I winked. “Okay, I was wearing my PJs. But I did sleep next to you. I figured it was harmless. You were basically like a pile of rocks. Nothing was going to be moving last night, if you know what I mean.”
He seemed genuinely perplexed. “Why are you being so understanding when I acted like an ass on your first night here?”
It made sense that he was confused as to why I was being so nice. He didn’t know Felicity had told me the real reason he hadn’t come home in so long. He still assumed I was in the dark about why he was dreading this day so much. So my answer wasn’t exactly the full truth.
“Are you forgetting what brought us together for Christmas in the first place? If anyone totally understands letting your family stress you out, it’s me.”
Kennedy pushed the comforter off and sat on the edge of the bed. I’d taken off his shirt last night but kept his pants on, so he’d slept in them.
“Well, after my behavior at the rehearsal dinner, not to mention throwing you into the fire with my mother at the boutique before that, I’m not sure why you’re pardoning me so easily. But thank you.”
I half-smiled. “Let’s just try to get through this day, huh?”
“I’m not going to drink tonight. I won’t do that to you again.”
“I appreciate that. But I’ve got you, Kennedy. It’s fine if you want to drink. It’s a wedding.”
“No way. I brought you with me for support, but that shouldn’t include you having to drag my ass to the door because I couldn’t lay off the sauce. I’ll stick to water.” He turned to me and opened his mouth to speak, then stilled. “God, Riley, you look beautiful. Seriously, I thought they said you’re not supposed to upstage the bride.”
“Aw shucks, you’re so sweet when you’re hungover.”
“Surprisingly, I don’t feel as crappy as I thought I would. I’m actually starving,” he said as his eyes lingered on my cleavage.
I smacked his leg. “C’mon. Get moving. Hurry up and get dressed. Maybe we can hit that IHOP down the road before the ceremony. If I don’t have coffee soon, I think my head’s going to explode.”
“Why didn’t you go down to the kitchen and get some? My mother always has a pot going early.”
The honest answer wasn’t going to bode well for me. “I…didn’t feel like talking to your family.”
“So you stayed in here waiting for me to wake up?”
“Yes. I’m that antisocial. Got up and showered before anyone was awake and have been imprisoned in here with your sorry ass ever since.”
“Well, you deserve a cup of coffee the size of your head for putting up with me last night. Let’s go get you fed and caffeinated.”
“I have to pee really bad, too.”
“Why haven’t you peed?”
“I would’ve had to pass someone in the hall and, I don’t know, chat first to get to the bathroom.”
“So now you’re gonna piss yourself, all because you let me sleep.”
“Pretty much. Just waiting for you to go out there and talk to your family to distract them, then I’ll sneak down the hall.”
Kennedy was laughing at me. It was good to see him smiling because I knew he was probably really anxious about today.
My eyes wandered over to a teddy bear on the corner of his dresser. “Nice Teddy,” I teased.
“You may not believe this, but there are no sex toys hiding inside of him.”
I held my stomach. “Oh my God. Don’t make me laugh, I really will pee myself.”
He forced himself to his feet. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s go find you a pot to piss in.”
By some miracle, the house was now quiet. I’d heard people talking earlier, but they must have all left the house. I was able to use the bathroom down the hall in peace while Kennedy poured us two mugs of coffee.
We took them back to his room, and after he showered, I watched as Kennedy changed into his tuxedo pants and white shirt. Standing behind him as he looked at himself in the full-length mirror attached to his closet door, I discreetly admired his masculine beauty and the way his muscles looked in that shirt. Not to mention the way those pants hugged his ass.
He turned toward me and I helped him adjust his tie before smoothing the fabric of his shirt. I could feel how fast his heart beat through the material. Our eyes locked for a moment. He swallowed hard. My lips parted in response to the raw heat I saw in his eyes. My growing attraction to him was only adding to this complicated mess.
God. What was Felicity thinking? What could have possessed her to give this man up?
I wondered whether he’d let this whole day pass without admitting the truth to me.
Kennedy
“She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?”
One of Felicity’s great-uncles sat down next to me. Someone had introduced us earlier at the church and I vaguely recalled meeting him some years earlier, but damned if I could remember his name.
The table I’d been assigned at the reception was located next to the dance floor, and I was the only one sitting at it at the moment. Well, and the old guy next to me now. Everyone else seemed to be out on the dance floor or off having a good time. We stared out at the crowd of people jumping around. He must’ve thought I was looking at the woman wearing ten pounds of white and dancing off tempo to the music. But I didn’t give two shits about her anymore. No, my eyes were following the gorgeous lady in the purple dress, the one currently dancing up a storm with my mother. The two of them were hysterical, laughing like they’d known each other for years.
“Yeah. She’s beautiful.”
My mother started to turn right, and Riley grabbed onto her arm to guide her to turn left with everyone else. Riles was pretty good at line dancing. I definitely liked the way her hips moved. My mother, on the other hand, was not so coordinated. I was going to owe my date a foot massage after how many times Mom had stamped on her feet.
I sipped my water, and my eyes caught with Riley’s across the room. She waved for me to join them out on the dance floor, but I was enjoying the view from here just fine. I smiled, but shook my head.
“I haven’t seen my grand-niece since she was a little girl. How about you? You know the bride and groom well?” Apparently, Felicity’s uncle didn’t remember much about meeting me earlier, either, which was just fine.
“Actually, no. It turns out I don’t really know either of them too well.”
Uncle What’s-his-name loosened his tie. “My wife is on the other side of the room. She’s on my ass about watching my carbs. Steal me a piece of that bread in the basket over there, will ya? She’s too busy yapping her face off to notice right now.”
I chuckled. “Sure.”
While Felicity’s great-uncle was busy munching on his carbs, the music changed to a slow dance. Riley and my mother hugged, and my date started walking toward our table. I moved the breadbasket and butter to within the old guy’s reach and nodded. “Have at it. I’ll be back.”
I stood and held out my hand to Riley. “Feel like dancing some more?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I’ve been trying to get you to dance with me all night. Now you ask me to dance? When your mother’s worn me out?”