Bedding the Best Man(2)

Looking up at me, from her five-four stature, my aunt gave me a small smile. “No, sweetheart, I just want you to be happy. A man who is grinning in the face of every woman at the wedding reception is going to be nothing but your heartbreak.”

Not if I keep him satisfied. “Not with the right woman. Which I am.”

“Yes, you are. However, he is not the right man for you. Let Serita have him.”

“Serita?” She was my first cousin; my mother’s brother’s daughter. We had gone to college together and had been fighting over men since Ken Barbie. The salon owner had already been married once and divorced two years later. She had her chance. “Why aren’t you talking to her about Travis?”

“They wouldn’t fit. We all know Serita isn’t ready to settle down, again. She likes keeping a string of men. Patrick and she would do well, if they haven’t already done it.”

I covered my laugh with my hand, trying not to draw attention to my loose-tongued aunt. “Oh, Auntie. The things you say.”

Holding my stomach, I took a few breaths to calm myself and glanced back at Travis. I had to admit that Travis had changed since college. His physique was noteworthy in the tuxedo. He had always been tall, but the skinny boy with shoulders that looked like a coat hanger beneath his shirts now was broad shouldered and filling out the suit nicely. He’d had a head full of unruly curls even in college, but his coal black hair was now shorter and tapered.

My father must have said something humorous because Travis tossed his head back and laughed. The smile showed off perfect white teeth. I remembered he was still sporting braces during that spring break, which he hadn’t even gotten until college sometime.

As if feeling someone staring at him, Travis turned his head and looked directly at me as he listened to my father. My heart leaped.

What the hell was that?

Even from the other side of the room I could feel the intensity coming from his eyes as he looked at me.

Feeling flustered I looked away. I didn’t want him to think I was checking him out, even though I was. Only because your aunt demanded you do it, Kamari.

“Okay, I looked. Done. He’s passable,” I mumbled, still feeling a little out of sorts.

My aunt pursed her lips, as if she were disappointed in my assessment. “Really, Mari, sometimes I think I should have Dr. Rockell check your vision.”

“Did someone call my name?”

I turned and discovered mister hottie doctor standing behind us. “Patrick.”

Aunt Renee had both hands on her hips now as she began, “Nobo—”

“Are you enjoying the wedding reception?” I spoke over my Aunt Renee. When she didn’t care for someone, my aunt had no problem telling them. I wasn’t going to have her ruining my chances with Patrick.

“It’s great. You know what they say ‘you been to one wedding, you’ve been to them all’.” His grin was tilted to one side, and seemed a little cocky to me.

Self-assured, Kamari. There’s nothing wrong with a man who knows he looks good.

His comment about weddings didn’t sit well with me either, but I pushed it away; most men didn’t find weddings romantic.

“Can we help you with something?” Aunt Renee asked.

“I was hoping that Kamari would dance with me. I love this song.” He nudged his head in the direction of the dance floor where a lot of people were moving to the new release of a popular female rap artist.

I hated the song and I wasn’t one for rap music, but I didn’t want the doctor to think I was lame--unexciting.

“Absolutely.” I gave my aunt a kiss on the cheek and left with him.

Moving alongside me, he led us into the crowd of dancers. I kept my moves sexy but tamed, I was on a dance team in college and I knew how to work the floor, but with all of my family around, I wasn’t going to embarrass them, or myself.

Patrick had moves, too. I enjoyed dancing with him.

When the song ended, the wedding coordinator was at the microphone announcing it was toasting time.

We cleared the dance floor with everyone else.

“Thanks for the dance.” I gave him my best smile, hoping he was getting the message that I was interested in him.

“My pleasure.” He winked at me. One of his frat brothers called out to him and he excused himself.

I wasn’t concerned, there were plenty more dances tonight. I hoped our next one would be a slow song.

Moving to the head table, I took my seat between the bride’s cousin and her little sister, whom I’d had a chance to get to know during the week leading up to the wedding.

The coordinator called Sara, the maid of honor, to the stage. I took the glass of champagne the waiter held out to me as I listened to her talk about being there when Faith and my brother first met. The woman was funny in her speech and had everyone laughing.