Everybody's After Love (15 page)

My brother smiles and puts his arm around my shoulders as we take a step closer to the front of the beer line. “Good, I can tell this relationship is different than your other ones. You seem more… comfortable, with yourself and him.”

I let out a contented sigh and nod. “It is totally different, it’s easy.” I laugh at my next thought before saying it aloud. “I don’t get sick of him either. It’s actually the opposite, I want to spend all my time with him.”

Paulie laughs at my last comment and nods. “Jules, I think you might have been hit by cupid’s arrow.”

My heart flutters while my stomach drops, but I roll my eyes again to hide the truth. “Whatever.” I push him off me and we take another step forward.

“Julianna, don’t play this off as nothing. I know he cares a lot about you, Bri’s told me, and I don’t have to worry about you if I know he’s around.”

My pulse races as I wonder what Bentley’s told Bri about us, but I don’t question it. Paulie orders our beers and as we wait for them to be poured, he turns to me. “And have I heard him call you Julianna a time or two?” He grins and I know I’m caught.

I shake my head laughing, giving him a hard brotherly shove as I pick up two beers and he picks up two of his own. We make our way back to our lawn seats and find Bri and Bentley in the sea of people. Beer, cigarettes, and the occasional smell of pot surround us as the stage dims and Florida Georgia Line prepare to start their set. Before we begin the obstacle course across the lawn to our blanket, Paulie stops me.

“Jules, all I’m saying is be open to the idea of love. You never know where you might find it,” he says and kisses my cheek before leading us across the throngs of people.

Love?
Could I really be in love with Bentley? More importantly, could Bentley be in love with me? My heart races at the thought of this, this kind of relationship, this kind of man… it’s all foreign to me. I’m used to jerks that only want to hang out for one reason and that one reason is something Bentley and I haven’t even discussed or attempted. He’s stayed the night at my place a few times, but only because we’ve both fallen asleep on the couch. Our physical relationship is limited to kissing, hand holding, and the occasional pinch on the rear end. No, it’s not love, this is just a fun, summer fling. My brother is crazy calling Bentley and my relationship anything more than what it actually is—friends, very
close
friends.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts as my “friend” takes one of the beers from my hand and pulls me to him, leaning down and letting his lips find mine. His tongue slides across my mouth making me smile and I let my mind wander to places it shouldn’t. I get goosebumps and as though he’s reading my mind, he pulls me closer to him. Bentley leans his forehead against mine.

“What are you thinking, Jules?” he asks.

My cheeks blush red, thank goodness it’s dark so he doesn’t notice. I kiss his cheek as the band starts to play. “Just excited to be here… with you,” I say, biting my lip playfully.

Bentley lets out a growl, something I’ve never heard him do before, and it sends my hormones into overdrive. He opens his mouth and his teeth pull my lip away from my bite.

“Julianna Rossi, don’t tease me,” he says in a low voice.

My whole body is vibrating at his words and the intensity of his actions. His hand runs over my backside and he pulls me so that I can feel his hardness pressed against my stomach, his lips crush mine as we begin to kiss. Friends definitely don’t have this kind of affect on each other. The crowd screams as Florida Georgia Line takes the stage, but neither of us make a move to turn toward the singers. One of their upbeat songs starts to play and Bentley’s hand grips my waist, digging his manhood against me.

Breaking the kiss, I lean back breathing hard, trying to catch my breath. My free hand goes to his chest as I try to put some space between us, my brother’s words echoing in my mind.

“Everything okay?” Bentley asks, concern in his eyes.

I nod and let my lips turn into a grin. “Perfect, I just don’t want to miss my favorite band.”

He laughs and gives me another small kiss. I turn around to face the stage and take a long drink of beer, trying to calm my nerves. Bentley’s hand slips around my waist and he pulls me back against him, the lump in his pants still obvious. His thumb rolls up and down my hip, making me tingle between my legs and I’m glad my excitement isn’t as noticeable as his. He dips his head and his lips brush over the heart tattoo on my collarbone, sending me over the edge into a frenzy. My breathing quickens as his lips move to my ear where he playfully nips at it. I wiggle my hips against him, partly to keep him excited, but more just to get even closer to him.

“I love you in my arms, Julianna. This is where I want you for a long time,” he whispers and suddenly I realize I’m wrong. This isn’t a summer fling. No, my brother’s right. Cupid has hit both Bentley and me. I pull his arm tighter around me. Surprisingly, I’m not scared because with Bentley by my side, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

***

The band plays a solid hour but I don’t notice anything they do or say. My arms are wrapped around Jules where she fits perfectly against my body. My body. Yeah, my body is responding to her in ways that it shouldn’t in public. Her soft hair teases my chin, I’ve been nibbling on her neck and ear all evening and I want more. Honestly, I want to pick her up and take her back to my bed, but that won’t be happening, not tonight at least.

Beside us, Bri and J.P. stand in a similar stance. I steal a few glances their way, but it feels weird to see my sister and him kissing. Noting the feeling, I try to keep my mouth off Jules, but I can’t stop my hands from wandering all over her body.

When the concert ends, the four of us walk back to the parking lot. I keep Jules close, both out of desire and protection as there’s a lot of drunk guys stumbling around us. At my truck, I open the door and take Jules’s hand to help her in, but she stops me.

“I’m going to head home with them.”

“What?” I ask, not even attempting to hide my disappointment. As much as I want to, I don’t plan on doing anything sexually with her. I just want to keep her as close to me as possible.

She grins and touches my cheek. I put my hand over hers, hoping to coax her to stay. “The bridal shower is tomorrow and I somehow have a feeling if I stay with you, I won’t get my beauty sleep.”

Well, at least she’s not totally blowing me off, but still… “Baby, you don’t need beauty sleep. You’re gorgeous,” I tell her, trying not to sound too desperate.

Pushing up on her tip toes, her fingers graze across my chest, leaving behind a tingling sensation on my skin. She pulls my head to hers and gives me one helluva passionate kiss.

“Night, Bentley. Thanks for the awesome concert,” she says as my sister takes her hand and walks her to their car.

Shaking my head, I laugh and call after her, “Sweet dreams, Julianna!” I know exactly what my dreams will be filled with tonight.

CHAPTER 17

My knee bounces up and down beneath my turquoise, knee length bubble dress. The top is lace knit and covers my tattoo because I have a feeling that the extended Ladner family would not approve. Bentley, of course, loves it and I love when his lips find it, but his uppity aunts, grandmas, and cousins probably won’t be as fond of it as he is. From the driver’s side of his truck, Bentley reaches over and steadies my leg.

“Relax, Jules,” he says calmly.

Relax?
How can I relax? I’m about to spend the afternoon with Bri and her closest family and friends at the most upscale country club in the county for her bridal shower. It’s being catered by a fancy chef who is serving food I can’t even pronounce. Currently, I’m hiding out in Bentley’s truck watching guests arrive, carrying Crate & Barrel gift bags, and wearing designer clothes that I’ve only dreamed of. Bentley’s thumb rubs my thigh trying to alleviate my stress.

“You have nothing to worry about, babe. Be yourself and they’ll all love you,” Bentley says and I know he understands why I’m so nervous. It would be one thing if I was just attending my brother’s fiancée’s bridal shower but I’m not. I’m about to be introduced to Bentley’s family. His family that in my mind, I will never meet their standards.

“Do they know about us?” I ask, my mouth dry as cotton.

Despite my best efforts to convince myself that we were just friends, after the concert I finally gave in to the fact that Bentley and I are definitely more than that. Even more, I decided I
want
to be more than that and so does he, but I’m new to all this and I want to take baby steps which does not include meeting his family this soon. His deep chuckle fills the cab of the truck.

“My mother knows so I would assume the rest of the family does as well. She can’t keep a secret to save herself,” Bentley answers as he takes my hand and rubs my palm with his thumb. “Want me to go inside with you?”

I glance over at him in his tattered work jeans and dirty white t-shirt. Lucky him gets to go fishing. Never did I think the day would come that I would prefer fishing over cake and punch.
Cake! There’d better be cake!

Leaning across the seat, I kiss his cheek and shake my head no. As I start to pull away, his hand slides around my neck and he pulls me in for a deep kiss. Tilting my head to give him better access, I moan into his mouth as he sucks on my lower lip. Slowly ending the kiss, he looks at me and grins. “Hope that’ll tide you over. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

I laugh and slide out of his truck, carrying my gift that’s wrapped in Dollar Store wrapping paper. I take a deep breath and walk toward the brick building that is perfectly landscaped with bright Cherry Razzle Dazzle Crepe Myrtles. I only know the name of the shrub because Bentley told me his crew did the work.

I smile as I picture him shirtless, completely focused on completing the task at hand. Bentley always gives his best, no matter what the task is—planting trees, fishing, making a fall wreath. The man will do anything with me and I love it. This is the first relationship I’ve been in that isn’t one-sided and I’m slowly getting used to the concept.

When I walk into the banquet room, it looks like Pepto Bismol has been squirted everywhere. I feel like I’m in the middle of the wedding scene in
Steel Magnolias
. Quickly, I glance around the room to see if there’s an armadillo cake. I see the tower of cupcakes and let out a sigh of relief.

Startled, I jump as someone pinches my backside and turn to see the bride-to-be grinning at me. Linking our arms, Bri walks us toward the front of the room where the gift table is overflowing and women are mingling with mimosas in hand, pinkies out. The tables are decorated with different shades of pink tablecloths, white roses, varying shades of pink lilies, and baby’s breath in real crystal vases as the centerpieces.
And this is just the shower…

I glance down at my turquoise dress, hoping it doesn’t stand out, but then I catch sight of one of Bri’s guests and realize I have no worries. Her black and hot pink zebra print leggings and matching top definitely draw the attention away from me. Bri nods in the zebra’s direction.

“That’s Aunt Clea, we’ll stay as far away from her as possible. She’ll inquire about stock portfolios and bore us to death,” she explains. After Aunt Clea, Bri begins describing each woman in the room. I try to make mental notes of everything she’s saying but I can’t take my take my eyes off all the diamonds. Every woman has at least one diamond ring and necklace, some even have on more than that. I think it’s safe to say that the total cost of the jewels in this room is more than the entire cost of my house.

As Bri introduces me to her family, I watch her interact with them. She is truly stunning today in a white halter top dress, her hair swept up into a messy ‘do that I’m sure she spent hours perfecting, and her make-up is flawless. She never discusses herself, only brags on my brother which makes me smile. If one of her aunts or cousins start to even attempt to speak to me about Bentley, Bri jumps in and distracts them with wedding talk. I know she’s protecting me and I show my appreciation each time with a squeeze of her arm to which she pats my hand in acknowledgement. I really misjudged her a few months ago when Paulie sprung the wedding news on me.

I’m listening to Bri explain exactly what Paulie does to her grandmother when Nikki tears her away from me and I’m left to stand awkwardly with no one to talk to. Twirling a champagne flute in my hand, I look for a clock on the wall to see how much longer until I can escape. A dainty pair of hands with a rock the size of Delaware lightly touches my shoulders. I look up into the face of Mrs. Ladner and my stomach drops.

“Hello there, Julian—I mean Jules. Are you enjoying yourself?”

I attempt to swallow the lump in my throat as I nod. “Yes, ma’am. You’ve done an excellent job with everything.”