Page 115 of The Killer Card

“Graham Rosales!”

The doors open and I spin to face him, grabbing my skirt and placing a hand on his chest to push him backward through the doors. “Then lead.”

Graham’s eyes widen, but he catches on just as quickly as he does in the bedroom, falling into sync with me like we are made to move together. The band immediately realizes our intention, just as they did with Clara, and strike up the right tune for the first sixty seconds of a proper flamenco rhythm.

I haven’t danced like this in years, since my father made Nathan and I both take lessons as teenagers, but Graham has perfect rhythm. With him leading we draw rapturous applause and whistles from the crowd as he sweeps me into the center of the room for exactly sixty seconds with fluid, passionate movements that leave us both breathless when we finally pause.

His green eyes are bright, chest heaving as he smiles down at me, cheeks flushed handsomely. And there in front of a crowd which includes not only our friends but all of Elias’ family- the family that took him in when his failed- he bends to kiss me.

And I let him. For the first time in four years, I kiss Graham Rosales in front of an audience on purpose, and I wonder why we weren’t doing this the entire time.

Chapter Thirty- Eight

Graham

The reception is so much better than the rehearsal dinner. For one, I have a fucking speech prepared this time, and for two, Naomi is smiling like she just won a lottery she didn’t know she was playing. There’s a champagne glass filled with sparkling water in her hand as I raise my glass, following Rowan’s annoyingly awesome speech.

“Fucking asshole,” I mutter to him as I stand.

Clearing my throat I put on my most charming smile. “Hello, everyone- I’m Graham Rosales, Elias’ best friend. The title only counts if you don’t share blood, cabrón,” I snark to Rowan. He just crosses his arms with a smug grin because he is a fucking asshole. “Anyway…”

I look down at Elias and Poppy who is so radiant in her reception outfit- she’d traded the lace dress for a white, sparkling, strapless romper- her hair spilling down her back in loose waves. Elias has also lost the jacket, his tie has been discarded, and his arm is thrown over the back of her chair. The façade is finally done, both of them sinking into their usual comfort of just existing near each other in the company of friends and family.

“I’ll make this fast because I know Poppy is itching to get on the dance floor.” I grin at her and she smiles brightly to the eruption of chuckles. Elias leans over, kissing her cheek. “I’ve known Elias for a long fucking time. I mean, two damn decades of some of the worst relationships you can possibly imagine. Models and money chasers and straight up bitches—”

“You better be going somewhere with this, cabrón,” Elias interjects with a half-hearted glare.

“Hey,” I point to Rowan. “No one interrupted his whole thing about how you rescued him after his knee got blown out!”

“I was at war—”

“Semantics,” I wave him off. Clara pats his shoulder comfortingly when he throws his hands in the air. “Anyway, Elias usually had shit taste, right Tío Benny?!”

Elias’ dad raises a glass, “Mierda!”

“Papá!”

“What?!”

Despite the topic currently being women Elias used to date, Poppy is laughing her ass off. Even Cristian can’t help chuckling knowing full well the kind of cunt his mother still is.

“Stop interrupting me,” I say into the microphone. “Back to what I was trying to say. I have known Elias a very long time, which includes watching him make exceptionally poor choice BUT—” I point a finger in his direction to shut him up. “Poppy is without a doubt the best, most beautiful, most intelligent woman he has ever managed to coerce.”

“Coerce?!”

“He is very convincing—” She chimes just as Elias kisses her quiet and growls, “Don’t encourage him,” to her girlish giggles.

“Case in point,” I gesture to them again. “She fearlessly tests the limits of his patience, has made him laugh more in half a decade than I have seen in his entire life, and- for those of you who don’t know- is the inspiration for his new chart-topping album. The first he has put out in- how long has it been Rowan?”

“Seven years.”

“Seven years!”

I go around the backs of their chairs to kneel directly next to Poppy who smiles at me in that sisterly way she always has, turning my heart to Jello.

“This woman, is the most profound and genuine person I have ever met- no offense baby!”

I lean around Poppy to blow Naomi a kiss. She rolls her eyes but still smiles anyway. Returning my attention to the bride I stand, raising my glass a little higher.