Chapter Eleven
A few days after the baby shower, Travis and Tobi held their wedding ceremony at their house. Dana had been there several times in the months since she’d come to Whiskey River, but this afternoon the house had been transformed to host a wedding. The living room was adorned with beautiful flowers and the furniture had been moved to accommodate chairs. There were only eighteen or twenty people in attendance, including the bride, groom and minister, the couple having decided to have an intimate ceremony.
Tobi and Travis both glowed with happiness, which made Dana’s sentimental heart sigh. Tobi looked gorgeous in a strapless white knee-length wedding dress with a fitted lace bodice and a flared skirt of lace netting over satin. Travis looked very handsome in a dark suit and blue dress shirt. Tobi’s matron of honor was Travis’s sister Laurel, who was pregnant with twins but not due for a while. Her extremely pregnant sister-in-law, Savannah, was a bridesmaid, as was her friend Siobhan Murphy. Travis’s brother Harlan was his best man and Zack and Levi stood up with him too. When it came time to say the vows everyone except the bride and groom, the minister, and the best man and matron of honor sat down.
Levi wore a perfectly tailored black suit that she suspected was custom made. His face was freshly shaved and his hair brushed. He was tall, dark, handsome and hot. But he didn’t look like the Levi she was accustomed to. The man she knew was more of a jeans and T-shirt guy with a day or two of stubble growth on his face, depending on what he was working on and whether he was thinking of some invention while he showered and got dressed.
Dana felt a little surreal sitting with Levi at a wedding. Two of his best friends’ wedding, at that. First a baby shower and now a wedding. Hers and Levi’s relationship status change was still so new that lots of things felt surreal. Except the sex. That was totally real. And awesome.
She had hoped she could keep it together and not do what she usually did at weddings, but that was clearly a futile hope. As Tobi and Travis spoke their vows to each other and exchanged rings, her tears started to flow. Surreptitiously, she dabbed a tissue to her eyes and sniffed.
“Are you crying?” Levi leaned over and asked Dana.
“Hush.” Damn. I knew this would happen.
“You are. You’re crying.”
Dana turned and glared at him. “Quiet,” she hissed.
He subsided but she could feel him darting puzzled glances at her throughout the rest of the ceremony. Dabbing at her eyes and nose, she tried to ignore him while Tobi and Travis repeated their vows.
She realized with a pang that she wanted this. Love, marriage, babies. Oh, not right now, but some time in the future. Would Levi want that too? Or would that scare him away? Is that what had happened before? She didn’t know. All she knew was so far he seemed content with the way things were.
Finally, the minister said, “If anyone knows of a reason why these two people should not be married, speak now or—”
“Oh!”
Dana and Levi looked at each other. “What was that?” Levi asked.
“It came from that direction.” Dana pointed to a few chairs over where Savannah sat with her niece and nephew on either side. She looked surprised. Then she clutched her stomach and groaned loudly.
“It’s Savannah,” Levi said.
“Mommy,” Laurel’s little girl Katrina said in a clear, piping voice. “Something’s wrong with Aunt Savannah.”
“Keep going,” Travis told the minister. Harlan left his side to go to Savannah.
The minister, an older man who had, according to Travis, known his family since they were all in diapers, appeared befuddled. “But—but—”
“She’s not objecting. She’s having a baby. Besides, I thought we agreed to skip that part.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’m sorry,” the older man said, even more flustered.
“Let’s get on with it. Skip to the end.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” the minister said in a rush.
Travis and Tobi kissed and then immediately went to see about Savannah. After a low-voiced conversation, Travis spoke to the guests. “We’ve got a family emergency here. You go ahead to the reception and Tobi and I will be there soon. We hope.”
“Let’s go see what they want us to do to help,” Levi said.
Dana followed him, feeling a bit out of place.
Everyone was talking at once. Levi took Travis aside and they stood a short distance away from everyone, talking earnestly. Harlan announced he was taking Savannah to the hospital. He wanted to carry her to the car but Savannah refused, saying it would be good for her to walk. Dana could see him arguing with Savannah as they left the house. Harlan looked wild-eyed, nothing like the calm, cool and collected man Dana was accustomed to seeing.
“Good God,” Levi said as he walked up to Dana. “I hope Harlan survives the birth.”
Dana giggled. “He does seem a bit rattled. Are Travis and Tobi going to the reception?”
“Eventually. They’re going to the hospital first. I said we’d tell everyone they’re going to be late but they’ll be there.”
“I didn’t realize Savannah was due so soon. I thought I heard at the shower that she wasn’t due for another month.”
“She wasn’t. The baby is a month early.”
“Oh. That’s not good, is it?” From what she’d heard, which admittedly wasn’t a lot, premature babies could have problems.
“Tobi says she’s far enough along that the baby will probably be fine.”
“Probably?”
“Or words to that effect,” Levi said. “Tobi’s a doctor, remember? They never say something like that is a sure thing.”
“Oh, right. I wasn’t thinking about that.”
When they reached the car Levi stopped and slipped his arms around her waist. “You look beautiful today,” he said. “I don’t think I told you that earlier.”
“You did but I don’t mind you repeating it.” Dana wore a pale pink V-necked dress with a full skirt that hit above her knees. She’d tried on nearly everything in her closet before deciding on it. It wasn’t really a fall dress but then the temperature today was more reminiscent of summer than fall. And though she knew people did all the time, she hadn’t wanted to wear black to a wedding.
Levi kissed her and let her go, opening the car door for her. “Too bad we have to go straight to the restaurant,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because all I’ve been thinking about—well, before the wedding started and Savannah went into labor, anyway—was getting you out of that pretty pink dress you’re wearing.”
“That can probably be arranged later.”
“Probably? How about definitely?”
Dana smiled. “Definitely.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Levi asked her.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Why were you crying during the ceremony?”
Oh, yeah, she’d forgotten about that. “Because that’s what I do.”
He shifted, glanced at her then back to the road. “I don’t understand.”
She heaved a sigh. “I cry at weddings. I can’t help it. The bride and groom always look so happy and you can just feel the love in the air. No matter what the bride wears she’s beautiful. Although Tobi really is gorgeous today.” She sighed. “And now there’s going to be a new baby in their family.”
“Are you gonna cry at that too?”
“I might.” She sniffed and stuck her nose in the air. “Probably.”
“I had no idea you were so sentimental.”
“We’ve never been to a wedding together before.”
“What else do you cry at? ”
“What’s this fascination you have with me crying?”
“I didn’t think you were the crying type. I haven’t ever seen you cry before. Not even when—”
“When we broke up?” she finished for him when he stopped.
“Yeah. Not even then.”
“I didn’t cry in front of you. But I cried my heart out after you left. And for months afterward.” She’d never told him that before, but when had she had the chance? Even now she wondered if it was a mistake to tell him just how much he’d hurt her when he left.
“I had no idea you felt so…strongly. To tell the truth, I thought you were glad to be rid of me.”
“That’s what I wanted you to think. I didn’t want you to know that you’d—” She hesitated, unsure even now that she should tell him her true feelings about their breakup. But maybe if she allowed him to see her vulnerability, then he would help her understand why he’d felt he had to leave. Because she still didn’t know.
Dana drew in a deep breath and said, “I didn’t want you to know you’d broken my heart.”
Levi pulled to a halt in the restaurant parking lot. He released his seat belt, turned to her and picked up her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said and kissed her hand. “Forgive me?”
Dana had to bite her tongue not to ask him for more. But Levi obviously wasn’t ready to talk in depth about their past mistakes. Then she remembered what he’d said about why he hated horror movies. Because he’d lived it. That was the first time he’d shared anything with her about his own past. Talking about the past—his own or theirs—was not Levi’s strong point.
“I forgave you a long time ago. But that’s the past. We said we were concentrating on the present.”
“We did say that. And in the present I want very much to kiss you.”
“Good. Because I very much want to kiss you too.” Once again she’d let it go. And wondered if she should have.
*
“I’m so glad everything is all right with Savannah and the baby,” Dana said on the way back to her apartment after the reception. “And isn’t Liam an adorable name?”
Amused, Levi glanced at her. “Adorable,” he agreed.
“The picture Tobi and Travis showed us of Savannah, Harlan and the baby was so—so—”
“Adorable?”
“Beautiful. It was just beautiful.” She sighed happily.
Babies. Great. Now Dana was rambling on about Liam and how healthy he was and how lucky Savannah and Harlan were and how glad she was that everything had turned out well. Dana wanted children. Of course she did. Though they had never talked about it much, he knew she’d had a happy childhood, not like the nightmare he and Asher had lived. He parked in her parking garage and Dana was still talking while they rode up the elevator to her apartment.
“Listen to me, going on and on about the baby,” Dana said, walking into her bedroom. She kicked off her high heels and let out a big sigh. “I don’t know why I wear shoes I know are going to kill my feet.”
“I do. They’re sexy.”
Standing in front of her dresser, she glanced at him over her shoulder. “I suppose you’re right. Like my mom has always said, beauty must suffer.”
He didn’t know about that but if it made her wear shoes like the ones she’d had on tonight, then he couldn’t complain. Levi sat down on the bed and watched her perform her feminine rituals. First she took off her jewelry, laying each piece carefully in its place. Either in an old-fashioned jewelry box or in a crystal ring holder on the dresser. He realized she did the same thing at his house, placing her jewelry in a ceramic tray that sat on his dresser. Unless he distracted her first, he thought with a smile.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, reaching behind her back to unzip her dress. She laughed and added, “I haven’t given you much of a chance to talk, have I?”
Levi got up, walking up behind her to help her. He looked at them in the mirror. The contrast with him, dark and tall, and Dana, smaller, delicate, with a redhead’s fair complexion. But he knew she was anything but delicate. She was fiery and passionate .
“I’ve been thinking,” he said as he unzipped her dress, parted the fabric and pushed it down her arms.
“About what?” She sucked in a breath when he kissed her neck, then her shoulder, then cupped her breasts through the sheer pale pink bra. “Oh, that,” she said a little breathlessly, curving one arm up to sink her fingers into his hair as he kissed her.
“Yes, that,” he said, pushing her dress down further and helping her step out of it. She started to turn around but he stopped her, backing up so he could see her more fully in the dresser mirror. He undid her bra and slipped it off. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured, cupping her breasts and rolling her nipples between his fingers. Her breasts were full, with pink nipples and smooth ivory skin. So tempting, he wanted to turn her around and suck them, but he didn’t.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Dana said.
“I can fix that. Stay right there,” he told her. He’d taken off his suit jacket long ago. He made quick work of his shirt and pants and soon stood behind her. Now they were both naked, but for the tiny scrap of panties Dana still wore.
“Levi—”
He kissed her neck again, kept one hand on her breast and slid the other down to stroke her through the panties. Then he slipped it inside and stroked her sex, loving the way she opened for him.
“You’re driving me mad,” she said huskily.
“That’s the point.” He continued to tease and caress her until they were both on the brink of explosion.
Finally, Dana turned in his arms and pushed him back onto the bed. Before following him down she took out a condom from her bedside table drawer. Then she straddled his legs and rolled the condom on with excruciating, painstaking slowness. He was surprised he didn’t come before she got through.
Dana impaled herself on his cock, riding him slowly at first and then faster, her head thrown back in abandon.
“You have no idea how sexy you look right now.”
“Like what?” she gasped. “Naked?”
He slid his hand into her hair and drew her down to kiss her. “Naked and about to come.”
There was no more talking, just moans and groans and sounds of pleasure until he erupted inside her at the same time as her feminine muscles clenched around him and she called his name as she climaxed.
Eventually, Dana rolled off him and he got up to get rid of the condom. He came back to bed and cuddled her against his chest. God, I’m in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.
He loved her. He’d always loved her. He’d been deluding himself to think he could have a casual relationship with Dana. But did Dana want a serious relationship? Maybe she didn’t. What would he do then?
Seeing her here in Whiskey River with all their friends, friends who were having babies and making families… If Dana committed herself to him she’d want it all. Marriage an d children. A family. And she deserved to have it all. What could he offer her or a child of his? He’d had a shitty childhood. Shittier parents. The brother he loved. The brother he’d failed.
Why was he worrying about the two of them having children when he wasn’t even sure they could or would stay together past the end of his remodeling project? There was still a long way to go on his house, especially if Dana finished the kitchen remodel. And she’d given no indication that she wouldn’t.
“Levi?” Dana had been lying on his chest, tracing idle patterns with a finger but now she turned her head to look up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Not a thing,” he said, and kissed her.
Live in the present. Don’t worry about the past or the future. Just enjoy what you have with Dana in the now. Because that might be all you have.