“I feel like I’m not fitting in,” I blurt out. “I feel so stupid about magic and witches.”
His eyebrows pull down. “Give it time. It takes years to learn things.”
“So I’m told.” I make myself smile. “I’ll try to be more patient.”
“Attagirl.”
Something on the other side of the dance floor is creating a commotion, and we both turn to look. Guests gather together, and I hear laughter. “What is going on?”
We stop dancing, as does everyone else, moving closer to see that a T-Rex has joined the wedding, boogying on the dance floor.
I crack up, covering my mouth. “Oh my god! Who is that?”
“I have no idea.”
The dinosaur grabs Wendell’s hand and tries to spin him. Wendell is dying laughing and nearly falls on his ass.
“Is that Dean?” Joe asks.
“I think it is.” Trace speaks behind us.
I turn and see his broad smile.
The dinosaur dances his way around, stopping for hugs from Dean’s (his?) mom, Wendell’s mom, and Grandma Candler. The crowd is clapping and cheering for him. With his tiny little arms and big tail, he’s a hilarious dancer, and my face hurts from laughing.
Eventually Dean reveals himself and he and Wendell hug. “You’re a kook, hon,” Wendell says affectionately.
When the hilarity dies down, the DJ starts a slower, older song, “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“Sinatra,” I murmur. “I love this song.”
Joe pats Trace’s shoulder as he moves away.
Trace holds out his hand to me.
I take it and let him pull me close.
“God, that was funny,” I say.
“Dean’s a nut. A good nut though.”
“I’m so happy for them.”
“Yeah.” Trace’s hand on my hip guides me out of the way of another couple. And closer to him. I feel the warmth of his body. I like the strength in his hand holding mine, the breadth of his shoulders. He’s taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, and his forearms are like porn. I can’t stop peeking at them. And at his square jaw, dark with stubble. His mossy-green eyes. His lips…
“Don’t look at me like that.”
I blink. “Like what?”
“Your eyes are horny.”
Now those eyes widen. “What?”
“You have horny eyes.”
That’s what I thought he said. “Oh. Well. There could be a reason for that.” Yikes. That sounded flirty.
A low groan rumbles in his chest. “Jesus, Romy.”
I liked Trace before, but learning more about him tonight, seeing him with kids and old ladies and friends… I’m a goner. My hormones are throwing a party in my lady region. I drop my gaze and rub my palm over his shoulder. “You look good in a suit.”
He makes a low noise, almost a groan. “And you look fucking hot in that dress.” He pauses, then bends his head near me. “Kissable. Lickable.” My belly quivers as his nose touches my hair, his breath tickling my ear. “Fuckable.”
Heat washes down through me, pooling between my legs. I love his filthy words, but… “You’re giving me mixed messages, Trace.”
“Fuck. I know.” He leans his forehead against mine briefly. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to resist but…”
“I know.”
I do know. I want him so much. He keeps pushing me away, and I understand why, but on the other hand… he’s pretty damn irresistible. Maybe he feels the same? That itself is a huge turn-on.
The song ends, and it looks like Joe and Cassie are leaving. We return to the table to say good night. I’m buzzing with arousal, certain my cheeks are flushed and… Shit, is everyone seeing my horny eyes? I hope not!
I try to ignore Trace as I hug Joe and Cassie, then Chuck and Stella who are also leaving, but I’m aware of him in my peripheral vision. Fuckable. Oh God. I squeeze my thighs together.
The crowd is much smaller now with mainly friends of Dean and Wendell’s remaining. I get into an animated conversation with Magan and her—I mean our—cousin Natalie, who’s the same age as me and also works in IT. We have a lot in common and agree to meet for lunch one day.
“Jeff and I have a suite here in the hotel,” she says. “We’re having a party when things wind up here. You’re invited.”
Yikes. This family likes to party.
“Did you come with Trace?” she asks. “Tell him about it.”
“Okay. I’ll see what he says.”
I’m alone at the table, everyone else dancing, when Trace sits next to me. Now his tie is loosened and he lounges back in his chair, looking a little rumpled and a