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Storm’s body moved in closer to my side, and his hand on my back slid around to rest on my hip. “You are stunning,” he said, leaning down close to my ear.
The hungry glint in his eye when he’d walked into the house earlier and looked at the finished product had been enough. I loved knowing I affected him like that. It was something I had taken for granted with men most of my life. But with Storm, it meant … more.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied, looking up at him through my lashes.
He smirked. “I’m fucking you in those heels tonight.”
“Promise?”
A low growl came from his chest as he shook his head and his nostrils flared. Then, he glanced at the spot where my scar was, but the lady who had done my makeup covered it up so well that it wasn’t visible. For a second, his eyes flashed a dark, almost-feral gleam, and then he straightened back up to lead us into the open doors to the front of the Shephards’ mansion. I reached over and squeezed Dovie’s hand while Storm led us inside. She shifted her attention to me, and a nervous smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
“Relax. I’m right here,” I assured her.
She nodded and took a deep breath, causing her bare shoulders to rise and fall. The ice-blue dress she had chosen made her look like Cinderella. I’d told her so, and she’d blushed, then informed me that Cinderella was a blonde and that she was more of a Belle, but in blue. Seeing her all fixed up made my chest swell. She looked so grown and beautiful. The dirty, starved little girl I had found four years ago would never have believed she would one day be in a home like this, dressed like a princess.
“Briar, I believe you’ve met Huck,” Storm said, drawing my attention back to him.
The massive man standing across from us was in a tux jacket, and I wondered where he had found one wide enough for his shoulders. The fact that he was wearing jeans and black combat boots with it was interesting. I smiled and nodded, and then my gaze moved to the woman beside him. She was a gorgeous brunette with brown eyes that appeared kind and curious at the same time. She moved from Huck’s side and held out her hand with a smile on her red lips.
“It’s nice to meet you, Briar. I’m Trinity, Huck’s wife,” she said.
I slid my hand into hers and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you too,” I replied.
Huck reached for her, impatiently tugging her back to his side, as if he required her to be touching him at all times. She frowned up at him, then just shook her head as if she couldn’t do anything with him, before returning her smile in our direction.
“And you must be Dovie,” she said. “You look like a princess.”
Dovie glanced up at me shyly and signed, “Tell her I said thank you.”
I looked back at Trinity to tell her, but Trinity replied, “You’re welcome.”
She swung her eyes back to me. “I don’t know much sign language, but I do know a little. And I won’t lie; I brushed up on it a bit when I found out I would get to meet you both tonight.”
Okay, so that caused a lump in my throat. How incredibly thoughtful of her. I wasn’t sure what I thought about Storm’s cousin, but his wife, I liked her a lot. I wasn’t going to embarrass myself and tear up though.
“I think that might be the nicest thing I’ve ever heard,” I told her honestly.
Her genuine smile went from me to Dovie. “It’s not often I get to be around any of Huck’s relatives. When he told me how important you had become to Storm, I wanted to make a good impression.”
“I’d say mission accomplished,” Storm replied. “Still trying to figure out how this asshole hooked you.”
She laughed, then tilted her head back and looked up at Huck. The adoration on her face was unmistakable. The almost-half grin on Huck’s face made him less terrifying.
“Storm,” a voice called.
I turned my attention to see an older man wave him over. He seemed familiar, but I wasn’t sure why.
“Family calls,” he drawled. “We’ll catch up with you two later.”
Huck nodded his head, and I flashed Trinity one more smile as Storm led us past several other groups of people to the man who looked to be in his fifties with the silver starting to show in his dark hair.
As we approached, Storm leaned down to me and whispered, “I’ll make sure you get to visit with Trinity some more tonight. I’ll sit you beside her at dinner.”
That would be nice. I wanted to get to know her more.
