Page 87 of Hooked on Trouble

Afterward the bar opens and the guests schmooze as Lily and Sawyer escape for some privacy. I wanted to shoot posed photos of them after the ceremony, but Sawyer refused. He asked me to capture them in the moment, enjoying their night. The casual cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres add to the fun atmosphere, neither of them wanting a sit-down dinner.

The second we break ranks, Nico strides my way, those thick thighs of his propelling him forward. “I can’t take my eyes off you.”

“Even during that dance number?”

His shoulders shake with laughter. “Okay, maybe I looked away for a bit. But”—he steps so close his chest brushes mine—“I’m feeling pretty desperate for that dance.” He flexes his fingers as though he needs to get his hands on me.

That makes two of us. “Agreed, but I’m the hired help.”

He grabs my hand and traces slow circles on my palm. “Do your work. Just know I’m thinking about you.”

My limbs loosen, all sensation gathering in my belly, and lower. I pull away. Another second and my legs will liquefy.

I feel his attention on me as I go, and the weight of his stare for the next few hours. Every time I glance up, those blue stunners are fastened on me, but I do my work. The other thing I love. I snap enough shots to fill a library, ensuring there will be winners in the bunch. When I edit them, I’ll get to relive Lily jamming a cupcake in Sawyer’s mouth, Jackson climbing on Nico’s back, and the contentment on Shay’s face as she dances with her man. As things wind down, Sasha offers to finish up so I can deal with the tower of tattooed muscle circling me like I’m his prey.

He’s on me the second I pass off my camera, his arm curling around my waist. “The last hour has been excruciating.”

The band plays something sweet and slow, our hips finding an easy rhythm. “But we’re here now.”

“We are.”

I sink into his arms, so big and strong and reassuring around my back. “I’m sorry.”

The words feel too small. Inadequate. Like a swimmer’s first stroke across the Pacific.

He tugs me even closer. “So am I. I should have talked out what I was feeling instead of closing down. Cutting you off was like losing a limb.”

“I should have listened to you about Rose. Trusted your instincts.”

We move and talk—words timed to music, confessions binding us. He runs his nose through my hair. “You were right, warning me not to be so rigid, not to judge every action so severely. It just felt like the only way to keep treading water. I’ve let you down.”

“You haven’t. You’re the best man I know.”

He sighs, soft breath brushing my ear. “But I should never have shut you out. I still hadn’t really dealt with my guilt over that stuff with Alessi. Almost breaking the law. What you asked brought it all back, and I was too tough on myself. Too tough on you. And there’s so much I want.”

“Like what?” All I want is to listen to him, let his deep voice flow through me.

“Everything. I want to wake up with you every day. I want to cook you dinner. I want to picnic with you at the beach and dance like this under the stars and watch you get your next tattoo and have you design mine.” Hips swaying, hearts pounding. “I want it all.”

And all and all and all. “Your friends were right,” I whisper. “You’re all marshmallow.”

He doesn’t laugh. “Makes me easy to burn.”

I flinch as if his words do singe. The pain I caused him sank deep, cutting through his muscle and tough exterior. My big, sensitive guy. “I should have listened to you about Rose. I just…I thought she was my one chance at family. But I had it all along. Lily and Shay are my support. Even if I mess up, they’re here for me. And you”—I release one hand to rest my palm on his cheek—“you’re all I need. More than I need. But I’m greedy and want all of you.”

Gruff, he says, “I’m yours. And we can’t ever fight like this again. Sure, we’ll disagree and things will happen, but we can’t split up. It’s too hard.” He kisses my hand and gathers me tight.

Even though I’m tucked into his chest, I feel exposed. As though my heart is made of tracing paper, and he sees into my soul. He’s right. We can’t do this again, and I want us to be together. But I’ve also learned a lot about myself these past weeks. “I agree, but…”

His feet pause. He pulls back to study me. “That doesn’t sound good.”

God, that look of fear in his eyes. “I would do it again.”

“Do what?”

“I may have misplaced my trust in Rose, but if Shay or Lily were in trouble and I thought I could do something to help them, even if it meant bending the law, I’d try. I’d ask you to help me.” The thing that’s rung true since this disaster started is that I’ll always fight for those I love. Right or wrong, I’ll move heaven and earth to see them well.

Nico sways again, his steps sure as we dance. “If you ask, I’ll probably say no. But I won’t get mad. Not if the asking comes from the heart.”