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“Well,” she says, looking relieved that I’m changing the subject, “I went to college, majored in communications, and sort of fell into event planning. I quickly fell in love with it. There’s just something incredibly satisfying about making an event run smoothly, taking the burden off the client, and giving them an experience they’ll never forget. After working as an event planner for a convention center for a few years, I transitioned into wedding planning. It’s my perfect job, really.”
“That’s awesome.”
She sets her fork down to take a sip from her coffee cup. “I know it probably sounds corny, but I love giving people something that has emotional significance.”
“No, I get it,” I say. “That’s what every show is for me, giving our fans a memorable experience. It’s about moving people with our music, making them feel a certain way. I want to give people something they can come back to when they need something happy to think about.” I give her a sheepish smile and shake my head. “I don’t usually tell people that, though. I mostly let them think it’s all about artistic expression.”
Rose smiles back at me, her eyes studying me for a few seconds before she nods. “Tell me more about your music, Evan.”
If it wasup to me, I’d spend the whole day just talking to Rose getting to know her. But less than an hour after we sit down to breakfast, she announces she has to go start taking care of wedding stuff, and I can’t exactly ask her to blow it off.
Later that day, I’m dressed for the wedding and am walking with my parents out to the beach where the ceremony is going to be held. It’s a gorgeous setting, private and serene, and when my sister walks out in her wedding dress, my chest fills with pride. Courtney will always be my baby sis, and I’ll always feel protective over her, but I’m also glad that she’s got someone like Leon to build a life with.
The ceremony is short and sweet, with both tears and laughter on Courtney and Leon’s part. I hoot loudly when they say their I do’s, and as they walk back up the aisle hand-in-hand, my sister catches my eye and gives me a grin that reassures me she’s deeply happy.
Once the ceremony is over, we head to a half-indoor-half-outdoor reception space that’s draped in some kind of sheer material with lights that twinkle behind it. The only other lighting comes from candles strewn around the area. I know it’s all Rose’s doing and I’m impressed as hell with how it’s all turned out.
I look around for Rose as dinner progresses, but she’s busy staying on top of making sure everything is running smoothly. Before I know it, the meal is over and it’s time for Courtney and Leon’s first dance—which means it’s time for me to get up and grab my guitar.
Both Courtney and Leon are beaming as they take their place in the center of the floor. The sound of silverware on glasses rings out and Leon bends Courtney back over his arm and gives her a long, lingering kiss. I take my place on a chair to the side, then pick up my guitar and give it an experimental strum. Courtney asked me to sing their first dance song and I agreed, but only if she kept me out of the spotlight. I want the focus to be on the two of them tonight, not on me at all.
I start the intro chords to the song and I can feel the entire room sigh. It’s one of my band’s most popular songs, a song full of longing and wishes for eternal love with that one person you can’t imagine living without.
I’m singing the second chorus when I look up and see Rose standing a few feet from me. Everyone else has their eyes on Courtney and Leon, but she’s looking straight at me. I can feel the need vibrating off her and my throat almost catches on a lyric.
Suddenly I’m not singing for Courtney and Leon anymore. I’m singing for Rose. I’m pouring out my heart into a song that suddenly feels like it was written for her. Every note, every lyric, sounds like it’s about Rose.
After the song ends—while everyone is clapping and whooping for the bride and groom—I grab Rose and pull her behind a nearby curtain and slant my mouth across hers. When she opens her lips beneath mine, I’m lost in her. I’m ruined.
I fall deep into her sweetness, her softness, her want.
And I have no intention of ever coming up for air.
Chapter Five
Rose
Iknew I told myself I couldn’t.
I knew I even toldhimwe couldn’t.
But right now it’s like I can’t do anything except kiss him. I reach up and thread my fingers into his hair, a thrill of electricity shooting through me when he growls against my lips. The rasp of his stubbled chin against mine, the smell of him, the feel of his muscled body…it all surrounds me, drowns me, sweeps me away from anything and everything going on around us.
That is, until the DJ’s voice reminds me of my current obligations.
I reluctantly pull out of the kiss. “Evan…” I say, my voice shaky with need.
“I know. The wedding,” he murmurs. “Come to my room after all of this is over.” His fingers curl in my hair and he presses his lips quickly against mine again before letting me go and slipping something into my hand.
After he steps out from behind the curtain, I look down and stare at the hotel key card he just gave me.
Are we seriously going to do this?
I tuck the key card into my bra, take a minute to compose myself as much as I can, then return to the reception too. I spend the next couple of hours directing the waitstaff, the caterer, the DJ, and Courtney and Leon. Dances are danced, toasts are given, cake is eaten. The whole time, I’m arguing with myself in the back of my head.
You can’t have sex with him. You just can’t.
But you want to.
