Just finishing adding the final coat of mascara to my eyelashes, Alexander comes up behind me. His hands land on my hips and his body presses up against me, pushing me into the vanity. He grins at me through the mirror and dips his face to my shoulder. I feel his wet mouth moving up my neck, my eyes drift closed as I’m overcome with emotion.

I lift one hand and slide my fingers into his hair, holding him close while my other hand covers his on my hip. I bring our joined hands up to my stomach and feel completely wrapped in his embrace.

“I don’t want to go to dinner,” he admits, whispering into my ear. “I want to take you somewhere alone, on a date. Somewhere that I can hold your hand, kiss you when I’m overcome with the need—”

“Kiss me now.” I cut his words off before he makes me cry and I cover his mouth with my own.

The heat from our kiss makes me ache and now that I know what it’s like to really be with him, I honestly don’t want to go anywhere. So I admit, “I wish we could stay locked in this room, but we can’t.”

“I know,” he grumbles.

I turn and wrap my arms around his neck while his strong arms keep me pressed tightly against him. “One day we will be able to be around our family while being together.”

“I’m worried.”

“I am too, but we have a good family, Rachel. In the end they’ll just want us to be happy.”

“I’m nervous,” I mumble.

“We’ll just be ourselves.” He smiles and cupping my face, searches my gaze. “Please don’t worry.” He drops a quick kiss on the tip of my nose.

His cell vibrates on the vanity next to us. We both glance over and as he picks it up I notice the message from Michael: We’re in the bar.

“This is more difficult than I thought, so just go okay? You head down there and meet Michael and whoever else is already there. I’ll message Paige to find out where she is. I’ll see you downstairs.”

He lets out a heavy sigh and quickly wraps an arm around my waist to pull me against him. “Remember,” he says, fiercely, “I love you.”

Before I can reply, he’s gone and I’m left a quivering wreck.

It takes a few minutes to pull myself together, which I do just in time as there’s a knock on my door, followed with my sisters voice, “Rachel, it’s me.”

I check my appearance in the full-length mirror, quietly close and lock the connecting door, and then let my sister into my room. As usual she bustles inside and within a minute she’s checked out the whole room.

She frowns at the bed, and I have no idea what she’s thinking. “You said in the car that you wanted to nap once you checked into your room.” She narrows her gaze on me. “So why is your bed still made?”

“I went for a walk to get some fresh air,” I reply, collecting my purse from the dressing table. “You ready to go downstairs?”

She opens her mouth and closes it just as quickly.

I glance at my phone and see two messages, one from Alexander and one from Dylan.

“Dylan says they’re in the bar.” I open the bedroom door and wait for my sister to follow.

“Something is going on with you,” she mutters, walking past me toward the elevators. “Something is different and I’m going to find out just what.”

I pause and watch her press the call button the elevator arriving within seconds. Inside, she leans against one of the walls and stares, so I stare back until I become amused.

“You’re being ridiculous.” I giggle.

“I don’t think so,” she sings slyly.

Luckily the elevator doors whoosh open, and then Derek, Charlotte’s future father-in-law, saves me from more of Paige’s questions. Derek smiles and greets us both kindly. Paige ends up in conversation with him, so I hover behind, glad she has a different focus. My sister can be annoying when she needs to know something that she’s sure you’re holding back from her.

Following Paige and Derek through the lobby area, I realize that Derek is a handsome man and when not in a business suit, he’s more at home in jeans and T-shirts. I know from Charlotte that he hasn’t dated much since he lost his wife many years ago, and I know it upsets Charlotte that he’s alone. Charlotte loves her father-in-law and wants him to be happy.

“Why so sad?”

Surprised, I blink and turn to face my dad, Ramon.

“I’m not sad,” I admit, “just thinking.”

He tugs my arm through his and I hold on. “Life isn’t always easy, Rachel. Noah and myself know this from experience. But everything comes to those who wait.”

I smile. “I’m sure you’ve said that to Paige and I so many times over the years.”

“Yes, we have.” He kisses my cheek. “You’re young and have your whole life ahead of you. I’m so proud of you and your sister, so is Noah.”

“Thank you.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “We couldn’t have asked for better parents.” I meet his gaze just before we join the rest of our family. “I love you, Dad.” I reach up and kiss his cheek.

“Do you have one of those for me?” Noah asks.

Smiling, I reach up and kiss his cheek. “I love you too, Dad.” I glance around. “I can’t see Sofia or Olivia yet, but I spot Madison.” I twirl and head over to my cousin—the only daughter of my Aunt Carla and Uncle Sebastian, and Dylan’s older sister.

Madison smiles and pulls me in for a hug when I reach her. “I love your dress,” she comments.

“Yours is gorgeous. The green really suits you, and,” I turn her around, “daring?” I raise a brow and she blushes.

“I wanted to get out of my shell, and figured I’d take a chance on this. It’s not as comfortable as jeans and a shirt, but it’s attracting attention.” She grins.

Laughing, I tell her, “I think there is a hockey team around here somewhere.” Wiggling my brows, I continue, “I’m sure you’ll attract some attention from them—all those men with delicious bodies wanting to relax before a big game.”

No sooner have the words left my mouth than Derek joins us. He glares at Madison and her blush deepens.

Interesting.

“Rachel you look lovely this evening, much better taste than your cousin,” he says, glancing at Madison.

I’m shocked at his rudeness. Madison blinks back tears and swiftly turns on her heel, quickly striding out of the bar.

It takes a moment for my brain to catch up with my mouth. “Why were you so rude to my cousin? I thought better of you.”

Derek grabs my wrist as I take off after Madison. I could break his hold as it’s loose but it’s the anguish in his eyes that stops me. “She’s—” he sighs. “It doesn’t matter. Tell her I’m sorry, and she does look beautiful. She’s the only woman I see.” He walks away toward his son, Tanner.

More confused than before, I hurry and find Madison outside in the cold, tears on her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have worn this dress.”

I have a feeling about what’s going on but I’m not too sure whether to say anything or not. What I do is wrap Madison up in my arms. “He didn’t mean those words, Madison.”

“He did,” she cries.

I put her away from me. “He told me he was sorry and that you’re beautiful.” I hold her gaze. “He’s attracted to you.”

“He doesn’t want to be though,” she mutters.

“Madison, he’s twenty-four years older than you are. I think that’s why he’s fighting the obvious attraction you both feel.”

“He’s never going to see me as anything but his daughter-in-laws cousin.” She gives a sad smile. “I’ll get over it.”

I’m not too sure about that.

“Let’s go back inside. I’m cold and hungry.”

She groans in agreement. “I’m freezing.”

I usher her inside and thaw out as the warmth hits me.

“I wouldn’t mind skiing tomorrow before the wedding.” I ponder when I catch sight of the lodges map.

“Charlotte doesn’t want anyone on the slopes until after the wedding.” Madison grins. “After Ryan broke his ankle snowboarding out in Montana the day before Francesca got married, she doesn’t want to risk it.”

I roll my eyes. “It was his own fault for showing off in front of the girls on Spring break.”

“Yeah, well, this time I bet it would be Dylan to do something, so it’s probably for the best.”

“Explore on foot then?”

“I’m snowshoeing with Joshua, Olivia, Ryan, and I think Jaxon in the morning. Why don’t you join us?” Madison offers. “There will probably be more of us going by morning.”

I don’t want to commit because I desperately want to do something with Alexander.

“I’ll see,” I murmur.

Madison accepts my maybe with a soft grin.

We follow Aunt Rosie and Uncle Ruben into one of the dining rooms where the pre-wedding dinner has been set up to one side. There are four tables sitting seven to eight of us each.

Alexander is standing to the side with his gaze hooded and focused on me. I wink and quickly turn back to the seating chart, my heart speeding up when I realize I’m sitting next to Alexander.

“We’re sitting together,” I tell him when I feel Alexander behind me. “Olivia you’re with us,” I add when she appears.

“Doesn’t anyone else find it awkward to hook up with total strangers when we’re out with each other? Most of the time we all look like damn couples,” Olivia grumbles.

Alexander winces, and I turn, facing her. “Just have fun and you’ll meet someone when you least expect to.”

She glances between her brother and I before shaking her head and wandering off.

“Ignore her.” Alexander falls into step beside me. “Are you okay?” he asks softly.

“More than okay,” I quickly reply shooting him a bright smile.

He pulls my chair out for me, and then turns, and pulls the chair out for Madison.

“What about me?” Olivia complains.

“Ryan and Jaxon are just as capable.” Alexander glares at his cousins on either side of Olivia.

Jaxon grins and makes a big production of seating Olivia much to her delight. “At least one of you has manners.” She glances at Ryan who gives her a lazy grin.

“I’m not trying to impress you so I don’t need manners,” Ryan says.

“And Madison is already seated, and I have my over the top cousin on my other side, so I’m good.” Joshua grins.

The guys start up a conversation about hockey and that’s when I catch Paige watching me. I meet her gaze wondering what is going on with her, although I have a sneaky suspicion that she’s onto me when she glances at Alexander then back to me. She shakes her head and turns to Dylan.

Alexander’s hand lands on my thigh, shifting my gaze to his face. He isn’t paying me any attention other than his wandering hand, but my body instantly heats as he slides his fingers beneath the hem of my dress. My legs drop open and Alexander stills, his grip tightening on my thigh.

Before I embarrass Alexander, and myself, I turn to Ryan. “What’s happening at Kenza?” Our cousin runs the nightclub along with his father, which I think Ryan loves. He has a degree in business and is clever and hardworking when he puts his mind to something.

Ryan leans forward and his reply is lost to me as Alexander’s fingers quickly brush against my panties before he retreats back to my thigh. At least I can breathe again.

“—the minute you get home, now you’re twenty-one,” I tune in to Ryan, “you’ll be able to come down and check the club out … I hope.”

“Of course I will.” I reach out and rub his shoulder. “I can’t wait to party at Kenza.”

“I think we’ll get the male dancers back as a belated birthday party,” Ryan adds, a wicked gleam in his eye.

“No way.”

Ryan laughs and turns to Olivia as she asks him something.

I feel Alexander’s anger and then he cups me, a finger slipping into my panties. He pushes further and rubs between the swollen folds that are wet with arousal.

His hand trembles and he curses under his breath when my fingertips skate across the bulge behind his zipper … and then his fingers leave me.

The others start eating the entrée and before I join them I notice Alexander bring his hand up to his face before quickly licking his finger.

My arousal makes me squirm in my seat.