Page 14 of Hat Trick
I follow the two of them as they walk hand in hand through the weaving halls, watching as they effortlessly connect with one another. Filling any moment of silence with jokes and laughter. As people pass us they smile at the two of them, unknowingly pulled into their orbit just as I always am.
And for a moment, I find myself entirely too envious of their relationship. Of the way they seemingly fit together so perfectly. Of how, just like they did during their two-man Nickelback performance, people flock to them. How, whenever they’re around, I’m just the grumpy guy in the background that they feel like they have to overcompensate for. Even though neither of them would ever intentionally make me feel that way. Iknow that it’s just my own insecurities playing tricks on me.
But as I watch them, they just feel so natural. So… effortless.
And yet, when Dom looks over and smiles at me, and Lil follows suit, shooting me her usual devious wink, the tension I’m suddenly feeling in my chest eases a little.
Because even though I was behind them, in the background, they didn’t forget about me.
And not being forgotten… well, it feels like a gift.
“Here we are!” Lil says excitedly.
Dom stops in his tracks, and he and I look at each other in confusion. Because we’re no longerinsidethe resort, and instead we’re standing outside in front of what appears to be a sliding patio door.
Lil pulls a keycard out of her clutch and waves it over the sensor next to the door. It makes a beeping sound followed by an audible click. She wraps her hand around the handle and pulls it open.
In unison, Dom and I lean to the right to look inside what appears to be a giant oceanfront suite.
“Whatthe fuck?”I ask.
Lil pinches her brows. “What? Like it was hard? All I had to do was bat my eyelashes at my new brother-in-law, and he folded faster than a lawn chair. Don’t tell Rocky, though.”
The two of us stand there gawking at the immaculate suite as if she’s opened a portal to another planet.
Here I thought our room was nice.
Lil rolls her eyes and starts walking backward intoher “room.” Despite the darkness, the full moon reflects the perfect amount of light off the water just a few yards away, casting the perfect glow. So I’m faintly able to see as she reaches under her arm and pulls down the zipper of her dress. Slipping her arms out of the delicate straps, she lets it pool at her feet. Leaving her standing before us in nothing but a pair of heels, white lace panties, and a matching bra. “If the two of you don’t get in here in the next five seconds I’m going to take care of myself. I brought my vibrating besties after all.”
Dom and I exchange a brief glance before racing inside and sliding the door closed behind us.
1 Lovesucker - Haiden Henderson
CHAPTER 12
GO AHEAD… KISS
DOMINIC
The moment the door latches behind Emerson and I, I’m reaching for her. “Uh uh,” she says before pointing her finger between the two of us. “Shirts. Off.”
I eagerly follow her directions, but Emerson tilts his head in her direction, narrowing his eyes. A shit-eating grin spreads across Lil’s face, and she raises her brows. Emerson exhales a heavy breath, takes off his jacket, and slowly undoes the buttons of his shirt. A hell of a lot slower than necessary, and I know it’s just to get Lil more and more riled up.
My fingers twitch at my sides, eager to touch her, but I wait as she drinks us in.
“Jesus fucking christ,” she huffs in what almost sounds like disbelief. “I’ll never get over how beautiful the two of you are.”
Emerson goes to move toward her, but she stopshim again. “Liliana,” he warns, and her eyes light with mischief.
“Before anyone moves another inch, I need something from you first.”
“Name it,” I answer eagerly.
“Kiss.”
“What?” Emerson asks.
“I want the two of you to kiss. Right now. In front of me.”
