Alessia (Casella Cousins #4) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,10
table. “This is unacceptable,” she said, still standing. “I’d like to be with my son, Finn.”
Gideon stood and pulled out her chair. “Aunt Bridget, the table seatings were drawn out of a hat. No one is allowed to change.”
She stared over at the first table. “Finn shouldn’t be with his aunt. He should be with me.”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Bridget,” Alessia put in. “These are the seatings.”
A scowl that would scare little children came over her face. “Well, I certainly won’t beg.” Clutching her purse, her head held high, she walked away. Derek and Alessia turned to see her go out the door.
“Poor Hayley.” This from Gideon.
Alessia commented, “Poor Finn and Millie.”
A clink of glasses came from the head table. The brides and grooms kissed, then Paul, groom number one, stood. “May I have your attention please.”
Seth stood, too.
And the festivities began.
* * *
“Would you like to dance, Alessia?” Derek asked, surprising her. She’d been invited out to the floor by others during the evening, but he sat by and talked to Paul’s family or watched from the sidelines. For some reason, she felt uncomfortable asking him for a spin around the room.
“I’d love to.” They stood, and he took her hand, led her to the floor. His palm was warm and his grip firm. He went with tradition and circled one arm around her back, the other holding her hand. Some couples danced with arms looped around each other.
She laid one hand on his shoulder and felt his muscles bulge.
A foot apart, they began to move. She could tell by the smoothness of his steps and how he twirled her away that he knew how to dance. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”
“Very much so.”
“What was the best part of the day?”
He drew her a bit closer. “Seeing you in that dress.”
Alessia felt her face flush. “Why, thank you.”
They moved slowly. With every few steps, he eased her to him until they were flush with each other’s bodies. She laid her head on his chest. Felt his heart beat. He smelled like expensive cologne. And Alessia let herself cuddle in. She thought she heard him sigh.
When the song ended, he didn’t let go of her hand. “I think it’s time for me to leave.”
“Do you have to?” she asked, nearly dazed by the sensations of being with him.
“I do. But walk me to the door.”
He held her hand all the way to the Inn’s empty foyer—and then into a little alcove to the right. There, he pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her and lowered his mouth. His lips brushed hers, briefly, then back again. His hand went to her back. Pressed her forward. She aligned her body with his, and their legs entangled.
He deepened the kiss, explored her mouth, bit her lip then soothed it. She returned all that heat in turn.
After a long time, he drew back. “Thank you, Alessia.”
“My pleasure.” She wasn’t joking. It was wholly pleasurable and a lot else. He grabbed his coat and walked out of the Inn.
Alessia sank against the wall. She hadn’t been kissed like that since Billy died, a sexy, lusty, devouring kiss which had her turned on. She put her hand to her lips, vowing not to analyze this but instead to enjoy it.
* * *
Gideon said to Anabelle, “Would you like to dance?”
“With you?” That smart mouth was covered in raisin colored lipstick and she had goop on her eyes, too. Red on her cheeks. He didn’t know she’d clean up so well.
“Of course, with me. I know how.”
Her steel-blue eyes measured him, as if to decide if he was telling the truth. “Yes, I’d like to dance.”
He held out his hand and she took it. He stared ahead trying to avoid looking at her in that dress, the shimmery silver one she’d worn to catch Julianne’s stalker last month. It taunted him with curves he’d wanted to touch since then.
The DJ played the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody. He held her semi-close and she looked up at him. “You look great tonight.” He wore a grey suit like all the men in the wedding. “Really great.”
“So, do you. It makes me wish we weren’t competitors.”
“We can have a truce for tonight.” Her face shadowed. “This’ll probably be the last time we’re on equal footing.”
He waited before he said, “Then this would be our last chance.”
She studied him, moved in closer, bumped her groin with his. “For this?” He was glad she didn’t pretend not to understand.
“And its logical