Page 33

Tealey

I broke my promise.

How could I not ravage him, though?

The man is undeniably sexy.

Dipping my fingertips under the band of Rad’s shorts, I run them over the muscles of his lower back and then deeper, covering that sexy incline of his ass.

Rad is the perfect male specimen. I’ve earned an advanced degree in his anatomy after so many mornings were spent studying him wearing those towels.

It’s as if he knew I’d break, considering that was the promise laid on the table. Bed, in our case.

I love the way he feels lying on top of me, the slow grind that makes me want to combust, and the goose bumps he shatters across my skin with each kiss he places with care on my body.

But that’s just it. I don’t want him to place gentle kisses with care. My body is winning this battle over my head, and as I start to ravage him, I want to be ravaged right back.

Up two inches, Rad. Just do it. Touch me like I want you to. His hands have roamed from my hips to my ribs where he’s tentatively holding me like I’ll wriggle away. I won’t. “Rad?”

“Hmm?” he hums with his lips pressed to my neck.

“You can touch me.”

Popping his head up, he looks into my eyes. “I am touching you.”

“Like more touching me.”

His brows lower, and he asks, “More touching you?”

I want more. My body wants everything I’m one-hundred-percent sure he can give. I grab his hand and place it on my boob.

“We can start here.”

“Ah.” He starts to laugh, not even trying to hide his amusement. “And here I was, struggling to figure out my next move and how far you wanted this to go.”

“Mystery solved. Now back to our previously scheduled program.” I wrap my arms tighter around his neck, bringing him back to where he left off.

But he pops up again, his eyes set on mine with a spark of determination. “You know I want to touch you everywhere, but I thought you’d want me taking time in the foreplay part of the program versus jumping to the post-game celebration.”

“I like celebrations.”

His lips part as if he’s going to say something, but not one to miss a golden opportunity (Thank God!) he squeezes my breast while kissing my mouth. Our hips start a seductive dance when a buzz amps up the interaction.

Panting, I grab his shirt wanting that vibration a little closer to my—“My phone,” he says, ripping away the sensation.

“Huh?”

Rad readjusts himself . . . oh, his phone . “Fuck,” he says, tossing it on the carpeted floor. “Sorry.” Leaning back down, he starts kissing my chest while palming my boob. “Is this where we left off?”

I start laughing, running my nails over his scalp. “I thought you were introducing electronics into the mix.”

His eyes find mine in the darkened room, his hair wild from my tugs. “You’d want that?” He doesn’t sound upset about the possibility.

Sinking back on the cushion, I rest my arms behind my head. “I think we both know I’m not opposed to battery-operated options.” His phone starts vibrating again, and we both look at the screen when it lights up. “Does Cammie normally call you?”

He glances at the phone and reaches for it. “No. Should I answer it?”

“Probably.”

Rolling off, he lands with a thud in a push-up position and quickly answers, “Hello?” His eyes dart to me. “Yeah. I was showing her my . . .”

When he stalls, I whisper, “Movie collection.”

“I was showing her my movie collection.” He whacks his forehead and mouths, “What the fuck?”

Their conversation goes on for what feels like forever. I whisper, “Hang up.” What are they doing, swapping fishing stories?

Finally, he says, “Okay.” Rubbing his brow, he glances back at me. “I’ll tell her. Mm-hmm. Yeah, okay. Bye.”

Sitting up, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. She’s looking for you, though.”

Worried about what’s going on, I’m already reaching for my shoes. Not sure what has happened to upset Cammie, I quickly slip on my sneakers. Looking up at Rad, I say, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He tucks his phone in his pocket and smirks. “Sooooo?” He rocks back, still grinning.

“So?” I stand, quickly attempting to flatten the wrinkles out of my skirt and failing.

“You have a naughty side, Miss Bell.”

Sliding the strap of my dress back onto my shoulder, I smirk as I walk past him and tap his chin. “If you only knew, Mr. Wellington.” My eyes are still adjusted to the darkness behind me, so I squint in the bright light flooding in through the bedroom windows.

My hand is caught, and I turn back. Looking every bit of the fantasies I’ve had about him—hair a total sexy mess, lips plush and red from kissing, bedroom eyes that tempt me to stay—I suck in a staggered breath, wondering if I’ll ever get used to the fact that I get to kiss Rad Wellington. He never disappoints.

He says, “I intend to find out.”

I’m pulled into his arms once again and kissed like we might never have the chance again. Releasing me, he leaves me breathless. “And for the record, Miss Bell.” He glances back, rubbing his thumb along his bottom lip. “Kissing you is even better than I thought it would be.”

When he walks away, I melt into a puddle of swoons.

I bite my lip and watch as he slips into the hallway.

I think I’m going to need a minute, so I catch my breath, holding my hand to my chest. My heartbeats demand every bit of my being until I steady myself, and my knees regain their strength.

That man. . . He has me on the edge of combusting again, and this time, he only used his words.

Taking another deep breath, I then wobble to the door, thinking about how much my life has changed in such a short time. I could never have predicted that moving in with a friend could turn into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I’m not sure when my life decided to flip on its axis, but I’m glad it did.

When I enter the great room, everyone is already there. “What’s going on?” I ask. I didn’t expect to make an entrance, so I move to the island, hoping to blend in. Marlow is rubbing Cammie’s back when Cade says, “We just lost our wedding venue.”

My mouth falls open, but before I can say anything, Cammie’s crying and running into my arms. “The pipes,” she says, sniffling into my hair. “Burst. Flooded the ballroom.”

Holding her in my arms, I stroke her hair. “Oh, no. What are they going to do?”

She turns, throwing her arms up in the air. “There is no fixing it in time. The carpets are ruined, and the wood floors are bowed.” When she faces me, she adds, “Tealey, it’s a historical hotel. We searched for a year for that location.”

I nod. I remember visiting at least fifty venues. She stepped into that ballroom, and that was that. I go to her again and hug her. “I’m so sorry.”

“Months,” she says. “They said it will take months to fix.” Swiping tears with the back of her hand, she lowers her head. “It’s ruined. My wedding is ruined just like the carpet. The wedding is a month away. Twenty-seven days to be precise.”

She angles on my shoulder to face Cade. One look exchanged between them, and they know; they understand everything that’s not being said. When she moves into his arms, he kisses the top of her head.

Marlow, who has remained silent, crosses the room and grabs a bottle of champagne. “Anybody need a drink?”

“I do,” we all say at once.

Amanda is quick to her feet, pulling glasses from the shelves.

As they start pouring drinks from champagne to wine and whiskey, I sit on the couch, leaning forward.

Rad comes from the other side of the fireplace where he’d been standing and sits beside me.

Resting back, he stretches his arm across the back of the couch behind me.

My stomach twists in concern as my thoughts race through options that can fix this for my friend to make her day as special as she deserves. But I keep coming up blank. I take a moment to fall back, seeking comfort in my proximity to Rad.

We can’t touch the way I’d like, hold hands to silently show we care.

A deep-seated bitterness stretches inside my chest that I know I can’t share this news with Cammie because she’s panicking and doesn’t need me shifting any attention off her priorities.

And I’m still confused about what to do with Marlow because I know she’ll feel my relationship with Rad would affect the outcome of her arrangement with him.

I still haven’t gotten much in the form of details, but Rad’s shown me that I’m important to him, and he’s here how he can be.

I slide my gaze to his, and all I hoped for is felt inside me—safety and that calming comfort I needed.

A wave of peace rolls through me, and I say, “I know this is stressful for you, Cammie. You’ve put so much into the planning and dreaming of the day, but remember, it’s about the marriage, and I know Cade would marry you anywhere. ”

“We’re going to end up in city hall in front of the justice of the peace.”

Cade moves to sit on a barstool and brings Cammie to stand between his legs. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he says, “But we’d be there together.”

Marlow hands Cammie a glass of wine and Cade a lowball of whiskey.

“Lots of famous people have gotten married in a city hall. Like Marilyn Monroe to Joe DiMaggio. Matt Damon and Keira Knightly. Not to each other, of course. Carrie Bradshaw and Big. Or was that at the library?” Rolling her eyes, Marlow laughs.

“I don’t know about that one, but getting married at city hall is so romantic and freeing.

You show up and confess your love only for each other. ” She sighs sweetly.

She rarely shows it, but it’s nice to see Marlow’s soft side. Is she actually a romantic at heart?

“I can’t look on the bright side right now.” Tears free themselves from her lower lids, following in their predecessors’ tracks. “Everything is falling apart.”

My heart hurts for her. “I will help however you need, Cam. We can find an even better location. I promise you.”

She looks up, her face already blotching. “I can’t put more on your plate, Teals. You still need to find an apartment.”

“It’s ok?—”

“There’s no rush for Tealey to move,” Rad says. “She can help you. We all can.”

His mom finishes taking a drink and sets her glass on the counter.

“I know it’s not how you imagined your day to be, but you’re always welcome to have the wedding here.

I’ve hosted many events on the lawn. The weather will be beautiful next month.

” Holding her hands up, she smiles. “No pressure from me, but please know that I’m happy to host your big day if you want. ”

Cammie’s stifled sniffle has Cade holding her again. Collecting herself, she walks into the kitchen. “Thank you. That’s so generous.” Amanda and Cammie embrace. “We’ll definitely consider it.”

Marlow says, “Wherever it is, we promise to make it the most beautiful wedding ever.” She hands me a glass of wine and Rad his usual bourbon.

When Marlow sits on the other side of Rad, Jackson shoots her a look from the other side of the coffee table. “The service around here is lacking.”

She raises her chin into the air. “I’m not your server tonight.”

“I’d leave a big . . . tip, sweetheart.”

The glass stills in my hand, the edge pressed to my lips. Uh-oh.

Her gaze slices the air as she levels him with a look. She says, “If that’s your version of flirting, Jackson St. James, then you have a lot to learn about women.” They’ve always been hot and cold. This weekend, they’re pure ice.

“Flirting?” He scoffs. “You wish.” Knowing we all just witnessed him lose this round, he goes and grabs a beer from the fridge.

With that sideshow moving to the next town, I say, “I think we should take a breath and reconvene to discuss the options we come up with later. Does that sound like a plan?”

Marlow’s already opening the back door. “I’m getting fresh air.”

Amanda’s right behind, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Fresh air is a great idea.”

Cade angles to kiss Cammie’s cheek. “Why don’t we lie down and try to take a nap? Emotions are high, but once rested, we can come up with an even better plan.”

She nods. Glancing at me, she says, “Thank you,” before taking his hand and going upstairs.

Jackson is lost in his thoughts, the argument with Marlow seeming to affect him. That’s unusual. He’s such a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, so I’m surprised he’d think twice about it. Taking another long pull from the bottle, he then lowers it and says, “I’m going to catch up on some work in my room.”

“Okay, man,” Rad says. When we’re alone, he scoots a little closer. “Let’s go for a ride. Just you and me.” There’s a renewed happiness reflected in his eyes. It’s hard to look away from him when he exposes an emotion he usually hides.

“Where do we go?” From here?

His arm tightens around me. To everyone else, we only look like friends, but for us, it’s a connection that’s deeper than appearances. I cherish these small moments together that feel stolen from an ordinary day. “We can go into town to do some shopping.”

“That sounds fun. I just need to get my purse from upstairs.” We walk into the foyer, and I take a few steps. With my hand on the banister, I shift onto one foot, feeling a little nervous. “I want you to know I don’t regret anything.”

He smiles, and it’s so genuine that my heart squeezes. “Me neither. No regrets whatsoever.”

I smile and start running up the stairs.

“Hey, Bell?”

Just before I reach the landing, I turn back, already grinning. “Yeah?”

“You broke your promise and ravaged me.”

Laughing, I say, “I think you set me up to fail.”

“How so?”

“You know how irresistible you are, and you used it against me.”

“What’s the point in owning the tools if you don’t use them?” He starts chuckling, and says, “Can’t blame me for using all my best assets.” I smile coyly.

“Don’t worry, Welly. I might have a few assets of my own. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

His tongue slides across his lower lip as he takes me in from head to toe and back again. “I just bet you do.”

“Revenge is going to be so sweet that I can already taste it.” With a wink, I take the last step nice and slow, giving one of my best assets a little wiggle so he can see exactly what I have to offer.

“You’re killing me, Bell.”

“I haven’t even gotten started.”