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They stepped inside the ballroom, and the warm, breezy atmosphere enveloped them. The orchestra was playing a slow song, low enough so the chatter coming from the tables could easily be heard. On the far end of the room the wall of glass doors were pulled back to let the warm evening air inside, framing a perfect view of the dark blue ocean as the sun began to slide below the horizon.
“My parents aren’t here yet,” Brooke said softly.
He looked at the table by the stage – table number one, of course. Sure enough it was full save for two empty seats.
“Maybe they’re not coming.”
She gave a small laugh. “That’s wishful thinking. They like to make an entrance. They’ve probably already told the kitchen not to serve any food until they arrive.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“How do you always know the right thing to say?” she asked him, her eyes shining beneath the glow of the crystal chandeliers.
“Because I know what you’re thinking.” He smiled at her.
“I’m not sure whether to be pleased or afraid.”
With his hands still in hers, he steered her toward their table – on the other side of the room to where her parents would be sitting. Six people were already seated there – Ally and Nate, Ember and Lucas, plus Lucas’s friends, Griffin and Jackson. They all stood to greet Brooke and Aiden as they approached, and Aiden reluctantly let go of her hand in order to shake everybody elses’.
“You look amazing,” Ember was telling Brooke. She side-eyed Aiden, and he nodded, still knowing exactly what she was thinking.
“That’s what I said.”
“Yeah, well you don’t look so bad yourself,” Ember added. “Who knew you guys would all look so handsome in dinner jackets? I’ve told Lucas he’s going to have to wear one every day now.”
“That’ll be a real help when I’m climbing ladders,” Lucas said, shaking his head at her. His smile was only for her.
Once they’d said their hellos, Aiden pulled Brooke’s chair out and watched as she sat down. She looked as good from the back as she did from the front. The dress exposed her from the top of her neck to the base of her spine, and his lips tingled with the need to kiss every inch of her skin.
As he slid into the seat next to her, he watched as her back stiffened. He didn’t need to glance over at the doorway to know her parents had finally arrived. Her chest rose as she took in a mouthful of air, and dropped as she blew it out.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, covering the back of her hand with his palm. “Relax.”
“They’re looking at us,” she said, repeating her earlier words.
“Let them look.”
Casually, he slid his arm around her shoulders, letting the tips of his fingers caress her skin. She said nothing, but she leaned into him, and he felt the warmth of her against his body.
From the corner of his eye he could see Martin and Lillian walk toward their own table and greet their guests. With a final glance toward their daughter, they sat down and the food began to be served.
* * *
“Come and dance with me,” Aiden murmured, reaching his hand out for her to take. Brooke looked up at him. His face was constantly in her thoughts. His high cheekbones and strong nose, above those full, full lips that made her legs tremble. He must have shaved right before he picked her up – the usual evening shade on his jawbone was absent. Brooke let him take her hand and help her up, before he led her to the dancefloor.
“I’ve never danced with you before,” she said, as he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her body against his. She could feel the hard planes of his stomach on her abdomen.
“We danced at the beach when we were kids.”
“That was a fast dance. We’ve never danced with you holding me.”
She felt his chest rise with a laugh. “Do you know why?”
“Because you can’t dance?”
This time his laugh was louder. “No. Because I didn’t trust myself to not want more.”
“You silly boy. I wanted you to want more.”
