Guarding her, p.3
Guarding Her, page 3
But the DJ was set up outside on a huge platform, and even though he was kind of cheesy, he’d been playing a lot of fun music and everyone was having a good time.
“At least you haven’t reached that stage with the twins. Right?” Gia asked, watching as Zamira’s two kids cut it up on the dance floor, Elisa twirling around, her dress flying out, and Andres sliding around in his shoes.
“Eh.” Zamira took a sip of her drink. “They just turned twelve. It’s coming. And Elisa is there. I’ve been dealing with that preteen attitude and it’s been eye-opening. I have new respect for my mama.”
Gia started to respond, but a large man she vaguely recognized from one of their get-togethers approached and asked Zamira to dance. He was huge, filling out his suit until it was almost straining at the seams—and he looked nervous.
Zamira’s cheeks flushed and she definitely seemed flustered but Gia snagged her champagne and simply grinned. “Have fun.” Zamira was a widow and had been since the twins were one—she deserved the fun.
Gia should be out there dancing too, and had been for the last hour. It had been a crazy busy day, with a beautiful ceremony—but she couldn’t get Lawson out of her head. Especially not after last night at the rehearsal dinner.
You’re not a model. Ugh, she couldn’t get his words out of her head. I mean, yeah, she wasn’t. Not even close. She was about five foot three inches and far too curvy. But the way he’d blurted it out had been a shock—and hurtful. She hated that she still wanted him anyway, that she still found him ridiculously attractive. Because despite her annoyance with him, she’d seen the way he was with Juan. He was a really good friend, had been an incredible best man, and her big brother had always had good things to say about Lawson.
Great things, actually, including that Lawson had saved his ass more than once overseas. For that, she would always be grateful.
Sighing, she’d set both drinks down, ready to force herself out onto the dance floor and into having a good time, when she nearly ran into a big wall of muscle. For one shocked moment she thought it was Lawson but nope, it was someone from Juan’s work. She couldn’t remember the guy’s name, but he smiled down at her now.
“Want to dance?”
Ah… She started to say no, then spotted Lawson about five tables behind him talking to some gorgeous brunette. A very tall one who probably did model. Ugh. “Sounds great.” Gia pasted a smile on her face and let the big guy take her hand and lead her onto the dance floor.
This evening wasn’t about her anyway, wasn’t about all the emotions that wanted to bubble up and spill over. It was about her brother and his new wife and she couldn’t be happier for either of them.
Later tonight, when she was finally out of these heels, she’d feel sorry for herself. But not now.
Clarita stepped out of the restroom, full of champagne and cake and feeling about as perfect as she had in ages. She stopped in surprise to find Carlos waiting for her.
It didn’t matter that they’d been together for seventeen years—since they were fifteen—her heart rate still kicked up every time she saw him. And tonight, especially. He had on a suit, something he almost never wore, and even though she’d made the suit for him, nothing could hide all his muscles. No, her man worked on cars all day, usually jogged to work, and had like zero body fat. It was ridiculous and hot and she wanted him right now.
“Hey,” she said, feeling slightly light-headed and a lot turned on now that he was here. She’d been busy with all her sisters up until the wedding, and then with the kids most of the reception.
He had a frown on his handsome face as he looked past her at the bathroom door. “You alone?”
She blinked, shrugged. “I guess.” She thought she’d heard someone in one of the stalls but who cared. “Where are the kids?”
“With your mama. She’s going to take them tonight.”
Now that was what she wanted to hear. They hadn’t had a night to themselves in ages—longer than she wanted to think about, that was for sure. “Nice. Want to get out of here early, then?” Because Angel and Juan had just left, and even though the reception was going for another hour, she could totally dip out now and not feel guilty. She felt like all she did was work lately. It was time to let loose and enjoy herself.
He looked past her again as she reached for him, then stiffened slightly as the bathroom door opened up. The tension in his shoulders eased as an older woman with white hair and a coral-colored dress stepped out, smiled at both of them.
She frowned up at him. “What’s going on with you? Are you looking for someone?” It took a moment for her brain to register, to… Wait a minute. He’d asked her if she was alone. Going on a hunch, she said, “Did you think there was some guy in the bathroom with me?”
He set his hands on her hips and started to shake his head but she saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes.
“Don’t lie to me,” she snapped out, not giving him the chance to. “Oh my God, seriously, you think I was like, what, hooking up with some guy in the bathroom at my sister’s wedding with you and our kids out at the reception?” Clarita stared up at him, unable to believe it. Lately she felt like they’d drifted—not felt like, they had. And things had shifted between them. She’d been working a lot more, and she was being courted by a local Miami fashion house. Their lives had definitely changed, and while he said he was happy for her…he’d been pulling away. But he didn’t trust her?
Carlos scrubbed a hand over his face, his dark eyes glittering slightly. “I’m sorry,” he rasped out. “I just…saw one of the guys Juan works with leave the reception at the same time you did and he’d been checking you out all night. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.”
Clarita didn’t either. There’d never been any jealousy between them, not really. Maybe a little when they’d been teenagers, but they’d been wild with hormones and hot for each other so no one else had factored into anything. She couldn’t believe him right now.
But if she was being honest with herself, she been wondering about him lately. They hadn’t had sex in ages and she kept wondering if he was stepping out on her. At first she’d chalked it up to their schedules being so different, to them being tired with raising three young kids.
But what was that saying about people projecting their own lies onto you? Even thinking of him cheating was a gut punch. She started to respond but she spotted her mom hurrying down the hallway carrying Bella.
Bella, who was eight and definitely not in the habit of being carried anymore. “Carlos,” she said, nodding behind him even as she hurried past him.
“She threw up once, says she’s going to be sick again.” Her mom just kept moving, shoving the bathroom door open even as Bella cried for her.
“Mommy!”
Clarita hurried into the bathroom with them, shelving everything for the moment. She would deal with whatever the heck was going on with Carlos later.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gia quickly texted Clarita back. I’m good, get your sweet girl home! I’ve already got a ride so no worries. She actually didn’t have a ride home, but knew it would be easy enough to get one. They’d all gotten ready earlier at Mila’s house, then Gia had caught a ride with Clarita.
She glanced around the nearly empty reception area, snorting as the DJ flirted with someone old enough to be his mother—one of Angel’s older relatives. And it looked as if the woman was going to take him up on his offer to go home with him tonight. Good for both of them.
Her heels clicked against the dance floor, and she nearly ran into one of the caterers picking up dirty glasses.
“Sorry,” she murmured, pulling up a familiar rideshare app. When she saw that it would be nearly an hour wait, her eyes widened. What the hell? It should only be fifteen minutes max, at least normally.
“There’s a concert tonight.” The man she’d danced with earlier, Ernesto, moved in next to her like a ninja.
She blinked, looked up and saw him glancing at her phone. He was nice enough but had been putting on the moves too hard so she’d distanced herself after that one dance. “Oh, okay, thanks.”
Gia kept moving, pressing the button for the first pickup option and heading for the big double doors. She stepped out onto the open terrace. A huge wraparound driveway extended in both directions and there were benches on either side of the valet area. She sat on one of them. At least the weather would be gorgeous while she waited. A cool breeze rolled over her, rustling the bushes and trees all around them.
A college-aged man and woman stood near a small stand lined with various car keys, lounging until they saw them. She waved the valet guy off when he approached. “I’m just waiting for a ride.”
“I can take you home.” Ernesto handed the valet his ticket and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“That won’t be necessary.” Suddenly Lawson was striding up, the big door behind him banging shut as he approached, a bit of a predatory expression on his face.
One she’d never seen before. But he was watching Ernesto with a dark look that seemed to say “back off.” Sometime in the last couple hours he’d lost his jacket, and his sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, the white shirt bright against his tanned skin.
Even though Gia was annoyed with him, she was glad to see him. She jumped up, relief sliding through her even as she snagged her clutch from the bench.
“I didn’t realize you two had come together.” Ernesto looked between them as another valet, one driving Lawson’s truck, smoothly pulled to a stop in front of them. He must have been here before them.
She kept her expression neutral and just smiled. “It was nice to meet you,” she said even as she headed to the passenger side, not waiting for Lawson to open the door. If he was offering to take her home, she was definitely taking him up on it. As he tipped the valet, she pulled her phone back out and canceled her ride. And was glad, considering her wait time had actually gone up another five minutes.
“What happened to your ride?” Lawson asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“Clarita’s older girl got sick.”
“Ah, yeah, I saw that.” He shook his head slightly, eyed the rearview for a moment as he pulled down the long driveway. “He’s a player, for the record.”
“Who?”
Lawson glanced at her. “Ernesto.”
“Oh, okay.” She shrugged, not caring. He’d asked her out, but she’d said no. Twice.
Lawson’s grip on the steering wheel eased as he said, “Tonight went by fast but I think the two lovebirds had a great time.”
She laughed at that because yeah, Juan and Angel certainly had. They’d stayed as long as was polite and then Juan had hurried her off, no doubt ready to get their honeymoon started. They were staying the night at a nearby hotel and then leaving for the mountains in the morning. Juan had told her he’d be cutting off most communication for a few weeks.
“I’ve got to say, the highlight was when that bouquet hit you in the head.” Laughter filled his words as he took a right-hand turn out onto a two-lane street. “I just hope the photographer got a shot, because your expression was hilarious.”
“Ha, ha.”
“Sorry I didn’t get to dance with you.” His words surprised her. “I’d planned to ask you but shit just kept happening.”
Surprised, she glanced at him. “What shit?”
“To start, I had to break up an argument between two of Angel’s aunts.”
“Oh yeah, I heard about that but I didn’t see it. What happened exactly?”
“One of them wore a dress the same color as the other even though they’d said they were going to wear blue. Then one accused the other of stealing their dead mother’s earrings or something and it devolved into an almost brawl in the kitchen. The caterers were worried about the desserts getting smashed.”
“Oh my gosh!”
He shot her a dry look. “Yeah, it was wild. And I didn’t want Juan or Angel to find out so I kept it under wraps. Then a couple teenagers were caught sneaking alcohol so I talked to them and their parents.”
“You’ve been a good best man.” And he looked incredible in his tux, filling it out to perfection. Now that his jacket was off and his sleeves were rolled up, it was like he was just showing off all those forearm muscles to make her crazy.
He shrugged. “I tried.”
“Did you get to dance at all?” She hadn’t seen him after her dance with Ernesto—and she could admit she’d been looking for him.
“No, but that’s probably a good thing. I’ve got two left feet.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“Don’t doubt it. I already had my apologies for stepping on your pretty shoes ready to go.”
She laughed, some of her tension from the last couple days fading. “My toes thank you, then.”
“Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked, maneuvering through the growing traffic with ease.
Ernesto hadn’t been joking about the concert. Luckily there were a few back roads to her place and it was clear that Lawson knew about them.
“I did. I feel…I don’t know, sort of sad and happy at the same time.” Gia wasn’t even sure why she was telling Lawson this. It wasn’t like she was tipsy so she couldn’t blame it on that. Nope. She’d had one drink tonight and that had been hours ago.
“Why sad?”
She let her gaze trace over the striations in his forearm as he made another turn. Then her gaze drifted to his face. The bright lights of the city and vehicles on the road played off his hard features, but his lips looked soft. And she couldn’t stop wondering how they would feel against her own.
Clearing her throat, she looked away. “Maybe sad is the wrong word. It’s just been Juan and me for a while, and even though Angel’s family has welcomed me with open arms, I don’t know…he’s got this whole new family now. And yeah, I’m part of it, but it’s a little intimidating, I guess. It’s just been us, and now we’ve got a whole new chapter—and I keep wondering if they’ll invite me over for Christmas and other holidays. Is that weird?” She kept staring out the window, watching the cars and buildings blur as they sped by.
“Not weird. And I guarantee you’ll be invited to everything. I heard one of Angel’s sisters talking about ‘how adorable’ you are.”
“Really?” She turned to look at him.
“Yep.” The corners of his mouth curved up slightly. “And I heard one of their cousins wondering if you were off the table now that you were related to Angel through marriage.”
She laughed, leaning her head against the headrest. “Pretty sure I know which cousin. He’s like nineteen and not as smooth as he thinks.”
Lawson simply grunted as he steered onto a quiet street about two neighborhoods away from her own.
Almost home, almost time to take off her ridiculous heels. She’d listened to Clarita and worn four-inch ones and her feet were paying for her crimes right about now.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” he asked as he pulled into her neighborhood, his question casual.
She knew he wasn’t asking her out of real interest, but only to be polite. “Ah, I’ve got a date.” She inwardly cringed, not sure why she’d said that. It wasn’t like she wanted to make him jealous—because she was pretty sure he didn’t care whether she dated or not. He’d almost kissed her, then acted like it was a horrible crime. But the lie had just tumbled out because…gah, because why? Maybe because she didn’t want him to think she was a total loser who worked all the time and had no time for dating.
It was true, but he didn’t need to know that.
She’d tried dating apps when she’d gotten out of college, but they’d all been a bust. She’d been on a whole lot of first dates that had amounted to nothing at all. Some of her friends said she was too picky, but she didn’t think so. All those dates that led nowhere had been a drain on her energy so she hadn’t bothered with those in years.
“Oh…” He cleared his throat as he pulled into her driveway, his knuckles tight on the wheel. “You left the light on.”
Even though there seemed to be tension buzzing in the air, she nodded. “Yes, and you’ll be glad to know that I set my alarm too.” She’d set it ever since that day he’d been over.
And ever since said day, she’d tried to forget exactly how good he’d looked in her place. How he’d almost kissed her. How she’d been dying to kiss him back.
He parked quickly and was out even before she’d fully unstrapped, opening her door for her. Damn it, he really was such a sweet guy. And she wanted him so much her chest ached with it. Unfortunately, she knew it wasn’t meant to be.
No matter how much she wanted it or obsessed about it. He’d made that much clear.
“You look amazing tonight.” Lawson’s voice was low and rumbly as he walked her to her door. “Most beautiful woman there.”
Oh…hell. His words hit her square in the chest as they reached her door. And she didn’t know what to say, didn’t want to reveal just how much they meant. She cleared her throat, tried to keep things light. What was going on with him? Was he trying to mess with her head? He’d asked her about her plans and was telling her she was beautiful. That didn’t feel like normal friendly talk, but her barometer with him was all off. “You looked pretty amazing yourself. Thank you again for driving me home.” She slid her key into the lock and couldn’t quite meet his gaze before she opened the door and stepped inside.
Because she was afraid he’d see all the want and desire she’d kept buried deep inside for him. And that was just unacceptable.
He was her brother’s best friend, and he wasn’t going anywhere. It was time she got over this stupid crush and moved on. Unfortunately she wasn’t sure how to do that.
CHAPTER FIVE
