27. Chapter Twenty-seven

I figured I'd gotten asked to be Weston's best man over Elliot and Luca for optics. Knowing that, I'd thrown myself into the role, making sure my brother never once regretted his choice.

Plus, I figured one day he might return the favor and wanted him to have a lot to live up to.

So far, the day had gone smooth as silk. Weston had been chomping at the bit to get to Elise. Once he'd slid his ring on her finger, he'd mellowed in a way I'd never seen.

Now, we were at the reception, watching them dance their first dance as a married couple. My heart was pitter-pattering a mile a minute as they rocked and smiled at each other. This was true love. No denying it. And being in the face of it was a powerful thing.

I looked behind me for Daisy but couldn't spot her in the crowd. No surprise since she was a foot shorter than everyone else. Fuck, I wanted her next to me, swaying to the music with me. Why couldn't she read my mind and know that?

That was the last of the traditional activities. No father-daughter or mother-son dances. No awkward slow dancing with a random bridesmaid I just met. We got to sit down and dig into the food.

Since we didn't have assigned seats, I went in search of Daisy. So far, she was doing a lousy job as my plus one. She hadn't been in my presence for even a minute today. If I hadn't seen her tearing up when I'd walked down the aisle, I wouldn't have known she was even here.

After a minute or two of weaving through tables, I found my girl chatting up Lily Smythe-Kelly.

My breath got stuck in my throat. This girl…she was a vision. For once, she'd replaced her ubiquitous black with pale gray lace. The bodice was strapless, pushing her breasts up into creamy little mounds. Her dark hair was curled and swept away from her face by a crystal-covered headband. A delicate silver daisy rested in the hollow of her throat.

I pulled out the chair beside her and slung my arm around her shoulders.

"Hello, Cupcake. You're stunning."

She turned to me slowly. The instant her eyes hit mine, I knew something was wrong. They weren't puffy or red from crying, but there was something haunted in the brown depths.

"Hey." Her violet-painted mouth lifted, but I wouldn't have called it a smile since that was the only part of her into it. "You were the best, man."

"Thanks. I gave it my all." I trailed my fingers along her bare shoulder and arm. Leaning forward, I found my manners and greeted Saoirse's mom. "How are you, Lily?"

"Wonderful. Beautiful wedding." Her gaze caught on something over my shoulder. "Oh, I see someone I know. I must go speak to him. It's been ages."

As soon as she was up, waiters began coming around with the first course. My stomach growled, but I didn't dig in, too concerned over Daisy.

"What's up, Daze?"

She picked up the roll on her plate, ripping it with her bare hands. "Nothing. I'm just enjoying the wedding. Are you ready to give your speech?"

"Not really." I patted my jacket pocket. "I have it, though, so that's something."

She swiveled in her chair, her knees slotting between mine. "You look so handsome in your tux." Her flattened palms smoothed my lapels before she straightened my tie. "They're going to love your speech, Miles."

"Thanks." I pressed a kiss to her warm cheek, and the unmistakable stiffening of her jaw put me on alert. "What's going on? You're not your usual self."

She turned, our faces a breath apart. "It must be being at the wedding. The last time I went to one…you know."

"Ah, that's what these blues are? Ol' Andy showing up when he's not wanted?"

She nodded. "I think so. I'm going to shake it off. West and Elise don't deserve my bad vibes bringing down their day."

"Eat your soup so I can spin you on the dancefloor until you're too dizzy to remember why you were ever sad."

Her nose scrunched. "I don't know if that sounds fun."

"It will be. Trust."

A little food so my stomach didn't eat itself, a little dancing to cheer up my cupcake, then I was in the spotlight, given a microphone and told to make a speech in front of one hundred of Elise and Weston's closest friends.

The truth was, I really could have used a drink. It would have been a hell of a lot easier.

I also heard my therapist asking me why everything had to be easy in my head, and I was out of my chair, my note cards in hand, standing next to where Elise and Weston were wrapped in each other, waiting with bated breath and probably a whole lot of worry over what I had to say.

"Good evening, everyone. If you don't know me, I'm Miles, Weston's favorite little brother."

Chuckles were good. I kept going.

"To tell the truth, Weston and I weren't close growing up. Four years older and a million times smarter, he got out of our house as quickly as he could. I was the little brother always nipping at his heels. I didn't want much from him, just all his attention, love, and devotion."

I glanced at Weston. He was watching me intently, his face void of expression.

"When I couldn't get it from Weston, I tried my hand with Elise. I was the proverbial kid on the playground, yanking her ponytail for attention. All wrong. She couldn"t wait to get away from me either."

I shook my head to emphasize how stupid I'd been, in case it wasn't already obvious.

"Then, one day, we grew up, and magic happened for all three of us. Elise came to work for Andes, and I tried a different tactic of annoying her into compliance, parking myself on her desk every day until her face didn't fill with dread when she saw me. And while I was winning her over as one of my very best and dearest friends, Weston was getting her to fall in love with him."

The rest, I knew by heart. I tucked my cards away and lifted my glass of water.

"My favorite part about Elise is her capacity to love and forgive. For Weston and me, it's a really good thing. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here. The thing about us Aldrich brothers? We learn from our mistakes, and you can count on us never repeating them."

Laughing, Elise mouthed, "Thank goodness."

"Elise, Lisie, Lise—you are the glue in our family. You have softened my brother and opened him up to an entire world outside his office. You've brought West and me closer than we ever would have been without you. I couldn't have designed a better wife for my brother or sister for me. Weston, Westie, West—I know you count your blessings every damn day. You found a woman who likes you in all your serious, grumpy, ambitious glory, who inspired you to let your heart grow, who allows you to be her protector even though we all know you need her far more than she needs you. If you screw up, I'll be on Elise's side."

Weston mouthed, "As you should be," and Elise swiped at the underside of her eyes.

"To Elise and Weston, the walking definition of true love. May all your days be as sweet as this one. Cheers."

I tipped my water back, swallowing the knot in my throat, then turned to give the next person the spotlight. Weston caught me before I got far, pulling me into a tight hug.

"You're drinking water," he said beside my ear.

I nodded.

"How long?"

"Eleven months."

Exhaling, he pulled back, gripping my shoulders. His jaw rippled. His nostrils flared. His eyes shone.

"Love you, kid," he gritted out. "We'll be having a conversation."

He passed me to Elise, who gave the warmest, softest hugs. Weston was possessive over them—he was possessive over everything about her—and I understood.

"I'm glad you forced yourself back into my life, Miles," she said.

I raised my brows. "Am I your favorite brother now?"

That made her laugh. A grunt followed by a chair scraping the floor behind me told me Elliot didn't find me as amusing.

"One of my favorites," Elise replied before rising on her toes and murmuring in my ear, "Proud of you, Miles."

Sniffing, I gave the top of her head a kiss. "Thanks, Lisie. Means a lot."

I found Daisy waiting for me on the other side of the dancefloor. As soon as she was within reach, I swept her up, letting her toes dangle off the ground.

She patted my back. "Good job, Miles. You made everyone cry."

"Including you?"

"A little."

"Good."

She snickered next to my ear. "Sadist."

"Let's dance."

Her sigh was hot but not too pained. "Oh, all right."

After the speeches, Daisy and I danced all night. A few times, I passed her off to the girls and let them do their thing, but we only left the dancefloor to eat cake or gulp down water.

I may have been biased, but I was pretty sure Weston and Lisie's wedding was the best I'd ever been to. Never had more fun, that was for sure.

A second after that thought, the realization struck. This was the first time I'd been to a wedding stone-cold sober. Maybe that contributed to how much fun I'd had—not wasting time in line at the bar or pissing every ten minutes.

I dipped my head down beside Daisy's ear. "I'm sober."

"Yeah, you are."

That was all I had to say. She understood how monumental this was for me. To have experiences with a clear head. To know I'd remember the tiny details of the day and be able to look back without any shame over shit I might have said and done while I was too loose and uncaring of the consequences to hold back.

She rubbed her cheek against mine. "You're incredible, Miles."

I pulled her closer, tucking our joined hands between us. I felt pretty fucking incredible.

After it was all over, I twirled Daisy down the hall into the elevator. We were staying in the mansion tonight. I'd convinced her she couldn't drive home at midnight and had to stay with me.

"Good night, Daisy-daze?"

"Mmmhmm." She looked down at her feet. "I'm ready to get out of these heels, though. They've never seen so much action."

"You were a dancing queen tonight."

The melancholy I'd seen in her earlier was still there, underneath her smiles and living in the moment. I wanted to question it, to ask if it really was just being at a wedding or if something else had happened.

I didn't.

We were having such a good time, I selfishly didn't want it to end. Big conversations could wait until tomorrow. I had stolen cake and pink lemonade filled the mini fridge—the party was just getting started.

As soon as we were in the room, Daisy kicked off her heels and marched to the two side-by-side queen beds.

"Two beds this time?" she asked, hands on her hips.

I came to stand beside her, brushing my knuckles along her shoulder blade. "I figured no one would report if we didn't sleep in the same bed. Our secret is safe."

She nodded and swiveled on her toes, presenting her back to me. "Can you unzip me?"

"Sure."

My fingers were almost too big for her delicate zipper, but I managed to drag it down her back without ripping the fabric.

"Want to borrow a T-shirt, Daze?"

Her dress parted, revealing the line of her back, only interrupted by a black satin bra. Her skin was so pretty, smooth and unblemished. I remembered what it felt like after she'd been in the hot tub, but I didn't know how it would feel now. If things were different, I'd follow the bare line of her spine with my lips. I'd get down on my knees and ease her dress off her until it pooled on the ground. I'd take her by the waist and—

She pulled away from me, holding her dress to her chest. "I'd love a shirt, thanks. I'm going to wash all this makeup off. Be right back."

The bathroom door clicked, and I sat down on the corner of the bed, sucking in a deep, steadying breath. Jesus. My head fell forward into my hands. If Daisy could read my mind, she'd never share a room with me.

I pressed on my half-hard dick, willing it to calm. That wasn't what tonight was about. We were going to eat cake and maybe watch a movie until we fell asleep. In separate beds.

The bathroom door swung open a minute or two later, and I realized I'd forgotten to get her a shirt.

"Shit. Sorry, Daze." I looked around for my bag. "I'll grab you something to wear—"

"Not necessary."

She walked out of the bathroom in nothing but her bra and a matching pair of silky black panties. As she approached me, she reached behind her, unclasped her bra, and let it drop. She didn't stop when she got to me. Climbing onto my lap, she straddled me. I caught her on instinct, holding her ass in my hands.

"What—?"

"I didn't have a chance to tell you how good you look in this tux. You made me wet the second I saw you." She tugged on my bowtie until it unraveled, me right along with it. "Can I take it off you, Miles?"

"You sure?"

She nodded hard. "I need this."

"You need it from me?"

"Yes, you."

I trailed my fingers up the line of her spine to grip her nape. "You're so gorgeous, Daisy. I'm going to eat you up."

She unbuttoned my collar. "Do it. Show me."

I jerked my hold on her, grabbing her attention. "If this is only happening one time, I won't be rushed."

Her breath rushed out, thready and bare. "As long as it starts happening now, you can set the pace."

In the back of my mind, there was a reason this shouldn't have been happening.

Would one time really hurt anything, though?

It was hard to see how this could possibly be wrong.

Taking another breath, Daisy leaned forward, stopping just before she kissed me. Her eyes darted to mine, pleading, and I gave her what she wanted:

Permission.