Worth the Wait (McKinney_Walker #1)(73)

They’d come together the first time in a blast of heat and need with the past hot on their tails. Then she’d given in to the comfort he could provide, loving him, maybe pretending, maybe dreaming of what might be. If they went to bed for a third time, in a quiet moment of decision, it would be more, and deeper for both of them.

When, or if, she made love to Nick Walker again, she wanted to know that it wouldn’t be the last time. She wanted to be sure it would be the first of many, that it was forever.

Without opening his door, he put his window down and waved as she pulled into the garage. It took her a second, but she finally pressed the automatic opener to lower the door behind her. As the metal came down between them, she wondered how much more it could possibly hurt to be with Nick than it hurt to stay away from him.





Chapter 23





A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE opened with a pop, and glasses tied with gauzy white bows were passed around the bridal room. There were cheers and toasts and nervous giggles from the bride. Five little girls in navy velvet dresses that hung almost to their ankles danced and spun like winter fairies with their shiny black shoes and white flowers in their hair.

Hannah sat on a backless stool, her dress billowing around her so it didn’t get bunched. Mia laid a white towel over Hannah’s lap and held out a plate of finger sandwiches, cheese, and fruit. “If you’re going to be drinking that, you need to eat. You need to eat anyway.”

Hannah took a triangle of bread covered with cream cheese mixture and grinned up at her. “I’m so happy, Mia. I didn’t even know it was possible to be this happy.”

Mia took in Hannah’s flushed face, her dancing eyes. “Really? I couldn’t tell.” She touched her cheek softly. “Eat that, and maybe one more, then we’ll redo the lips.”

Lizzie McKinney slipped into the bridal room from her checking/spying on the guys. “Look what I got!” She waved a three-quarters-full bottle of Crown Royal over her head. “I stole it from the boys. I don’t trust them.”

“Are they being nice to Stephen?”

“He’s still alive. I’m kidding. He’s fine. They were just toasting when I came in.” She turned to Abby. “Matt looks almost as nervous as Stephen and wants to know how you’re feeling and if you’re sitting down. I’m starting to feel like a damn carrier pigeon. Can’t you text the man?”

“I am texting him. I’ll send him a picture.”

Abby hadn’t had contractions since the incident at the bridal shop, and now, at nearly eight months, she was more than ready to meet her babies. Mia watched her take a selfie, then one of just her enormous stomach, and she quickly looked away. Her mind and heart had been so consumed with Savannah she hadn’t thought about being pregnant in a very long time. Now Nick was back in her life, or trying to be, wanting to be.

A solid knock at the door sent the women into peals of laughter. “Ah! Busted!”

“I’ll get it.” Mia cracked the door to the bridal room, blocking the view behind her in case it was the groom trying to get a peek at his bride.

Not the groom, but the biggest brother.

A smile bloomed on her face. There was no stopping it. Nick looked incredibly handsome in his black tux, his beautiful, serious face. She closed the door behind her. “If you’re here to kidnap the bride, I’ll have to say no.”

One side of his mouth curled up. “You think you could stop me?”

“I’m stronger than I look.”

“Really? I might have to test that.”

Now she got the full smile, and it made her knees weak. “Um… is it time?” She checked her watch. “I thought we had a few more minutes.”

“We do. I…” Nick stared down at Mia, completely forgetting what he was doing. He’d needed to see her, needed her. Now his mind felt fuzzy and… God, she was so beautiful she stole his breath. Her hair was up and back, making her eyes look even bigger. The midnight blue lay against her light skin. All the bridesmaids wore the same fabric, but different styles. Mia wore a strapless type with soft, gauzy fabric that wrapped around her breasts, leaving her bare shoulders begging for his lips. It fit snug at her waist before falling dramatically to the floor like dark water.

“Nick? You okay? You guys weren’t doing shots, were you?”

“What? No. Okay, maybe one. A toast. But everyone’s good. McKinney’s pacing, so obviously nervous that Hannah will change her mind, it’s funny to the point of pathetic. I had to tell Zach to lay off.”

“That’s sweet. Stephen’s pacing, not Zach. And you, taking up for him.”