to reveal a polite amount of cleavage before disappearing in thin ripples of excess material, while the dress was open to mid-back before being cross-strapped to just above her butt.
Rann had been unable to stop himself from staring lewdly and truthfully didn’t have much intention of trying. She was stunning, and he didn’t care who saw him eyeing her up like his next meal. He wasn’t about to fake anything when it came to her. Certainly not today.
“You look nice too,” she said as they ascended the steps to the church.
“Would you believe this is the second suit I’ve bought to impress you,” he said with a chuckle, trying like crazy not to reach up and tug at the tight collar.
“You don’t need a suit to impress me,” she said with a giggle, leaning into him.
Rann looked down at her eagerly. “So, I can take it off?”
“Now, now,” Gayle said. “Let’s not get too hasty, shall we?”
Rann pouted and sighed theatrically. “Okay.”
“It really makes your butt look good, by the way,” she added, giving him a playful bump with her hips.
“That’s actually my butt-booster underwear, but thanks,” he explained as they reached the top of the stairs.
Gayle paused, turning slowly to look at him. “Your what?”
Rann looked away. “It’s like those bodysuits women wear under things to ‘smooth and shape’ or whatever. But it’s for men. And it goes on your butt.”
“You’re joking, right?” she asked.
“Nah. I wanted to look extra good today, so I pulled it on,” he said, grabbing the door handle and opening it for her.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Go ahead,” he said, sticking his butt out in full view. “Give it a squeeze, feel that padding.”
Gayle frowned, reaching out automatically to grab his butt. “I don’t—hey! That is not funny,” she protested as he began to snicker.
“Made you grab it,” he teased and waved for her to go inside.
“Everyone just saw me grab your ass,” she muttered, shaking her head, but he could hear her restraining laughter as she entered.
“And now they’re all going to see you entering looking like a million bucks,” he said.
“Yeah.”
Rann took her arm again as they entered. A young male with suspenders draped over his prodigious waist came toward them, looking stunned.
“Y-y-you shouldn’t be here,” he started to say, but Rann sent him back with a ferocious glower, letting just the hint of fire enter his eyes.
“She has an invite,” he growled.
The young male swallowed visibly then nodded and backed away.
Satisfied, Rann turned to Gayle. “May I show you to your seat?” he asked.
“You may,” Gayle said, allowing herself to be led to a mostly empty pew.
The church itself was small. A dozen pews were arrayed on either side of the aisle. At the front, a small white altar sat before a beautiful arching stained glass window depicting the crucifixion. Rann wasn’t particularly religious, but he could certainly admire the quality of the work put into the window. It was gorgeous.
More than one head turned to look at them, and Rann savored the looks of shock—and at least one of outrage—that were directed their way. He smirked and smiled openly as he waited for Gayle to take a seat, daring anyone to come up to them.
“You know,” he murmured as he sat next to her, closer to the aisle, just in case anyone tried to come toward them again. “I must admit that I’m rather surprised you wanted to come today. I definitely thought you were going to cancel the whole idea.”
Gayle sighed slightly, and he felt her shrug. “Honestly, I almost did. Like half a dozen times. I went back and forth about it.”
“Nobody would blame you for not coming,” he pointed out.
“I know. But it’s…it’s going to be some closure, in a weird way,” she said quietly. “To see them get married and then never see them again. Yesterday, when I walked out of the cubicle job, I knew I was never going back, that I would never see that place again either.”
Rann watched her face as she spoke, seeing the thick, plump cheeks dimple as she smiled, and he could see that Gayle meant what she was saying. It wasn’t an act but something she was experiencing deep within her.
“Everything is changing now. My romantic life,” she said, finding his hand and giving it a squeeze. “Personal life. My work. And I feel good about it, Rann. Like, really, really good about it, you know?”
“I’m glad,” he said. “I feel good about it too, for the part that concerns