Man of Honor (Battle Scars #3) - Diana Gardin Page 0,73
crackers for a snack. When I turn, Drake is still standing against the counter, his eyes intently locked on me.
I stop. “What?”
He shakes his head, scrubbing a hand down the front of his face. “This.” He gestures around us. “You. In my kitchen. In my bed every night. Damn, girl. I never thought I’d love this so much.”
I’m frozen, staring at him as he pours more of himself into me. He’s perplexed, the little line in his forehead a dead giveaway.
“I just don’t want it to end. I like you being here. I like the way I am when I’m with you. I like us.”
Dropping the cheese on the counter, I go to him. I’m drawn in by his words, by the way his eyes are staring straight through me, by the way his dark and light mix together into a perfect cocktail.
“I like us, too. I’m sorry it took so long.”
He hefts me up, plants me on the counter. Planting himself between my legs, his gaze turns dark and smoky. And I love his dark just as much as I love his light.
Greta and I both gaze over at Berkeley. Wearing a black maxi dress, her hair falling haphazardly over her shoulders in a cascade of blond curls, she’s a vision. She laughs at something Jeremy Teague says to her, probably something completely inappropriate.
“She’s so happy,” I muse, transfixed by her. “I can’t believe she’s getting married tomorrow.”
“I know.” Greta sighs, her crystal-blue eyes soaking in our friend’s joy. When she turns them on me, there’s a glint in them. “So. You and Drake, huh? I always knew it.”
I wave a flippant hand. “Oh, you did not. I was a master of deception when it came to Drake. No one knew.”
Greta throws her head back and laughs. “You were! I thought you hated him. But it was all a ruse.” She wags a “you naughty girl, you” finger at me.
Putting my plate aside, I lean forward. “I did hate him. At least I thought I did. For something that was so completely not his fault. After Berkeley’s wedding is over, I need to tell you guys something I’ve only to this point shared with Mikah and now Drake.”
Her expression changes, worry breaking free through the mask of happiness. Then the expression morphs into one of relief.
“You’re finally ready.” She breathes.
Then she leans forward and squeezes me up into the tightest hug we’ve ever shared. Kissing my cheek before she pulls back, she whispers in my ear.
“We’ve always been ready to know you, Mea. Just been waiting on you.”
23
Drake
The wedding day.
Thanks to Will, my garage runs like clockwork even when I’m not around. I don’t have to worry about my business on a day like this, when I’m supposed to be focusing on my best friend and his big day.
My thick fingers twist and slide around the green stem of Dare’s boutonniere. The other guys are crowded into my living room. Berkeley and the girls are getting ready today at her and Dare’s house. And I’m sure they brought the entire Lone Sands Day Spa to them.
When I finally have the damned flower pinned onto his lapel, I turn him so that he can check out my work in the mirror. He frowns, turning a little so he can see how his khaki linen suit works with the flowers.
I slap him on the shoulder. “Looks good, man. You about ready?”
We turn to face the rest of the room. All the guys are dressed in their suits and amped up. We’re all ready to do this. The question is…is the groom?
I’ve never seen Dare like this. He’s always been a deep-thinking guy, with a killer sense of humor. But today, he’s nothing but serious. He hasn’t cracked a smile, and he’s checked over every single thing he’s responsible for fifty times.
“Ring’s in your pocket?” His voice is an octave higher than usual.
I step in front of him, placing both hands on his shoulders. “I got the ring. Now you gotta go get the girl.”
“Speaking of girls…” Jeremy steps up beside us, a big grin on his face.
Glancing at me, his grin widens. “Have you seen Mea today? Man, I dipped into the girls’ house this morning to drop off something Greta left at the security office. And damn, man. Mea looked hot.”
The warning is my throaty growl, but Jeremy doesn’t get it. Dare steps in front of me right before I launch. Jeremy backs up a step.