Page 106 of A Better Place

“That’s what you get,” he says, his voice so deep and husky. “Come on, beautiful. Time to show you off.”

As soon as we pull up to the church, a young gentleman steps up to James’s vehicle and offers to park his car for him. When we were at Tess and Barrett’s the other night for supper, the night that will forever live in lip-tint infamy, they told me the wedding was a little more formal. Apparently, Emily’s fiancé comes from a very well-off family and had some specific requests for the wedding and reception. Valet service must be one of them.

After handing him the keys, James comes around and helps me out of the vehicle, tucking my arm in his. As soon as we get inside, a young lady takes our jackets. James removes his phone from his jacket pocket, flips it around, and aims the screen in our direction.

“I need a picture with my girl before everyone else tries to steal you.”

My smile is so wide it probably looks borderline creepy, but I can’t tame it. After several pictures, because apparently he needed to make sure he’s got a good one, he bends down and takes one of him kissing my cheek.

Lily comes out of a side room dressed in a short, strapless, fitted satin dress. A wide champagne-colored sash is wrapped around her waist, secured with a large rose the same color. Her hair is done up in a low chignon, full of curls. Her eyes are smoky, cheeks a slight blush to them, and her lips a shiny light pink. She has on tall black stilettos, and I cringe, wondering how her feet are going to survive the night.

“Carly! Oh my gosh! You look absolutely gorgeous!” she gushes, leaning in before giving me a hug.

“Sweetheart, have you seen yourself? You are beautiful!”

“Thank you, but I fear my feet will hate me in just a few hours.” We both look down at the offending shoes and I wince.

“More than likely, yes. Did you bring something to change into?”

“Yeah, Emily gave us some ballet flats for the reception.”

“Oh I’m glad. I think you’ll need them.”

“Jack looks so good. He’s been hanging out, watching us take pictures.”

“If Maggie looks even half as amazing as you do, I doubt he’ll let her out of his sight all night.”

A loud voice clears next to us, gaining our attention.

“Hey, Lily Bug. Remember me?” James says.

“Hey, Dad. You look nice.”

He guffaws. “Nice? That’s all I get?” he asks her, gesturing to himself.

“Oh, whatever, Dad. You know you look better than nice.”

“Still, it’d be nice to hear.” He fake-pouts, and she punches him in the shoulder before hugging him.

One of the things that has made me fall so hard for James is his playful attitude but also how much he loves his daughter. I love watching them interact and listening to the stories they tell.

“You look really handsome, Dad.”

He lays a hand on the side of her neck. “And you, my Lily, look beautiful. Save a dance for me tonight?”

She blushes lightly. “Thanks, Dad. And of course. We gotta show Carly how it’s done, you know?”

I furrow my brows in confusion but don’t ask what they mean. Knowing James, he has some choreographed dance he plans to do.

The wedding is stunning, and even not knowing the bride or groom brings tears to my eyes. James’s arm wraps around me tightly through the entire ceremony, his other hand reaching across the front of us to hold my own.

As Emily and Lucas are lighting their unity candle, James leans over to me and whispers, “One day.”

Goose bumps erupt through my body, and I have to suck in a breath and clench my thighs together. I look over at him, his eyes hooded as he looks down at me. I bite my lip, and he reaches up and releases it with his thumb.

“Mine,” he murmurs.

After the wedding, we walk across the street to the reception hall. Hors d’oeuvres are passed around on trays as people mingle.

---