“Monroe!”
The voice made Monroe jerk, but even when he pulled his mouth from mine, he stayed right there, panting wetly against my lips as I tried to remember how to breathe.
“Roe? You out here?”
“Damn cockblocking Hayes,” Monroe muttered, easing me back without completely letting go. He angled our bodies deeper into the shade of one of the wisterias, then shouted, “Over here.”
A moment later, Hayes appeared in the small clearing. He peered around until his eyes adjusted and he was able to make us out in the shadows. “Should have known. Hi, West. We weren’t properly introduced.” He gave a jaunty sort of wave and I was treated to a glimpse that perhaps charm ran in the Peters’ family.
“Hello,” I croaked, not quite able to return the gesture.
He chuckled, but then turned a serious expression on his brother. “Sorry to interrupt, but Amanda’s looking for you.”
Monroe’s shoulders went stiff under my hands and his fingers clenched my ass before he relaxed them. “What’s she doing here?”
Hayes looked a little guilty. “You know she and Lincoln are close. Of course he invited her.”
Monroe sighed, then finally, and with apparent reluctance, let go of me. He gave me a sad sort of smile, then turned to face his brother to block me completely from view. I would have been upset about that, but I was still sporting a pretty obvious hard-on, and even if Hayes most likely couldn’t see it in the dark, I didn’t want to take any chance.
“All right,” Monroe said, sounding resigned. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Hayes gave a salute, wiggled his fingers at me, then left. After a long moment, Monroe turned around. I could see the apology already written on his face.
I smiled, trying to put him at ease. “Who’s Amanda?”
“My ex.” He grimaced, but then his expression relaxed. “It’s been over for a while, but it didn’t end great, so I should probably go talk to her.”
I smoothed his hair back into place, then straightened the lapel of his jacket. “Is she going to cause a scene?” I asked sympathetically.
Monroe quickly shook his head. “No, no. She’s not that kind of person. But we were together for a couple of years before we called it quits nine months ago, and I owe her at least a conversation and a dance.” He sighed, then smiled. “She’s a good person. And like Hayes said, she and Lincoln are good friends. I’m glad she came, for him.”
“Well, then. Go talk to her. I should be leaving soon anyway.”
Monroe froze, then grabbed my hand. “You don’t have to leave.”
I shushed that edge of panic. “It’s not because of that, I promise.” I smoothed the worry wrinkle between his brows, and he closed his eyes on a sigh. I laughed. “I just have a lot of paperwork to do before I can call the end to my day. I hadn’t intended on attending a wonderful wedding. Or being kissed senseless in the moonlight.”
I gave him a cheeky wink and he visibly relaxed. “All right. I guess this is goodbye for now, then?”
“For now,” I whispered, and this time, I was the one to kiss him. I kept it soft, full of hope, and Monroe didn’t try to push for more. Though he was definitely reluctant to let it end. I eventually pulled back and gave him a push. He touched my cheek, with just the tips of his fingers, then walked away.
He got to the edge of the clearing before he turned back. “It doesn’t bother you, right? That I’m bi?”
I frowned, confused. “No. Why would it?”
“You’d be surprised,” he muttered. Then he waved. “I’ll see you soon, West.”
This time, he actually left.
I sighed, but it was happy one. Today had been a whole lot of magic. First a perfect wedding, and then a perfect kiss—or several. I couldn’t have asked for more.
But I wasn’t lying when I’d said I had a lot to do at the shop, and I knew if I didn’t get it done, I’d be angry with myself. I was not a procrastinator by nature, and every time I let my judgement lapse and put things off, I regretted it soundly.
So I made my way back to the reception, found the grooms and gave them congratulations, then made my way to my van and headed out. Paperwork was calling my name. But I knew when I eventually made it home and into bed, my dreams would be the sweet kind. 5
I was still floating a bit two days later. I hadn’t heard from Monroe, but since we hadn’t exchanged numbers, I wasn’t surprised. Though I was definitely kicking myself for that now. I’d have loved to reach out, to talk to him, to find out if the magic between us had been a fluke. A byproduct of the outpouring of love from Lincoln and James. I didn’t think so. The chemistry between us had sure felt real enough. But sometimes things looked different in the light of day.