Chapter Thirteen
C hase walked toward the small church with Lauren on his arm, an odd sense of pride filling him when he caught the surreptitious stares cast their way from some of the other guests gathered outside. He didn’t lie when he’d told Lauren she looked stunningly gorgeous, and judging by the head-turning glances from a few of the men in the area, it only confirmed his earlier flattering remark.
“Let me introduce you to some of my family before we have to head inside,” Lauren said, and guided him toward where an elderly woman was waving them over, her gaze brimming with interest as they landed on him.
As soon as they reached the small congregation, Lauren launched into introductions, acquainting him with her aunts and uncles, numerous cousins, and friends on her side of the family. They welcomed him with friendly smiles and handshakes, complimented Lauren on how beautiful she looked, and asked how she was enjoying life in the big city.
Then, one of her aunts asked those questions everyone else was probably wondering, too, judging by the curiosity in their eyes. How long have they been dating? Where did they meet? Where did he work and did he live in New York City, too?
He held Lauren’s hand in his and took the other woman’s interrogation in stride, and since he and Lauren had rehearsed the more personal questions, the answers came easily and seemed to appease everyone.
“We need to head inside and get seated,” Lauren finally said, thankfully ending the inquisition.
They all entered the church. Since Lauren was immediate family, a groomsman ushered them to one of the front pews where her gramps was already seated. Chase shook the man’s hand and Lauren gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then they settled in beside him. A short while later her mother, Penny, joined them after lighting the candles at the altar with Greg’s mother.
The groom and his groomsmen took their places at the front, along with the bridesmaids. Light, lilting music began playing, and everyone stood up, so Chase followed suit, watching as Dale escorted his daughter down the aisle.
This was the first time Chase had ever seen Ashley, and while she was as beautiful as Lauren had said, he realized that the woman by his side was equally as radiant, and far more his type. Apparently, beauty queens didn’t do it for him, and his strong attraction to Lauren was based on more than just her pretty face. He was beguiled by her lively spirit, determination, and optimistic attitude. He was impressed by the way she didn’t take shit from him and hadn’t let his grumpy personality deter her from getting what she wanted. Not many people stood up to Chase the way she had that day she’d come storming into his office, demanding he fulfill his bachelor auction obligation.
In an incredibly short amount of time, she’d bulldozed through all his defenses. Stripped away painful, emotional layers he’d safeguarded for most of his life. She’d provoked smiles and laughter when he rarely indulged in either. She exasperated him and amused him and challenged him, and those qualities were the things he was inexorably drawn to, despite knowing this was just a temporary, fake relationship for the sake of her having a date for the weekend. Knowing they’d be parting ways tomorrow afternoon made his chest tighten and ache in a way that was completely foreign to him.
He exhaled a deep breath and refocused his attention on the bride and groom. His thoughts had drifted to the point that he realized he’d missed most of the ceremony and vows, and they’d reached the part where the minister pronounced Greg and Ashley as husband and wife. The two kissed, everyone cheered, and down the aisle they went as a newly married couple.
“I need to stay for the family photos,” Lauren said, turning to him as guests filed out of the pews and exited the church. “You’re welcome to head to the reception with everyone else so you’re not bored to tears here, and I can meet you there, if you’d like?”
He shook his head, because he knew that just watching her do anything would never bore him. “No, I’ll stay and wait for you.”
A soft, appreciative smile curved her pink-tinted lips. “Such an attentive boyfriend,” she whispered in a teasing voice, and brushed a light kiss across his cheek before she followed her parents and Gramps up to the altar.
The bride and groom returned shortly after, and Chase sat back down and watched as Lauren and Ashley exchanged a genuine hug and smiles. Greg was off to the side talking to an older gentleman who looked to be his father, so Lauren wasn’t put in the position to have to converse with her ex for the time being.
While things were repaired with Ashley, Chase had no idea if the other man planned to follow suit and apologize to Lauren, as well. But Chase decided if Greg had any integrity at all, he’d fucking man up and express regret for his part in hurting Lauren.
For the duration of the photo session she and Greg never interacted, but Lauren was all smiles as the photographer took what seemed like endless amounts of pictures.
When Ashley’s side of the family was finished, Lauren headed back to Chase and announced they were free to go. They drove his car to the reception and found a place to sit inside the venue, and it wasn’t long before they were joined by her parents and Gramps, and then the bride and groom arrived, as well.
A delicious meal was served, speeches were made, and after dinner was finished, Ashley and Greg made their way around the room to greet their guests. Lauren and Chase had just stood from their table when the bride and groom approached. He slid his hand into Lauren’s in a show of solidarity, and prepared to meet them for the first time.
Ashley’s smile was sweet and kind, but Greg seemed uncomfortable in Lauren’s presence. Tough shit , Chase thought.
“I wanted to make sure that we had a chance to meet Lauren’s boyfriend before the evening gets too crazy,” Ashley said, and extended her hand to him, which he gently shook. “It’s so good to meet you.”
“Pleasure to meet you as well,” he replied in a warm, cordial tone.
“And this is Greg.” Ashley smiled at her husband, as if to encourage him to do the polite thing and acknowledge their guest, as well.
Greg pulled back his shoulders as he reluctantly offered his hand. “Chase, right?”
“Yes.” Chase didn’t hesitate to clasp the other man’s hand in a firm, tight grip. Maybe too tight and assertive, he thought, watching the way Greg winced—not that he gave a damn. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Ashley said, looping her arm through Greg’s when Chase finally released his hand. “I hope you and Lauren have a nice evening.”
The duo moved on, and as soon as they were out of hearing distance, the cutest little giggle escaped Lauren. He glanced at her, realizing she’d already consumed two glasses of champagne, which probably accounted for her giddy mood.
“What?” he asked, wondering what had her so amused.
“I think you gripped Greg’s hand a little too hard, being all dominant and alpha with him,” she said, stepping up to him and sliding her arms around his neck, not caring who saw them. “Which, admittedly, I found kind of hot.”
“You saw that, did you?” He smirked, wrapping his own hands around her waist and enjoying the warmth of her body aligned with his. “He needs to up his handshake game. It was a little too soft.”
She gave him a sultry look that made his dick twitch in his slacks, as did the way she pressed one hand to his chest then slowly stroked downward. “Well, we know there’s nothing soft about you,” she said huskily.
He groaned at her brazen display and grabbed her wrist before those fingers traveled into inappropriate territory. “You’re a little tipsy.”
She tossed her head back and laughed, not denying his claim, then grinned at him. “Let’s go take some silly pictures in the photo booth.”
Doing something so frivolous wasn’t his thing, and while he’d normally refuse, he found he didn’t want to disappoint her. Then again, the way she grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the booth didn’t give him much of an option, either.
As they waited their turn to sit inside the cubicle, she selected a few props and sayings attached to a stick from the side table. By the time they made it to the front of the line, she had a handful of accessories.
They slipped inside the small, enclosed space, Lauren closed the black curtain for privacy, and then they both settled in side by side on the very small bench seat. Lauren handed him a few of the cutouts, and with a press of a button the camera started flashing in intervals, giving them just enough time to swap out the various props and sayings and strike a new pose.
In the first snapshot, she held up “I came for the cake”, while he raised a “life of the party”, phrase, his brows arched comically, because that was the last thing he was. They went through everything she’d brought inside, using the moustache, tiara, heart-shaped glasses, and top hat interchangeably with each other, along with all the ridiculous expressions and outlandish gestures she goaded out of him.
Her laughter throughout the five-minute session was infectious, curling through him and inciting his own chuckles, too.
Between the last few shots, she jumped up and settled herself across his lap, staring at him with a frisky grin as she framed his face in her hands. For a brief moment, she stopped and just looked at him, her expression softening as their eyes met, just long enough for the camera to capture the moment on film. The bright illumination seemed to jolt her back to reality, and that playful nature of hers reappeared as she kissed him.
The second their lips touched he forgot where they were. Forgot everything but this woman who’d shaken up his neat and orderly world and had coaxed him to just let loose and fucking enjoy the moment.
With a groan, he slid his hand around to the nape of her neck, deepening the kiss and oblivious to the final click of the camera. She returned his efforts with fervor, and Christ, she tasted so sweet and hot he couldn’t get enough of her.
The slit in her dress exposed one leg, and he caressed his free hand up her thigh, his thumb caressing her soft, silky skin. She made a small, inarticulate sound in the back of her throat and squirmed on his lap, causing the movement of her ass to rub against the fly of his pants, making his cock thicken.
Someone rapped on the side of the cubicle, jarring them apart.
“Hey, that’s not a make-out booth,” a humorous male voice said from the other side of the curtain.
Fuck. How in the hell had he gotten so carried away at a public venue? Sexy, reckless Lauren , that’s how. “We’ll be out in a second,” Chase said, hoping that would be enough time for his dick to calm the fuck down.
“We, umm, just need to input our phone numbers for the photos,” she said to the man, sounding as breathless as she looked, with her lips a bit swollen from their kiss and her cheeks flushed with desire.
She looked at him again and giggled adorably, uncaring that they’d been caught. Then she shifted her attention to the monitor on the panel in front of them and punched in her number.
“You need to behave,” he growled into her ear.
She shivered, a naughty glimmer in her eyes as they met his. “What’s the fun in that?”
Yeah, he couldn’t deny it had been fun. He just shook his head, but he was grinning as he added his digits to the keypad so he’d get his own set of digital photos.
She pushed to her feet, straightening the lower part of her gown so that the slit didn’t show off as much skin, which he appreciated since he didn’t want any other man staring at her legs. He stood beside her in the cramped space, and still wearing his jacket, he fastened the button, which helped to conceal the stiff bulge in his slacks.
They exited the booth to find that it was Lauren’s cousin, Richard, who’d interrupted their kiss, and had to endure a bit more teasing from him. With their time spent at the photo booth, they’d missed the cake cutting, but unfortunately they were just in time for the DJ to announce the bouquet and garter toss.
Lauren threaded her fingers in his and pulled him toward the dance floor, where everyone was starting to gather. “Considering it’s my sister’s wedding, and I’m single, I should probably join the bouquet toss.” She glanced at him, a daring light in her eyes. “And it wouldn’t hurt if you participated in the garter toss, since you’re single and we’re technically dating.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake . Everything in him wanted to protest, because how goddamn awkward was it to stand around with a bunch of other guys who were eagerly vying for the bride’s garter?
Ashley tossed a small floral arrangement of roses first, and how ironic was it that it went straight for Lauren, giving her no choice but to put up her hands and catch the bundle of flowers or it would have smacked her right in the chest. The women around her clapped and cheered, and Ashley hugged her, seemingly happy that it was her sister that had caught the bouquet.
The men were called out onto the dance floor next, and despite the dread settling in the pit of his stomach, Chase sucked up his discomfort and joined the other single males. He just made damn sure he stood way off to the side, purposely avoiding the line of fire, and his strategy worked. One of Greg’s groomsmen jumped up in the air and caught the garter, with Chase nowhere near the danger zone.
He met back up with Lauren, walking with her to their table so she could set her flowers down. She sighed and smiled up at him as the lights were dimmed and the DJ coaxed everyone out onto the dance floor and started playing an upbeat tune.
“I have to say, it’s nice being on the other side of an event as a guest, instead of being the one who planned it and is dashing around making sure everything is running smoothly,” she said, referencing her job as an event planner at the Meridian. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but it’s nice not having to worry about anything and just have a good time.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” he said, and he meant it.
A sly grin replaced her languid smile, and a mischievous look sparked in her eyes. “Speaking of which, let’s go dance.”
He adamantly shook his head, because this was where he drew the line. “Yeah… no. I don’t dance. But I see your girl cousins and friends out there dancing together, so you go and have fun.”
“I don’t want to leave you by yourself.” She pouted, and as endearing as the gesture was, it did nothing to change his mind.
“I’ll be fine,” he insisted, and jutted his chin toward the dance area. “Go.”
One of her cousins called Lauren’s name and waved her over, and she finally gave in and joined them, letting loose her inhibitions on the dance floor.
Chase might not like to dance, but he quickly learned that he loved watching Lauren move her hips and shake her ass to the beat of the music.