Page 12 of Reunion

“Oh, silly me. Here I thought it was supposed to be about rejoicing in the union of the couple.”

“You’ve been doing weddings all wrong, then.”

“You’d know.” I pulled a face at her. Of course, she and Aaronhadgotten together at one of Aaron’s classmates’ weddings five years ago.

“I’m just trying to figure out who’s gonna make the first move.”

“Do you mean with Chase?” I skimmed a look over the crowd, but it was Dane I was searching for.

“Him, or—”

“Hands off my wife,” Aaron cut in with a grin, and I released Shay into his hold.

“Just sayinnnnng,” she trilled over her shoulder before Aaron dipped her low and made her shriek.

Left without a partner, I glanced around. There were dance floor politics in play: a group of women dancing in a circle I didn’t dare interrupt, more than a few couples bobbing and swaying beside me. After ten seconds of uncertainty, which edged well into the awkward dude standing solo on the dance floor territory, I slunk off to the side and bumped right into Chase.

“Hellooooo, handsome,” he drawled, or maybe slurred, as he toasted his drink against my forehead. I couldn’t help but laugh as I wiped away the wet streak of condensation left behind. He seemed fun, and the music was loud, and he was right there, so when he set his drink down and tugged on my hand, I let him lead me back into the middle of the floor. Maybe his hands weren’t exactly the pair I’d most hoped for, but he was animated and engaging enough, and we danced to a couple of songs, laughing and catching up when the volume of the music allowed.

“I meant to get your number last night, but you vanished before I could.” He pouted.

“Shay had some errands she needed me to run.” And then I’d been busy jacking off solo amid a sea of sex toy wedding gifts—not a highlight I planned on mentioning, of course.

Chase spun in my grip and pressed closer as the tempo slowed with the next song. “But you’re staying here at the hotel, right?”

I nodded, vaguely wondering how he knew.

“Hmmm. Just an elevator ride away, then.” His gaze locked with mine, and I saw both the promise and subtle question within. I considered it, I’ll admit. I’d completely lost track of Dane, and here was a man all but screamingno-strings-attached sex, which had been my goal in the first place. He might even be thebetterchoice over Dane, since I had all kinds of complicated feelings about my former best friend.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said as Chase nuzzled his nose against my neck and inhaled.

“God, you smell good.” He dropped his hands from my waist to my ass and squeezed. “Very firm tush, too. Bonus points for that.”

I barked out a laugh. “I don’t remember you being… You were soshyin high school.”

“Mm-hmm, well, I was a shrimp with social anxiety and body image issues.”

“How’d you get over that?”

He leaned back a little and gave me a broad smile, along with another hard squeeze to my ass that made me clench up. He hummed approvingly. “Medication. Age has also been great for diminishing the number of give-a-fucks in my bucket. You know what else helps? Alcohol! I’m going to grab another drink. You want? I can run grab ’em and be right back.”

I decided Ididwant, and turned back to the dance floor as Chase made his way to the bar—thrown once again into the partner shuffle. But it turned out I didn’t have to make any decisions because a second later a strong pair of hands slid over my hips and my back was drawn brusquely against a firm chest.

“Know what I’m wondering?” Dane’s voice rumbled close to my ear. He was body heat and gravel-laced tones and possession. I melted against him and knew at that second I was kidding myself if I thought I’d be even remotely satisfied taking Chase up to my room. This was the man I wanted tonight.

Theonlyone I wanted.

“Whether anyone will notice if you take the fruit display home with you tonight?” I tried to angle my head back to glimpse his expression, but Dane tightened his grip and the most I managed was to bump my nose against the underside of his jaw and catch a whiff of his cologne. Light and peppery. Probably expensive. Extremely addictive.

His laughter vibrated against my back like a purr. “Very funny. And no. But along similar lines, I’m wondering what you went back and purchased at Ace’s Wild today.”

Twisting within his hold, I looped my arms around his neck, happy to marinate in his clean, masculine scent and the steadying sensation of his arms locking low around my back as we swayed, hardly aware of the music.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I was simultaneously relieved and intrigued that Dane hadn’t brought up the canes he’d left me; the unmentioned thrummed between us, strangely arousing.

“Do you remember when we had sophomore English together and Mrs. Hampton asked you if you’d readTess of the D’Urbervilles?”

I arched a brow. “Your point?”