Blair hesitated. All her favorite parts of the wedding were about to happen. She also had a feeling that it was her job to give Reid as hard a time as humanly possible. She couldn’t do that if Justyn sweet-talked her away from the reception.
He leaned down and whispered in ear, “I want you.” A smile formed at the corners of her full lips. “So, let me take you home.”
Blair reached for her beaded purse and pushed away from the table. Glaring at Reid all night suddenly seemed like a bad use of her time. Justyn glanced over his shoulder at his cousin while he steered Blair out of the reception.
“Baby, for what it’s worth, I don’t like what happened to Maggie, but I can tell Reid’s hurtin’. I just thank God I’m not the one sitting in the corner drinking my heart whole tonight.”
Blair couldn’t say it, but she was thinking exactly the same thing.
Seven
Justyn
Justyn’s leg dangled over the side of the swing. “I swear I was going to take you inside the house this time.” He laughed as he and Blair swayed across the porch.
She cuddled into the nook under his arm. “I’m not complaining. I’m sorta getting addicted to porch swing sex.” She giggled.
“I know what you mean.” He kicked off the floor with his foot.
He had seen the wheels turning in her head at the reception. He knew that everything was completely fucked up now since Maggie had left, but he also knew it had nothing to do with Blair and him. The only way to keep it that way was to get her away from Reid tonight, before her hotheaded mouth flew open after a few glasses of champagne. He didn’t want to take sides.
“Do you think anyone saw us leave? I feel bad not saying good-bye to Missy and Josh.” She sounded slightly remorseful. “Or your mom. Oh God, I didn’t say good night to your mother.”
Justyn rolled Blair under him. “I don’t care if the president was looking for us.” He kissed her neck. “Swing sex comes first.”
“I’m being serious. Your whole family was there. What if they say something to you tomorrow?”
“Then, I guess I’ll have to hide out here. That ok with you?” He grinned.
She propped up on her elbow, and he recognized the look she got when she was about to pitch an idea. “Hey, what if—?” her words trailed off as Justyn kissed her stomach.
“Are you trying to talk to me right now?” He growled a heated breath along her belly button.
“No.” She relaxed under his touch. “Uh.”
“Good.” He kissed the soft skin against her thigh, smiling as she responded to him with faint whimpers. He loved it when she did that. He had never heard anything so hot in his life.
She wanted to talk and he didn’t want to disappoint her, but he loved how she felt underneath him, how she moved every time he touched her. Right now, he wanted her to hear what he had to say with his hands—words didn’t matter. They still had one week together.
Eight
Blair
Blair looked up at the house where she had spent the summer. The breeze blowing off the sound skirted through the wind chimes. Three months ago, she had thought she was going to hate the island. And maybe for the first month that was true, but looking out across the sound to where the lighthouse stood, she knew she had grown to love this place and all its quirks.
It didn’t seem possible the wedding was only a week ago. Faced with the prospect of an entire week in an empty house had scared the crap out of her. She had never liked being in the house alone and luckily had managed to avoid it the entire summer. It was old, creaked at night, and was possibly inhabited by the nonliving. When she asked Justyn if he wanted to stay with her during her last week, he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t freak out either.
“Darlin’, I think this is the last one.” He jogged down the porch with one of her suitcases. He shoved it in the trunk and closed it with a thud.
She handed him the keys that Mrs. Buttons had entrusted Maggie and her with at the beginning of the summer. His fingers closed around the key chain.
“Tell Mrs. Buttons we had a great time.” She smiled at him.
“I’ll do that.” He kicked at the tire.
“Thanks.”
Blair turned toward the driver side of her car. “Oh, and tell her that there might be a leak under the kitchen sink.” She tossed her purse in the front seat. She knew she was stalling, but everything about this moment was surreal. It felt like she was walking through a fog.