Her expression turns wistful. “That’s the best damn thing about country music. The heart and the truth. Writing about things that real people can relate to because we live it. We sing about our lives and our roots and the heart of us.” Holly shakes her head. “Now I’m sounding all melancholy like I’ve been drinking. You better take that beer from Logan before I grab it.”
I accept the beer, and Logan lifts his in a toast. “Cheers to the newlyweds.”
We clink our bottles and I take a drink. It’s not the fancy microbrew Cannon drinks, or my usual scotch or whiskey, but it’s cold and delicious. The smile on Holly’s face makes it taste even better.
“You better get in line for the food too, before that’s all gone. You’re almost too late as it is,” Logan says.
“No need, we’ve already sampled the goodness of A&W this evening.”
Logan looks sideways at me and Holly. “You let her drag you an hour away for burgers?”
“And cheese fries,” Holly adds.
“You’re a good man,” Logan says, raising his bottle to his lips.
Holly shivers, and I release her hand in favor of wrapping my arm around her and pulling her into my side to keep her warm. It’s probably an excuse, but I’d rather have her closer.
“Probably better than I deserve,” Holly whispers.
I don’t know what prompts her comment, but both Logan and I hear it and take issue with it.
“Now listen here—” he starts, but I interrupt.
“Not nearly good enough for you, if you ask me. But I’m working on it.”
When the band comes back from their break and launches into an upbeat number, Logan motions with his beer.
“I’ll leave you lovebirds to it. I got my eye on a likely lady for the night, and two-steppin’ is a sure way to get her warmed up.”
I don’t turn to watch him leave because I’ve got my full attention on Holly. “You want to teach me to two-step, sweetheart?”
She smiles. “You want to?”
“I’m up for anything tonight.”
Her smile turns a little mischievous. “Good to know. Finish your beer first.”
We watch the couples gather on the dance floor, and Holly points out the general technique while I gulp down the cold beer. I haven’t chugged like that since a frat party in college.
Once I finish, the song is just ending, but the band launches into another two-step number. We step onto the dance floor, and I’ve got one of Holly’s gloved hands clasped in mine, and the other is on my shoulder. I pull her closer than is probably necessary, but I can’t help but want to have her pressed against me. She’s my woman, and it’s my privilege to do so.
We’re both aware of the random flashes coming from our periphery, but I don’t fucking care if there are pictures all over the papers of us tomorrow. Holly is gazing up at me like I hung the moon. I never understood that saying before, but I feel like I finally get it now.
“Are you happy you came home?” I ask her.
Nodding, she replies, “Yeah, I am. And I’m happy you came too. I’m glad I don’t feel like I have to hide this part of myself anymore, that I don’t have to be ashamed of where I came from. It’s a weight I’ve been carrying that I’m glad to be rid of.”
“You never have to hide anything from me, Holly. I’m in love with the woman you are, and anything that made you this way is something to be grateful for.”
Her cheeks flush. “You still haven’t met my mama.”
“We’ll figure that out. There’s got to be a way to smooth it over and make that part of your life easier.”
She shrugs. “I don’t want to think about that tonight. Not at all.”
“That’s fine. What would you rather think about?”
Her smile comes back to life instantly, and once again, it’s one that’s colored with mischief. “Maybe the fact that I’ve got a surprise for you when we get home.”
She already has my undivided attention, but now she’s roused my curiosity as well. “Is that so?”
“Yep. One I think you’re going to like.”
I study her face as if I’ll find the answer written there. The music is loud and the other couples are a few feet away, but still I pitch my voice low when I say, “You know I’m not lifting my ban on certain activities today . . .”
Holly leans in and up on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around my neck, but continues to two-step. I’m proud that I’ve got the rhythm down well enough to lead at this point. But what she says next has me almost tripping over my feet.
“The giant butt plug in my ass says you don’t need to lift your ban because you’re going to be conquering new territory tonight.”
Oh, fuck it. I sweep Holly off her feet and up into my arms. Several of the couples on the dance floor stop and the band quiets.
“Nothing to see here, folks. Just a man crazy in love with his bride.”
And with that, I walk off the dance floor with Holly laughing against my chest.
“You’re a menace,” I say as I fight to keep the car on the road while Holly’s clever little fingers work the buttons of my jeans.
“You announce to the whole damn town that you’re crazy in love with your new bride, and you don’t think you deserve road head for that? You’re something else, Crey.” Her hand slips inside my pants and closes around my dick.
“Jesus, woman.”
I groan as she squeezes and pumps my cock. When she leans over the center console and the perfect heat of her mouth closes around the head, I breathe out her name.