“How wonderful. Does she know what she wants to do after school?”
“She’s a very creative child, and ambitious, but currently, she has an interest in screenwriting,” Maevyn says.
“She’s a good kid,” Phil says from beside me. “Came to a self-defence class with me and West the other week.” I offer my friend a grateful look.
“So you two get on well then? Twelve must be a hard age for a kid to accept a new parental figure,” Hayden, one of the other guys at the table, asks.
“Actually,” Maevyn says. “Aurora’s never known her birth father. It’s always been the two of us, but she loves West.”
She turns her head, giving me a shy smile that I reciprocate. I wonder if she means that. Aurora’s such an amazing young girl. Any time I get to spend with both of them, my heart feels so fucking content. It’s hard to remember what my days were like without them.
“Okay, folks, it’s time for the first dance,” the DJ says into the microphone. “Please turn your attention to the dancefloor and welcome Mr and Mrs Ledger.”
Everyone claps and whistles as the floodlights dim, leaving only string lights glowing, stretched between the trees bordering each side of the high-gloss floor that’s been dropped in the middle of the field. Crew and Vera step into the middle, winding their arms around each other.
“Oh, I love this song,” Rachel says, leaning into her husband.
I wrap my arm around Maevyn’s chest, drawing her back into me. Her perfume surrounds me, and I have zero shame as I bury my nose into her hair and inhale. Chocolate. Mandarin.Maevyn.
She sways slightly in my arms as we watch the bride and groom, and I find myself dropping a kiss in her hair, telling myself it’s all part of the show, even though no one would be watching us right now.
When the song fades, turning into something more upbeat, guests are invited to join on the dancefloor.
Rachel stands up, pulling on Phil’s arm. “Come on, husband. Give me a spin.”
Phil looks at his wife as if he actually has to be talked into it, but the man would do anything for her. They leave the table, and I’m all too eager to accept my opportunity to follow them.
“Do you want to dance?” I ask.
“Sure.” Maevyn holds her palm out to me. “Show me what you got.”
I stand up, happily taking her hand in mine, and ease her out of her seat to lead us to the dancefloor, right beside where Phil twirls Rachel with a grin on his face.
With Maevyn’s hand still in mine, I pull, spinning her in until she’s flush against my body. My other hand comes to her hip, gliding along the fabric until it sits on the small of her back, and we start to sway.
Her eyes dart around us, taking in the other couples, or maybe checking who has eyes on us, but I still can’t look away.
Her hand comes back to my chest before it slides up, resting gently behind my neck, and she leans further into my body. We continue to dance as the lyrics describe being crazy for someone in a brand new way. An undeniable way, but one that’s felt with every stare. Every touch. With every breath. Falling deeper and begging the other person to see it, to believe it.
My fingertips run over her dress, dipping low over the thin, smooth fabric. God, it’s as if I’m touching her bare skin.Wait a minute…
“Maevyn?” She hums, but doesn’t move her head from where it now rests against my chest. “Are you wearing underwear?” I whisper.
“I told you I don’t.” Holy.Fuck.
My fingers tighten against her as my jaw clenches in a fight not to picture it. It’s bad enough I’m going to have to sleep next to the woman later. Jesus, what does she wear to bed?
“Ironically, the only time I do wear underwear is when I’m performing at the club.” She laughs, and I try to join her, but it just comes out as a stuttering, garbled mess.
“I think I need a drink,” I grumble.
When she looks up at me, her brown eyes sparkle with amusement. “Aww, do you need something to take the edge off? Is baby a little hard up?” The sassy pout she gives me is exactly what forces me to haul her against me, letting her feel just how much her teasing affects me.
“What do you think?”
She gasps, and I can feel her heart beating rapidly against my chest. Thank fuck, it’s not just me who’s affected.
“Maybe a drink’s a good idea.” She swallows down a flustered breath. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom while you get the drinks,” she mutters in a daze, then takes two steps back, eyes fixed on me before she seems to shake off her thoughts and rushes off the dancefloor.
