Tease Me (Hart of Stone Family 1)

“Shut up and watch your future wife,” is all I say. His gaze locks on Taylor, while mine glances at her for a moment before I watch Marlie across the way. Her pretty eyes meet mine for a second before returning to Taylor. She’s trying to hold the tears at bay, but it’s not happening. I get it. Taylor and Marlie have been best friends since college, well over ten years. Whereas my friendship with Ridge has only been a few years. At first, he was just my financial advisor. It took us a few years, but we found our way outside of his stodgy office and are now thick as thieves when my schedule allows it.

“Luckiest man in the world, that’s what I am.” I can hear the emotion clogging his throat. The preacher clears his voice in a way that tells us all to hush. The ceremony goes on, and Taylor’s dad places her hand in Ridge’s, lifting the veil as she passes her bouquet to Marlie.

“Take care of my baby girl. Love you, Taylor Marie.” I listen as her dad tells Ridge his feelings. They have a moment, the four of them—Ridge, Taylor, her father, and the preacher. Even with the eyes of the church, which is at max capacity, I’m shocked there aren’t people standing at the end of the pews with everyone they have packed in here.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today,” the preacher gets back into his role of officiating the wedding. I listen with one ear, waiting for the time when I hand Ridge their rings. Other than that, the only thing that has my concentration is the pretty woman across the aisle, the one who has no problem glancing back at me between the times she’s wiping at the corner of her eyes.

In my own little world, thinking about all the things a man shouldn’t be while standing in a church in front of two hundred people, I hear the preacher say, “You may now kiss the bride.” That’s when my eyes return to Taylor and Ridge as I clap along with the crowd.

“I saw that look, you know.” I place Marlie’s arm in the crook of mine after Taylor and Ridge walk down the aisle towards the back of the church.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’m trying to make it appear that I’m none the wiser.

“Sure, we can go with that.” I look down at her and see the smile she has plastered on her face. My own appears, and that’s when the snap of the camera happens. We don’t really know each other, though that doesn’t seem to be stopping either one of us from connecting in the weirdest fucking way.

CHAPTER FIVE

marlie

“Okay, I think you lied about the two left feet, Tanner.” After we fulfilled our maid-of-honor and best-man duties, you know, the usual, like making sure things went smoothly during pictures, both of us taking care of our speeches, when all of that was taken care of, Tanner lead me to the dance floor.

“I’m pretty sure you’re lying about that. I’ve stepped on your toes three times already.” Tanner gives me a crooked grin.

Taylor and Ridge are off to their all-inclusive honeymoon in Barbados. That doesn’t mean their other guests aren’t hanging around, so that’s what Tanner and I have been doing. Of course, her parting words to me when she changed from her wedding dress into an outfit more suited for traveling was, “I told you so, and look at you two. You are inseparable now. Dare I say the next wedding may just be yours and Tanners?” I laughed because there was no way it would be smart to play into her words, so I just shrugged my shoulders. Of course, Taylor continued on, “I’m just saying, you can make sure I’m your maid of honor.” I was on my knees behind her, unbuttoning the plethora of buttons that were a pain in the ass to sew on when she said that. Add in the few drinks I had, and I may have fallen on my ass, too.

“We’ll see,” was all I said. They left shortly after that, and since I kind of promised Taylor I would make sure her parents didn’t get too toasted, I complied. She’s an only child and knew it would hit them kind of hard, even though they’re happy for her. There’s still a door that’s been closed on a chapter in their life.

“That was in the beginning. You’ve got some smooth moves now.” Tanner spins me around in a circle before bringing me back into his body, both of us swaying to the beat of the music.

“I had a good instructor. Ah, there go Taylor’s parents. Think we can break free now?” he asks.

“I think so, but, Tanner, you could have left before now,” I tell him, hopefully not making him feel obligated that he had to stay with me until the bitter end.