“Fuck, baby. I don’t think I will ever get enough of you.”
His lips meet mine, giving me one more kiss before he slips out of me.
Our heartbeats calm, our breathing labored as he steadies me on my feet and weak legs.
“If this is your running routine every morning, sign me up, Reinhardt.”
“I wanted you this morning. But I didn’t have the heart to wake you. So, I went for a run, hoping it would help expend all this pent-up sexual frustration.”
“And thankfully it didn’t work.”
“So, tell me, Kansas, were you one of those little girls that planned their wedding, down to the details of your dress, the kind of flowers you’ll be carrying, and those bead things in your hair?” Brody asks as we sway side to side on the make-shift wooden dance floor in Dylan’s backyard.
I glance over at my brother and Phoebe, his bride to be. They’re dancing under a string of lights, her back against Dylan’s front, his arms wrapped around her belly. The glow of pregnancy suits her and if she heard me say that, she’d disown me before she becomes my sister-in-law.
Dylan’s surprise proposal was perfect. My brother got sappy as tears rolled down his face when Phoebe said yes. And I hope one day I will have that kind of proposal and a man like my brothers and Daddy who have shown me what true love is.
“I have a book and everything,” I answer shyly with embarrassment.
“A book, huh? Tell me about this book of yours.”
“It’s more like a catalog. It has a few dresses that I have cut and glued together. Different flowers. Honeymoon destinations. Bridesmaid dresses . . . It even has the groom I want to marry.”
Brody chuckles. “And who’s the lucky guy?”
“It’s silly. Maybe I shouldn’t—”
“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad,” he teases.
“He’s faceless.” I giggle. “It’s a headless tuxedo man. I have imagined him in many ways. Tall, short, blond, brunette, blue eyes, brown eyes . . . but I guess what it boils down to is how he treats me and how he makes me feel.”
Brody kisses the top of my head and he pulls me closer to him. “I think that’s cute. Do you still have this book?”
“Yes, as pathetic as that sounds.” I shrug and turn back to see Drake’s arm draped over Franny’s shoulder as they’re talking to Mama and Daddy. My heart swells looking around at all my favorite people. “I imagine my wedding with just my family and my two best friends as my maids of honor . . . during the sunset.”
“Any place in particular?”
“I have always wanted it on the beach, on a cliff of the Grand Canyon, or even at my parents’ ranch where they got married.”
“And in this book, do the husband and wife have children?” Brody asks and his smile melts my heart. “Do you have pictures of them too?”
I clear my throat and look away. With his fingers, he pulls my chin back to face him.
“Yes,” I whisper, then stifle a giggle. “They’re headless too.”
“Well, if we were to have children, they would have your eyes, the bluest of blues, like the crystal-clear oceans of Hawaii. And my hair, well, because I have great hair.” He chuckles.
I slap his chest playfully and I am completely thrown back that he’s talking about children with me.
“Oh, please. I’m the one with great hair,” I counter.
“Okay, you’re right.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, his thumb slides down the line of my jaw, and goose bumps tingle down my spine. He lowers his head, and his lips barely brush my lips when a sudden tug at my dress catches my attention and Brody and I pull apart.
“Auntie Lulu, it’s your turn now.” Susie, my niece, hands me a bouquet of dandelions.
“My turn for what, Shorty?”
“To get married, silly,” Susie says as she sways her flowery dress from side to side.
“That’s not going to happen anytime soon,” I tell her, straightening one of her yellow bows in her hair.
“But he kissed you.” Susie points to Brody. “If he kisses you, you have to get married.”
Brody laughs, he hunches over, hands on his knees so he’s eye level with her. “Is that so? I didn’t know there was a rule for that.”
I look over Susie’s shoulder and Drake’s walking closer to us. “Mind if I cut in and dance with my baby sister?” Drake asks Brody.
“Of course. I was actually going to ask Susie if she would like to dance with me.” Brody stretches out his hand. “Susie, may I have this dance?”
“You’re not going to kiss me, are you? My daddy will punch you in the face.”
Brody looks up at Drake, assuming he is Susie’s dad.
“Jacob is her daddy, not me,” Drake says, pointing to Jacob who is talking to one of Phoebe’s friends.
“I promise I won’t kiss you. Cross my heart,” Brody says, takes Susie’s hand, and moves her to the other end of the dance floor leaving me with my oldest brother.
It’s an awkward moment since he was the one who warned me about Todd and threw him in jail. We never really reconciled our differences, and I didn’t tell him he was right and I was wrong . . . and that I appreciated him looking after me.
“I was wondering how long you would dodge me this evening,” Drake says as he takes my hand and we dance.
“I’m not dodging you. It’s Dylan’s night and I’m just giving him the attention, that’s all.” It’s part lie, part truth.
“And why haven’t you returned my calls or answered any of my texts?”
“Again, I’ve been busy. I have this new job and it’s very demanding.”
“Yet, you still had time to call Mama and talk to Dyl and Dax. And send Pop crossword puzzles.” He levels his glare and suddenly I feel guilty.
Drake deserves an explanation, more like an apology. Being the oldest can’t be easy. He’ll never admit it, but as kids, he hated that Dylan and I were much closer. If Dyl wasn’t with his friends, we were together. Dylan and I watched the same TV shows, went horseback riding, played baseball and football, and Dylan helped me with the cutouts in my wedding book.
Drake is five years older than me. And the times I wanted to tag along, I was more of a nuisance to him and his friends. Then Dax came along and with his Down syndrome, Dylan and I helped Mama and Daddy a lot with him, while Drake did what typical teenage boys did.
Drake being the sheriff of the town we all grew up in, it was in his nature to be the protector. And I couldn’t fault him for that.
The music fades and we stop moving and I look up into my brother’s dark blue eyes. “I’m sorry. You were right, and I was wrong.”
“It’s not a matter of who is right or wrong, Lu. But I am sorry I didn’t throw his ass in jail sooner.”
“I just didn’t want to admit it then. I was ashamed and scared.”
“There ain’t no shame in needing me and asking for my help.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’m just glad you’re okay now.”
“Thank you, Drake.” My smile is fleeting and apologetic.
“So, we’re good? You’re not mad at me for prying?”