for us.” Sloan ended on a smirk.
“Mm hmm,” Lexi mumbled, unable to think hard enough to form a proper sentence.
“Was the gift we brought good enough? ‘Cause with all the work Dom just sent our way, I feel as if we should be paying for their honeymoon or something.” Sloan half-joked.
“The gift is definitely pretty good, but I don’t know if it was as good as what she’s done for us. Sheesh! I’m tired, just thinking about all the work we’re about to do.” Lexi sighed, her beaming smile contradicting her words.
“Well, how about we stop thinking for a little while and just…dance,” Sloan said, extending a hand in invitation.
“Alright,” Lexi said shyly, taking his hand.
Sloan led her out onto the temporary dance floor. He spun her out and then back into his arms. The sheer layers of her red dress fluttered around her prettily. Other guests stopped what they were doing for a moment to look at the dancing couple, as the strains of The Way You Look Tonight floated down from the large band. The lead singer making Frank Sinatra proud.
Not many of the guests, being from the south, would normally look favorably upon a couple of mixed race, but there was something undeniable about the couple that drew their eye. The gorgeous and striking scarred man that looked at the beautiful and shy artist, with eyes filled with reverence and adoration. They both seemed unsure of themselves but looked to the other for strength. The chemistry between them was evident, which made it hard for many at the reception to stop from staring at the lovely couple. Some looked on with happiness for the pair. Others gazed upon them with raw jealousy.
Sloan held Lexi flush against him with one arm, and the other held her arm out to the side. The position was perfect for leading her around the dance floor. Lexi was used to slow dancing while standing in one spot. But Sloan glided, turned and twisted and twirled her around the dance floor like he was Fred Astaire leading Ginger Rogers.
“I had no idea you could dance like this!” Lexi said breathlessly as he pulled her back in from a spin.
“I wouldn’t be a properly raised high society, southern gent if I hadn’t learned how to dance. It has been a convenient skill that was drilled into me so that I can seduce beautiful women such as yourself.” Sloan teased, deepening his drawl. He caressed a thumb across her cheek as he held her close.
“Well, it’s working. If you weren’t holding me up right now, I’d be a puddle of seduced mush.” Lexi grinned up at him.
“Then my work here is done. My parents forcing me to take dance lessons has finally paid off.” Sloan joked, never missing a beat as the skilled band took the previous song and blended it perfectly into Cheek to Cheek .
“I was wondering, are you a junior? Or a third? It just seems as if wealthy families like to add Roman numerals to the end of their first sons’ names.” Lexi asked curiously.
“No, I’m actually the second son. I would have had an older brother, but he died at birth. But they did name him Nathaniel Charles Stryker III before they buried him. So you’re definitely right. Instead they gave me Nathaniel as a middle name, to honor him and the other men in our family.” Sloan explained.
“I’m sorry, Sloan. I had no idea.” Lexi said sadly.
“Oh don’t worry about it. I didn’t know him, so all I’ve known is being an only child. Though, it would’ve been great for him to have lived for many reasons. Least of which would be so that he could’ve taken over the business, and my parents would’ve eased up on me to take over. I could’ve been the bratty younger sibling that got to be the free spirit.” Sloan chuckled reluctantly.
“You didn’t turn out so bad. It’s on your parents if they’re not proud of you because you’re a great man in my opinion.” Lexi complimented him bashfully.
“Thanks.” Sloan blushed from the neckline of his t-shirt to the roots of his
“Mm hmm,” Lexi mumbled, unable to think hard enough to form a proper sentence.
“Was the gift we brought good enough? ‘Cause with all the work Dom just sent our way, I feel as if we should be paying for their honeymoon or something.” Sloan half-joked.
“The gift is definitely pretty good, but I don’t know if it was as good as what she’s done for us. Sheesh! I’m tired, just thinking about all the work we’re about to do.” Lexi sighed, her beaming smile contradicting her words.
“Well, how about we stop thinking for a little while and just…dance,” Sloan said, extending a hand in invitation.
“Alright,” Lexi said shyly, taking his hand.
Sloan led her out onto the temporary dance floor. He spun her out and then back into his arms. The sheer layers of her red dress fluttered around her prettily. Other guests stopped what they were doing for a moment to look at the dancing couple, as the strains of The Way You Look Tonight floated down from the large band. The lead singer making Frank Sinatra proud.
Not many of the guests, being from the south, would normally look favorably upon a couple of mixed race, but there was something undeniable about the couple that drew their eye. The gorgeous and striking scarred man that looked at the beautiful and shy artist, with eyes filled with reverence and adoration. They both seemed unsure of themselves but looked to the other for strength. The chemistry between them was evident, which made it hard for many at the reception to stop from staring at the lovely couple. Some looked on with happiness for the pair. Others gazed upon them with raw jealousy.
Sloan held Lexi flush against him with one arm, and the other held her arm out to the side. The position was perfect for leading her around the dance floor. Lexi was used to slow dancing while standing in one spot. But Sloan glided, turned and twisted and twirled her around the dance floor like he was Fred Astaire leading Ginger Rogers.
“I had no idea you could dance like this!” Lexi said breathlessly as he pulled her back in from a spin.
“I wouldn’t be a properly raised high society, southern gent if I hadn’t learned how to dance. It has been a convenient skill that was drilled into me so that I can seduce beautiful women such as yourself.” Sloan teased, deepening his drawl. He caressed a thumb across her cheek as he held her close.
“Well, it’s working. If you weren’t holding me up right now, I’d be a puddle of seduced mush.” Lexi grinned up at him.
“Then my work here is done. My parents forcing me to take dance lessons has finally paid off.” Sloan joked, never missing a beat as the skilled band took the previous song and blended it perfectly into Cheek to Cheek .
“I was wondering, are you a junior? Or a third? It just seems as if wealthy families like to add Roman numerals to the end of their first sons’ names.” Lexi asked curiously.
“No, I’m actually the second son. I would have had an older brother, but he died at birth. But they did name him Nathaniel Charles Stryker III before they buried him. So you’re definitely right. Instead they gave me Nathaniel as a middle name, to honor him and the other men in our family.” Sloan explained.
“I’m sorry, Sloan. I had no idea.” Lexi said sadly.
“Oh don’t worry about it. I didn’t know him, so all I’ve known is being an only child. Though, it would’ve been great for him to have lived for many reasons. Least of which would be so that he could’ve taken over the business, and my parents would’ve eased up on me to take over. I could’ve been the bratty younger sibling that got to be the free spirit.” Sloan chuckled reluctantly.
“You didn’t turn out so bad. It’s on your parents if they’re not proud of you because you’re a great man in my opinion.” Lexi complimented him bashfully.
“Thanks.” Sloan blushed from the neckline of his t-shirt to the roots of his
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