“When in doubt, always assume dirty intentions,” he whispered. I chuckled, pressing my cheek against his as we swayed to the music.
“I’m glad we’re here though, sharing this evening with my family. Thanks for putting up with their banter.”
Here was my opening. I wanted to address the elephant in the room, but I had no idea how or what to say.
“I love their dynamic. Especially how Tess isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind.”
“Ah, that’s true for everyone. Tess just seemed to have more on her mind than the rest of us tonight.”
“I’m so happy we met in Rome. I love you so much,” I said, fiddling with his tie. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. I could tell he was waiting for me to add something more, but I really didn’t know what to say. He tensed as the dance ended. I moved my palms from his shoulders up to his neck, just feeling his pulse point and his warmth. I wanted to soak it all up. I kissed his chin and even managed to sneak a kiss on the pulse point on his neck before he pulled back a few inches.
“Easy there, not the neck.”
I narrowed my eyes, fully knowing that this particular place was a sweet spot for him. “This is coming from the guy who spoke dirty to me just a few minutes ago?”
“That was different. We were still dancing. Now I have to mingle. I can’t walk around with a hard-on, Laney.”
I pouted, secretly bursting with pride that I affected him so much. “So that means no more dancing?”
“I’ll find you later.” He kissed my cheek, sneaking up to my ear again. “Just a few more hours, and then I’ll have you all to myself. Mine to make blush... and other things.”
Taking a step back, I pushed his shoulder playfully, again. He flashed me one of those smiles that made me weak in the knees before taking off. This man, I swear. I had to clear the air between us when we were alone later this evening, but I still didn’t know how.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cole
This particular gala had many firsts. It was the first one in which I didn’t participate in the raffle since we decided
that men’s dances should also be raffled.
It was the first time our guests asked if we were in trouble. They’d heard about the problem with Gabriel. We have a face-to-face hearing in one week, and the guy had actually had the audacity to spread the word about it. It was also the very first one at which I got inebriated. I wasn’t fully drunk yet, but I’d realized my reaction time was weird when I reached for a glass earlier and nearly tipped it over. That was why I was sitting at a table behind a partition next to the stage. It was where we went when we needed some time to recharge, away from the guests. Before coming here, I’d searched for Laney around the room and found her in the kids’ corner with Avery and Heather. Avery was sitting in Heather’s lap, while Laney was pulling up her hair in a ponytail. The recognition that I wanted to have it all with this woman hit me square in the chest. Another first. She spurred instincts inside me that I’d never experienced before.
Tess joined me at the table, sitting three chairs away. “Are you drunk, brother?”
“A little.”
“How many glasses of wine is a little?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Oh, crap. Okay.” She tilted her head, inspecting me with a mix of worry and curiosity. “This is unlike you,” she murmured as Hunter and Ryker also sat down.
“What’s going on?” Ryker asked, looking from me to Tess.
“I’m trying to understand why our brother’s breaking host code. He’s a bit tipsy.”
Ryker and Hunter stared at me.
“He wouldn’t do that without a reason,” Hunter said.
“That’s right,” Ryker added. I’d never appreciated more that we knew each other so well that I didn’t even have to explain myself.
“I’m just trying to determine said reason,” Tess said carefully. Right. They might not expect me to explain myself, but sharing was practically a family policy. I just wasn’t sure where to begin.
“Does it have to do with my stupid husband joke?” Tess asked quietly.
I twirled my empty glass in my hand, not meeting my sister’s eyes.