“I’m a terrible mother. I forgot about Becca.”
He took the bite-size bacon-wrapped scallop and popped it into her mouth. She half closed her eyes in delight. “She’s fine. I got her situated in the bridal party room with a tray of chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks. She may never leave.”
“You rock.” She took the next few minutes enjoying bruschetta, shrimp and grits, various cheeses and vegetables, and mini spring rolls. “Okay. Now I can take care of Morgan.”
“I think Cal has her covered.”
She turned. Cal stood in the corner with his bride, feeding her slowly and pressing kisses to her mouth in between bites. It was an image from a movie poster, so tender and real everyone around them stilled to watch. The photographer jumped into action, snapping pictures with a mad glee, but they didn’t notice. They gazed at each other, lost in the world they’d created for themselves.
Raw yearning gripped her. Her breath whooshed out, and for a few precious moments, she ached with bone-jarring jealousy. Their obvious love for each other beat in their auras, and Sydney almost fell to her knees in a mixture of grief and want.
It had been three months since her own wedding day, and she was no closer to Tristan falling in love with her than when they’d begun. Oh, the coldness had finally drifted away. He looked after her and Becca with a sweet concern that brought tears to her eyes. But he still held back.
Every night, he took her in his arms and wrung excruciating pleasure from her body. He reminded her of his possession, of his claim, yet after the orgasm settled and he fell asleep in her arms, she was left with an aching emptiness that was slowly devouring her.
“Baby? You okay?”
She shook off her thoughts and forced a smile. “Sure.”
Becca raced across the carpet, her mini train trailing behind. “I’m back. Did I miss anything?”
Tristan swung her up in his arms, and they stood together in a tight circle. “Nope. Is your belly full now?”
“So full.” A tiny frown creased her brow. “We’ve done the ceremony and pictures and ate and did a toast. What’s next? Cake?”
Sydney laughed, and Tristan pressed a kiss on top of his daughter’s head. “Something much more important and a heck of a lot more fun.”
“What, Daddy?”
He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “We party, sweetheart.”
Tristan glanced around. Coast was clear. He darted to the side door and escaped outside. He sucked in deep breaths of fresh air. His shirt was stuck uncomfortably to his skin, his tie was too tight, and his shiny stiff shoes hurt like a bitch. Pressing himself against the far wall, away from the smokers, he relaxed for a few seconds and hoped no one would find him. He refused to become a spectacle in this Grease thing Morgan had lined up. No one could make him do it, either. How could such a classy Southern woman stoop to such a level as to force a musical rendition on her guests?
The door banged open. Dalton came out, spotted him, and darted over. “Thank God. I’m not doing that shit, man. The DJ is looking for a Kenickie, and Morgan’s already pissed ’cause they can’t find Cal to be Danny.”
“Well, don’t lead them out here to me,” Tristan hissed. “You always sucked at hiding. Did anyone see you?”
“Nah, I checked for tails.”
“Did you bring beer?”
“Yeah, here.” He shoved an extra bottle into Tristan’s hands. The cold brew felt like heaven in his palm, and he pressed it against his forehead. “I’m so fucking tired. I hate dancing. And why are there so many relatives I don’t recognize? They keep telling me how big I got.”
“Yeah, Dad never kept up with his side of the family. They haven’t seen us since we were ten.”
The door squeaked, then flew open, and Cal trudged out, looking like his usual grumpy self. “I’m not doing it. Fuck Danny. Fuck Grease. There are certain levels of humiliation you can’t go past, even on your wedding day.”
“Did anyone see you come out here?” Tristan asked. “I found this spot first, and I’m not anyone’s sacrifice.”
“No, I had someone plant a clue I was in the bathroom, then I raced out here.”
“Good job,” Dalton said.
Cal glared at them, then took a swig of beer. “Some best men you are.”
“We had to save ourselves. Morgan is scary,” Dalton said. “Who’s playing Danny now?”
“Her father. Uncle Bob is Kenickie, and some twelve-year-old is Sonny.”
Tristan lifted a brow. “Umm, if Morgan gets mad about your nonparticipation, will you get a wedding night?”
Cal rubbed his head. His hair fell in disarray across his brow. “Don’t know. I think I have enough moves to get her to forget.”
Tristan snorted. “You hope.”
“I’m not putting on a fake leather jacket and lip-synching ‘Summer Nights.’ There are people I know out there. Men I work with. I won’t be welcome on a construction site for the rest of my life.”
Tristan met Dalton’s gaze and burst into laughter. “Sorry, man, that sucks. We’ll tell them you got sick and needed some air.”
Cal gave a brusque nod. “Now you’re talking.”
They stood against the wall, drinking beer, looking at the night sky. A sense of peace settled over him. “You happy?” he asked Cal.
His brother turned and grinned. “Hell yeah. Are you?”
Tristan nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
“Things seem to be working out with Sydney. Have you been able to forgive her? Move on?”
He shifted his feet. Thought about the question. Had he? Since the night he’d chased her into bed, their relationship had shifted. They were closer, the physical union sparking a deeper emotional bond he hadn’t been prepared for. When he felt as if he was slipping too far, caught deep in her jade-green eyes, he managed to yank himself back from the precipice. So far, he’d been able to control it. They were being real with each other. No words of love or false promises. Things were just about perfect.
Except for the sadness in his wife’s eyes.
He caught her now and then, staring out the window, a melancholy aura hanging heavily around her figure. Sometimes she’d look into his face, and he’d spot a glimmer of pain that tore at his heart, but when he looked harder, it disappeared.
He shook off his thoughts and tried to answer the question.
Tristan was surprised at his honest response. “Yeah, we’ve been able to move forward. We’re finally giving Becca something real.”
Cal nodded. “Good for you, Tris. It’s always been obvious how in love you two are. I’m glad you both finally admitted it.”
Tristan held up his hand. “No, we’re not in love. That’s a place I’m never going again.”
His brothers stared at him. “What are you talking about? You married her. Have a daughter. You’re sleeping together, right?” Cal asked.
“Yeah.”