Sweet and Salty (Marshall My Heart #1)

29. Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

L aura

The rest of the wedding passes in a blur, a haze of Jesse’s boundless, old school gentlemanly generosity. He slings his arm casually over the back of my chair, not touching me, but so close the air between us is electrified.

He charms everyone who stops by our table. He manages all the innuendo with honesty and humor. He refills my glass when it’s empty. When he goes up to the buffet, he brings back all the snacks I like. Mini soft pretzel sticks with beer cheese dip, lamb meatballs with a pomegranate-and-mint-yogurt dip, slices of roasted red peppers rolled around balls of oozy mozzarella. All these little gestures, but they feel momentous. This has always been my duty, keeping people fed and entertained, and now he lightens my load.

Besides, the food is amazing.

I stuff my mouth as full as I can to avoid simply kissing him every time he looks in my direction. Because that’s all I can think about. Jesse on top of me, Jesse’s hands all over my body, Jesse’s tongue in my mouth. My mind is a pornographic tornado of this man who does nothing more than keep my champagne flute filled. This horny toad has her mind deep in the gutter, and there is no coming up for air.

Daisy looks wonderful. She wears an ivory gown with a full skirt and lace overlay, and the one strap down her back is embroidered with butterflies and flower appliqués. Her new husband, Tanner Michaelson, is beyond smitten. He can’t stop holding her hand as they make their way around the reception area to greet everyone.

After Daisy and her new husband have their first dance, Daisy ending up curled in Tanner’s arms as he twirls them both in his wheelchair, Jesse joins me at the side of the floor, where I’m picking at my cuticles. I nearly leap out of my skin when he touches me.

“Are you okay?” he asks. He watches the other dancers intently.

“Sure! Yes! I’m fine!” I squeak. I have to get control of myself. Just because I’m horny doesn’t mean I have to act like a yapping Yorkshire terrier.

“Do you want to dance?”

I shiver at the thought of being in his arms as he twirls me around the floor. “Sure. Yeah.”

He squints at the dancers. “I don’t know this one. Normally I stand, bob, and weave. Sometimes I move my arms like this.” He does a quick sprinkler move, and surprises a laugh from me.

I am so far gone.

“It’s just polka. It’s really easy. One-two, one-two.”

“If you say so, I’ll give it a try.” He picks up my right hand in his left and slides his other arm around my waist. The heat of his body is a furnace and does nothing to quell all the desire inside of me. “Just step on my feet if I mess up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll step on your feet anyway.”

He laughs, and his shoulders relax slightly. It doesn’t take him too long to pick up the rhythm. “Are you having fun?”

“Yes.”

“You sound surprised.”

“You’ve clearly never been a single woman in her mid-thirties at a wedding where you’ve known everyone since they were in diapers.”

“Can’t say I have. But I’m glad you’re having fun tonight.”

“Me too.”

On the edge of the dance floor, I see Frannie making her way back into the reception area. She disappeared during the speeches and now slinks back in thirty minutes later, curls of hair falling out of her updo. She must be sleeping with someone, but I can’t imagine who. Frannie usually likes to keep her home life and bedroom life separate. She never dips her toe in the St. Olaf well.

Sort of like my brother Bobby.

“What are you thinking about?” Jesse asks, twirling me around the floor one last time as the song ends.

I’m not telling him the sex fantasies I’ve been entertaining throughout the entire wedding. “My brother Bobby. I’m just wondering what he’s up to.”

“Is he the hockey player?”

“Yup. He’s the wild Marshall success story.” His wins should be victories for all of us. Though, sometimes when the town yet again regales me with one of his successes, it feels like a stab in the heart. A reminder that I’m never good enough. “He’s out in Los Angeles now, playing for the Slingshots.”

“Oh.” Jesse nods sagely. “I’m nodding because I have absolutely no idea about anything that has to do with hockey. Except it’s played on ice.”

“There you go. You have the basic concept down.”

Clara Dryden approaches, looking like a frozen goddess as she always does, when she actually deigns to interact with us commoners. She glances once at Jesse before her laser gaze narrows on me. “Laura. Daisy and Tanner are ready for the cake cutting.”

“Great. I’ll be right there.”

Clara smiles at Jesse, an expression so feline and predatory that jealousy surges inside me. I clench my fists to keep from jumping on her and tearing that grin off her face. He might not be mine, but he is for tonight, and I’m going to live every moment of it.

“Maybe I’ll see you later. Jesse, isn’t it?” Clara purrs. Okay, girl has a death wish.

“Yeah.” Jesse pulls me closer, lining me up against him so my shoulder notches into his arm pit. Like I belong to him. My heart pounds, and my insides turn into some sort of molten marshmallowy goo. “I’ll get Laura over there in one piece.” Gah. If we were alone, I would mount him right now.

Her expression frosts over again. “Hmm.” Then she turns in one precise motion and walks toward the bride and groom.

This wedding is never going to end.