Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor- Cynthia D'Alba Page 0,53

Bethany’s dress, a white satin sheath, clung to her in all the right places. Holly knew it’d been custom made for tonight’s event. Lawrence wore a white tux with tails. The formal tux was his nod to Mrs. McQuiston’s demands. The tails were a reflection of her brother’s nod to how ridiculous all this was.

“Holly, you look stunning,” Bethany said, placing air kisses on both of Holly’s cheeks. “I knew when we found that dress, it would be perfect. You look hot and sexy.”

Holly laughed. “It’s completely the dress. Nothing to do with woman wearing it.”

“I beg to differ,” Seth said, breaking into the conversation.

“Seth,” Bethany said. “I’m so glad you came.”

“I appreciate the invite. Hey, old man,” he said to Lawrence, adding a slap to his back. “Not your usual wear for the office.”

Lawrence held out his arms. “What can I say? I look good.”

“And he’s so modest, too,” Bethany said with a laugh. “We have to keep moving or I get the stink-eye from mom. Have fun tonight. Eat a lot. Drink a lot. Make my parents pay big for forcing this on us.”

Holly laughed.

Lawrence and Bethany moved over to speak with Patricia.

“She’s really something,” Seth said.

“She is. I didn’t know you’d met.”

“She fixed me up on a blind date with one of her friends and we doubled with them.”

“Oh? How’d that go? Is the lucky lady here?”

He shook his head. “No. Some college friend who was in town only for the weekend, but she’ll be back for the wedding.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

As they spoke, she couldn’t resist comparing him to Ben. After all, Seth had been the man her brothers had thought a good match for her.

He wasn’t as tall as Ben’s six-three. Holly was close to six foot. She’d hit her height in high school and had, in fact, been two inches taller than Steve. And yes, that’d been an issue for a while. She’d slumped around trying not to be so tall until her mother had had a long talk with her about being proud and standing tall. Now, she watched her daughter grow taller every day. So far, no slumping, but she had her speech for Katie ready, should it be needed.

One of the nice things—among a lot of nice things—about being in Ben’s arms was his height. Once he’d mentioned how he enjoyed kissing her since he didn’t have to lean over.

Seth’s brown hair was okay, but it didn’t shimmer like the blond and silver in Ben’s hair. She could only imagine how gorgeous Ben’s hair would have looked under these sparkling lights.

And Ben’s crystal-blue eyes would shine when he looked at her. Seth’s chocolate eyes were pretty, but they did nothing for the butterflies in her belly. One glance from Ben, and those butterflies rioted.

“Dance?”

The question jarred her out of her thoughts. “Excuse me?”

“I said, would you like to dance?” Seth said.

“Oh, sure.”

She took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. His other hand rested at her waist and she placed hers on his shoulder. They joined other dancers as they moved slowly to the music.

Seth seemed to be a nice enough guy. Completely normal, and in her family’s opinion, a safe choice. While he was a cop, he was a detective and not out patrolling the mean streets and putting his life on the line. Plus, she was sure her family would love a man with two children.

Mentally, she shook her head at that thought. Were they kidding? She hadn’t been sure about one child when she’d gotten pregnant with Katie. She loved her daughter, but going through all that again but this time with two? Not interested.

“So, how do you like being back in California?” she asked him as they danced.

“It’s good to be home. My mother has been a godsend with my kids when I have to work.”

She nodded. “I bet. Are you meeting some nice women then?”

“Some. Patrick said he tried to fix us up.”

With a gritted smile, she said, “That’s true, but I’m dating someone, so…” She shrugged.

“Where is he tonight?”

“He would be standing right behind you.”

Ben’s deep voice sent her butterflies soaring.

“Ben,” Holly exclaimed. Her heart leapt into her throat. His voice sent her stomach into quivers as goose bumps marched down her back. She dropped Seth’s hand and smiled at Ben. “Seth, this is Benjamin Blackwell. Ben, Seth Garrett.”

“Mr. Garrett. If I might steal my woman away? I haven’t seen her in three long weeks.”

Seth didn’t study the muscular man long