Chapter 4
4
Anais
I scan the tent once more, looking for where Bishop went. One minute I was staring at his back while he talked with a few guests, and the next he was gone.
I’ve done well at trying not to make it too obvious that I’ve been watching him all night. Mom has warned me several times to leave him alone. After my failed attempts to make Bishop my new year's kiss, mom has barely taken her eye off of me each and every time we’ve visited Magnolia Creek or Houston.
But soon, there will be nothing she can do to keep me away from him.
I stand from my chair, deciding I need a little walk and perhaps I’ll bump into Bishop while out, but stop when I see all the guys walk in through the tent opening. They are all smiling and laughing as they make their way over to the bar in the corner. I take a look around to see where my mom and gramma are, and see them both talking with Cami’s parents, so I take it as my opportunity to get some one on one time with Bishop.
My feet carry me across the dance floor, that has been cleared for all the partying that is about to start, and I head in the direction of where the men stand.
“Hey Uncle Nix,” I call to him as I step up to the group. “I was looking for ya.”
“There’s my girl. What is it you need, Peanut?” he asks, using the nickname he gave me years ago.
The nickname that no one knows I have tattooed on my ribcage. It’s an homage to my favorite uncle, but that doesn’t mean that my mom wouldn’t kill me if she found out I had it.
“I was just wondering if you can save a dance for me when the DJ gets started? I’ve hardly spent time with you since I got here, and I just miss my favorite uncle.”
He arches a brow and gives me a pointed look. “Ana…I’m your only uncle so of course I’m the favorite. But to answer your question, yes, I will save a dance for you.”
I smile sweetly and play up the innocent vibe. “Good. In fact, I think I”ll need a dance from all of you gentlemen this evening.”
“Of course, darlin’. I wouldn’t dream of not taking a spin across the dance floor with you and Dagen. She’d shoot me in the eye with her arrow if I didn’t include her.” Vaughan lifts his glass to me with a wink.
“I’ll add you to my dance card, pretty girl,” Hayes says.
Luca –lord have mercy this man– gives me a smirk that I know he doesn’t mean to be sexy but from him, it just is.
“Assolutamente, piccola.”
Bishop stands with one hand in his pocket and a bottle of beer in the other which he holds up to his lips and drinks slowly from. I stare at him, waiting for him to confirm, as do the other men.
He finally drops the bottle from his mouth and says, “sure thing, Anais.”
His voice is flat and totally emotionless. He either really hates me, or is working really hard to make me think that he does. I smile at him because I won’t be turned off by his harsh attitude.
“Uncle Nix,” I draw out and step closer to him. “It would be so amazing if you got me a glass of champagne. ”
He arches a brow at me once again, and slowly shakes his head. I immediately pull out the big guns and cross my arms over my chest and turn my mouth into a pout.
“Please Uncle Nix? I’ve been so good and I just want one little glass. I promise I won’t drink anymore than that.”
I clasp my hands in front of me and bat my eyelashes at him.
“Nah nah. Don’t pull that shit with me. You’re not ten anymore and I’m not going to fall for the whole sad girl routine.”
“Aw, c’mon Nix. She’s nineteen and it’s not like she’s never had alcohol. Just a little glass,” Vaughan says, coming to my defense.
“Yeah, Uncle Nix. One glass isn’t going to hurt her,” Hayes adds.
I look at Luca and he shrugs. “The drinking age is eighteen in Italy, so to me it is no problem. This is a call for Zio.”
Phoenix looks each of his friends in the eye, not seeing one of them coming to his defense, and gives them each a glare.
“Y’all really sold me out. Damn. Thanks,” he tells them. “ One glass, Anais. Don’t go begging someone else for one. Got it?”
“Yes, Nixy,” I respond, using Viv’s nickname for him.
His nostrils flare and Hayes snorts a laugh before the rest of the guys follow suit.
“You’re a brat,” he tells me then turns to the bar where glasses of champagne are lined up and throws a twenty in the tip jar for the bartender, telling him, “she’s with me, but don’t let her con you into giving her another.”
The bartender looks at me, his eyes roaming up and down my body before saying, “you got it.”
“Quit looking at her like that before I take back this fucking tip,” Phoenix growls and I latch onto his arm and yank him away.
“He’s kidding,” I tell the poor bartender who is now pale. “Thank you.”
“No I’m not!” Uncle Nix shouts as I drag him away.
All the guys follow behind the two of us as we make our way through the guests and back to the tables that all of the ladies are now standing near .
“There you are, husband,” Cami says, an enormous smile on her face.
“Hello wife,” Vaughan growls in a deep rumble, then takes Cami in his arms, kissing her with an over dramatic flair.
All of the ladies smile with hearts in their eyes that I can practically see. Uncle Nix holds tight to Viv’s hand and CeCe and Luca are locked onto each other's waists. Cat and Hayes exchange guilty glances and it has me curious, and Bishop stares at the beer in his hand as he swirls it around.
He’s quiet and almost solemn as I stare, willing him to look at me. I want him to see me and to see that I could be his Cami or Viv or CeCe. I just need a look. One look is all it will take.
But he never looks and I go back to waiting for the day he’ll finally realize what we could be.
I throw my head back in laughter as Hayes pulls me in to him after twirling me out. The song is a fast country one, and he’s had me shuffling and two stepping all around the floor.
Once the party got into full swing, the dance floor has been non-stop. I’ve danced with all the guys –but Bishop– and the girls pulled me into a few “girls only” dances. Dagen has dragged me out a couple of times, and Cami’s dad tugged me to the center when one of his favorite Tejano songs came on.
The only man left on my list is Bishop, and he has found himself on the other side of the room every time I have tried to track him down. But as the night winds down, he is left without anywhere else to hide .
The song ends and Hayes gives me a hug. “Thanks for the dance, darlin’. Be sure to bring those cowboy boots with you. We have lots of line dancing to do at Billy’s.”
He winks and I melt a little. These men have got to be the hottest group of guys I’ve ever laid eyes on. No wonder these ladies were quick to snatch them up.
I walk over to the table where my mom and gramma sit talking with Viv, and reach for the glass of water, chugging it down in one gulp.
“Hayes wear you out?” Viv asks.
“Just a little. I have one more guy to go, then I think I’ve danced with every male at this wedding.”
Viv’s eyes flick to look at something over my shoulder and she says, “I think she means you, big guy.”
I spin around to see Bishop hovering at the edge of the dance floor looking unsure and like he wants to run.
“What do you say, Bishop? One quick dance?” I ask him.
He gulps, his large Adam's apple bobbing in his thick throat, and he dips his chin. “Sure,” he says and holds out his hand.
I slide mine into his and my body suddenly feels like it’s been set on fire. Every inch of me burns and it burns for one person.
The low rumble of an acoustic guitar sounds, and he places one hand high on my waist while the other grips tight to mine. He’s so big that I’m thankful I still have my heels on because I barely reach his chin with them.
Lightly I rest my free hand on his shoulder and the raspy, seductive voice of Lenny Kravitz begins singing a song I don’t recognize.
“It’s Butterfly ,” Bishop says. The look on my face must be one of confusion because he repeats. “The song. It’s Butterfly by Lenny Kravitz.”
“I recognized the voice, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard this song before.”
“That’s because it came out before you were born,” he tells me, a small smirk gracing his gorgeous face.
Jesus, this man is so beautiful. Dark, flawless skin. A short beard that is beyond perfect, lines cut with precision. Muscles that bulge and stretch shirts to their very end. But the most impressive feature about Bishop is his smile. When he does, it’s the most glorious sight.
The way his face lights up, pure joy evident, is flat out the sexiest thing ever. It’s infectious and draws you in. Like a moth to a flame, to be cheesy about it.
The song plays on, the low hum of the guitar and voice setting a sensual mood. We don’t talk, just take turns glancing, trying not to get caught by the other. My eyes look quickly around the tent to see everyone enmeshed in their own conversations.
I let my fingers lightly dance on his shoulder that I can feel better with his suit jacket off and only his thin button up on. The top two buttons are undone and a gold chain shines against his chest. My eyes focus on that and his breaths turn deep and heavy.
“I’m really excited to start school,” I say as the song starts to draw to a close.
“Good,” he says, hoarsely. “I think you’ll really enjoy Rice.”
“Yeah. I think so, too.” My voice turns low and comes out just above a whisper.
Bishop’s eyes turn down to meet mine and they lock on each other. His jaw flexes as he clenches it, and I feel his fingers press harder into my waist. Our steps fall to a very slow sway.
I open my mouth to…say anything, but he quickly drops his hands and takes two steps back.
“Thanks for the dance, Anais. Good luck with the start of school.”
“But,” I call out as he rushes away from me and out of the tent.
I’m left standing in the middle of the dance floor by myself, wishing he’d give me just a moment of his time. That's all I need.