Page 55 of Wanting the Winger

I go up in flames.I’ve never been so excited—or so nervous.I’ve only eaten Club crackers today because I’m so worried about my IBS.Food is usually the cause of my flares, but stress can be, too.

This isn’t stressful, really, but my nerves are pretty raw.I’ve been dreaming about Bash seeing me as more than a friend for so long.Even after he turned me down, my feelings never disappeared.I just learned to ignore them.

“Anything blush-inducing isn’t guaranteed.”My tone is a thousand times lighter than my stomach right now.“We’ll have to see how things go.”

He grins.“Understood.I was talking about making you blush with a goodnight kiss later.What were you thinking about?”

I suppress a smile.“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He closes the distance between us, snaking an arm around my waist and pulling me close.I inhale sharply, my palm flying to rest on his chest.

Damn.His body is just unfair.How can I speak full sentences when such a tall, broad, powerful man’s body is flush with mine?

“Yes, please.”His deep, eager tone makes me clench my thighs together.“I’d really fucking like to know.”

“Jesus, Bash, are you going to start humping her leg?”Mara’s approaching voice makes Bash take a step back.“Corsage her and let’s get this show on the road.”

He flicks a glare in her direction and opens the corsage box.I didn’t want anything I had to pin to my dress, and Suki must have told him.He got me an old-school wrist corsage, which is made of beautiful flowers in several shades of blue and accented with small white flowers.

Suki takes pictures as he puts it on me, and then she takes more of me pinning on his small corsage.It’s completely unnecessary and silly, but it makes me smile anyway.

“Where’s my date?”Suki asks.

“Waiting out front.”

Bash has hired a limo for the evening, and when we walk out the front door of Mara’s building, Carter is standing there smiling at Suki.We give them a minute of privacy by getting in the car, where Dex, Harry and Harry’s boyfriend Aden are waiting.

“Damn, girl,” Dex says to Mara when he sees her.“If I was straight, I’d take you home with me right now.”

Aden and Harry are holding hands.Aden is handsome, his blond hair cut short.He has a short, well-groomed beard.Harry’s giving him an adoring look.I force myself to play it cool, but they are ridiculously cute together.

“Aden, great to meet you,” Bash says, shaking his hand.“I’m really glad you guys could make it tonight.”

“Are you kidding?”Harry says.“I wasn’t out yet in high school.I never thought I’d get to do this.”

Carter has lipstick smeared on his lower lip when he climbs into the car.Suki wipes it away.

“Your eye looks better,” Carter tells Bash.

“Yeah.”

Suki convinced him to try on a fake eyebrow, which she trimmed out of a fake mustache, but apparently it looked so awful she laughed for five full minutes, so he’s sporting his natural look tonight.It doesn’t bother me in the least.I’m just glad his eye wasn’t injured.

The limo drives us to a downtown warehouse that’s been converted into an event venue.My stomach churns nervously as I try not to think about all the things I could do to embarrass myself.

Trip and fall—because heels.And I’d be one of those who stepped on my own dress and ripped it at the waist, exposing my ass to the world.

Spill something on my dress.Drop food into my cleavage.Break my water glass.

I want to be beautiful and polished for Bash.One false move, and he could remember I’m just Brainy Lainey in a fancy dress.

Bash takes my hand and leads me into the venue, my heart racing so fast I’m a little lightheaded.

As soon as we walk through the doors, I lose it.He rented out a massive space, big enough for a large wedding reception.There’s a large table for dinner set on one end, and the rest is a huge dance floor.

It’s decorated with purple floral arrangements and balloons, which is my favorite color.Twinkle lights sparkle on every post and are draped from the ceiling.

I didn’t know he was going to do this much—just for me.I wipe tears from the corners of my eyes and look at him.

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