TWENTY-TWO #2
“We’re not at work.”
“For maybe the first time. You’re just as obligated here,” she said, linking their fingers when he put her back on her feet. “Now everyone gets to see.”
The meal sundries had been whooshed away by their army of servers. The cherry blossoms would be taken home by all on shoes and shawls, but the dance floor was clear of it at least.
Zairn overtook her to lead the way onto the empty floor. They stopped in the middle and boom, spotlight. Right there in the glow from above, he turned, yanked, and then she was against him, in his arms. Ah, the flip move from bed diversified to vertical. Impressive.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Zairn Lomond.”
Okay, she’d let that one slide, because he was too good at this.
Her forearms against him, she pushed herself close as he squeezed.
Everyone would recognize the music from their Rome dance, that had since aired to the world, but it still meant more to them than anyone could ever know. That night was the first they…
“We should do this every year.”
“We do it every week,” Zairn said. “Any time you want to dance—”
“The wedding,” she said. “Jane’s too beautiful to only be a bride once.”
Something crossed his expression as his eyes moved away for a moment before returning. “You have an impervious quality that makes me forget to compliment you like I should.”
“You are leaning hard on the nostalgia.”
“I love Jane. She’s a sweet girl, deserving, loyal, beautiful.”
“Buyer’s remorse?”
He snickered. “That’s just it, baby. You’re you and deserve nothing less than she does. The way you look at her, the love you have for her, she wants you to be as happy. We both do.”
“We’re family,” she said. “All of us. We’re happy together.”
“Knox loves her no more than I love you. I’d argue he loves Jane less, but I am better at everything and like to win.”
“You never win with me.”
“I don’t. Know why that is?”
“Yeah.” She rubbed her cheek against him. “Because I have the reins.”
“At home and in the office. Here, there, and everywhere.”
“What is it you and your boys say? All is fair in love and business,” she said and slid her hands higher. “Knox likes straightforward, likes satisfying Jane’s needs, even the crazy ones, and he never apologizes for it.”
“You think I apologize for loving you?”
“No! I’m just a little more complicated.”
“A little?”
Okay, buddy, laugh it up. “You wouldn’t want this if you didn’t want complicated,” she said. “You’re not so straightforward yourself.”
“We’re talking about you here.”
“Oh, are we? My mistake.”
“You want to get married again, Lola B? We’ll get married again. Hell, we’ll do it every other day if it makes you happy. Jane deserves that. You deserve that too.”
“Nothing wrong with my self-esteem.”
“You don’t like praise either.”
The sterner note of his gaze hailed back to the very moment she’d said something similar to him.
“Oh my God, you’re clapping back to something I said—when did I say that?”
“Vegas.”
“That’s right,” the agreement left on her breath. “Come to the fiftieth.”
“Mm hmm.”
“And you, oh, oh, you said you had a condition.” Her nose wrinkled. “Were you telling me to get tested?”
“We hadn’t had sex then.”
“No, we had not…” Although… “Not in real life, maybe in my head a few times.”
His laugh was always a reward. “Liar. I was fantasizing about fucking you long before you thought it about me.”
“Hey, I was never against sleeping with you, I was just less… eager than some of your fans.” Like her BFFs. Hamming it up, she batted her eyelashes at him. “Don’t I make up for that now?”
“Hmm…”
“Now I think about having sex with you all the time. I’m thinking about it right now.”
“That dress does have quick access. Shouldn’t have shown me that if you didn’t want it exploited.”
“Exploit it any time, Scroogey. I’m your number one fan.”
“Don’t forget I’m yours after Roxiverse airs and your popularity soars. Number one topic, rain or shine, everywhere I go it’s ‘Roxie this…’ ‘Roxie that…’ You’ll get bigger when you rule mainstream media.”
“Ah, so that’s why you married me.”
“For the street cred? You figured me out, baby.”
“If I was straightforward like Jane, you wouldn’t have your in with all my girls and their gossip.
I know how you love to chat about their issues and get involved fixing their lives and their loves.
Talking into the wee hours, sharing their hair and makeup tips has to be one of the highlights you get with me. We should do that more often.”
“Grand romantic gestures would be so much easier.”
“Nah, they’re exhausting.” On a bluster of breath, her forehead dropped against him for a beat.
“You trying to decipher crazy hints, me upset when you don’t hear them.
You plan some big thing and I have to react, oooh, ahh…
” she mocked herself. “Then there’s the people and the press…
Can’t we just have sex in public or something if you need a big gesture? Wouldn’t that be simpler?”
“Been talking to Roux?”
“Shame she and I are different too. I prefer having you to myself.”
All to herself. Him. Them. Love, marriage, and happily ever after, saved for him alone.
He kissed her head. “Have you had a good day?”
“It’s not over yet, Scroogey.” She beamed. “I have plans for later.”
“You want to get married again?”
“Heard third time’s a charm. Not tonight though, we need to set another date if we want more presents.”
They’d asked people to donate to specific charities in lieu of actual presents. No charity would refuse that gift twice.
“Lola—”
“My friends are important to me. They’re important to you.
That’s what wins you points, Casanova. You care about what I care about.
You listen. You allow me so much freedom.
” That wasn’t about geography or money, his support allowed her to reach every peak.
“Knox does what makes Jane happy and that involves public displays. Want to know where our power is? How you can match him?”
“Tell me.”
Rising on her tiptoes, she stayed close, begging him to keep their balance. “Right here,” she whispered. “When I have you all to myself.”
The public bayed for Zairn. Always had. He gave the masses just enough to whet their appetites while maintaining the enigma.
He kissed her forehead. “Any time you want me, baby.”
“You give me so much more than I give you.”
“Sometimes you forget how much time I’ve spent overseas.” She didn’t get it. “I’ve been everywhere, Lo. Everywhere. I guarantee there’s only one you, I know it. What you give me is irreplaceable. You’re the world, baby. The whole world.”
“It feels unreal sometimes, doesn’t it? What if I wake up tomorrow and you’re gone?”
“Then charge your phone, ‘cause I promise you I’m trying to call.”
Moving to the music, she rested her head against him.
There were others around, on the dance floor.
The music wound between them, keeping them all together, even while apart.
Their friends, their families and colleagues, everyone was there to celebrate love with her and Jane and their beaus. And where there was one good friend…
“Just so you know, we’ll definitely be getting married again at least once. We’ll have to when Toria finds her Prince Charming,” she said. “That’s a necessity. Keeps everything fair.”
“Toria’s wedding? I dread to think. What will that involve? I’m guessing it’s not the fairytale dress and a shower of petals.”
“Don’t be a party pooper, you never know. Could be a naked wedding.”
“Then we’re talking a vastly reduced guest list. Don’t much want to see all my guys’ girls naked.” He scowled. “Don’t want to see your sister and mom naked either.”
“Mom’s got a great body, she’s really active.”
“Are you trying to convince me I need to see your mother naked?”
“Convince? No. But would give you a preview of what you have to look forward to.”
“Seeing your mom naked?”
His tease earned a nudge though they stayed connected. “You better still be screwing me when I’m her age.”
“Okay, well, she can come, if you’re adamant.”
“Know who’s not invited?”
“Dunlap?” he asked. Was he even in the room? There hadn’t been time to take a lap. Would probably take a couple of hours, or a whole day, to give everyone a few seconds. “Salad?”
“Ogilvie.”
That flattened his affect. “Agreed.”
“Of course…” Straightening her arms, she rested her elbows against his shoulders. “We could have a rehearsal naked wedding. All alone.”
“We might need more than one.”
“Mm, maybe.”
“For extra practice…” he said, “we shouldn’t stay out too late tonight.”
Yeah, when she got caught up in the club, when the mood was high, she could dance until the sun came up.
That night was meant for something else.
“Jane and Knox will cut their cake, we’ll bus everyone to the club… We have one more costume change. For public consumption. You get a special reveal later.”
“That a promise?”
“Unless I get a better offer.” Her eyes wandered like maybe she was checking out the competition. This was Zairn-damn-Lomond, there was no such thing. “Odds are in your favor so far.”
And they’d continue to be. Happily ever after didn’t mean happy every minute, she was smart enough to know that. Right then though, being with him, surrounded by friends, she couldn’t imagine life getting much better.