“Okay.”
Just like that.Okay, like it was simple. Like he had no problem being the man who kissed me senseless between family obligations and then went back out there to be the charming man everyone had instantly liked, and somehow I was supposed to survive with my sanity intact.
I kissed him again before I could say anything else, drawing him closer until there wasn’t any space left to pretend this was casual.Casualhad disappeared somewhere between hot tubs and slow dances and waking up in his arms.
He angled his head, diving in deeper for more, and I moaned at how damn good it was. Seriously, Beckett was the best kisser I’d ever been with, and it wasn’t even close.
“Sawyer!”
It was Hudson, and I froze momentarily.
“Just ignore him,” I whispered, and nipped at Beckett’s lips.
“If you’re doing something inappropriate behind the boathouse, wrap it up,” Hudson continued. “Time for rehearsal dinner.”
Motherfucker.Not even a full five minutes.
Beckett’s forehead dropped to my shoulder. “Your family’s timing…”
“I know. I’m disowning them.”
Beckett lifted his head, a small smile playing on his lips, and I hated how much I liked being the reason for that look.
Hated, loved, wanted to bottle it and crawl inside it and stay there until someone dragged me out by my ankles—no biggie.
“Come on,” he said, smoothing his hands down my shirt. “Before they send a search party.”
“Uh, hello, they already sent Hudson. That was the warning shot.”
“Well, shit.”
My dick was not getting the memo that this moment wasn’t going any further, and I brushed my palm over it like that would help. “Just so we’re clear, this emergency is not resolved.”
Beckett’s gaze flicked down to my hips before he nodded. “Noted.”
We headed back to the pavilion hand in hand, trying and failing to look like we hadn’t just snuck away to make out like a couple of teenagers with no control over their hormones.
Rome took one look at us when we returned and opened his mouth, but I pointed at him before he could speak.
“Don’t.”
His hand went over his heart. “I wasn’t gonna say anything.”
“Liar.”
“Fine. I was going to tell you that you have leaves in your hair, but by all means, continue attacking your loving brother.”
Beckett reached over and plucked a tiny brown leaf from near my temple, his mouth twitching. “He wasn’t wrong.”
“Please don’t give him the satisfaction of ever being right or he’ll lord it over you for eternity.”
Beckett squeezed my hand, chuckling, and my heart gave a ridiculous little kick.
This, I thought, not for the first time, was what it would be like to keep him.
26
BECKETT