He chuckles as he pushes in my chair. “Feeling self-conscious, Munchkin?”
A little. I wear dresses for two occasions – weddings and funerals. I’m missing my jeans and boots. I feel naked without pants on.
A waitress appears and starts pouring wine into our glasses. Grayson holds a hand over my glass. “Can you get the lady a beer, please?”
“I can drink wine,” I insist, although I can feel my lip curl at the idea.
“And I’m sure I’d enjoy watching you make faces the entire evening, but you enjoy beer, so you’re getting a beer.”
Who am I to argue? When the waitress returns with a draft beer, Grayson’s eyes flicker with envy and I smirk. I take a sip and then smack my lips. “Aaahhh.”
“You’re mean, Munchkin.”
The rest of the wedding party arrive and join us at the table. Hailey has two bridesmaids – me and Phoebe. Although she calls both of us her maids of honor, we all know I’m the maid of honor. Aiden’s two groomsmen are Ryker and Sam. In addition to the wedding party, Sam’s wife and Grayson are sitting at our table.
“I’m starving,” Hailey announces.
Aiden laughs. “When aren’t you starving?”
Hailey is the type of woman I normally hate. She can eat whatever she wants, and she never gains any weight. Of course, she constantly complains about not having any curves, but I’ll take eating whatever I want over tits and ass any day of the week. Although, if I’m being perfectly honest, I usually eat what I want anyway. The proof is in my belly. My wobbly, pudgy belly.
The wait staff enter the room and start serving the first course. I nearly gag when the plate of oysters is set in front of me. Oysters? Knowing Hailey, I was expecting hot wings and potato skins. I raise my eyebrows in her direction, and she shrugs.
“Aiden’s mom arranged the meal. She wanted to help since my mom…”
I hold up my hand in a say no more gesture. No one has seen hide nor hair of her mom for nearly two decades, although I sometimes get the feeling Pops knows more than he lets on. Wally may be a master in sneaky, but Pops is no slouch either.
I pick up my fork to force those slimy oysters down my throat, but when I look down, my plate has disappeared. It’s a Valentine’s Day miracle! Not exactly Valentine’s Day. Hailey wanted to get married on the day, but it falls on a Sunday this year making her wedding an Almost Valentine’s Day wedding.
“I got you,” Grayson whispers as he places a basket of garlic bread in front of me. His hand moves to squeeze my thigh, and I nearly jump from the contact. My dress is silk and does nothing to prevent me from feeling the heat of his hand on my thigh. Little Susan wakes up and starts to tingle. I expect her to start a dance any second now.
Grayson leaves his hand on my thigh and his thumb presses circles into my skin. I shove a piece of garlic bread into my mouth before I moan out loud. Oh god. Why does his hand on me feel this good? Are his hands magic?
He smirks before petting my thigh one last time and lifting his hand so he can eat. He eats like he’s a machine. Someone doesn’t like oysters any more than I do.
“Why did you take my plate if you don’t like them?”
“I’m not forcing you to eat food you don’t like.” My belly warms at his words. “Besides, I can eat anything. Trust me, when you’re in the sandbox you get used to eating whatever’s available.”
He notices my basket is empty. “Do you need more garlic bread?” Before I can answer, he raises his hand and a waitress practically trips over herself running over to him. “More garlic bread for the lady, please. Oh, and another beer.”
“I’m not helpless,” I insist.
He grins and the two dimples on his right cheek come out to play. Dang those two dimples! I want to lick them while my hands pet his naked shoulders. My entire body heats up and the tingles spread from my belly and go south.
“I know you’re not. But I want to take care of you.” He leans close and whispers, “In every way imaginable, Precious.”
In case I’m clueless about what he means, he comes closer and kisses my neck. His tongue swirls around my pulse point, which is beating out of control. His sneaky hand finds my thigh and his thumb starts those lazy circles in my skin again.
Is it hot in here? I’m burning up. A waitress clears her throat behind us, and I squeak.
“Your beer and garlic bread,” she announces. Her voice full of mirth.
We separate. My eyes widen when I see Grayson reach down and adjust himself. He winks at me. “Later.”
I clear my throat and grab hold of my lady balls. “We need to talk.”
I expect him to snarl or frown or be generally annoyed with me, but no. What does the man do? He smiles and says, “Whatever you want, Precious.”
Whatever I want? Too bad I have no idea what I want. Adult Suzie calls me a big fat liar. You know exactly what you want and it’s sitting next to you. I want to ignore Adult Suzie. How the hell did she get out of the box I trapped her in anyway? Stop being a pussy.
Yeah, Little Susan gets in on the action. Give us what we want.
Is this what going crazy feels like? My mind, heart, and body are fighting for control and I’m terrified my mind is going to lose. Oh, who am I kidding, my mind has already lost.