AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Lorna’s not married,” I suggested.
“No!” James exclaimed. “He’s already been warned off. Josh is one dirty player; he’d break my sister. Shit, why did I even think that, now I’m scarred for life.” Billie and I burst out laughing.
“Poor Josh,” Billie mumbled sympathetically toward him and patted his arm.
“Yeah … I also accept pity fucks,” he shot back, and James cuffed him over his head.
“That’s my sister-in-law you just hit on.”
“Right,” Josh nodded, like he’d considered James’ comment and agreed. “Sorry,” he mumbled again, with a mock sheepish look, but a glint in his eyes.
Sawyer wandered back into the room. “The band’s almost ready on the beach, are you making your way out there soon?”
“Just coming,” James called over to him and took my hand.
“See, he knows all about pre-ejaculation, he’s not even gotten you home yet.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We were still laughing when we reached the dance floor on the beach, and I saw a girl join them I’d never seen before standing beside Lorna and Hammer.
“Who’s that with Hammer and Lorna?”
“Flick, she’s a session bassist we use sometimes in the studio. We talked her into playing with us today,” Sawyer replied.
“You’re playing all evening?” I asked, sad for Billie because I wanted her to enjoy my wedding as well.
“No, only an hour, then we have a band coming in for another couple of hours. The kids will be tired, so I figured if we pick up the first hour, and then they can take it from there until everyone heads for home.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I invited some people to join us,” James said, surprising me.
“You did?”
“Yeah.” He nodded to his left and there were a group of his friends and their wives, a guy from his office he’d introduced me to, but I couldn’t remember his name, Rhea and Gena, also from his office, and another good friend of James’, Brian, from the bar, and his wife, Emelia.
Sawyer excused himself and headed over to join Hammer and the girl, and Lorna came over toward us.
“I’ve not had much time to talk to you today, Tricia,” she informed me in her posh refined tone. “You look ah-mazing. Welcome to the family,” she gushed, pulling me in for a hug, it had felt as genuine as the one she’d given me when we’d first met. “James has to bring you to my place for the weekend. You’ve been through so much this past year. Caitlin was saying we should try to get together more as well.” She waved Caitlin over, who looked delighted when she hugged James.
“Congratulations, big brother… and Mrs. Wild,” she added, pulling me into her greeting. “I met your daughter, Erin, earlier, Marnie introduced us. She looks so much like you, and she’s really very sweet,” Caitlin said.
“Isn’t she lovely? And I agree she’s the spitting image of you, Tricia. I can’t wait to spend more time with her. Us girls have got to stick together,” Lorna stated.
My heart squeezed when I felt the warmth in her words. “Thank you, we’ve had a lot to take in,” I replied. James immediately rubbed my back and tugged me into his chest.
“Glad you have James supporting you. I think you are great for one another.” My chest tightened and I swallowed back the sudden threat of tears from her comment, because it had meant so much to me.
“Thank you, I can’t wait to know you better.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a fabulous day watching two people so in love commit to each other for life. I’d now like to invite them to join together for one more ritual today… in public at least,” he snickered. “Please welcome Mr. and Mrs Wild to the dance floor for the first dance of the night, with a song especially chosen by my brother, James, for his bride.”
Sawyer fished a pick from his pocket, stuck it between his teeth, and slipped the mic he’d been holding in the microphone stand. Swiping a long lead off the floor, he plugged in the jack to his guitar and tapped the rig at his feet.
As Sawyer began to play “Never Gonna Be Alone” by ‘Nickleback’, I recognized the tune instantly.
“Would you do me the honor, Mrs. Wild?” James asked, holding his hands out with a soft smile on his face. My heart leapt when I saw the heat in his eyes. Taking his hand, I felt a small thrill of electricity as he led me to the center of the small wooden dance floor, which was already partially covered in sand, for my wedding dance.
“It would appear we’ve come full circle,” he remarked, and I knew instantly he meant how we’d danced that first night we’d hooked up. I nodded, a tinge of sadness in my heart that I’d behaved the way I had.
