Chapter Four

The wedding march played as both sides of the assembly stood up. Thalia turned to watch Dale and Mai enter the hall. Dale was resplendent in her red wedding dress, Mai dashing in her cutaway tuxedo with a red vest that matched Dale’s dress perfectly. The pair made their way slowly down the aisle toward Dale’s sons and her father and Yvonne already in position on either side of the altar.

“I can’t see, Mama.” Brianna shifted and rose up on her toes.

“Switch places with me. Stand here. You’ll get to see them when they pass us,” Thalia whispered. She stepped back to make room for Brianna, took a step to the right, and stood next to Amari.

“Thank you.” Amari spoke softly into Thalia’s ear.

The small hairs on the back of Thalia’s neck stood up. Thalia curled the edge of the program between her damp fingers. “I would have climbed a chair at that age to see a bride.” The bergamot and pepper notes of the cologne Amari wore wove its way into Thalia’s senses. She swayed closer to indulge herself in the scent before she turned her attention back to the couple who were now at the front of the church.

“Please be seated.” The minster’s voice rang out over the space. Brianna plopped down, kicked back into Thalia’s aisle seat, and leaned her head to the side to watch the proceedings.

“Is it okay?” A slight wrinkle appeared between Amari’s eyebrows.

“It’s fine.” Thalia smoothed her dress over her hips and sat in the chair next to Amari. The warm length of Amari’s body pressed against Thalia, and she shivered with the incidental contact.

“Are you cold? Would you like my jacket?” Amari’s gaze swept over Thalia’s bare shoulders, and she unbuttoned the center button of her suit coat.

“No. Thank you, I’m fine.” Thalia waved her off and shifted in her chair.

“If you’re sure. And thank you for switching seats. She’s talked of nothing but this wedding since we had the invitation.” Amari sat, crossed her legs, and leaned back in her chair. “It’s very kind of you.” Her gaze settled on Thalia’s face.

Desire flowed over Thalia’s chest and down her body like the stroke of a firm hand. “My pleasure.”

They stared at each other a long moment. Amari’s mouth pulled into a half smile so beguiling Thalia had to force herself to look away. At the front of the church, Mai and Dale were saying their vows.

Thalia chewed her lip as she listened. Would she ever want someone like that, be willing to promise all those things? Her thoughts drifted to her ex, Shelly. She’d been willing to promise her everything. And then found out all Shelly wanted was access to Thalia’s bank account.

Thalia couldn’t blame her, though, because as much as she had gone along with all of it, she’d not loved her. Not truly loved her the way you should love someone you promise to be with the rest of your life.

The minister said the final words. Whoops from the crowd rang through the hall as Dale and Mai kissed, drawing Thalia from her brooding. She glanced at Amari’s hands clenched on top of her knees. The skin across the back of her knuckles was tight and her wedding band shone, a dull yellow gold against her dark skin. Thalia peered at Amari from under her lashes. Her jaw was set. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Thalia looked away. Sally’s words came back to her. Nope. As hot as Amari was, Thalia did not want to compete with a ghost.

She lifted her chin, straightened her shoulders, and then stood with the rest of the crowd to watch Dale and Mai walk down the aisle together.

Brianna pushed past Thalia to her mother’s side. “When do we get spring rolls?”

Thalia moved to the side and waved toward the back of the hall. “I promised Yvonne I would help with directing the crowd and the reception setup. It was lovely to sit with you.”

Amari touched Thalia’s shoulder with her fingertips. “Will I see you again?”

Thalia’s breath caught as she stared into Amari’s eyes, stunned by the intense interest reflected in her gaze. She reveled in Amari’s attention. She’d seen that look before and knew exactly what kind of trouble it was. Ignoring Sally’s advice and giving over to her own desires, she smiled back at Amari. “Oh, yes.”

★

Amari raised up on her toes to scan the crowd. Brianna had made a beeline for the buffet, and she had lost sight of her in among the guests. She spotted Thalia near the banquet kitchen doors. With quick strides she moved toward the mass of curls and the flash of Thalia’s bright-green dress at the edge of the crowd. The melodic sound of her voice as she chatted with Sally skittered over Amari’s ears.

Thalia’s voice had been one of the most memorable memories of their morning together. Worry over not returning Thalia’s messages planted itself firmly into Amari’s chest. She slowed her steps and then stopped. Amari pulled her handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the fine sweat at her hairline. She tucked her handkerchief back into her pocket. Amari inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly before she squared her shoulders. She edged closer to the pair, listening for a natural break in the conversation.

Thalia glanced up from her glass of wine. She inclined her head toward Amari, a subtle invitation.

All the things Amari wanted to discuss with Thalia bubbled up in a mad rush, and her mouth went dry as she found herself too balled up to speak.

The side of Thalia’s mouth quirked up. Her eyes sparkled as if she could sense Amari’s inability to string a coherent group of words together that didn’t sound trite, or silly, or an obvious conversation filler.

Sally shifted to her left, opening the conversation circle to Amari. “Hey, Amari. Brianna’s sitting with Celia and Cara at table twenty.”

“Thank you. She was on a mission to find the spring rolls and left me when I got caught up talking with Eli.”

“You’ve met Thalia?” Sally lifted her glass of wine and took a sip.

“Yvonne introduced us.” Amari plastered a polite smile on her face.

Thalia edged closer. “Oh yes, we’ve met.”

Sally looked past Amari’s shoulder. “Excuse me. My ride is here.” Amari turned, following Sally’s line of sight. Yvonne waved back at the trio.

Sally left them there, making her way toward Yvonne as if on a string. Amari watched as Yvonne caught Sally’s hand and kissed it before tugging Sally into her lap and into a deep kiss. Amari flushed. The sheer sexual energy between the two of them lit the place up.

“She’s totally hooked.” Thalia’s voice, pitched low and much too close, broke into Amari’s thoughts.

When Amari turned, her shoulder brushed against Thalia’s breasts. An electric current of want spread through her body. Amari stepped back, putting space between them. She closed her eyes as her body responded to the memory of Thalia kneeling before her, gazing up into her eyes as she took her into her mouth.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to crowd you.” Thalia, voice clipped, took a half step back.

A trickle of sweat rolled down between Amari’s shoulder blades as the crowd pressed in around them. Her palms grew damp as a wave of heat rolled through her.

“Are you okay?”

Thalia’s voice, filled with concern, wove its way under Amari’s skin. “Yes. It’s hot in here. Quite a crowd.” Amari pulled her handkerchief from suitcoat and dabbed her brow before returning it to her pocket.

Thalia took a sip of her wine. “Would you like to get something to drink? Sit somewhere quiet? We need to talk. This is awkward. At least it is for me.”

Amari tilted her head and met Thalia’s gaze. “Yes. It’s a first for me.”

Thalia arched a brow, an expression of disbelief firmly planted on her face.

Amari huffed a breath as she shoved her hands into her pockets. “Not that way. I didn’t expect to ever see you again.”

Thalia’s brows drew down. Sharp creases marred her forehead. Pinned by Thalia’s sharp glare, Amari looked away from her face.

“So, I guess that’s a no on having a quiet drink in a corner.” Thalia drained her wineglass. “So, that’s that. Enjoy the wedding.” She lifted the empty glass in salute toward Amari before she placed it on an empty tray. Head high, back ramrod straight, Thalia turned away from Amari.

“Thalia, wait.” Amari touched the bare skin of her shoulder. “Wait. Please. I’d like to talk to you. Please.”

Thalia turned to her, close now. The warm scent of her perfume filled Amari’s senses. The sounds of the crowd faded as she focused on Thalia’s tantalizing mouth.

“Talk?”

Amari stifled a groan as she stared at Thalia’s lush lips. “I’m trying very hard not to kiss you right now.”

“Why?”

“Because we, to all appearances, just met.”

“Are you worried about my reputation, or your own? Flocci non facio.”

Amari grinned at Thalia’s switch to Latin. “Flocci non facio, indeed.”

Thalia caught the edge of Amari’s lapel, tugged her closer. “Da mihi basilia mille.”

Amari slid her hand up, cupped Thalia’s elbow, and brushed her mouth over her lips. Thalia opened to her, pressed herself closer, and deepened their kiss. Amari slid her arm around Thalia’s waist and held her tight. The room ceased to exist except for Thalia and the warmth flooding Amari’s body.

Thalia relaxed in her arms as she broke their kiss and rested her hand on Amari’s chest. “I’ve wanted to do that since you walked in the door.”

A loud forced cough behind them made Amari glance away from Thalia’s face. A woman she didn’t know glared at her. Amari released Thalia and the reality of their situation settled over her. “As much as I’d like to continue our discussion, I think we need to find a more private location.”

“Agreed. I meant what I texted you.”

Amari flushed and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond. I wanted to.”

“But? Hey, look at me, please?”

Amari met Thalia’s gaze.

“That’s why we need to talk. I get it. Your life is complicated. I’m not trying to force you into anything.” She lifted her chin. “But based on that kiss, I’d say we both are interested in seeing each other again.”

Amari inhaled and squared her shoulders. “Yes.” She inclined her head toward the table where Brianna was sitting with Celia and Cara. “Let me tell Brianna where to find me, and I’d like to continue this discussion. Perhaps with a table between us.”

Thalia smirked. “Don’t worry. I won’t attempt to drag you away for a tryst in the broom closet.”

“Pity.” A sly smile flashed across Amari’s face.

Thalia gestured to a line of two-top tables placed along the wall at the edge of the wedding hall. “I’ll be over there. What can I get you to drink?”

“Just water. I have to drive us home,” Amari called over her shoulder.