Page 64 of Scarred

“Savi gave me the recommendation, and I’m glad I listened. Luna’s dance class is all Scarlett talks about. ” The mention of his daughter has me smiling in his direction.

“I love having her in my class. She’s amazing. Her love of dance reminds me so much of myself at her age,” I beam. “You must be so proud of her.”

“She’s everything to me,” he says quietly, his green eyes giving nothing away.

I wish I knew what he was thinking right now, but he’s got his guard up like a fortress tonight, and I can’t pass the barrier.

“Well, we can’t wait to meet her,” Noah grins. “God, it’s a small world,” he laughs. “What are the chances that your daughter would end up in my sister’s dance class?”

“You should know out of everyone how fate brings people together who are meant to meet,” Emma smiles at my brother as they share an unspoken secret between them.

“Not even fate could have kept me away,” he smiles before kissing his wife on the lips.

I watch my brother and Emma, and a deep longing pulls through my body.

My gaze turns to Cayden, and he’s studying me quietly. His intense green eyes don’t waver, holding mine just long enough to make it impossible to pretend there isn’t something between us.

“Everyone ready to head down to the reception?” Mav unwraps his arms from around my sister and takes her hand. “I, for one, am looking forward to dancing with my beautiful wife all night.”

“Amen to that,” Noah smiles at Emma as we follow the guests to the stairs leading down to the balcony below us, where the reception is being held.

Clutching my handbag, I give a sideways glance to Cayden, and his strong jaw line is locked in place, and seems a mile away.

Focusing straight ahead, I walk down the stairs with everyone and admire the view. It’s just as gorgeous down here with honeysuckles draped everywhere and string lights illuminating the bar and various high tops with candles and flowers at each centerpiece.

Beyond the balcony, the sound of the ocean rolling against the shore is heard in the distance as the moon reflects over the dark waters. The back wall of the building is all glass with a double door leading inside. I see tables set up for our meal just beyond the windows with similar centerpieces, and a wooden dance floor situated in the back next to a stage. Beautiful chandeliers give a soft ambiance to the place as I watch guests mingle about.

My brother and sister head to the bar with their spouses to get us some drinks, leaving Cayden and me alone by the glass railing.

I’m surprised he’s still here. As much as he’s been avoiding me, I expected him to bolt the minute we got down here and join his teammates who are sitting on the other side of the bar at one of the high tops.

“So, Noah’s your brother,” he says, with a slight chuckle, leaning his forearms on the railing and staring out at the ocean.

“Since birth,” I confirm, staring straight ahead at the moonlit waters.

“I already guessed that part,” he says, dryly, but I notice a touch of humor in his voice, telling me he liked my smart ass comment.

“He told me he had a younger sister when I saw him at Rusty’s, but I had no clue it was you he was talking about.”

“Does it matter?” I half laugh.

“It can…complicate things,” he sighs.

“Why? You’re a dad to one of my dance students. End of story,” I say, getting frustrated by the minute that he still has such a hold on me.

His masculine scent wafts through the air with the slight breeze, sealing into my lungs like my body wants to lock it deep inside to savor it for later.

“Because now every time I look Noah in the eye tonight, I have to pretend that I don’t hear his sister moaning my name every second of every goddamn day for the last three weeks.” His eyes burn into mine with such hunger and resistance that I have to grip the railing to keep my legs from giving out on me. “I have to pretend… That I don’t want to hear it again,” he says, his voice low and full of forbidden sin dripping from it.

“I got you a bourbon,” Noah says, handing Cayden the amber drink, breaking our moment. “Since we bonded at Knox’s wedding over our love of it, I thought it was a safe choice,” he laughs.

“Just what I would have ordered. Thanks,” he tears his gaze away from me and takes a deep pull of his drink. I watch his throat move, my body still humming from his last words to me.

“You’ve got a little drool right there,” my sister whispers in my ear before touching the side of my lip with a tease, causing me to jolt.

“I do not,” I hiss under my breath and swat her hand away.

Her eyes are brimming with laughter as she takes a sip of her champagne.