Page 55 of Fixed Up Ever After
“You’re pushing me away.” And he didn’t understand why.
Lola sighed, casting a look over her shoulder to see that the other bridesmaids had left. “I’m not doing that either. Listen, can we do this later? We both need to go to the reception and I need to make sure my mother doesn’t have a fit if I’m late. I promise we can talk then.”
Promises could be broken. He knew that from experience. He needed more leverage. Something to get him by until they spoke later. “Kiss me, Lola.”
“What?” The stunned look on her face made him smile. She was so damn sexy when she was confused.
“I said, kiss me. Let’s seal our promise with a kiss.”
“Javi—”
“Kiss me.” The command in his tone sent shivers through Lola’s body. His girl liked his dominance and he was using that in his favor.
She hesitated, but only for a moment before she tilted her head back and waited for him to close the distance. He gladly did. The kiss was different from the bedroom kisses that resulted in them taking off their clothes and falling into bed. This one was searing and full of unsaid words. He felt Lola relax against him, allowing him to hold her for just a second.
After a minute, Lola was the one to break the kiss as she pulled back, her lipstick slightly askew. He probably sported his own red lips from her and made a mental note to wash that away in the bathroom.
“I’ll talk to you in a bit. Let me get everyone settled at the reception and I promise I’m yours.”
She didn’t know just how badly he wanted those words to be true. Not trusting his voice, he nodded once. Lola offered him one last tight smile before turning away from him and following the rest of the wedding party out of the venue.
If he had to wait a little bit longer for his girl, then so be it. But one way or another, he was going to show Lola just how right they were together.
CHAPTER34
Lola
The reception took place in the hotel’s upstairs courtyard and by the time Lola caught an elevator up, the party was in full swing. Tables were positioned at the edges of the courtyard, spectacular place settings beckoning guests to enjoy their meals. The DJ set up in one corner, rocking instrumental music of popular songs while he waited for all the guests to arrive. A few feet down, waiters in fancy black suits bustled in and out of the kitchen, setting up the first round of appetizers.
What caught Lola’s attention was the open bar nestled between shrubbery with nobody yet in line. She braved the cool evening air and headed outside. Her lips still tingled from Javi’s searing kiss and his dominant command. It was evident that avoiding him wouldn’t work and trying to weave through her feelings right now was out of the question.
What she needed was liquid courage.
“What can I get you, ma’am?” the pretty, young woman behind the bar asked her. Lola took quick inventory of the bottles she had displayed behind her before settling on something that would give her the courage she needed.
“Bone-dry martini, please.”
The bartender smirked. “A girl ready to party. I like it.” She started to make Lola’s drink. “Hoping to find a lonely groomsman to take home?” she asked.
Despite herself, Lola snorted. If only that were her problem. “More like, I need the courage to talk to the one I brought with me.”
“Oh no. Sticky situation?” she asked, showing genuine sympathy.
“I guess you can say that. He’s perfect and I’m…intimidated. You know how things can feel too good to be true?”
“And you find out it was indeed, too good to be true?”
“Exactly!” Lola exclaimed as if the bartender got a particularly hard test question right. “And I think it’s better to protect my heart now before it inevitably gets crushed.”
“Preach sister. Protect your heart first. Here’s your martini,” she said and handed over the glass. “For what it’s worth, you seem like a smart woman, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Who knew she needed such a pep talk from a strange bartender? What she wanted was to call Mona, but her friend was busy overseeing her bookstore and running the bakery, so that call would have to wait. All she had were insights from a friendly bartender and her muddled thoughts.
“Thank you. I’ll be back for another one soon,” she said, earning a thumbs up from the woman who moved on to the next person in line.
Before she faced Javi, she needed to check in with her mother. Finding her through the throngs of people hadn’t been easy, especially since Luciana wasn’t answering her phone. She finally found her mother by the catering table, barking orders at the hardworking waiters.
“Mother, do you need me to do anything?” She came up behind Luciana placing a hand on her shoulder.
