I seem to remember a shift in the piety last time we spent the night together, Mr. Hayward, I mumbled, curling my fingers into his dress shirt, inhaling him note for note.
Is that so? he whispered straight into my ear, goose-bumps and a tremble my only response. Il show you piety tonight.
And al my people said TMI! Patrick shouted, his face puckering. Im out of here before clothes start-a flyin and table tops get-a rockin.
The tables are off limits, Abigail warned, spreading her arms wide in warning.
Dont worry, Abigail, I said, trying not to laugh at the concern she was showing for her beloved tabletops. I can guarantee you with absolute confidence the only thing Wil iam wil be violating until were properly United is his living room sofa. I elbowed him in the chest, which only made me tight with want. How much longer would I have to wait until I had that chest against mine, nothing but heat, sweat, and desire separating our skin?
Imaginary cold shower, Wil iam whispered through gritted teeth. For the love of god, woman, try to control yourself.
Sorry, I whispered back, no apology in it. If I had to feel his pent-up physical frustration, he certainly had to experience mine. I couldnt say if this was the way it was with other people”being able to sense each others feelings, their emotions”but this was the way it was with Wil iam and me.
For the love of al that is holy, you two, Patrick said, shaking his head. Do you ever say anything without your hormones taking the lead?
Do you? I shot back, crossing my arms.
Patrick sneered back, knowing I had him. Only when I have to. He came towards us, patting the side of Wil iams arm as he weaved the orchid behind my ear. Something to remember me by since I know as soon as I walk out that door Il be a distant”more like a non-existent”memory.
Wil iam patted Patricks back in passing. You know, if you were anyone else, Id be pummeling you right now. There was no seriousness in Wil iams voice, although I didnt doubt if any other man had tried to rest a flower behind my ear, Wil iam wouldnt have hesitated to carry out his threat.
Geesh, ever since youve been al but promised a Betrothal to her, youve gotten al Rottweiler territorial on her, Patrick said, making for the exit.
You pee on her leg to mark your territory? He high-fived Norberto in passing, winking back at me.
Um, ewww, I said, Abigail and Cora adding their own grumbles of disgust.
Catch ya al later. Im in need of some serious shock therapy to rid myself of the mind-raping you two just performed on my brain, he hol ered back, breaking into a jog as he exited. Final y.
Um, sir? Norberto said, taking a hesitant step forward.
Im right behind you, Norberto, Wil iam said, placing a final kiss over my mouth. Wait up for me? He actual y worded it like a question. Did this man not realize Id not only wait up tonight for him, but Id wait every moment of forever for him if need be?
Always, I sighed, watching him lope away from me, wishing I could fold up into wal et size so I travel via his pocket with him wherever he went.
Good seeing you too, Wil iam, Cora cal ed after him purposeful y, sticking out her lower lip.
He froze mid-stride, shoulders tensing. He spun around, apology written on his face. Running to Cora and Abigail, he scooped each one up in an arm, pul ing them to him. Great seeing you both, he said, gushing as he grinned over at me. Sorry?
Looking satisfied when he set them back on the ground, Cora answered, Accepted.
Wil iam wiped at his forehead. Phew. He stared over at me, his smile pul ing up one side of his cheek. I have a tough time remembering theres a whole other world out there other than ours when Im with you. Il have to work on that.
I hope you dont, I said immediately.
Bryn, Cora scolded, hitching her hands on her hips. You do realize we,”she motioned between Abigail and herself”are included in that ˜other world?
Sorry, ladies, Wil iam cal ed back, skirting around the dozens of tables in his journey towards the entrance. Bryn has spoken. There wil be no other world acknowledgement when were in our own.
His exit was fol owed by three sighs, although mine was the only one that wasnt exasperated.
CHAPTER TWO
ONE MAN TOO MANY
Other than a shattered wine glass, a torn tablecloth, and a string of lanterns gone MIA, you did an exceptional job keeping the Bryn tornado of destruction caged, Cora said, patting my arm.
Lets not forget the nearly demolished Table Twenty-two, Abigail chimed in, switching off the power source to the tent where, tomorrow night, my dream would either come true or a ful -fledged nightmare would manifest.
I gave my head a violent shake, attempting to jostle free those thoughts. I would not al ow anything to spoil the eve of the Betrothal Bal where Id become an almost Hayward. A Mrs. William Hayward.
Emphasis on the ˜nearly, I said, as the tent fel black, although there were enough stars lighting the Montana sky to cause the décor within to glitter like a disco bal . I almost preferred it this way.
Come on, Im not sure if I can be physical y exhausted, but we can at least pretend, Cora said, weaving her arms through Abigails and mine. Ive got a fresh batch of oatmeal raisin cookies at home, providing Joseph heeded my warning that hed be on couch-patrol for a week if he ate al of them. And you know coffees customary.
That sounds wonderful, Abigail started, trying to hide the but tone in her voice, but Im sure Nathanials expecting me after being gone al day.
I knew from experience Cora was rol ing her eyes. And he cant do without you for another hour or two while we girls kick our feet up and overdose on confection and caffeine?
Nathanial, Abigail said, in explanation.
Yeah, yeah. I forgot ˜hopeless without his woman ran in the family. Good thing it decreased in severity with each brother.
Abigail nudged me. I dont think there was much decrease from first to second born. Sorry.
Im not, I said, smiling. I think ˜hopeless without his woman is where I want Wil iam the better part of forever.
Wish granted, Cora said, letting out a low whistle as we rounded the east side of the tent. If Id been able, I would have done the same, but the man was exceedingly adept at rendering me speechless.
Hundreds of votives were il uminating the lanterns lining a grass walkway that ended right in front an angel. My angel. Wil iam stood in front of a table fil ed with flowers, food, and candles, wearing a charcoal suit and a smile. A bunch of tulips cascaded from his hands.
Holy . . . I muttered, pondering if this was real. These kinds of things didnt happen in real life, but very little of what Wil iam and I were could be qualified as real life. Thats what made it so special. Thats what made it worth fighting for.
Hotness, a new member to our trio of gape-mouthed girls added. I think you mean to say, holy hotness. Sierra shouldered up next to me, bumping my hip with hers. That boy is sin on a stick. Her eyes took in the scene before us, the William scene, and as always, she looked like she was savoring every inch of him. If you need any help with that, any help at al , you just let me know, honey.
Thanks for the offer, but Ive got him covered, I said, feeling my face go a little dreamy as he made a slight bow at me.
Sierra, as always, your uncanny ability to objectify the male species is inspiring, Cora said, giving me a go get him shoulder nudge. Lets leave these two alone.
Sierra stuck out her lower lip. Youre no fun.
Can I tempt you with coffee, cookies, and girly conversation? Cora asked, weaving her arm around Sierras waist and steering her away.
Is his”she tilted her head Wil iams direction”younger clone going to be there? she asked hopeful y.
For your insidious viewing pleasure. Cora grinned, continuing to maneuver Sierra in the opposite direction. She threw me a thumbs-up behind her back.
Abigail squeezed my arm as she fol owed after the other two. Do you ever give your libido a rest, Sierra? she asked, trying to sound parental.
Your eyes are going to go crossed if you keep it up.
Ha! Now that I wouldnt mind as long as the crossing had to do with them changing a certain sapphire blue.
Their conversation continued as they progressed into the night, but it was the silent man in front of me that held every ounce of my attention.
Everything about the set up screamed elegance and class, so I should have demurely made my way toward him keeping a control ed pace and face.
But elegant I was not.
My grin turned to a beam and my jog became a sprint as I crossed the space separating us. He mimicked my response, meeting me in the middle of the candlelit runway. I threw myself at him, not one for holding back when it came to Wil iam, and he caught me like hed been expecting nothing else from me.
Final y, I said, referring to the past month hed been gone on his mission, the past few hours hed been with the Council, and the past few seconds it had taken to get to him.
Alone at last, he said, plucking the wilted orchid from my ear that Id long forgotten about and replacing it with one from his bouquet.
Just then, something caught my eye. Wel , almost alone, I said, pointing at the four men circled around us, ready to protect Wil iam from whatever threats waited beyond their circle, and there were many.
Theres no one except for you and me tonight, my love, he said, gliding my body down his as he set me down. The heat and desire coming from him was suffocating. Or was that coming from me? Who knows? Who cares?
Our own little world tonight? I said, drawing in a breath to calm the fires.
His eyes glinted with a familiar note of mischief. Our own little world every night.
Now that kind of talk isnt what we need if you want me to restrain myself until were ˜properly”I actual y did the air-quote thing”United so you can make a respectable woman out of me.
With the way youre running your hands al over me right now, he said, grimacing with torture, restraint and respect are not exactly on my mind at present.
In that case, I said, running my fingers up his jackets lapel. Id say youre overdressed for the occasion. I suddenly caught myself as I went to loosen the knot of his tie. I took an investigative look at my attire and, if he was overdressed, and we werent going to be getting undressed anytime soon, I was embarrassingly underdressed. Not only underdressed in a white tee and worn jeans, I was also dirty, wrinkled, and hardly fitting for the man and scene set before me.
Hold that thought? I asked, peering up at him.
Ive been holding that thought for decades, whats a few more minutes? I felt my face iron out in surprise, pleasant surprise. Or weeks, he clarified, causing my face to line with disappointment.
Pious much? I taunted, placing a kiss that was much too quick for my tastes on his lips as I spun around.
Where are you going? he cal ed out after me.
To make myself more presentable, I said over my shoulder as I continued jogging down the candle-il umed path. But how did you make someone like me look presentable for someone like him? You couldnt, but I wasnt going to let that stop me from trying. I had just the dress in mind that promised to have him wringing his napkin in his lap al dinner long. Good thing Id taken up the girls offer for a shopping trip in Missoula last weekend.
Dont be ridiculous, Bryn, Wil iam cal ed out. You look radiant.
I let out a laugh, picking up speed. The sooner I got back to Joseph and Coras, the sooner I could wriggle into said dress, which would hopeful y result in wriggling out of said dress soon after. Perhaps that was a stretch, but hey, the Eiffel Tower wasnt built because people thought smal , right?