Chapter 30
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My stomach muscles burn from laughter as I lean back in my chair with Anna tucked into my side.
Empty plates lie scattered around the large round table, wineglasses and beer bottles beside them.
The cooler in Anna’s hand has to be warm by now, but she still doesn’t set it down.
She continues to sip on the fruity drink and tap the tin in time with the low music, anything to keep from moving from my arms. Her chair is as close to mine as it can be, but I’d prefer her to abandon it in exchange for my lap.
Luckily, the other group of people at the table couldn’t have cared less about us, so we haven’t had to worry about getting interrupted thus far. Even though this wasn’t my original table, I’m considering giving Walker a giant thank you for the guest placement.
I bury my face in Anna’s hair and sweep my thumb over the ridge of her belly button through the silk dress. She leans further into me and rubs her cheek against my forehead, letting me soak her up for as long as I want to.
Fuckin’ hell, I could stay here forever.
“So, how do you know Walker, Brody?” Maddox asks, setting down his dewy long neck beside his wife’s glass of water.
“Grew up together in Cherry Peak and played for a shit triples team in Calgary. He was always a better player than me, clearly, so I quit while he kept on climbing. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years now.”
“You played hockey?” Anna asks me.
“Mmhmm. I never took it seriously, but it kept me busy. Gave me an excuse to fight off a lot of my teenage angst.”
“Not a damn part of me believes that Walker Morales is from a blink-and-you-miss-it hick town,” he muses before grunting in pain when Anna shifts her lower body and then smirks across the table. “No offense, man.”
“Saying no offense after saying something rude doesn’t mean there’s actually no offense, Maddox,” my woman lectures.
I kiss the side of her head and meet Maddox’s awaiting stare with an easy one. “It’s alright. Walker is the furthest thing from a cowboy, so I get it. He’s always been like that. Bigger than life with dreams to match.”
“I’d say you have big dreams too, considering your career,” Braxton says.
“Yeah, I guess I do. I’m one of the lucky people who gets to make a livin’ from what I love.”
“That’s an understatement. You’re amazing at what you do. I think we can all agree on that,” Anna adds, palming my knee.
I almost haul her onto my thighs then and there. “It’s been nice to have a break, though. Been a long time since I was at home to help out.”
The couple across from us nods, a shared look of sympathy there and gone in a flash, making way for understanding.
“I get you. Nothing compares to the feeling of being gone for a long stretch and getting to come home,” Maddox says, gazing at his wife with a lovesick expression that has me saying fuck it and tugging Anna right into my lap.
She doesn’t fight me, just relaxes into the motions and slips onto my thighs, leaning against my chest like there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.
I rest my chin on her shoulder and appreciate the lack of gawking her family does at our new position.
Braxton looks away from her husband and at me, smiling softly, the lightest tip of her chin making my throat swell.
“How long are you home for, Brody?” she asks carefully.
Not long enough. “A few more weeks.”
“And then?”
“And then we’ll see,” Anna cuts in, stiffening enough for me to notice.
I press my lips to her shoulder, over the thin strap of her dress and the delicate skin beneath, before tightening my arm around her stomach and pulling her further up my lap, chest to back.
The sound of a clearing throat from behind me has me shifting, glancing over my shoulder. Rita stands a couple of feet back, arms crossed and one long finger tapping at the watch on her wrist.
“The crowd awaits,” Anna breathes, spinning in my arms to face me.
The encouraging glint in her eyes hits me right in the gut. I don’t know if I deserve her. Too bad I’m gonna take her anyway.
“Not yet. Not until I’ve danced with you first.”
Her eyes widen, as if she can’t believe I’d fight to do this with her, and it’s enough to have me ready to drive my fist through her ex’s face. That stupid asshole did a real number on her if she truly believes it’s surprising that I’d want to spend more time with her.
“Really?” she murmurs.
I bury my anger for the moment and nod, trailing my fingers along the curve of her jaw and chin. “I’ll be right back, and then you’re gonna do me the honour of joinin’ me on the dance floor. I’m not missin’ this chance for the world.”
Her lashes flutter, hiding those pretty brown eyes from me as she presses into my touch. “Alright. I’ll be here.”
Reluctantly, I drop my hand in my lap before Anna settles back in her own chair, leaving my body jarringly cold in her absence. Another cough behind us, and I’m out of my chair, flashing an apologetic smile at Maddox and Braxton.
“I’ll be back. Excuse me.”
They both nod and jump back into conversation with Anna as I turn and head to my manager.
Rita stalks away from the tables of guests beginning to get up and move to the dance floor, waiting for me against one of the walls behind the impressive donut tower display.
I’m grateful for the volume of the music playing around us when she pins me in place with a hard glare.
“You needed to be ready to go up onstage ten minutes ago. Instead, I find you PDA’ing it up with that woman.
Do you have any idea how many photos have already been posted of you here tonight?
You’re at a wedding for one of the best-playing NHL players in the world!
This isn’t an empty karaoke bar where you’ve decided to get your kicks off after a few lonely nights! ”
Her anger was expected. The digs were too. But the photos . . . I should have expected those. When Rita nods sharply, as if reading my mind, I realize that maybe my wince wasn’t as well hidden as I hoped it was.
“Does she know that she’s about to end up in photos with you tonight? That they’re going to be spread all over social media by tomorrow?”
Looking back at the table, I fight back a smile at the furious movement of Anna’s hands as she speaks animatedly to her sister. Her eyes are alive; it’s obvious even from back here. I already miss her. Fuck me.
I grit my jaw when I dive back into this conversation. “My personal life isn’t your business, Rita. She knows who I am and what comes with that. And as far as needin’ to sing, I still have time before I’m up. I’m damn well gonna spend it dancin’ with my date.”
“Your date? Brody, I’m going to seriously encourage you against that. The photos of you two at the table can be easy enough to brush aside, but dancing with her out there won’t be. This is going to be a PR nightmare.” She’s already texting on her phone before the final word lands.
“It’s a good thing that I don’t want to brush her aside, then. I’m dancin’ with my woman, Rita. End of conversation.”
She inhales sharply, glancing up from her screen. “Your woman?”
I straighten, crossing my arms. “Yeah, my woman. Tell whoever you need to, but I never agreed to sign off on this shit before. Take it or leave it, but I’m not talkin’ about this any longer tonight.”
“You have . . .” She looks at her screen again. “Seven minutes. Make them damn well count, and then finish what you were invited here to do.”
My damn manners keep me from storming off without replying. “Got it. Enjoy the rest of your night. It’s an open bar.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she snips, but I’m already walking back to the table.
By the time I’m standing at the back of Anna’s chair and resting my hands on her shoulders, she’s finished off her warm cooler, leaving it by the collection of dirty plates that have yet to be cleared away.
She peeks up at me, happiness twinkling in those gorgeous eyes. Unable to help myself, I’m damn near folding my body in half to get a long, greedy taste of her lips. I taste the fruity drink mixed with the naturally sweet flavour of her and pull back before she ends up hauled over my shoulder.
“Got everything sorted out?” she asks, the words hushed, just for me.
I bury my fingers in the silky-smooth hairs at the back of her head and use the hold to gently tip it back, tempted to kiss her again but holding back. Her stare is innocent to the watchful eye, but it sets my skin on fire.
“Yeah, sweetheart. All sorted.” I take a step back and offer her my hand. “Dance with me?”
Picking up on the song playing, she flicks her gaze to the DJ before looking back at me with a brow raised. “I’m a terrible two-stepper.”
“He’ll change the song by the time we get up there. Don’t tell my grandmother that, though. She makes dancin’ her sole personality trait at every weddin’ we’ve ever been at.”
“I’ll have to ask her for some tips, then.”
“If you want bonus points, ask about the Cadillac Ranch. It’s her favourite.”
“Consider it done, Cowboy,” she says, setting her hand in mine.
I help her up and tighten my grip on her tiny fingers while leading her to the dance floor. Just like I was expecting, the DJ changes to a slower song a beat later, but the sound of my own voice comes as a shock. Anna’s abrupt laugh calls one of my own to the surface.
“Do you think that was on purpose?” she asks, fighting a smile.
When I catch Walker waving at me from the bridal party table, I shake my head, laughing incredulously.
“Oh yeah, it was on purpose.”
“At least he chose one of your best songs,” she offers, the hint of a tease in her tone.
Stepping onto the dance floor, I twirl Anna into my arms, catching her against my chest with a grin. She relaxes in my hold, sliding her arms up and around my neck, holding me tight. The soft expanse of her lower back feels like a gift beneath my hands as we start to sway.
“Are you hintin’ that not all of my songs are good, Annalise?” I tease.
She wiggles her brows. “Oh no, you brought out the full name. Did I brush a nerve, Brody?”
I dig my fingers into the curve of her hip and tug her until we’re close enough to hold a piece of paper between us. Her eyes spark with such pure happiness, and I nearly lose my breath at the beauty of it. She’s
“Nobody brushes my nerves the way you do. I don’t let them get close enough,” I admit.
“Yet here I am.”
I release a breath heavy with the weight of my thoughts and nod. “Yeah. Here you are.”
To stay, if I have anything to do with it.