“Promise.”
Her hand lifted, her fingertips threading through the hair at my temples. “Don’t cut your hair until . . . later, okay?”
“Okay.”
Later. She was still expecting me to leave, but soon enough, she’d realize she could dictate all my trips to the barber. Hell, she could cut it herself if she wanted.
She propped her chin on my shoulder, her gaze drifting outside. “The rooftop garden has to have twinkle lights.”
“Agreed.”
I relaxed deeper into my chair, content to act as Eloise’s. Then I watched my parents dance for a few moments until a familiar gaze snared me from across the room.
Samantha stared at me from her seat at the head table. She held a glass of champagne in one hand. The other was in her husband’s.
That guy had been a prick in high school. Hell, we’d all been that way, hadn’t we? He’d been at the same parties. More often than not, he’d been the guy to bring the cocaine.
At the moment, he was leaned in close, talking to the bridesmaid at his side, one of Sam’s sorority sisters.
From the way they spoke, too close and too intimately for friends, I suspected that Sam had gotten everything she’d wanted: a rich husband who didn’t give a damn if she slept with someone else. He’d be partaking in that open relationship. Because before this trip was over, I’d bet my inheritance he’d be fucking that bridesmaid.
More relief washed over my shoulders. That used to be my life. That used to be my reality. Thank fuck, I’d escaped.
If not for Dan, maybe I would have stayed. If not for Foster, maybe I would have returned.
If not for Eloise, I wouldn’t have even known what I’d been missing.
“I have to pee.” She groaned, sitting straight. “But I don’t want to risk a bathroom run-in.”
“What’s a bathroom run-in?”
“You know, where I go to the bathroom and while I’m in the stall, these other women, probably your ex or her bridesmaids, come in and I overhear them saying something nasty about my dress or my hair.”
“What could anyone possibly say about your dress or your hair?” She was the most breathtaking woman in the room, more stunning than even the bride.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Girls are mean. But I also don’t want to bump into your ex at the sink so she can tell me while we’re washing our hands that you’ll never love anyone the way you loved her and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It happened to my friend at junior prom. Drama with a capital d.”
The corner of my mouth turned up. “A bathroom run-in. Best to avoid those.”
“Exactly.”
That sensation I’d had at The Eloise before we’d left Montana hit me again. Those roots kept tugging. I’d thought they had something to do with Montana, with my growing connection to Quincy. But it had always been her.
“What?” She cocked her head to the side. “You’re looking at me funny. I’m drunk and talking too much, huh?”
“No, El. You’re perfect.” I shifted to dig out one of the key cards from my pocket. “We have a room at this hotel. No bathroom run-ins necessary.”
“Oh, yeah. Duh.” She giggled, then with a quick peck on the cheek, slid off my lap. “Be right back.”
Eloise stuck close to the edge of the room, passing the archways on her way to the doors. Her dress swished as her hips swayed.
A man checked out her ass as she passed. I clenched my jaw, about to stand and head upstairs with her, when someone touched my shoulder.
I didn’t need to turn to sense Samantha at my back.
Her hand lingered on my jacket, long enough to make my skin crawl, so I stood, keeping the chair between us.
“Hi, Sam.”
“Jasper.”
“Congratulations. This is a beautiful wedding.”
“Yes, it is.” She glanced to Eloise’s empty seat. “Where’s your wife? I was hoping to meet her tonight.”
I chuckled. Oh, yeah. There would have definitely been a bathroom run-in.
“What’s funny?” Sam asked.
“Nothing.” I waved it off.
“She’s very . . . beautiful.”
“She is. Inside and out,” I said. “Eloise just ran upstairs for something. She’ll be back.”
Sam’s gaze narrowed as she studied my face. “You look . . . different.”
“Happy,” I corrected.
There were only a few times when I could remember shocking Samantha. The most notable was when I’d told her I wanted a divorce. She’d been totally unprepared for me to take issue with us fucking other people.
But tonight, she looked arguably as surprised.
Maybe because she’d never made me this happy and was realizing how much our relationship had lacked. Well, that was her problem. With any luck, tonight would be the last time I saw Samantha.
“I’m going to go check on Eloise. Enjoy your celebration.”
Before she could say another word, I turned, following the same path Eloise had taken out of the ballroom.
My shoes clicked on the marble as I hustled to the elevator, stepping in with another gentleman on his way to the third floor. Then I strode down the carpeted hallway, pulling the other key from my pocket, glad I’d snagged both on the way out tonight.
Eloise was in the bathroom smoothing her hair, and when I appeared in the mirror, she gasped, slapping a hand to her heart. “You scared me. Warn a girl.”
“Sorry.” I closed the distance between us, spinning her from the mirror to haul her into my arms. Then I slammed my mouth onto hers.
She moaned as I slid my tongue inside, stealing that sweet taste. Then she put her hands on my chest, gently pulling away. “You’re going to ruin my makeup.”
“Can’t have that.” I picked her up at the waist, setting her on the counter.
The travel-sized plastic bottles of toiletries she’d lined up beside the sink scattered, two rolling to the floor as my hand skated up that sexy as fuck slit in her dress, pushing the fabric aside.
“Jas.” Her breath hitched as I stroked along the gusset of her lace panties.
“Shimmy out of these,” I ordered, tugging at the fabric.
She shifted from side to side as I pulled the panties down. Then she pulled the skirt of her gown away, until she was bared to me, her ass perched on the edge of the counter as she spread wide.
My cock throbbed, aching behind the zipper of my slacks. I freed myself, fisted the shaft and dragged the tip through her entrance, spreading that first pearl drop through her slit.
Eloise hummed, her head lolling to the side. Her legs spread wider as her hands came to my shoulders.
I hooked a hand under her knee, holding it high, stretching that toned leg until I felt resistance. Then I slid into her tight sheath with a single thrust.
“Yes,” she hissed. “I missed you.”
She’d had me three times last night and once this morning. But sex since we’d come here had held an edge. Her nerves. Mine.
They were gone now. All that was left was us.
I rocked us together, slowly, keeping that leg pinned, her knee pressed up toward her chest.
“Oh God.” She whimpered when I drove to the hilt.
“So fucking deep.” I looked down to where we were connected, a surge of lust spiking as her body stretched around mine. “Look at us, angel.”