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Then he steps away without another word and my eyes fill with tears. I hate that my father spoke that way to Aiden.
Aiden has been nothing short of amazing and he certainly doesn’t deserve that.
“I’m so sorry, Aiden,” I start, but as I do, Aiden reaches his hand to my cheek, brushing away my tears.
“Shhh, love, don’t cry.”
I breathe him in, his hand on my skin soothing me, smelling like saltwater and pine trees and clean air. He smells like a man who is comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t need to be anything other than who he already is.
I need to be closer to him. To feel his hands all over me. Because when he holds me, I feel safe.
I feel seen.
And mostly, I feel known.
“Why are you being so good to me?” I ask in a whisper.
“Because you are good, Alice. And you deserve a man who understands that.”
“I’m not good. I dragged you to a stupid wedding because I was mad that they tried to set me up with an asshole.”
Aiden looks me in the eyes. “You mean that? Because Alice, I don’t think that’s it at all. I don’t think that’s why you brought me here.”
“No?”
“No.”
“I want you. I want this. But I just don’t know what that might mean. I hardly know you.”
Aiden’s eyes don’t leave mine for a second. They penetrate me to my very core and I believe everything he says.
“You know enough.”
I swallow hard, absorbing his words. Knowing they are true. I do feel like I know enough. Aiden is a man who knows what he wants and isn’t scared of taking a leap of faith. Aiden likes my innocence, but also in my passion, Aiden sees me as a woman, not a little girl. He takes me seriously, and I take him at his word.
I don’t know everything about him, but right now, it feels like I know enough.
“You’re right,” I manage.
“Your dad’s the only person wrong here,” he says.
I smile softly, stepping closer to him, needing him near me, not caring who sees.
“Well, Peter’s wrong too. He thinks he is going to end up with me.”
Aiden laughs. “Well, maybe he thought that before.”
My eyes crinkle. “What do you mean?”
Aiden grins. “I may have told him we were engaged.”
I snorted, unable to resist. “You did not.”
“Funny right? You thought of it first, with Sheila. Truth is, it was the easiest way to get him off my back.”
I shake my head incredulously. “And the easiest way to get my family fired up. Donovan and Peter are buddies; you do realize that?”
“So?” Aiden’s eyes practically reach inside me and pull me away from any hesitation I may have. “Is it the worst thing in the world for people to think you’re my woman?”
I swallow, heat rising to my cheeks. Suddenly the reception seems a thousand miles away. The only people left on earth are Aiden and me.
“Not even close to being the worst thing.”
Aiden smiles, then leans in, and kisses me. He cups my face with both his hands and I whimper under his hold. I don’t ever want him to let go.
The kiss is unrestrained; Aiden doesn’t care who sees. In fact, maybe he wants everyone to see. To know that he has put his claim on me.
And I let him. I let him kiss me with abandon as if there is no tomorrow. I don’t care that my entire extended family is witnessing our lips crashing together.
The only thing that matters is that Aiden and I are together.
When the kiss ends, and we step back, I swear we’re both dazed and confused. Lost in a fog of desire.
The band is queued up for the first dance, and the lights are low. I take a moment to close my eyes and savor this moment for what it is. Ours.
When I open them, I see Aiden still staring at me. I raise my eyebrows playfully. There is no tension here, between Aiden and me. There is only anticipation.
“So,” I say slowly. “Are you hanging around the bar looking for hot bridesmaids to bang?” My words are a little bit more liberal than usual, and I think the champagne is getting to my head. But I’m not editing myself.
Tonight I am giving in.
“Did you just say bang?” Aiden tilts his head toward me, grinning. “Because, baby, I need to hear you talk filthy some more.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I tease, pressing my hand to my hip.
“Oh, I found a hot bridesmaid to bang. I most certainly did.”
I take his hand, ready to take the lead with this, and I drag him out of the reception and down the hall.
“Where’s your room?” I ask with a smile.
Seconds later we’ve climbed the staircase and are standing outside the door to his room. “So did you just want to check out the room?” he asks.
