Dax smiled, yet his insides tensed like a coiled snake. “I look forward to it.”
“We’ll see you inside. Lora, a word with you.”
Lora’s face fell into a frown, her posture indicating the actions of a petulant child not getting their way. Dax gave her a friendly smile, nodded his head at Mr. Chilani, and walked away unscathed. For now, anyway.
Dax entered the plush hotel, following the throng of guests to the required destination. Ryan suddenly appeared next to him with Lily holding his hand.
“Meeting the father of the bride. Not too bad, I hope,” Ryan said with an underlying tension.
“Oh, stop, Ryan. I know my father can be intimidating, but he’s not that bad.” Lily slapped his arm, giving Dax a sincere smile.
“Just a friendly hello. Congratulations, Lily. You make Ryan one of the happiest men in the world. And you look beautiful.”
She blushed, surprising Dax. He would’ve thought she’d be used to compliments like that.
“Thank you. Let me be frank. Can I be forward with you?” She leaned closer as she said it.
“Of course.” Dax leaned forward as well. What in the world did she want to be honest about?
“My sister is…not the brightest choice to pick. Someone more sweet, kind, and hasn’t slept with half the population of New York would be better for you.”
Ryan grimaced, hugging Lily closer to him. “Lily, Dax isn’t looking for a woman tonight, are you, buddy?”
“No.”
Lily rolled her eyes at Ryan. “Sweetie, it’s a wedding. Things happen. I’m only trying to say, because I saw you standing by my sister, she’s the wrong choice. I’m looking out for you. And I know you’re thinking, well, that’s your sister. Trust me when I say we’re not close. If I would’ve had my way, Fina would’ve been my maid of honor, not Lora.”
Ryan cleared his throat. “This isn’t the best place to talk about that, honey. If your mother heard, well, that wouldn’t end well. We both know you wanted Fina next to you. Plus, Dax isn’t setting his sights on your sister…or Fina. Right, buddy?”
Dax tried not to cringe at the thought of Lora anywhere near him, or the sinking feeling that he shouldn’t pursue Sarafina either. The thought hurt him more than he cared to admit.
“Right. Not in the market for a woman. Just enjoying the festivities. No worries about your sister. Look at it as me being polite and not wanting to hurt her feelings.”
“Good. That makes me feel better.” Lily turned her head to the right, her eyes widening with happiness. “Fina! Over here.”
Dax sucked in a silent breath as the woman he wished to stay far away from walked their way. Begging his heart to slow down, he tipped his lips up into a gentle grin as she took a spot next to him, Lily on her other side.
“Picture time. Who’s ready for their face to fall off from all the smiling about to happen?” Lily said with too much excitement. “So, you two stick close together. Because you have to stand next to your partner for the pictures. The. Entire. Time.”
Those words vibrated through Dax’s entire body. Could he handle that? He enjoyed holding Sarafina more than he should.
Sarafina turned her head toward him, gingerly smiling. Unable to resist the potency of her smile, he matched her brightness with a smile of his own. Offering his arm, too far gone in the depths of her beauty, he needed to hold her once again.
“Shall we, partner? Standing for long periods of time with a smile on my face sounds like I require a bit of saving.”
She looped her arm around his, nodding. “I can handle that. Although, you might be saving me this time. I hate taking pictures.”
“Oh, she does. But you’re gorgeous. Let’s go. I want to start dancing soon,” Lily said brightly as she shuffled Ryan away.
Dax didn’t miss the level of warning that came from Ryan as he held on to Sarafina like he was drowning in the middle of the ocean.
“Are you still cold? I felt you shaking in the limo.”
Her hazel eyes swallowed him whole as she swung her head from side to side. “I’m fine, honestly. Let’s get this torture over with. Lily’s not a huge fan of taking pictures either. Of course, for her wedding day, she’ll suck it up, but she’ll make this quick. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, Sarafina.”
I also love being with you, touching you, and I’m dying to roam my hands in unseen places. Of course, saying that wouldn’t go over well, or be wise, so he moved his feet in the direction that Lily and Ryan went.
Sarafina turned on the water. What she wouldn’t give to splash her face with some cool water. Then she’d ruin her makeup, of course. But she needed something to cool down the heat swarming every inch of her body. Standing next to Dax for over an hour as he held her waist as if he was made to fit next to her had been the worst torture she could imagine.
She had expected a quick round of pictures because Lily hated taking pictures as much as her. But Lily’s mother had different plans. Posing this way, standing that way. A never-ending parade of shots that would look great to reminisce later in life but hadn’t been that necessary.
The entire time Sarafina could see Lily chomping at the bit to end the picture taking. But every time her mouth opened to say, ‘great, we got them all’ her mother would pipe in with another round of pictures in a new spot.
She knew every last picture would look perfect and serene. The hotel, not only elegant in the architecture and style, also had a lovely inside garden. A bundle of trees and flowers guided by a marbled-stone path that looped around a glorious water fountain. Benches were scattered around the path with a fine, articulate oak crafted gazebo ending the long maze. Without venturing into the ballroom yet, she had to say the garden was her favorite part of the hotel.
Entering the ballroom hadn’t filtered her mind. No. She needed some space, a little breather after standing so close to the one man she shouldn’t fantasize about. He was off-limits, especially with Lora making her intentions clear.
While the pain of standing for an hour next to such drool-worthy heaven, her face almost frozen in a smile, it had been a glorious time. Dax had whispered into her ear, saying silly nonsense that made her want to laugh with a snort attached to it. He could say the most outrageous things that normally wouldn’t sound humorous from anyone else. It had to be the way it left his mouth in such a hot, erotic whisper, his warm breath tickling down her body as each word caressed her.
Because she couldn’t help herself, and he made everything so easy, she whispered back in his ear, countering every silly thing he said. He managed to make a drawn-out hour into something magical.
Hence the immediate retreat. She needed to re-center herself. Falling for him would be wrong. Stupid and entirely wrong.
With that reminder in place, she shut the water off, wiped her hands with a lacy hand towel and exited the bathroom.
Entering the ballroom, the ambiance of the place centered her back into a balance she could handle. Decorations of glittering white lights hung from the ceiling, accompanied by white lanterns lit up with candles. It gave the room such a magical glow. Centered in the middle of the room, an ice sculpture of hands embracing a heart looked perfect with the setting.