my mom and dad as they also dance.
Duncan brings my attention back to him. "You and Kevin seemed to be in some secret conversation."
I shrug. "I told you, we're close. The bickering thing is just what we do."
"As long as you know the truth."
“The truth? What truth is that?"
"That you're amazing. That living your dream makes you a superstar. Just because you don't live here doesn't make you less than all of these people."
"I think I might also see that it doesn't make me more."
"I think you're more," Duncan says.
"What I mean is that they aren't exempt from the same feelings. Kevin feels the same pressure I do." I look out over the floor, seeing my family: parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. I catch sight of Jimmy. He’s dancing with his daughter. "I think everyone does." I look up at Duncan. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For letting me blackmail you."
He shakes his head. "Seized opportunity."
"Whatever. Being my plus-one let me for once not be the outcast without a date. It let me see that we're really not all that much different."
Duncan's eyebrows move up and down. "So I was thinking, would you like to brush your teeth?"
My forehead tips to his shoulder. "Stop. I'll never be able to use my electric toothbrush again."
"Well, we could go straight for the toys. I do have Amazon Prime."
As the music changes to a faster beat, Duncan takes my hand and we head back toward the table. Before we get there, he stops and whispers, "Do you know what's better about tonight than at the company holiday party?"
"What?"
He moves his lips close to my ear, his warm cinnamon breath kissing my skin and sending chills that twist my insides. "Besides the fact that you're with me, tonight I know what you have under that blue dress, and tonight I'm going to get to enjoy it."
Chapter Eighteen
Duncan
I wake to the now-familiar sunshine casting rose-colored hues through the pink curtains. Though the clock beside the bed says it's still early, I hear noises from the direction of the barn, knowing that Oscar is up and doing something outside.
The faint sound of breathing turns my attention to the beautiful woman beside me. Her lips are slightly parted, and her auburn hair is twisted and disheveled in the sexiest bedhead slash post-sex style I've ever seen. The sheet is wrapped around her breasts and covering her body.
I know from experience that under the cover she's entirely nude. Just the thought of her perfect tits combined with memories of last night makes my morning wood turn to steel.
After the wedding when we were alone in her room, I was magically drawn to her. The magnetic-like pull couldn't have been stronger. Enjoying her warmth, I close my eyes, and recall every moment.
I close the door to her room a step behind Kimbra.
Just as I'm about to reach for her, she exhales, "Whew," and turns a small circle. "Thank you," she says with a tired smile. "After all that avoidance, I actually had a good time."
I reach for her hands and pull her toward the bed. We both collapse staring up at the underside of the canopy. "My favorite," I say with a grin, "was Helen handing Scarlett the vibrator."
Kimbra starts laughing. "And Kurt asking what it was!"
"He thought it was a laser pointer," we both say in unison.
My chest rumbles. "Did you see Scarlett's face? She's good at that blushing thing, too." I sit up and brush my knuckle over Kimbra's cheek. "It must be a family trait."
"Oh, she knew what it was. That and the fact Kurt didn't was priceless."
"Helen's response telling him that Scarlett would explain..." We both lie back for a minute, laughing and reliving the scene. "Do you think that's happening right now?"
Kimbra covers her face with her hands. "Eww, stop. So many images I don't want in my head."
I close my eyes and see the image I've been seeing all night, the one of Kimbra in a wedding dress. Each time I see it, the visualization is more complete. Now it's not just her, but the same little church, Oscar walking beside her. I can't understand why it won't go away. I shouldn't be the one seeing it, because no way in hell am I the man at the end of the aisle.
I push it away...even as it tries to persist.
Kimbra begins to stand, bringing me back to present. I lean forward and reach for her hand. "Where do you think you're going, Miss Jones?"
"To get