm. But as we trade increasingly desperate kisses, I realize with a dizzying sense of clarity that I want more.
So much more.
Stylz seems to be on the same wavelength as his hands roam lower, cupping my ass and hitching me up against him as the rough stubble of his jaw scrapes deliciously against my neck.
”Ahem.”
The pointed clearing of a throat shatters the heated moment. Stylz and I break apart, our chests heaving as we turn to find Wyatt regarding us with an arched brow and the barest hint of a smirk playing at his lips.
”They”re closing things up if you two are, uh... done out here.”
Embarrassment washes over me in a hot wave, and I can”t bring myself to meet Wyatt”s amused gaze. Slipping out of Stylz”s arms, I straighten my dress and brush past Wyatt, hurrying back into the dim warmth of the lodge.
My cheeks are still burning as I rejoin the dwindling crowd. Daisy catches my eye from across the room and comes over, looping her arm through mine. ”You ready to head out, sis?”
I blink rapidly, trying to clear the haze of desire still swirling in my mind. ”Um... yeah. Yes, I am.”
As Daisy leads me toward the exit, I risk one last glance over my shoulder. Stylz is still watching me, hands in his pockets, ignoring Wyatt’s apparent teasing.
”See you tomorrow,” he calls out, the words carrying easily across the now-empty space—a reminder of our plans to prepare the remote cabin for the newlyweds.
Daisy shoots me a quizzical look, but I just shake my head and continue on, my heart thundering in my ears.
This is madness, this all-consuming desire for a man I barely know. For a life so different from everything I”ve worked toward. I can”t seem to make myself put a stop to it, but the doubts gnaw at me. What if this is a mistake? What if I”m risking everything for a fleeting attraction?
Instead of embracing the heated awareness that simmers through my veins, I feel the weight of uncertainty. The unknown is both intoxicating and terrifying.
I try to build walls, to shut down the anticipation, but it”s futile. The breathless wonder of what tomorrow might bring tugs at me, despite my fears.
Because something tells me that whatever this is between us, it’s far from over. Yet, I can”t help but wonder if I”m ready for what lies ahead.