Page 119 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

"I love you." I straighten his boutonnière. "Even when you're dropping Luke during dance practice."

“Shit. Who told you?”

“Callum.”

"Of course he did." Connor sighs against my hair. "Though in my defense, Luke's dip technique needs work."

"Pretty sure that's not what Mac meant when she said the groomsmen should 'work on their chemistry.'"

Before Connor can respond, the reception doors open, and suddenly we're swept into a whirlwind of celebration. The garden pavilion glows with thousands of tiny lights, creating the illusion of dancing among stars. Seattle's spring rain patters gently against the glass ceiling, nature's own percussion to accompany the music.

I watch from the edge of the dance floor as the groomsmen take their positions. Connor catches my eye just before the music starts, and the look he gives me—part mischief, part promise—makes my heart stumble.

Then "Uptown Funk" starts playing, and everything dissolves into beautiful chaos.

"Oh my god," Mac's mother whispers beside me. "Are they... did they actually choreograph...?"

"Every second," I confirm, trying not to laugh as five of Seattle's most powerful men attempt to synchronize their hip movements. “And to be honest, watching my husband try to teach Callum the moonwalk was worth every minute of practice."

My phone buzzes:

LILY: I'M DYING

LILY: Please tell me someone's getting this

LILY: Also, is Connor actually BREAKDANCING?

KAT: More like break-attempting

KAT: Though I have to say, his enthusiasm is... something

DAD: The ceremonial blend would help with his flexibility!

The dance ends with Connor pulling Mac onto the floor foran elaborate spin sequence that has everyone cheering. Alex follows, and soon the dance floor is packed with guests attempting their own versions of the groomsmen's moves.

"Mrs. Reeves." Connor appears at my side, slightly breathless, his eyes bright with exertion and something else. "Care to show these amateurs how it's done?"

"Depends." I let him pull me close as the music shifts to something slower. "Are you planning to drop me like you did Luke?"

"Never." His voice turns serious, his hand spreading warm against my back. "I'm never letting you go again."

We move together like we've been doing this forever, like every dance lesson was leading to this moment. His body remembers mine, and mine remembers his, and suddenly the rest of the world fades away.

"You know," he murmurs after a while, "we could do this."

"Dance? We are dancing."

"Get married." His thumb traces circles on my hip. "Properly this time. No Elvis. Just us."

My mouth turns dry. I swallow. Hard. “This isn’t…Are you proposing? Again?"

"More like suggesting we celebrate what we already have." He dips me slightly, and my pulse trips. "Though this time with less accidental matrimony and more intentional forever."

"Intentional forever? That's very romantic for someone who once wrote a PowerPoint presentation to ask someone to prom."

"What can I say?" His lips brush my temple. "You make me brave enough to skip the slides."

"Connor Reeves, are you actually being spontaneous?"

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