Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Angus
H all and Oates sing about dreams coming true while Charlotte and Callen dance their first dance as a married couple. It may not be your typical cheesy slow dance, but it’s them and it’s perfect.
The whole day has been a perfect, masochistic whirlwind.
Knowing my excuses will be gone after the clock strikes twelve, I’ve been using the wedding as an excuse to touch Mia in ways that aren’t usually acceptable. We walked down the aisle together, stood side by side during the wedding photos, and sat next to each other at dinner.
Her red velvet wrap dress fits her like a glove flaring slightly at her hips to hang loose all the way to the ground. But that split up her left leg goes nearly to her hip and every time I glimpse her bare skin, I fight off images of my hands gliding up her thighs to part her legs so I can taste her.
And let’s just say, today of all days, surrounded by family, is not the most opportune time for those kinds of R-rated thoughts.
My fantasies may be just that. Fantasies. But that didn’t stop me from relishing every time the photographer asked me to move closer. Close enough to smell her shampoo. Or Charlotte insisting my hand rest on Mia’s hip or low back when we posed for pictures. Once again, the bride asked for several shots of the two of us together, posing like prom dates. All I could think was, finally. And what is up with Charlie? Why isn’t she asking the rest of the wedding party to take the same kind of photos.
Thankfully, Owen was the best man, and I had nothing to do but stare at her while my brother and his now-wife exchanged vows. The crazy thing is, Mia watched me right back.
Maybe it’s our proximity to one another or all the casual touching, because I’ve let my guard down, not giving a shit if I’m acting out of character or who might notice. The electricity I feel every time I touch her is worth whatever fallout may come from my boldness.
She doesn’t seem to give a shit, either, because she hasn’t pulled away once. In fact, she’s leaned into me on more than one occasion.
Like she is right now. We’re standing on the edge of the dance floor watching the first dance. My arm is draped over her shoulders and hers is around my waist, her head resting on my shoulder like it's something we do every day.
There’s something here.
There always has been, but the fight to resist it is no longer as strong. It’s the opposite. My need to give into this palpable. We have an inescapable chemistry that is all-consuming.
The song ends and Usher and Little Jon start singing about their night in the club. In two seconds flat we’re all on the dance floor shouting, “Yeah!”
Even I’m shaking my ass. It’s impossible not to when this song comes on with this group of people. This is our party song and my eyes, as always, are on Mia. Her hands are up in the air, her ass sways, and she sings along, holding nothing back and it’s fucking gorgeous.
We all know to stand back when Ludacris comes on because it’s time for Knox to shine. In preparation for his big moment, we form a small circle. Using my big brother as a distraction I gently grab Mia by the hips, so her back is pressed against me.
She doesn't miss a beat, keeping pace with the song and my hips. I love every purposeful sway of her ass against my cock. She doesn’t falter when Knox takes his long flowing locks out of his man bun and lip syncs, bending to touch his toes, just like the lyrics say the girl in the club does. We scream for him, like we always do, and then the circle disperses. Mia continues to dance in front of me, and I don’t give her an inch of space.
We’re both being reckless and honestly, I’ve never been happier or more turned on.
Mia’s parents along with Sawyer join us when the next song begins, and I take a few cautious steps away from them. Mia picks Sawyer up and holds one of his pudgy little hands out as she dances with him in a small circle. Her eyes lock on mine for the first time since our dirty dancing began while she kisses Sawyer on the cheek.
The organ pumping life through my body thunders in my ears, the sight of them filling my lungs with life and my heart full of something foreign.
Something warm and powerful.
Something that feels a whole lot like a word I’m not sure I should acknowledge, even though it’s obvious.
At the end of their dance, Mia excuses herself to change his diaper. Her mom follows her off the dance floor, and because I am a moth to her flame, I follow, too, unable to be more than a few feet away from her.
Mia’s mom insists on changing Sawyer, so Mia hands him over. When she turns and finds me standing directly behind her, she gasps, her eyes wide with surprise. They quickly go all soft and sparkly like they do when she’s happy, and fuck if the warmth pulsating in my chest doesn’t speed up.
She’s about to say something when a blonde woman I’ve never seen before interrupts her. “Excuse me, but you’re Mia Powell, right?”
“Yes, I’m Mia.” At first, she seems as confused as I am, but then recognition dawns on her face. “Oh, you’re Hailey from the clinic, right?”
“Yes, it’s so good to see you again. You must be the husband I’ve heard so much about? Your little boy is just adorable.”
Mia stills, her face crimson red, fear setting in.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her against my side, basking in the sound of someone calling me her husband. Calling her mine. But I don’t linger in the glory because Mia needs a lifeline, and I’m happy to jump in and save the day. “He is pretty dang cute, isn’t he?” I ask the stranger. “How do you know the bride and groom?”
“Oh, I’m Owen’s date.”
Of course she is. I’ve been so singularly focused on the woman currently clinging to me in desperation, I hadn’t even noticed he’d brought a plus one.
“So, have you heard about the job yet?” she asks Mia.
“No, not yet. They said it won’t be until after the new year, so I should hear soon.”
“Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but I think you’ll be getting a very nice start to your new year.”
Mia’s face lights up with hope. “Really?” Her voice is full of happiness.
“I mean, it’s not up to me, but I think they knew once they met you. They can’t stop talking about what a cute little family you have. To be honest, the other interviews seem like a formality.”
“I sure hope you’re right.”
Owen saunters up and if he notices my hold on Mia, he doesn’t show it. “Excuse me, but I’d like to dance with my date, if you don’t mind?”
“She’s all yours,” I say.
My thumb rubs circles on Mia’s hip and I’d give my left nut for Hailey to ditch Owen and stay here and chat with my wife a little longer. I’d do just about anything to keep touching her.
“It was great to see you, Mia, and nice to meet you, uh, Angus, right?”
“That’s right. Nice to meet you too, Hailey,” I reply, dreading the moment she walks away and Mia drops the facade.
Owen leads her to the middle of the room and onto the hardwood floor where they slow dance with other couples.
“Holy shit,” Mia says, putting space between us.
I miss her body against mine the instant she pulls away, but she’s panicking.
How do I know?
Her granny’s ring is getting more action than I am.
“We didn’t lie about anything. We did not confirm or deny that I was your husband,” I say, trying to calm her.
“But what if she says something to Owen?”
I look over my shoulder and chuckle when I see Owen and Hailey making out on the dance floor. “I don’t think he’s much into chit-chat.”
“But, what if?”
“You can’t live your life worrying about all the what-ifs.”
I know I’m a hypocrite, but this is about her, not me.
Her gaze drops to the floor as she continues to fidget with her ring.
“It’s gonna be fine, wifey,” I joke.
Her head pops up, her eyes wide, but the lift to one side of her mouth makes me think she liked the sound of it almost as much as I did.
In fact, I liked it a little too much because it’s taking a herculean effort to ignore the semi in my pants.
“Shut up,” she whispers shyly, but her smile widens. “You are so stupid.”
“I think you like my kind of stupid.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t deny it. “Seriously, though. This could get messy.”
“Why don’t you tell the family, then? You know they’ll go along with it if it means you get the job, the insurance, and the day care.”
“It’s too embarrassing.”
“You don’t have to say anything tonight, but it might be wise to let them in on the secret soon. It’s not like they never leave town. One of them is bound to run into someone from the clinic at some point.”
“I’ll think about it,” she says. The ring still moving from hand to hand says she’s stressed, and I miss the carefree woman from the dance floor.
“Come on, Goof. Let’s go have some fun. It’ll be midnight before you know it.”
On instinct, I reach for her hand, but she pulls her fingers away as we touch, reminding me of the cold, hard truth. She’s not mine and therefore I don’t get to hold her hand tonight.
But I’ve seen that look in her eyes. I’ve seen the sexy-as-sin smile lighting up her face, and I think she wants to be mine. Even if we are only pretending.
She pulled away, but I don’t let that sucker punch me like it could have. It’s then I decide I’m giving myself the rest of the night to keep my give a shit guards down and let go of all the chaos constantly running through my head.
Of course, I know I’m not good enough for her, but it’s a wedding. The champagne is flowing, the music is thumping, and I’m gonna make the most of it.
“Dance with me,” I yell over the current banger everyone else is already dancing to.
This time, when I take her hand and walk us toward the party, she doesn’t pull away. She laces her fingers through mine.
And we dance.
And we sing.
And we laugh.
And it’s almost perfect.
If it were real... Now that would be perfect.
Near the end of the night, her parents appear with Sawyer to say their goodbyes.
Holding my hands out to Erin, I say, “Here, let me take him so you can make your rounds.”
“You sure? He’s getting cranky.”
“We’ll be fine, won’t we, buddy?”
He rubs his eyes and gives me an exhausted, “Gus, Gus.”
“I got him.” I take the worn-out kid from his grandma, and he lays his head on my shoulder. His arms wrap around my neck, his body heavy with sleep. “Go.”
Mia spots us from across the room and makes her way to us, her eyes never leaving mine.
“You want me to take him?” she asks, rubbing his back.
“No, we’re good.”
And we are. The feeling of him completely relaxed in my arms grounds me. Gives my pathetic existence some sort of meaning. It’s ridiculous to feel that much over something so small, but this little boy in my arms and his mama looking up at me like I hung the moon feels like everything.
My everything.
“Well, if you really are okay, I’m gonna run to the little girls’ room, and then make sure all his stuff is together for my parents. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“We’ll be here.”
She walks away, and Knox fills the space. “Uh, Gus. You got a little something... right... there...” He points to Sawyer. “It’s a kid. Brother, it’s all over you.”
I roll my eyes, but before I can reply, something catches my attention. Mia’s ring. Rolling across the floor.
“Shit. Here, hold him for a sec.” I quickly peel Sawyer off me and hand him to my brother to go running after Mia’s most prized possession.
It’s moving fast across the dance floor, between high heels and boots, but I snag it before anyone steps on it.
When I get back to Knox, he’s holding a sleeping Sawyer out in front of him like the kid is bug-infested or something. Sawyer’s poor little limp body hangs so heavy his chin is practically touching his chest.
“He doesn’t have cooties, you idiot.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“You are an ass. That I know for sure. He’s a sweet kid. It might do you some good to get his germs all over you.”
His face contorts in disgust. “Here. Take him back.”
Slipping Mia’s ring in my pants pocket, I accept the sleeping angel, cradling him in my arms.
Knox is wiping imaginary germs from his body and pretending to have the shakes. But after a second, he gives me a wink that says he’s only messing around and the real him is in there somewhere.
“You aren’t getting any younger, big brother. When are you gonna find someone to settle down with and start a family?”
“Oh, no, no, no. You’ve got the wrong sibling. Cal’s the settling-down type. You,” he points at me and then himself, “me, we don’t have that domesticated side.” He tilts his head, examining me. “Well, I know, I don’t.” He waves his hand in front of me and Sawyer. “But you... I’m not so sure anymore.” He tilts his head to the other side. “Shit, I think this might just look good on you.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.