With that done, Glory grabbed her purse off a table in the corner and darted out of the main room to the corridor that led to the bathroom.
The air here was cooler and a little fresher. Since Callie and Tanner—the bride and groom—had left nearly an hour ago, it was fine for her to try to wrap it up, too. She’d circle the room and make a few subtle gestures that would hopefully get everyone going.
“Only a few minutes more,” she promised herself as she dampened a paper towel under the faucet and then patted it to her face, throat, and the back of her neck. She’d had too little sleep, not much to eat, and her emotions seemed to be in a blender.
She was fighting off the melancholy when she heard a text ding on her phone. Absurdly, she thought it might be Callie. Then she laughed at herself, because Callie was at home by now, with her husband, no doubt setting the sheets on fire.
Grinning at herself, glad for the distraction, she took the phone from her purse, swiped the screen—and froze.
Absurd that he still had this effect on her.
Through a haze, she read the message.
Can’t wait to see you again.?
Those damned smiley faces made her skin crawl. They’d seemed cute at first, but they’d long since slid into sick territory.
Suddenly, she felt very alone. She breathed faster as she realized no one else was around—and a door to the parking lot wasright there. Was it even locked—or could someone have come in unnoticed?
Thankfully, before the fear could dig deep, the laughter of approaching women reached her. Glory dropped the phoneinto her purse and left the restroom, smiling as she passed the women who were just coming in. She forged back into the hall, determined to get through the rest of her duties. Then she’d go home, enjoy a long hot soak in the tub, and crash for the night.
Tomorrow, her mood would surely be improved.
Kam did not mean to watch her so closely. In fact, he tried not to. Yet, he’d noticed when she left the room, and he’d watched for her return. For reasons he didn’t understand, he noticed everything Glory did.
Even today, after a wedding and while hustling at the reception, Glory wore a mask of untouchable perfection. It bugged him big-time. The only time that practiced expression had slipped was at the end of the wedding, when tears had filled her eyes before she’d blinked them away.
Actually, that wasn’t true. She’d been different during the slow dance they’d shared at the start of the reception. As the best man and maid of honor, it was expected. Traditional. Or so he’d been told.
It hadn’t been easy for him to stay casual. Superficial.
Seeing Glory so perpetually composed naturally made him want to... What?
Tease her, fluster her, get her mussed so that her light blond hair was no longer so precisely styled?
Maybe steal the shiny lip gloss off her mouth—with his tongue.
Holding her during a slow dance, her body moving with his, led his thoughts to similar movements... while they were both naked. He imagined tugging down the front of her fancy dress until he exposed her breasts, until he could touch her and watch her pretty blue eyes go from wary to dark and vague...
“Ahem.”
Jarred out of his sultry thoughts, Kam turned to see older blue eyes assessing him. Since adopting him years ago, Addie had caught him doing many things. In comparison to some of them, fantasizing about the maid of honor wasn’t a big deal.
“Keep that up,” Addie said, “and the girl’s going to catch on fire.”
He put his arm around Addie and hugged her close. “Have I told you how great you look?”
“Pfft.” Addie smoothed her graying blond hair and lowered her voice. “I had to wear the dress since your brother and Callie insisted on buying it for me, but you know I’m most comfortable in my jeans and T-shirts.”
Yeah, he felt the same about the damn tux he wore. Again, his gaze went to Glory. Her blue dress fastened over one shoulder, leaving her throat, upper chest, and opposite shoulder bare. Her skin was peachy and smooth. Unlike him and Addie, she seemed comfortable in the designer gown. “Callie’s family is right at home in fancy duds.”
Who knew his brother, also adopted by Addie, would marry the town princess? Her family had always owned half the businesses in Hoker, Kentucky, at least until they’d moved away years ago. Even back then, Tanner had been hung up on her.
Neither of them had ever met the cousin, although apparently Glory had been raised with Callie.
“Be nice,” Addie admonished.
He realized he was frowning and deliberately lightened his expression when he said, “My feet are pinched in these shoes.” Give him work boots or sneakers any day.