Page 21 of I Choose You (Wilder #2)

My dress for the wedding wasn’t my fanciest dress, but it was my classiest. The black fabric clung tightly to my figure and swept all the way to the floor.

A sweetheart neckline showed off my girls, but not in an in-your-face kind of way, not like yesterday’s deep V-cut.

The off-the-shoulder design and the high slit added some sex appeal, but overall, it was elegant and classy.

I showered first, knowing I would need more time to get ready than Reid. I left the bathroom in nothing but a towel, swapping with Reid so he could shower.

“Bathroom’s all yours,” I said brightly.

His eyes raked down my body before quickly looking away. “Thanks,” he said, grabbing his stack of clothes and walking past me without another glance. I didn’t know why that bothered me, but it did.

He stepped out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, and my jaw hit the floor.

The black suit fit him perfectly. He forwent shaving, leaving his scruff lining his cheeks and jaw.

His hair had grown out slightly from when he got it cut a few weeks ago, the added length allowing him to style it but still leave it a little messy.

He quirked his brow at me, his lips tugging up slightly as he tried to keep the smile off his face. I could feel my cheeks getting warmer, so I pulled my gaze away, but not before I saw him sweep his eyes over me.

“You look fantastic,” I told him truthfully. He came up to me, standing beside me at the mirror. He held his arm out to me, and I wrapped my hand around his bicep. The picture we made in our reflection was stunning.

“What do you think? Think the bride’s going to be pissed you went and showed her up on her wedding day?

” I laughed at him, swatting his abs with a light backhand, not that he would even feel it through all those muscles.

“Seriously, you look beautiful,” he said, his dark eyes trained on mine through the mirror.

“Thank you. And for coming this weekend. I don’t know how to thank you enough, but it means a lot to me that you’re here.” His eye contact felt too intense, and I had to look away.

“I should have been here from the beginning. I’m sorry I was late.”

I turned to face him. Leaning in, I brushed my lips against his cheek. His slight scruff scratched lightly on my face. Light-headed and breathless, I lingered just a moment. Tension filled the room like oxygen. “You were right on time,” I said, stepping back.

Reid’s tongue swiped over his bottom lip. The column of his throat bobbed on a rough swallow, captivating my attention.

His gaze bounced from my lips to my eyes. He shook his head, a grin playing across his face. “Let’s get this party started, trouble.”

* * *

The wedding was beautiful, as expected. Madison was the picture of a blushing bride, her ivory-colored dress hugging her curves and flaring out at the bottom in a mermaid-style gown. The vows were well written, even adding a small dose of humor at just the right time.

The reception was an elaborate affair. No expense was spared—as the bride and groom ice sculpture indicated. The ballroom was at the five-hundred-person capacity, with some minor celebrities even in attendance.

The table was set with a thick white tablecloth. The crystal centerpieces glinted in the light, gems hanging from the tall gold base like mini chandeliers. The band was playing a fun, lively song that I was bopping my head to.

“Get out there and dance,” Reid said, leaning in to talk over the music. His breath warmed my cheek, and it sent a flurry of awareness through my veins.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.”

Reid’s eyes darkened under the dim lighting, his brow rising. “I didn’t come all the way here so you could sit at a table, tapping your pretty little heels along to the music.”

“Really. I’m good just sitting here,” I told him.

Reid expelled a breath, pushed his chair back, and rose. He reached his hand out for me to take, an expectant smirk on his face.

I had to bite my lip to keep the weird, giddy feeling in my chest locked up.

I put my smaller hand in his large palm, and Reid pulled me to my feet, leading me to the dance floor.

His head was bopping, shoulders shimmying, feet shuffling a solid two-step to the beat.

My head tipped back laughing as he circled around me, dancing his terrible dance moves.

The beat changed mid-song. A rendition of Alicia Keys’s “If I Ain’t Got You” started to play. I stopped dancing, and so did Reid. I turned to go back to the table when Reid’s fingers wrapped softly around my wrist. He brought my hand to his shoulder, stepping in close to me.

“We can sit, if you want,” I said. My heartbeat pulsed behind my ribs erratically.

“We came out here to dance. Let’s dance.”

I wrapped my other arm around his neck. He stepped in even closer.

His fingers grazed my bare back, barely touching me, but the contact was enough to light sparks across my skin.

We swayed to the music together. It was so easy.

When did it get to be so easy, so familiar, to be in Reid’s arms?

I should pull myself away, create a little space between us, but I didn’t want to.

I had never felt so comfortable yet aware of every place we touched.

Reid’s hand came to my face, his thumb softly tracing a line from my jaw to my ear.

He leaned his head on mine. A soft kiss brushed across my temple just as the song ended.

I pulled away slowly, dropping my arms from his shoulders and immediately missing the heat of his body against mine.

“Drink,” Reid said, blinking quickly. “Um, I’m going to grab a drink. Do you want something?”

“Yeah. I could use a water.” And something a whole lot stronger. Reid trailed behind me off the dance floor, but all my thoughts were on how it felt to sway to the music in his arms, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart, the feel of his fingers on my skin.