“It smells like cupcakes in here.” My head falls back and I laugh at the valet attendant with Joey as we follow the crowd into the venue.
To describe this place as beautiful is an extreme understatement. Entering through rustic doors, the floor plan opens up to a massive foyer with dim lighting given off by Tiffany-inspired glass chandeliers. Stained glass windows surround both doors and antique furnishings and artwork fill the room. Guests are making their way down the hallway which leads into another large room, most likely where the ceremony will be taking place. A grand staircase, wide enough for ten people to walk side by side leads up to a second level and as I inhale, the scent of old wood and calla lilies fill my lungs. Damn it. This wedding is going to be beyond chic.
“There you are. Holy shit, Dyl, you look incredible. Is that dress new and when can I borrow it?” My beautiful best friend is adorned in a navy dress with an empire waist, her dark chocolate brown hair pulled back into a chic bun. “Justin is going to shit a brick when he sees you,” she whispers against my ear as she ends our hug. I’d prefer it if he just dropped dead at the sight of me, but I’m not that lucky.
“Thanks. You look amazing as usual. How’s the bride?” Her fingers fluff my blond waves that fall past my shoulders and she leans in and gives Joey a kiss on each cheek.
“Annoying. Come on, you both need to find seats and quickly. We’re about to start.” She grasps my hand in hers and I pull Joey behind me as we walk straight back and into the room labeled The Great Hall.
“Okay, where are all the hot boys at?” Joey searches the room, practically bouncing on his feet. The boy is on the hunt and has a predictable one tracked mind.
I shake my head at him. “Could you please try and keep it in your pants during the ceremony? You are technically my plus one and can wait to get all freaky with some lucky man at the reception.”
“I make no promises, cupcake.” He smooths his suit and wiggles his brows at me as Juls extends her hand, pointing towards the left side of the room.
“See the man sitting five rows back on the end with the ponytail?”
I laugh and her eyes widen. “Ponytail? You didn’t say Ian had a ponytail?”
“Well he does. And he lets me tug it when I’m coming.”
“Hot Damn. Get it, Juls!” Joey begins fanning his face and I know I need to do the same. My cheeks suddenly feel like they’re on fire. Although, I shouldn’t be that surprised at my best friend’s comment. Between the three of us, we are all entirely too obsessed with the male appendage.
“Anyways---,” she continues with a tone, “---the three equally delicious looking men next to him are all his colleagues. And Billy---” she meets Joey’s anxious eyes, “---is the one next to the two empty seats. You guys better hurry up and grab them before someone else does. Oh shit.” She glances down at her watch and pushes us forward into the room. “Sit. Hurry.” She clicks away on her heels as I stare down the center aisle where the bride will be walking down any minute. Shit. I can’t walk down that aisle to my seat. That has to be some kind of weird karma to walk where the bride of your ex-boyfriend is about to walk. No thank you. I do not need that kind of bad luck.
“Come on.” I grab Joey’s sleeve and pull him with me towards the left side of the room, walking quickly up the rows of chairs until we stop at the fifth row. Ian, Mr. Ponytail, glances up and smiles at me. Ooohhh he is cute. “Excuse me,” I say softly. I step between his long legs and the chair in front of him, trying to quickly make my way to the two empty seats. There isn’t much space to wiggle through and I inwardly laugh at the thought of my six foot two muscly assistant doing the same shimmy right behind me. The lights start to dim, indicating that the ceremony is about to start so I move faster, Joey pushing up against my back.
“Oh shit.” My heel slips on the arm of a suit jacket that is hanging on the back of a chair and I fall backwards, crashing straight into the lap of the man sitting two seats down from Ian. His hands quickly grab my waist and I gasp at the contact. Oh great. Good job, Dylan. Glancing down slowly, I see the sexiest pair of hands I’ve ever laid eyes on. They’re big; his fingers long and tightly gripping my hips. Slightly tanned skin contrasting beautifully with my black dress and I hear a few muffled laughs coming from behind and either side of me. My eyes flick up to meet Joey’s who is grinning widely, glancing behind me amusingly at whoever’s lap I am sitting in. I stand up quickly and spin, getting the first real look at the man my ass is now acquainted with. “Oh shit.” I gasp, seeing a small smile form at the corner of his perfect mouth. Oh God I want that mouth on me. Full and pink with a predominant slit running down the middle of the bottom one. His tongue darts out and slowly licks it. Whoa.
“You already said that, love.” Holy f**king shit that voice. Are you kidding me with that voice? Low and sweet, I can almost taste it. My eyes quickly scan the rest of his face as Joey nudges me in the back, urging me to move forward. Fuck him. He can wait a second and allow me to marvel at this spectacle in front of me. His body is fit, built, and definitely makes good use of a gym membership. Perfectly disheveled dark brown hair that is slightly grown out, striking green eyes that are glued to mine and a strong jaw. Jesus, is this guy for real? He could be a f**king model with these looks.
“I… uh… I… sorry.” Swallowing loudly after my poor attempt at a sentence, I move quickly and fall back into the chair closest to the aisle, my chest heaving rapidly in my dress.