When we join the two men leaning against the wall, Oliver’s face lights up. Rhett gives me a small nod, his eyes traveling over my body and making me squirm.
“You look like a princess,” Oliver says, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. He smells of vanilla and a woodsy musk scent that has my head spinning.
When his lips brush against my cheek, I lose all words. These three men have completely invaded my senses, and my body is drawn to them in a way my mind can’t quite comprehend.
I’m sure it’ll catch up eventually.
“Finish your punch, Wren,” Oliver says, looking at me like I’m a toddler who just did something cute.
For some reason, I find myself doing exactly what Oliver told me to. When my cup is empty, Elliot takes it from my hand.
With a gentle push in Oliver’s direction, he says, “Have fun.”
Then I’m in Oliver’s arms as he whisks me to the dance floor. I let out a giggle. Both his arms wrap around my waist, pressing me into his hard chest.
Finally, I remember how to speak. “You look nice, too.”
“You’re adorable,” he murmurs, and I feel my world spin as he dips me backward. I grab onto his shoulders before realizing I don’t really need to. This man is strong.
When he pulls me back up, I gasp in a breath. His eyes crinkle as he smiles. And right now, with the music filling my ears and his very presence dizzying my senses, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep that grin on his face.
“So—uh, how do you know Elliot and Rhett? Are you friends? Business partners?”
“We met in high school, and we’ve stuck together ever since.” One of his hands leaves my back, coming up to brush a few stray hairs out of my face.
“That’s nice,” is all I can manage.
His fingertips linger on my skin, skirting across my jawbone. When they fall to the sleeve on my arm, I let out a breath. No man’s touch has ever affected me this way.
Geez. What is it about these guys?
Thankfully, I’m able to pull myself together more quickly this time. I smile up at him, and he returns it with an easy grin.
“Tell me, princess, what do you like to do other than read?”
“Hmm.” I tilt my head toward the ceiling, frowning like I need to think about it. Finally, I say, “I like puzzles. And word games. Oh! And I love being outside. Well, when the weather is warmer. Snow and I don’t really get along. It makes me anxious.”
His smile fades for a moment at that last part, like he’d do anything to make sure I’m never anxious again. But the crack in his happy composure only lasts for a split second. “Puzzles, you say? And word games? My god, you really are just as much of a nerd as Elliot.”
I clasp my hands behind his neck. “You’re not?”
He shrugs. “School was never my thing. Although after watching Elliot and Rhett over the years, I must say, knowledge really is power. But there are plenty of types of knowledge—book smarts are only one of them.”
What an interesting thing to say.
I’m about to ask what type of knowledge he possesses, but the song comes to a soft end.
“Thank you for the dance, princess.” Oliver squeezes my waist before one of his hands slides into mine. It feels so natural, so right, that it takes me by surprise.
“Do you want more punch?” he asks when we re-join Elliot and Rhett. “Gotta make sure you stay hydrated.”
For the umpteenth time today, I fucking blush. Because a man offered to get me punch. “Sure. Thanks, Oliver.”
He grabs my cup from Elliot before disappearing into the crowd. I miss the heat of his hand in mine instantly, but before I can think about it too much, Elliot’s hand has returned to the small of my back.
Warmth spreads through my whole body.
“Do you normally work weekends, Wren?” he asks.
I shake my head. Perks of being a long-time employee at the shop. It took years to get Saturdays and Sundays off.
As the next song starts, Elliot and Rhett exchange some kind of glance. The meaning is lost on me, but I swear I see a spark of nervousness in Rhett’s eyes. Elliot, however, looks determined. Almost . . . hopeful?
When Oliver returns with my punch, I sip it slowly. Their eyes all flit to a young girl who hasn’t left the dance floor all night. Her hair flows down her back, flying around as her date twirls her this way and that.
She must be Oliver’s little sister.
I scan the room for Ava, finding her laughing at the refreshments table. She catches my eye and winks, waggling her eyebrows just like she did this morning. I almost choke on my drink.
“You good?”
“Great,” I squeak out in between coughs. Someone takes the drink from my hand as I try to catch my breath.
Goddammit, Ava.
Finally, I clear my throat, and Rhett hands me back my drink silently. I chug it, trying to get rid of the discomfort still lodged in my throat.
When I glance back at Ava, she’s laughing, and she can’t stop watching me. I throw her a middle finger, taking a deep breath.
“That’s your coworker, isn’t it?” Oliver says.
Nodding, I turn so I’m facing away from her. I can’t have another repeat of that incident. “We came together. I’m glad she found someone to spend the night with. I didn’t want her to be lonely.”
“And what about you?” The words come from Rhett. Cool, calm, with his head cocked slightly in interest.
“Me?” My voice is significantly more high-pitched than I meant for it to be.
Oliver elbows him in the chest. “Ignore this one. Wanna dance again?”
I laugh. “Sure.”
He steps toward me, but Rhett grabs him by the back of the neck and hauls him away. Then he tugs me away from Elliot, my small hand clasped in his larger, calloused one, as he leads me to the dance floor.
When he finally turns to face me, that nervous look is back on his face. “Fuck. I don’t actually know how—” He frowns, looking at me like I’m a puzzle he can’t solve. For a second, I’m afraid he’s going to abandon me.
“Just put your hands on my waist.” I guide them, letting them settle above my hips. I rest mine on his chest. “To be honest, I’m not the best dancer, either. But most of the couples around us are kinda just swaying.”
His eyebrows are knit together in concentration, but when he glances around the room, he seems to relax. Everyone else is taking a laid-back approach to dancing, choosing instead to focus on their partners.
I take a tiny step closer to him. He’s so warm, and I can feel his heart pounding through his chest. There’s so much tension in his body, I’m afraid he might explode.
“Hey.” I keep my voice gentle, bringing one of my hands up so my fingers brush his cheek. What am I doing. What am I doing. WHAT AM I DOING?! “You’re doing fine. And I’m happy to be dancing with you.”
He lets out a stunned breath, but I feel him relax underneath my palms. He stares at me with such intensity I feel like I might burst into flames. When his eyes flit to my lips, I can’t help but smile.
But he doesn’t kiss me. All he says is, “Thank you. I’m happy, too.”