Page 7

Gracie

The wedding venue is beautiful with a lush garden that I’m walking through and searching for my date. My eyes scan the well-dressed crowd.

There he is, standing near the entrance to the garden, his tuxedo fitting him like it was made just for him. I've seen Bennett countless times at the Miami Kings' games, but somehow, seeing him here, dressed to the nines, makes him seem even more attractive. It's hard not to be impressed by how he cleans up.

"Hey, Gracie," he calls out as he spots me. "Nice dress, but I'm afraid you're still not quite on my level of elegance."

I let out a soft chuckle, knowing full well that he's joking. The teasing nature of our conversation is nice. It makes my heart beat a little faster and my cheeks flush with warmth.

"Really? I didn't realize we were competing. Although, I have to say, you do look good all cleaned up,” I retort.

He raises an eyebrow. "Well, when you put it that way, maybe we're both winners tonight." He winks at me, making my cheeks flush.

We quickly find our seats in the front row, and soon the wedding march song plays from hidden speakers as my sister's wedding unfolds before me.

It’s hard to stifle a giggle as I take in the sight of the bridesmaids, all dressed like tropical birds in a riot of colors. The groomsmen sport flamingo-pink ties and matching boutonnieres, and even the officiant has gotten in on the action with a Hawaiian shirt beneath his robe.

"Seriously?" I whisper, shaking my head in amusement at my sister's boldness. She always did know how to make a statement. I'm genuinely touched and find it endearing to see her embrace her own vision of what a wedding should be.

As the ceremony continues, I glance over to Bennet. It's comforting to know that he's there.

"Is everything okay?" I mouth silently to him, raising an eyebrow in question.

Bennett nods and gives me a reassuring smile. I mentioned to him in our first meeting that I just recently had a breakup and wasn’t uncertain about how I’d feel at my sister’s wedding. Bringing up all those bad memories was not going to be fun.

So, he knows how difficult attending this wedding is for me. The fact that he's here makes it a little easier to bear. There’s something about the way he gazes at me, full of intensity and tenderness, makes my heart skip a beat.

"Okay," I mouth back, allowing a small smile to play across my lips.

Right after the officiator announces the happy could as married, everyone claps and cheers while they walk down the aisle hand in hand.

We file out of our seats one row at a time and go to the reception hall.

The large room inside the venue has elegantly arranged tables and guests milling about and we stand close by the bar, waiting to be told what we are supposed to do next.

"Gracie," Bennett says in a low voice as leans closer to me, his warm breath tickling my ear. "You really do look beautiful tonight."

I lean into him just slightly. "Thank you, Bennett. You're not so bad yourself."

As our eyes lock, I feel a slow, sweet tension building between us. We both smile at each other and look away as the bridal party enters with a choreographed dance to kick off the party.

We dine, chat, and drink, and before long, I’m not sure how many hours it’s been, but my feet are starting to ache in these shoes.

"Gracie!" Bennett's voice rings out across the room, pulling me from my thoughts. He's already working his charm on a group of my relatives, and as I approach, I’m impressed by his ability to effortlessly deflect any questions about our relationship with clever stories and witty banter.

"Looking good, Bennett," I say, playfully nudging him with my elbow. "You've got quite the fan club going here."

"Ah, well, you know how it is," he replies, flashing me a grin. "Just doing my part to keep your admirers at bay."

It's clear that Bennett is enjoying himself, and I have to admit, I'm enjoying watching him work his magic on the crowd.

"Another drink?" he asks as he gestures towards the bar.

"Lead the way," I reply, allowing him to guide me and our fingers brush together as we navigate the crowded room.

As the evening wears on, we indulge in more than a few drinks. Somewhere between drinks four and five, I start to feel the warmth of the alcohol coursing through my veins, making me bold. The chemistry between us intensifies with each passing moment.

"Having fun?" he asks, leaning in close so that I can hear him over the music.

"More than I thought I would. You're quite the charmer, you know," I admit.

"Only when I'm in good company." His eyes never leave mine as he says that.

We sway together on the dance floor, and I can feel the electricity between us crackling like a live wire, threatening to ignite at any moment. Part of me wants it to—wants to see what would happen if we let our guard down and gave in to the undeniable attraction that's been building between us all night.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Bennett asks, his voice barely audible above the pounding bass of the music.

"Maybe. Why don't you tell me what you’re thinking?" I reply.

He leans in close, his lips brushing against my ear as he murmurs, "I think we could both use a little more privacy."

"Let's find some," I whisper back.