Chapter Thirty-One

Inviting brand new boyfriends to weddings was usually a no-no, but Linc and I exchanged I love yous before we were officially in a relationship, so we didn’t really follow the traditional rules. As a rule follower, I was still making peace with it, but after the night we’d spent in my bed, I was digging the non-traditional route.

I stuck in one earring and struggled to get the back onto the post. Linc came up behind me and kissed my neck, sending a chill down my spine.

“What’s a four-letter word for ‘Take a ride, so to speak?’”

“I don’t know if I can keep up this dirty talk, Wells.”

He smacked my butt with the paper and my jaw dropped before I broke and laughed. Then I noticed he was still only wearing his boxers, which, don’t get me wrong, was quite a sight, all those lean muscles and such a tiny amount of fabric.

I let my gaze travel down the line of hair that disappeared into the elastic waistband of his gray boxer briefs. Blips of last night replayed in my mind, and I ran my hand down his taut abs, getting lost for a second before yanking my hand back and clearing my throat. “We need to leave in twenty minutes. You need to get your suit on.”

“I will. I’m just so close to—”

I ripped the newspaper out of his hand, and when he lunged for it, I held it behind my back. He kissed me, playing dirty by pushing me against the wall and moving his lips down the column of my neck.

“I… You…”

The next twenty minutes were a blur of kisses and touches that took my breath away. I ended up having to redo my lipstick and pull my hair into a low bun so that everyone at the wedding didn’t know exactly why we ended up having to sprint through the parking lot in order to arrive with only fifteen minutes until go time, instead of the thirty I’d planned.

A massive security team stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the entrance. I’d been in the mayor’s circle long enough several of the faces were familiar, so after I presented them with my invitation, they let me go with an ocular pat down and a nod.

As for my plus one? Well, they frisked him quite thoroughly. Linc’s eyes bulged as one of the guards slid a hand up Linc’s thigh, and I bit back a giggle.

They’re about as handsy as I was last night. And this morning. My cheeks heated at the thought. Finally they let my date through, and he put his hand on my back.

“Do you regret agreeing to come with me yet?” I asked.

“Well, you definitely asked me when I was at my most vulnerable…” That’d be post sex, while we’d been cuddling naked in my bed. “But, no. Not for a second.”

“Savannah.”

I froze at the familiar voice. In all of the madness and obsessing over Linc, I’d completely forgotten about Mason. That in and of itself made it clear he had never been the Mr. Right I’d been seeking, but it didn’t mean guilt decided to give me a break because of it.

“Mason. Crap, I’m so sorry I never called you back.”

Mason’s attention moved to Linc, then narrowed in on the hand he had on my back. Which made Linc slide it around and hook it on my hip. I might get upset at the in-your-face possessive gesture if it didn’t cause my entire body to hum.

I thought I was evolved, but it turns out I just hadn’t met the right caveman yet. Or technically I had, but… Okay, so not the time for introspection. “The truth is, I don’t want to move to D.C.,” I said. “I’m sure it’s a great place, but my family is here, my job that I love is here, and one of the guys I started seeing while you were gone—”

“That’s me,” Linc ever so helpfully added, lifting a finger as if Mason would be confused otherwise.

“Is here, too,” I finished. “Anyway, things have grown more serious between us, and again, I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, but I needed time to figure out exactly what I wanted.” I’d wanted to be strong when Mason and I met at the wedding, and I did feel strong. “I wish you the best in D.C. and with your career, I really do.”

I waited to see how he’d take it—the last thing I wanted to do was cause a scene. I thought of all my dating advice, and considered telling him he’d find someone else, because in the end we weren’t right for each other, but it seemed more like rubbing it in.

“Looks like I waited too long.” Mason gave me a tight smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “Explains that afternoon in the restaurant, though. I wish you would’ve told me.”

“I am sorry about that,” I said with a nod.

The neutral politician expression he often brought out in crowds took over before I could come up with anything further to say. “Well, enjoy the wedding. Best of luck with everything to you, too.”

He strode off toward the seating area. A green hedge formed a wall along the back and an aisle covered in red rose petals split the semi-circle of white chairs tied in silver and red ribbon. Up front, hundreds of lights twinkled through a gossamer-covered gazebo.

Besides the beautiful setting and chic decorations, I noticed most everyone else was already seated. I tugged Linc toward the rows of chairs, happy when I spotted a couple of open seats.

Linc shook his head as we settled into place.

“What?” I asked as I rearranged the skirt of my bright pink dress, making sure the sheer layer didn’t get caught in my heels as I crossed my legs. “Now the regret is setting in?”

“I’m glad you brought me along—especially since your ex is here. And let’s face it, I look damn good in a suit.” He ran a hand down his black silk tie, not an ounce of humility in sight. Cocky as hell, and I’d fallen for it. Was still falling for it. “I can’t believe how easily the guy gave up. You know, I was kind of bullshitting you when I said he’d take you for granted—I was desperate and hoping that he would, just so I’d have a chance.

“I was pissed, but just so you know”—he grabbed my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine—“if you hadn’t come into the bar and made your speech, I would’ve been knocking at your door eventually, begging for another chance.”

I shot him a teasing smile. “Man, I should’ve held off, then, because it’d be really nice to hold that over your head. Guess I’ll have to keep track of every time you travel without me and use that.”

“How about if I promise to bring you back something pretty every time?”

“Bribery will get you everywhere.” I leaned in and gave him a quick peck, even though the temptation to linger was strong.

Naturally, TieBreaker Magazine had offered Linc a job—I mean, who wouldn’t want him to work for them? Luckily with their mostly digital focus, he could do the job from pretty much anywhere with internet. They’d run bigger articles monthly, and he’d travel a lot to cover games and attend meetings in Baltimore, but he’d made it clear before taking the job that his home base was Atlanta. With me. And the Braves, of course.

The soft piano music filling the air shifted, and everyone turned as pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen started down the aisle. Then the notes of the Wedding March sounded out and everyone stood.

For a moment I didn’t see the bride, and panic rose up and stole a couple of my breaths. But then Annabeth stepped into view, dressed in white, the red of her newly painted nails matching the bouquet of roses in her hand. Lacy trim lined the sheer veil that draped over her dark pin curls. Her red-lipped smile lit up her flawless face, and the dress was ivory lace and fit her like a glove.

I stole a peek at William, who beamed at her. Totally meant to be…

As the bride and groom recited their vows, Linc wrapped his arm around my shoulders and curled me closer. I’d worried he might end up feeling like a deer in marriage-obsessed headlights, but he was taking this whole attending-a-wedding-thing like a champ.

When the bride and groom kissed, tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked and kept my gaze focused on the couple, hoping Linc wouldn’t see that weddings made me cry.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “I love that you care so much about what you do, even with all of your damn rules, and your stubborn adherence to them.”

I turned to face him, euphoria tingling through every inch of my body. “Well, I’ve broken a few for you, if that makes you feel any better.”

He grinned. “It does.” He moved in for another kiss and I let myself fall into it.

Admittedly after the ups and downs of this past week, part of me wondered if I’d been spouting nonsense my entire career. When it came down to it, though, I knew that I’d helped Annabeth. Back when we first met, she’d wanted to give up on love entirely, and now here she was marrying her very own prince charming.

I’d changed Abigail’s life, too. I could run through several attendees and clients who’d benefited from my help and my program. Guidelines got you to a place where your instincts took over and told you if something was right, and when it was, you had to grab on tight and fight for it.

So maybe a few of the rules could be twisted, and there were even a couple exception-type situations and guys, but I think every woman has a time in her life when she needs someone to help her believe in love again. To believe that there is a Mr. Right out there just waiting to find her.

And that’s where I, Savannah Gamble, dating coach extraordinaire and everlasting believer in love, came in. Because if I could fall back in love with a guy who’d originally broken my heart and still end up with a happily ever after, it could happen to anyone.

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