Prologue #2
“Bad word!” Sam blurts, and everyone cracks up at my slip.
“Shoot, I’m sorry.” I frown.
“That’ll be five dollars.” Sam holds out his palm, sounding as serious as he looks.
“Sam,” Amelia scolds under her breath, her face turning a gorgeous shade of red.
“Nah, he’s right.” I pull out my wallet and hold out a twenty. “You got change?”
“Nope.” Sam yanks it from my fingers.
“Does that mean I’m good for three more bad words?”
Sam taps a finger to his lips. “I guess.”
Then the little entrepreneur runs off toward my aunt and uncle, waving the money like a trophy.
“Sorry ’bout that.” Amelia sighs, moving Lily to her other hip. “I’ll get it back for you.”
“It’s no biggie.” I wave her off, then quickly add with amusement, “But if I go over ten curses, I’ll have to hit the ATM.”
When her tongue peeks out between her teeth and her smile widens, I’m tempted to lean in and steal a kiss.
I bet she tastes like lavender and honey.
Fuck…I sound like a creep. We just met for God’s sake.
But it’s hard not to be infatuated with her beauty and sweet laughter. My chest hasn’t stopped squeezing since we locked eyes. If I were wearing my smartwatch, it’d alert me to my irregular heart rate and prompt me to call 911.
“He’s gotten over a hundred dollars from me.” Wilder scoffs. “Always catches me when I’m not payin’ attention or don’t realize he’s ’round.”
Delilah snorts. “That’s how he gets ya.”
“Pretty sure my IOU is up to seventy-five bucks,” Raven says, swaying gently. “I told him I didn’t have cash on me, but instead of takin’ pity on me, he said he’d start a tab.”
Amelia pinches the bridge of her nose. “I dunno where he learned that. He’s too smart for his own good.”
After a while, Wilder and Delilah are pulled away to mingle with the other guests, leaving Bodie and me with the girls.
“Can I get you a drink?” I ask Amelia when Bodie follows Raven toward the reception area. He even carries the diaper bag like a gentleman. When he glances over his shoulder, I grin and shake my head.
“Um…sure. Just a glass of wine, please. I can’t have too much since my kids are up early, no matter how late they stay up.” She tilts her head toward Lily, who’s half-asleep on her shoulder.
“No problem. Be right back.”
Lanterns and hay bales line the walkway to the large white tent decorated in gorgeous white tulle and fairy lights.
The floral centerpieces match the wedding colors in various shades of purple.
The Hollises outdid themselves in making everything look rustic and vibrant at the same time.
Not that I’m surprised. Landen, Wilder’s younger brother, had his wedding at my family’s resort a few years ago, and it was beautifully done as well.
“Whaddya think you’re doin’?” Bellamy rushes to my side when I’m at the bar waiting to order.
“Gettin’ a drink. That a’ight with you, boss?”
“Not that, smart-ass.” She leans back and nods toward someone behind me. “She’s your cousin’s friend. You think hookin’ up with her is a smart idea?”
“Posey married our brother’s best friend, so I don’t think havin’ a drink with a family member’s friend is the end of the world.”
She glares, unable to argue with me. “But you’re not a hookup kinda guy. You’ll get attached and then all broody ’cause she lives two hours away.”
“How do you know? I could have a one-night stand if I wanted to.”
She snorts. “Mm-hmm, sure. When’s the last time you got laid?”
“Jesus Christ.” I close my eyes, hoping no one overheard her, but also not wanting to give her my answer. “Why’re you here? Are you even legal to drink?”
She punches my arm. “For three years now, asshole.”
I snicker at how easy it is to rile her up. And change the subject.
“Just ’cause you’re anti-marriage doesn’t mean the rest of us are. Some of us would like to settle down and have a family.”
She scrunches her nose like she smells a rotten egg. “And you think Amelia wants that too?”
“Fuck if I know, but that’s the whole point of talkin’ and seein’ if we align.”
“Alright, well…” She sucks in a long breath through her nose. “I still think it’s a bad idea, so you can deal with the aftermath by yourself.”
“Since I’m a grown-ass man, I will do just that.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
When the bartender’s free, I order a glass of white wine for Amelia and a beer for me.
Posey walks up and nudges me. “Did you get me anythin’?”
“No. Ain’t that your husband’s job?”
She rolls her eyes. “He’s being a social butterfly. Aunt Jo’s showin’ him off to the rest of the family since they wanna meet the cowboy goat yogi.”
I snort at the memory of Silas going viral on social media when he helped demonstrate how to do goat yoga. Posey thought she was getting back at him with some humiliation ritual, but some girls recorded him with his shirt off, and the yoga classes have been booked solid since then.
When I get my beer and tip the bottle back, the cool liquid slides down my throat, giving me some relief from the heat. Although the weather is decent for April in East Tennessee, I’m suffocating in my suit and tie.
“You don’t look so good.” Posey’s face is paler than usual, and I worry she’s gonna pass out. “Feelin’ okay?”
“Didn’t sleep well last night. Never do in hotel beds.”
I nod, because I’m the same way. Without my fan blasting on me, I tossed and turned until I passed out from pure exhaustion.
“Colt’s tryin’ to get lucky tonight,” Bellamy blurts to Posey, making a few of the guests’ heads turn.
“Nice.” Posey smirks. “I got lucky this mornin’.”
“I didn’t need to know that,” I deadpan.
Posey shrugs, waving the bartender down to place her order.
“Alright, well if I may…” I grab the wine glass off the bar. “I’m gonna go back to talkin’ to Amelia.”
“Mm-hmm, talkin’.” Bellamy snickers.
“Maybe worry less about my sex life and more about your lack of one.” I wink before leaving to go back to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
She’s at one of the bartop tables with Raven and another bridesmaid I don’t recognize who’s now holding Lily.
“Sorry it took a while.” I hand Amelia her drink. “Did either of you want somethin’?” I ask Raven and the other woman.
“No, thanks. I’m breastfeedin’,” Raven says.
“And I’m on babysittin’ duty.”
“That’s Mattie,” Amelia says.
“My roommate,” Raven adds.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say, shaking her free hand. “I’m Colt. Wilder’s cousin.”
“Very nice to meet you, too.” She shifts her gaze to my left hand. “Not married, huh?”
“Not yet.”
“Fear of commitment?”
“Nope.” Opposite actually. “Haven’t found the right one.”
Her intense eyes darken as they narrow in on me. “And what’re you lookin’ for exactly?”
“Um, well…” I rock back on my feet, contemplating how much to share.
“Okay, stop grillin’ him,” Amelia scolds. “We just met.”
She saves me from having to answer, but if she hadn’t, I would’ve admitted I’m staring at precisely what I want.
“I don’t mind. My siblings do the same thing.” I flash her an easy grin, and her shoulders relax.
Before I can give Mattie my answer, the wedding party gets called to the head table for dinner. Aunt Dena takes Lily and Sam to their table, where someone else is holding Bailey so the bridesmaids can eat together.
Once I find the rest of my siblings and parents, I finally remove my jacket and sit with them.
When I glance over my shoulder to find Amelia, she’s already staring at me, but then quickly averts her gaze. After the third time catching her, I wink and am rewarded with the most satisfying blush across her cheeks.
Although Bodie’s been flirting with Raven, she doesn’t seem interested in anything more than friendship.
Now that I realize who she is and what she’s been through, I can’t blame her for setting boundaries or being wary about dating.
Bodie seems okay with it, though, because he’s been nothing but respectful.
The night flashes in a blur of speeches, dancing, and more drinking.
I manage to steal Amelia for a few songs on the dance floor, and as the night continues, we move to a quiet table to talk.
Mattie keeps an eye on Sam and Lily, so Amelia and I can be alone.
Her eyes lower to my lips every few seconds, and when I slide my tongue between them, slowly on purpose, her gaze snaps to mine.
My fingers grip her chin, brushing over her soft skin. “You’re really beautiful, Amelia.”
She swallows hard, then sighs. “No one’s said that to me in a long time.”
“I find that hard to believe, darlin’.” My thumb rubs over her lower lip. “I haven’t been able to stop lookin’ at you since the moment we met.”
“That’s very sweet.” She shifts closer until our knees touch. “Especially since I haven’t been with anyone since I got pregnant with my daughter.”
My mind races at the idea of being the one to devour and cherish her all night. “How long ago was that?”
“Lily’s two, so…about three years, I guess. We weren’t serious, but he didn’t wanna be a father. I haven’t seen him since before she was born.”
What a fucking loser.
I’m curious about Sam’s dad, but I don’t want to be nosy. If she wants me to know, she’ll tell me.
Leaning closer, I brush my mouth against her ear. “I’m sorry. It’s his loss. Lily seems like a great kid.”
After she ate with Aunt Dena, she danced nonstop until she passed out in Mattie’s arms.
“She is,” she agrees, shivering at our proximity. “I’d hate to share custody anyway.”
We continue drinking and talking before making our way back to the dance floor. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her into my chest, and she clasps her hands behind my neck.
I can’t stop smiling at how relaxed she is with me. I’m used to women throwing themselves at me, especially drunk and horny ones, but I’m picky about who I bring back to my bed. I don’t just want an attraction. I want a deeper connection.
Although I don’t know much about her, what I do know is enough to make me want to learn more.
When she asked about my tattoos, she was genuinely interested in why I chose them instead of rambling on and on about how sexy they are—like most women do—although I wouldn’t be opposed to her thinking that too.
It never hurts to know when a woman you’re interested in finds you attractive.
“Do you wanna come back to my hotel room with me?” When the song ends, we leave the dance floor, and I finally ask the burning question that’s been on the tip of my tongue for the past couple hours.
Ever since I learned Raven’s staying at Amelia’s place tonight with the kids, I’ve been anxious to find a way to invite her.
I’d love the opportunity to talk in a private room and kiss her, if she wanted that too.
“I don’t usually go home with strangers,” she quips, taking a sip of water when we reach the table. We both stopped drinking alcohol thirty minutes ago—me since I have to drive, and her since she has kids to take care of in the morning.
But I’m hoping she’ll spend the night with me anyway.
“Maybe you could make an exception just this once for me, Miss Calhoun?” I bite my bottom lip playfully and hold up my right palm. “And I promise on my Memaw’s grave that I’ll be the perfect gentleman. Minimal tongue and hands above the waist at all times.”
She cocks her head. “My waist or yours?”
I nearly choke on my tongue at the unexpected question. “You want honesty or chivalry?”
“Both?”
“Alright.” I inch closer, slowly brushing a loose strand behind her ear. “I wanna tear off that stunnin’ dress of yours and lick every inch of your sweet body until you’re moanin’ my name and beggin’ for more. Respectfully, of course.”
Her cheeks redden as she swallows hard. “Hmm…that’s a very temptin’ offer, Mr. Langston.”
Softly, I brush the pad of my finger down her bare arm. “Temptin’ enough to say yes?”
“With an offer like that, how could I refuse?”
The heat of the sun beaming through the window makes me groan in disapproval. I must’ve forgotten to close them before bed, and now I’m awake long before I need to be.
Ah well, that means more time to grab coffee and breakfast with Amelia before I take her home. And hopefully, get her number to make plans to see her again.
I hadn’t anticipated last night to go the way it did, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the most amazing night I’ve ever had with a woman. Especially one I just met.
From the moment we walked through the door, we were all over each other, tearing off our clothes and pressing my lips to hers. I couldn’t get enough of how amazing she tasted, her whimpers and groans, and how badly she wanted me. I was addicted in seconds.
She was, too.
Begging for more, moaning my name, demanding I fuck her through the mattress.
I didn’t expect the filth that left her mouth, but holy shit, I loved it.
I’m usually the vocal one in bed, getting off on how they respond to my words, but I’ve met my match. Amelia didn’t let any of her desires go unknown while I was inside her, kissing her, or licking up every sweet drop of her arousal.
The most shocking thing is that no one banged on the walls or called the front desk about the excessive volume.
By the time we collapsed next to each other, trying to catch our breaths, my heart was damn near pounding out of my chest.
Typically, sex was sex. It felt good, but I didn’t feel more the way most people did. Or supposed to, at least. That once-in-a-lifetime connection. The desperate need to be near them twenty-four-seven. That desire for more than just sex.
I wanted that, of course, but it hadn’t happened.
I never felt that rush of feelings before, and I never, ever expected to feel it after one night.
Amelia was different. Nothing as I predicted.
And that was both thrilling and scary as hell.
Especially because she felt it too.
Except when I glance over to her side of the bed, it’s empty.
Not even messy. It’s been made—comforter tightly pulled up, pillow freshly fluffed.
Still naked, I stand and search the room. Only my clothes from last night are scattered on the floor, and there’s no sign she was here.
Fuck, maybe I dreamed it.
Is it normal to still have wet dreams at twenty-eight?
A small, shiny earring next to my wallet and phone on the nightstand captures my attention, and I know with certainty that last night was real.
And she left without a word or note on how to contact her.