The Arrangement(31)

The catered dinner was held at the lodge. The room had been decorated in this year’s chosen colors of turquoise and cream. Balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling. The committee for this year’s reunion   had done an excellent job. So far, the event had flowed smoothly. She only wished she could be enjoying it more. Ariadne sliced into her grilled chicken breast. Her jaw was so tightly clenched she hoped she could eat it. She didn’t recall ever being thrown together with Janice so often at any of the previous family reunion  s. Yet here they sat assigned to the same table. At least Janice and Daniel sat a couple of seats down. But Janice had been going on and on about the extravagant plans for her wedding in such a loud voice that Ariadne knew that her cousin was doing it for her benefit.

“That sounds lovely,” said one of her aunts. Ariadne thought it more likely that her aunt was trying to get Janice to shut up so they could all enjoy their meal in peace.

“Yes, well, we thought the family would appreciate the opportunity to share in our wedding day. None of this running off to the Justice of the Peace for us.”

Ariadne barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Asher gave her knee a squeeze before saying, “Ari and I couldn’t wait. We’ve known each other for years and the moment was right. I wasn’t going to give her the chance to change her mind.”

Several of her relatives laughed. “What is it that you do?” Daniel asked.

“I’m a lawyer.”

“Ah,” Daniel said tightly. “You’ll understand if I don’t care for those in your profession. I’m a doctor,” he explained, his chest puffed out with pride. While Ariadne felt he had good reason to be proud of his accomplishments, Daniel tended to be pompous and he seemed incapable of recognizing the hard work of others.

Asher nodded. “My firm does mostly pro bono cases.”

“Oh? Is that why…?” He cleared his throat and gave Asher a condescending smile. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude.”#p#分页标题#e#

“No, please, continue. I’m an open book. Ask away.”

“Well, I was thinking that you can’t make a very profitable living that way and I wondered if that was the reason the two of you chose not to have a wedding. They can be very expensive.”

Janice had a smug expression on her face. Ariadne was growing more irritated with the two of them by the moment. While she’d expected the family to have some questions for Asher, Daniel didn’t have the right to interrogate him.

Her mother stepped in. “Asher doesn’t have to worry about money. His family is quite well-to-do. And I fully expect that they will have a wedding at a later date,” she ended on a firm tone.

Asher grinned. “I have no objections.”



    ***



After dinner the tables were cleared away. Music began and Asher took Ariadne into his arms. She was breathtaking in a gold gown that made her skin glow. She’d curled her hair and allowed it to flow freely over her bare shoulders. He could scarcely take his eyes off her. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?”

She frowned up at him. “You already bedded me Asher. You don’t have to try charming me now.”

He laughed. “And I want to bed you again, but I’m not lying to you.” He brushed her hair back to expose her skin. He kissed her neck and she shivered. Her hands tightened on his shoulders. He nibbled his way up to her earlobe and breathed in her sweet scent. His cock thickened in his pants. Their night together had done nothing to lessen her effect on him. “You smell so damn good.”

“Asher, not here.”

“Do you think I have plans to take you on the dance floor?”

“I wouldn’t put it past you.”

Over the years he’d fostered her bad opinion of him. There hadn’t been nearly as many women as she thought. Swirling her around, he spread a palm at the base of her spine so that she was intimately pressed against him. “I’ve never been an exhibitionist. Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you in front of your family.”

“Thank you.”

“So your family does this every year?”

“Yes. It varies a bit. Last year we held it at the beach in North Carolina. If everyone handles being on the yacht well tonight, there’s talk of taking a family cruise.”

“Who organizes these things?”

“There’s a planning committee of ten family members. Before we leave here, every adult who isn’t on the committee this year will have their name put in a drawing. It’s too much work to have the same people on the hook each reunion  . I was on the committee last year so I’m exempt also. You get a minimum two years off. You’re always free to volunteer.”