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Gus walked over to where Merritt still stood on the dance floor and held out his hand with a smile that made her weak in the knees. “Dance with me, wifey?”
She gave him a look of disapproval. “Only if you stop calling me that.”
“Not a chance.” He took hold of her hand and gently tugged her toward him.
Merritt’s nerves were frazzled after trying all day not to think about how she’d snuggled up to Gus that morning as a result of the dream she’d had—one where their almost kiss from last night had led to them kissing each other without reservation. When she’d opened her eyes and saw him looking down at her, a burst of happiness had rushed through her body for an instant before she realized it had only been a dream and that she had, in fact, thrown herself at him.
Hints of embarrassment and humiliation still lingered as Gus’s strong hands slid across her hips and around her waist, bringing her close. She settled into him, resting her hands against his chest as they swayed.
“So, what do you think?” He looked around the room.
“It’s going to be a beautiful wedding.”
Their eyes met briefly, and she looked away, watching Sebastian and Genevieve dancing in the center of the room, so in love with each other.
“I never asked how those two met,” she said.
Gus chuckled. “She worked at the Schultz Foundation and met him in the building on her first day, but she didn’t know who he was, so he pretended to be a guy from Public Relations.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would he do that?”
“He liked her and wanted her to get to know him before the stigma of his wealth clouded her judgment. He had some bad relationships in the past that went south due to the money.”
“And he thought a lie was a good way to start a relationship?”
“Well, he didn’t really think that through very well.” He laughed. “But in the end, she forgave him.”
“Obviously.” She smiled, which quickly fell to a frown. “And now we’re the ones lying.”
His lips turned down too. “I know.”
“I hate lying to your family,” she spoke quietly so only he could hear. “It’s killing me. Every nice conversation I have with your parents makes me feel like a horrible person. Every time I start bonding with your sister and Genevieve, I feel like a total fraud. They’re all going to hate me.”
He squeezed her closer. “Nobody will hate you. It will all be on me.”
Franky suddenly began tapping a horseshoe against a metal stake, making a loud clinking sound as he pointed across the room at Sebastian and Genevieve. “Show us the love!”
“You’re supposed to clink glasses,” Skylar said.
“I improvised,” Franky said with a laugh. “Now, pucker up, you two!”
Sebastian dipped Genevieve back and planted a kiss on her lips, and everyone cheered.
He then left his bride’s arms and snatched the horseshoe from Franky, clinking it again, looking in the direction of Gus and Merritt.
Merritt’s stomach flipped, and she shook her head slowly back and forth.
Gus waved his brother away. “This is your wedding, Bash.”
“Hey! We didn’t get to do this for your wedding. Come on!” Sebastian said.
Everyone in the room chanted, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Gus looked at Merritt and shrugged his shoulders. He let go of her and brought his hands to either side of her face, his eyes dropping to her lips. She licked her lips in preparation, and his fingers slid into her hair as he angled her head to one side and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was soft and gentle and quick, and all it got them was a room full of very loud booing.
Merritt giggled despite herself.