Strip Search (Tap That)

“Hey,” Sullivan said, raising his hand to the bartender for another drink. “I had an awesome wedding.”

“No offense, bro, but we were like twelve when you got married,” Jesse said. “I got so shit-faced I don’t even remember your reception. Restraint was not in my vocab in those days.”

“Yeah, you were so restrained when you took Leighton’s friend home last night,” Brandon said, rolling his eyes.

“I remember it, at least. So I’m maturing.”

“Why is Sloane crying?” Axl asked, sipping a beer. She and Rick were coming into the tent and Sloane wasn’t just crying, she was sobbing.

Sullivan stood up straight. “What did that fucker do to my sister? I’ll kick his ass.”

But Sloane came running over to them and stuck her hand out. There was a ring on it. “Rick proposed to me!”

Rick was grinning ear-to-ear. “She said yes,” he said, sounding proud and ecstatic.

Axl clapped him on the back. “That’s awesome! I’m happy for you guys.” He gave Sloane a hug. “Congrats, you crazy kids.”

“I wasn’t planning to propose tonight because I didn’t want to ruin your wedding, Axl, but then you called it off and the setting is pretty damn romantic. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all. It is a great setting. How did you have the ring though?”

“I’ve been driving around with it in my glovebox trying to figure out the perfect way to ask Sloane.” He shrugged.

“I don’t know,” Jesse said. “Sloane is crying. I think you fucked it up.”

“Shut up,” she said, hitting Jesse’s arm. “You know these are happy tears.” She turned to her brother. “Aren’t you going to say anything, Sullivan?”

He gave her a one-armed hug. “Congratulations, Sloane. I’m really happy for you, seriously.” Without a word to Rick he took his drink and walked off.

Sloane sighed.

“Baby, don’t let it bother you,” Rick told her.

“I know.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’m going to find Lilly and show her my ring.”

They kissed and then she walked away.

“Married. Damn,” Brandon said. “I’m happy for you guys. Things are changing, aren’t they??

?

Axl saw Leighton laughing under the glow of chandeliers, dancing with his five-year-old nephew. His heart did a flip. “Yeah. Things are changing.”

Setting his beer back down on the bar, he crossed the tent, making his way across the dance floor. As if she sensed his presence, Leighton turned when he was still ten feet away, and gave him a look so filled with love and lust that his nostrils flared. Damn. He was a lucky fucking man.

She didn’t seem to mind eyes being on her now. She looked relaxed and happy, confidence in what they were doing. And herself. It made him even happier to see that. She raised her eyebrows as he approached.

“Beat it,” he told his nephew Sam in teasing tones. “I’m cutting in.”

“No!” Sam said, sticking his tongue out at him.

“Go have a piece of cake,” he told him, amused by how disheveled Sam looked, his shirttail out and his hair sticking up in a persistent cowlick.

“Mom said I can’t have another one.”

“But this is my wedding and I said you can, so go for it, kid.”

“Really?” Sam’s eyes got huge.