It's a Wonderful Lie

Chapter Nine

Caspian

What the f**k?

She said she’s a guest of the bride’s. Why is she talking to Bennett? And why is he standing so close to her?

Fuck, f**k, f**k.

“Good to see you.” Bennett reaches out and shakes my hand, the formal introduction weighing heavy on my heart though I know it’s my own damn fault for not being a bigger presence in my kid’s lives. “Did you get in this morning?”

“Last night, actually,” I slip my hands into my pockets, trying to be as casual as possible, but the gorgeous creature to my left elicits a sound that’s some combination of a cough and a choke and my eyes are immediately on her.

“Oh, of course,” Bennett sets his lowball glass on the bar behind him, “you two probably haven’t met. Emery, this is my dad, Caspian Calloway.”

He slides his hand to her back as he presents her to me and I hate the part of me that wants to rip my own son’s hand off his body. Her eyes are wide, but this time they’re directed at Bennett and not at me, so I wonder if his touch is even welcome.

She seems to let it slide and looks back to me where we let the introduction settle between us for a moment before she plasters on a soft smile—not unlike the one she wore while trying to sneak out this morning—extends her hand to me and says, “it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Calloway.”

“Please, call me Caspian,” I take her hand and that one simple connection already has me eager to get back on my knees for her. As our eyes are locked on each other, I can’t help but stroke my thumb against the back of her hand with the tiniest of movements. Not enough for Bennett to notice, but definitely enough for her to feel it.

And if the way she sucks in a breath and releases my hand is any sign, she for sure felt it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Emery, was it?” I smirk down at her, enjoying the little secret between the two of us. The clear fire behind her eyes tells me she’s liking it, as well. But I can’t help but take in her fairly panicked and jumpy reactions every time Bennett speaks and touches her.

“Emery is Ava’s sister and the maid of honor.” The hand on her back has now moved to wrap around her waist for a quick squeeze before he drops it and reaches back for his drink, “We grew up together and now she’s stuck with me for all these wedding party events this week.”

He releases a hearty chuckle, but she just tips up the corners of her lips and takes a gulp from her glass.

“Bennett!” I hear Micah call from behind me, “Come here for a sec!”

“Duty calls,” he smiles again and angles into Emery, lowering his voice, “are you good?”

“Mhmm,” she trills, eyes wide as she leans back slightly.

I can’t tell if she doesn’t want him in her space or if she is just freaked out by his advances because of my presence.

He’s off and I slide into his spot at the bar, requesting a bourbon on the rocks, from the lingering bartender before casually noting, “You didn’t mention you’re the maid of honor.”

“You didn’t mention you’re the father of the groom,” she rotates to face me and her body language already screams that she’s much more comfortable now that Bennett is gone. Interesting…

The bartender drops off my drink and disappears to attend to someone else. I take a sip before turning to face her, stepping in and lowering my voice, “If I remember correctly, you’re the one who told me to shut up and f**k you with my tongue.”

Her eyes widen in shock at my crude—though I’m only repeating her—words, but she licks her lips and brings her wine glass back up to them for another sip.

I use the time to take her in, carefully scanning every inch of her body like I don’t want to miss a single detail. The emerald color of her dress is just as eye-catching as the ruby red she wore last night, but this one is sexy in a much more understated way. The nude pumps on her feet cover her toes and aren’t as high as the strappy gold heels from last night, but I wouldn’t mind watching her kick them off before letting the satin fabric of her dress fall to her ankles.

Fuck. I can’t think like this.

But as my perusal rises back up, I notice her subtly squeezing her knees together and that one little action has me believing her panties might be very wet between her legs. If she’s even wearing any…

I’m about to say something extraordinarily stupid when a sharp hand comes down on my shoulder. I turn my head and am face-to-face with Micah and Bennett’s mom, Anna.

“Emery, don’t let my ex-husband take up your time with boring old person drivel,” she scolds, “Why don’t you go find Bennett, I’m sure you two have lots to talk about.”

Her—probably correct—implication that Emery has more in common with my eldest son than with me, sends another flash of jealousy through me. I don’t want her to go find Bennett, I want her to stay here with me.

“I think Emery was quite enjoying our conversation,” I start, taking a sip of my drink, but Anna’s not having any of it.

“Oh hush you,” she squeezes my arm and I regret having a cordial relationship with my ex. Why can’t she hate me and want to keep to the other side of the room? “Emery is too nice a girl to ask you to stop.”

“Ah, is that why you begged me to keep going?” I smirk at her and her choked laugh tells me she’s glad Anna is none the wiser because I’m really pushing my luck now. I decide to put her out of her misery by wrapping things up, “Emery, it was wonderful meeting you.”

“Yes,” she smiles and nods to me as Anna starts to drag me off, “maybe we’ll um—converse again later.”

If I had it my way, I’d throw her over my shoulder and take her up to my room to “converse” with her all night long.

But instead I’m ushered off to welcome more family who have flown in for the wedding. Though I’m in no way in charge of any aspect of the event, I do own the hotel, so I have the slightest bit of host responsibilities.

Thankfully I get through cocktail hour fairly unscathed and am seated between a few of my chattier Aunts during dinner. Their ability to hold a conversation without any input from me means that I can keep an eye on Emery near the head of the table. Bennett is still close at her side, and while she chats with him between bites, I feel a deep stir every time she steals a glance in my direction. And she does it much more often than I expect her to.

By the time dinner is cleared, I swear we’ve eye f****d each other more than we’ve actually f****d. And we f****d quite extensively last night.

Ava and Micah make a speech to welcome everyone and I’m a terrible father for only tuning in when my name is mentioned.

“And a huge thank you to Micah’s father, Caspian, for inviting us all to stay at this beautiful property where we’ll begin the next chapter of our lives,” Ava raises her glass and everyone at the table follows suit. I nod, nonchalantly, as it’s truly the least I could do. Having my son’s wedding at the lodge, comping a few rooms, it costs me nothing at the end of the day. And I owe him so much more.

A few more thanks are distributed before everyone stands from the table and starts making their way out of the private dining room. I’m moving slowly, trying to decide how I can talk to Emery again without appearing like I’m stalking her.

But then I see Bennett wrap his arm around her before the two of them leave together.

My stomach drops to the floor and I decide I need a drink. Or three.