Page 36 of A Way Out
Because if he got sloppy, he’d proposition Maria. And he could not, under any circumstance, do that.
Jesus, she’d looked stunning in that shimmery, satiny dress that draped over her curves like it had been custom designed for her. Or, more accurately, for him.
He wanted to smooth his hands over that dress, and then he wanted to smooth his hands up under that dress, and then he wanted to unzip the dress while they were both standing in front of a mirror so he could watch as it slid from her body and pooled at her feet.
Damn it, he needed to get a grip.
Parker stepped up next to him and clapped him on the back. “You made it. Ready to rock the hell out of this reception Saturday night?”
He was, but he couldn’t seem to focus on that at the moment. His gaze kept straying to the stairs, waiting for Maria to appear.
Finally, Maria, Riley, and Holly came into view, Maria back in the clothes she’d been wearing all day. A pair of leggings and a form-fitting T-shirt. While that dress was straight up fire, she was still hot as hell in even the most basic outfit.
It didn’t help his self-control when she scanned the room, stopped on him, then quickly looked away while her cheeks went dusky.
Maria trailed her sister over to the groom for a hug, and Oz tried to come up with a way to stop thinking about the woman, for God’s sake.
Parker wandered over to say hello, as did Lacey, and then Travis and Cash. Sam and Lacey’s parents joined them, and soon, Oz was the only one who wasn’t part of the group chatting excitedly about the upcoming nuptials and the anticipated concert at the reception.
Reluctantly, he carried his beer over and joined the party.
An hour later, Oz had mostly wrestled his libido under control. At least enough to be able to function in mixed company.
Something slammed into his knees, and he looked down at Riley, who was dressed in a nightgown and clutching a stuffed dog. Maria had disappeared a short time ago, and he’d actually hoped that she’d snuck away to bed. Maybe he would be able to relax a little if she wasn’t in the room.
“Come tuck me in,” Riley insisted.
“Where’s your mom?”
“Upstairs. Come tuck me in,” she demanded again.
Oz scooped her into his arms and carried her up to the room she was sharing with her mother. He stepped inside, and Maria turned from where she’d been watching out the glass door.
“Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “I thought she was just going to wish you good night.”
“She asked me to tuck her in,” he said.
Maria’s gaze slid to the side.
“Up you go,” Oz said to the little girl, patting the section of sheet he revealed when he pulled back the covers.
She scrambled up onto the bed and snuggled against the pillows. “Mommy, kiss.”
Maria obligingly gave her daughter a hug and kiss.
“Oz, kiss.”
Oz did the same, brushing Maria’s leg before she could move out of the way.
“’Night. I love you,” Riley said.
“I love you, too, kid.”
He and Maria left the room together, pausing in the hall.
“Thanks,” she said. “She’s really become attached to you.”
He shrugged like it didn’t matter. Even though it did. “She’s easy to get attached to.”
