“Baby, this was all about you. I am happy to wait.” He met her gaze. “For you, I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
SEVEN
Tally took Connor’s hand. He leaned down into the vehicle to help her out. The front of the banquet hall was filled with expensive cars. Her cousin’s wedding had finally arrived. They’d gotten to the church in time to sit in the back row and watch quietly. No one had noticed them or paid them any mind. Exactly how Tally liked it. The reception would be another story. She’d been dating Connor and Theron for a week now and things were a lot better than even she anticipated.
“You’re going to have to come out of the car, darling,” Connor taunted. She’d voiced her opinion on how unexcited she was about the entire event, but her call with Nita and then her grandmother had sealed the deal. She’d go and show her face. Show everyone she was alive and well with two hot men by her side.
“I’m coming,” she grumbled. The wind whipped her curls all over her face. She’d forgone the glasses for a set of contacts.
“I really hate that you didn’t wear the glasses today,” Theron said, coming around the car to her side. “I have a thing for the prim schoolteacher look.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. Tally might not be overtly sexual with displaying herself, but she didn’t try to hide her body either. She wore what she liked. That was usually long, soft dresses. For the wedding, she’d decided to wear a shorter dress that hugged her curves. Connor had complimented her on it at least five times in the past hour.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress?” He winked.
Make that six times in the past hour.
“I don’t think so, no.” She grinned. “I may never get out of this dress if you keep it up.”
She allowed them to lead her into the reception hall. They’d deliberately taken their time so that things were busy by the time they arrived. The reception was being held locally in a large banquet hall. A massive party location known for hosting top-notch events.
She found their names and seating assignments on a table at the entrance to the main hall. Inside, music pumped over large speakers. Disco lights blinked in different colors and a DJ urged the crowd to do the electric slide.
“I’ll go get us some drinks,” Theron offered when they reached their table.
The crowd cheered as the music ended. A new slow song started and the DJ called couples to the floor.
Connor squeezed her hand. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“I don’t know...” She stumbled to her feet and followed behind him.
“You want to dance. Stop worrying over what others will think.”
He was right. She did want to dance. That was one of her favorite songs the DJ was playing. Connor held her close, staring deep into her eyes.
He lowered his face close, until his lips were by her ear. “Ignore the people.”
She laughed. She was the one that usually said that. When had things changed? And more importantly, did she really care what anyone thought? Not really. She smiled and let her muscles relax. Until that moment, she hadn’t noticed how stiffly she held herself.
“That’s my girl.”
Their dance and fun time was short-lived. Someone bumped into them from the right. She opened her mouth to apologize but stopped at the sight of Paul and Candy.
“You came?” Paul asked, his face a mask of disgust.
“Of course I came. This is my family.” She stopped dancing to face him.
“Have you even bothered to think of what it’s doing to them for their friends to see you waltzing around with two men like—”
“I’d be very careful of the words that come out of your mouth,” Connor whispered, his voice hard.
Paul glared at him and then back at her. “You have no shame at all, do you?”
“I don’t see why you’re worried over my personal life. You’re not part of my family.” She curled her hands into fists. Connor stood behind her, he’d tried to gently get her to move to his side, but she didn’t budge. This was her fight and she was going to handle it all by herself.
She saw Theron from the corner of her eye, ready to move forward. She met his gaze for a second and shook her head.
Grandma Kate stopped dancing with her uncle and joined them.
“What is going on? Why aren’t you all dancing?”
Nita moved to Tally’s side. She had waved at her cousin when she’d walked in, but hadn’t spoken to her yet.
“What’s the problem here?” Nita asked, her voice held more than a little aggravation. “Why did you stop them from dancing, Paul?”