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CHAPTER ELEVEN
“THAT KISS, THOUGH!” Reva cooed later when the wedding party was seated at the front of the reception hall. “I thought smoke was going to start coming out of your ears any moment when we walked up on you at the gazebo.”
Fighting rising heat in her face, McKenzie smiled at her cousin. “Ryder is a good kisser.”
“Have you slept with him yet?” Callie asked.
McKenzie didn’t answer.
“Girl, what are you waiting for? You’re sleeping in the same room. Please tell me you’re not making him sleep on the floor.” Callie fanned her face. “That man is hot.”
Ryder was hot. He was also not really hers. Kenzie had never slept around, had only ever been with two men. She couldn’t just sleep with Ryder because of his close proximity. She needed more than that to give her body to a man.
“I imagine no one makes Ryder Andrews do anything he doesn’t want to do,” McKenzie answered, glancing over at where Ryder sat with her brother. The two of them seemed to have truly hit it off and were once again deep in conversation.
“He seems a great guy, Kenz,” Reva pointed out. “I hope it’s not too long before we’re celebrating your big day.”
McKenzie almost choked on the bite she’d just taken.
“Let’s get through your wedding day before we start planning mine.” Which might not have been the right thing to say as Reva’s eyes widened with delight.
“I knew it.”
McKenzie got through her wedding obligations and was grateful when the wedding party were freed from their duties so they could mingle among the other guests.
“Okay, I need all the single ladies,” the wedding coordinator announced. “Come on, girls. It’s time for the bouquet tossing.”
McKenzie reluctantly joined the other single women. Reva met her gaze, winked, then turned to toss the bouquet. Rather than join the scurrying to catch the flowers, McKenzie stepped back, happily letting Callie snatch the bouquet.
When she rejoined Ryder and Mark, the two men shook the
ir heads.
“I’m disappointed. You should have had that bouquet.”
“I didn’t want that bouquet,” she pointed out.
“Okay, gentlemen, it’s your turn,” the coordinator announced. “Gather up front.”
“You don’t have to go up there,” she told Ryder.
“Sure, I do,” he countered, standing, then bending to give her a quick obligatory peck on the lips. “Wish me luck.”
Knowing several of the guests around them, including her brother, could hear everything being said, McKenzie smiled. “Go get ’em, Tiger.”
When Ryder caught the garter, he held it up like a prized trophy, looked McKenzie’s way, and waggled his brows. The crowd loved it and let out cheers.
McKenzie’s face burned, but she kept her smile in place.
“Looks like you finally have one wanting to stick around,” Aunt Myrtle said from a table over. Her voice was loud and carried to where half the guests in attendance had to have heard, Ryder included. McKenzie blushed.
“Look what I got for you,” he bragged, twirling the garter on his finger.
“Hate to break it to you, but perhaps you didn’t notice during the bouquet toss, I don’t want that.”
Grinning, he leaned in close and whispered, “Sure, you do. Everyone here will be busy talking about my catching this rather than you missing the bouquet that practically dropped into your arms. You can thank me later.”
That’s why he’d caught the garter? Because he was still trying to help her save face?
