Elijah. That was the one. He clinked his glass to get everyone’s attention.
“I wanted to take a moment to wish my brother a very happy birthday. He’s not the oldest, so we can’t give him a hard time about that. But I can say that he’s a great brother, a damn fine husband, according to Lydia, and since I’ve been around him all these years, I can tell you he is one hell of a good father. He’s lived a rich, happy life and has had monumental success over the years.
“Here’s to a lot more years, Easton. Happy birthday.”
Everyone cheered and clinked glasses. Easton raised his glass and drank.
Then Grant stood.
“I wanted to take another minute to say a few words, since for some reason I was elected to speak.”
“Because you have the biggest mouth,” Tucker said.
There were some laughs to that, and Grant glared at his brother.
“Anyway, I want to tell you all how we kids admire and respect our parents. We weren’t exactly the easiest of children.”
That got him a lot of laughter, and a couple of coughs from his parents.
“There were several fights among us and maybe a little more than the average amount of bloodshed, but that’s what you get when you have four boys. Fortunately, they had Mia, and she might not want to admit it, but she threw herself in there and scrapped with us. It was a lot of fun for us, and a lot of headaches for Mom and Dad, who handled us with toughness, and a hell of a lot of love.
“Our lives have been blessed because of the parents we had. We all agree we’re the luckiest kids ever, thanks to our parents, and that’s because we were raised in a house filled with love.
“Everyone, I invite you to toast to love. Happy anniversary to Easton and Lydia Cassidy.”
Katrina blinked back tears. Their gazes met as they raised their glasses.
While everyone was busy giving congratulations to Grant’s parents, she made her way over to Grant.
“Beautiful toast,” she said.
He shrugged. “I’m not much of a public speaker. I just said what was in my heart about my parents.”
“You did good.”
He swept his knuckles across her cheek, swiping away a tear that had escaped. “Thanks.”
Someone turned on music, a slow song, and a makeshift dance floor cleared in the middle of the living room. Grant’s dad swept his mom up and the two of them swayed together. Grant put his arm around Katrina as the two of them watched his parents, who clearly only had eyes for each other.
“It must be wonderful to see your parents so happy with each other after all these years,” she said.
“Yeah. Kind of sickening how much they love each other.”
She nudged into him. “It’s sweet.”
When Easton bent Lydia over and gave her a passionate kiss at the end of the dance, Grant shook his head. “Those two should get a room.”
Katrina laughed. “Can you imagine that with your spouse? That kind of passion after thirty years of marriage? To know the person you married still wanted you that much would be amazing.”
He turned to her, his hands sweeping down her arms to grasp her hands. “I can’t imagine any man you marry wouldn’t lust after you until his dying day.”
She stared at him. “Do you always have the perfect thing to say?”
“Uh, no. Why?”
“I don’t know. It seems you always say the right words to a woman.”
His lips curved. “Trust me, it hasn’t always been that way. Maybe I just have the right words to say to you.”
She didn’t know what to say in answer to that, and his parents came over and pulled them onto the dance floor for a fast song. Soon, the floor was crowded with people all hopping up and down. Her sister and Mia joined in. Even Flynn and Barrett had dragged Leo onto the floor, though Katrina couldn’t help but laugh at her brother’s attempts at dancing.
At least he was having fun.
The music slowed and all that was left was couples. Grant pulled her into his arms, their gazes met, and she connected to him, to the music, their bodies touching. There were other couples on the floor, but Katrina could only see and feel Grant.
Their heads were touching, and he whispered in her ear.
“Speaking of people who should get a room.”
“Yes. We definitely should. And soon.”
She loved the feel of his body against hers. She felt his heartbeat, the heat of him, and wanted nothing more than to be alone with him.
She tilted her head back and searched his face, saw more than just lust there.
Tonight, though, she was in oblivion and reveled in the warmth and desire mirrored in his eyes. All her feelings wrapped around her like a cocoon. She felt safe.
She felt loved. She felt love.
She waited for the panic, the worry. But it never came. Not now, not when this amazing man held her so close.
She was going with it tonight.
She’d worry about the mix of her feelings tomorrow.
Or if she was lucky, maybe the wine would cloud her memory and tomorrow she wouldn’t remember these emotions at all.
TWENTY-NINE