“Yes,” she said, and pulled his mouth to hers. “Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered, punctuating each affirmation with a kiss. And after she demonstrated her yes for an hour, Troy finally began to believe.
Epilogue
“You look a little overwhelmed,” Troy said to Senada as they stole a quick break from the guests at their wedding reception. The outdoor celebration was held on the lush, well-manicured grounds of a Chattanooga hotel. The late-August afternoon was warm, and the lawn was overrun with Pendletons of every size and age.
Sin looked at Troy in amused irritation. She’d thought she’d hidden her emotions well, but it seemed Troy could always tell. “I’m integrating,” she corrected.
He grinned. “You’re wondering what the hell you’ve gotten into.”
She slid him a suggestive look. “I’m hoping you’re going to show me what I’ve gotten into.”
His eyes darkened at her invitation. “You really don’t want my brothers ribbing us for the next half century because we couldn’t keep our hands off each other until the cake was served.”
She shrugged. God, she loved to tease him. “Guess it depends on if you’re better than cake.”
“Let’s dance,” he said tersely, and dragged her onto the dance floor. A string trio played old standards. Adults and children alike danced to the easy music.
Sin spotted her father and waved at him. “Daddy thinks I’ve married into a family of hooligans.”
“You have.”
“Are you saying I should reconsider?”
He tightened his grip on her waist. “Too late.”
Troy’s brother Garth sidled up beside them with his wife, Erin. She was small and blonde and Garth rarely left her side. He was the one they called the Pendleton Devil, and Senada saw a glint of it in his eyes every now and then. For the most part, though, he looked happy. “I think our brother-in-law Russ wants to make an announcement,” Garth said.
Troy lifted an eyebrow. “Something about Carly?” he asked, referring to their sister.
Garth nodded. “I hear she’s been hugging the toilet.”
“Must be in the water,” Troy muttered, tilting his head toward Nathan and his bride of two weeks, who was scheduled to deliver their baby within a month. “That means everyone but Ethan and me has added to the world population.”
Sin stiffened slightly.
Troy squeezed her waist. “Don’t worry, honey. I want you all to myself for a while.”
“I didn’t say a word,” she told him.
Troy grinned. “You didn’t have to.”
“Shut up and dance with your bride.”
His eyes grew solemn. “My pleasure.” Sin’s heart turned over as he pulled her closer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Troy’s other brothers. The oldest, Daniel, was holding his little girl in one hand and stealing a kiss from his wife, Sara, at the same time. Ethan and his new wife were wrapped around each other. Jarod snatched peanuts from Augusta and was teasing her to take a bite.
Senada smiled. “There’s a whole lot of love in this family. All the Pendleton men are taken. I guess the Ladies’ Club can rest easy now,” she murmured, enjoying the closeness with Troy. Being with him had changed her. She was more open about her feelings because she knew she could trust him to be there for her always. What a feeling, she thought. What an incredible feeling. She pressed a kiss to his neck.
It was natural for him to turn to her, to take her mouth, natural for a little caress to turn into something more passionate. He broke away reluctantly, and she could feel his body begin to respond. Hers did too.
“My, my,” she said. “I do believe you are better than cake, Troy.”
He swore under his breath. “When you look at me like that, I want to carry you up to our room and say to hell with the rest of this.”
“Promises, promises,” she whispered wickedly.
She watched in amazement as his self-restraint shredded right before her eyes. He picked her up in his arms and swept her past the punch bowl toward the back of the hotel.
“Troy!” The amused, surprised faces of their guests blurred together. Distantly, she heard gasps and laughter.
“It’s your fault. You can push a man but so far. You gotta learn, Sin. There will be consequences to kissing me like that in public, dancing real close and scorching me with one of your come-and-get-me looks.”
He carried her through the lobby to the elevator. “Does this mean you want me to stop?”
“Hell no,” he said, punching the button for their floor.
Her heart was pounding and melting at the same time. He looked so irritated and yet so determined. She took a quick breath. “You mentioned consequences,” she prompted.