dark hair. “How about we take a break and get something to drink,” Sloan suggested as the song came to an end.
“Alright,” Lexi said, and with Sloan’s hand at her back to guide her off the dance floor they stopped and turned, noticing all the eyes that were on them.
They both flushed, completely embarrassed at the interest they drew. They had been so wrapped up in each other that they hadn’t realized they were the center of attention. They scurried over to the bar to hide from curious eyes, as fast as Lexi’s heels would allow.
“Well, that was awkward,” Lexi stated, cringing slightly.
“Agreed. I guess people can’t resist my dance moves.” Sloan joked, trying to ease Lexi’s discomfiture.
Before Lexi could respond, a stunning tall blonde woman in a gorgeous, sophisticated cornflower blue dress that matched her eyes walked up and tapped Sloan on the arm. Sloan turned, and the look of shock that came across his face was almost comical.
“Sloan Stryker!? I knew it was you! Oh my God, it’s been years since I’ve seen you!” The woman pulled him into a tight affectionate hug. Lexi just looked on with raised eyebrows, not sure how to feel yet.
“Victoria?” Sloan said hesitantly. “Uh…wow! It has been a while.” Sloan pulled away quickly, from her friendly embrace. “So…this is my girlfriend, Alexis Bolden. Alexis, this is my old friend Victoria Sinclair.” Sloan introduced awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you, Victoria.” Lexi reached out a hand politely.
“Nice to meet you too, I’m sure.” Victoria responded insincerely, reluctantly accepting Lexi’s hand to shake.
“Um, how is it that you know the bride and groom?” Sloan asked.
“Oh, well I’m not sure you know this since you’ve been away for so long. But I’m a lawyer now. And I met Aaron in law school, and we both were hired at the same law firm here. Though soon, I’ll become a partner at his new law firm. But anyway, he is best friends with the groom. And the bride helped me and Aaron find our homes. So we’ve all been hanging in the same social circles for years now.” Victoria babbled.
“Oh wow! Congratulations! I know your parents must be proud.” Sloan said genuinely.
“Yes, I think so. So what are you up to these days? You disappeared without a trace before I was even able to welcome you home from the war.” Victoria purred as she rubbed his arm affectionately.
“I’m a general contractor for home construction and renovations now. Alexis got me started back up again. She gave me a chance when no one else would.” Sloan said, squeezing Lexi’s hand and looking down at her with love shining in his eyes.
“Mm…how nice.” Victoria looked at them with jealousy coursing through her. “Well Alexis, did you know that Sloan and I were promised to each other when we were babies, by our parents.” Victoria brought up nonchalantly as if she was sharing secrets with a girlfriend. But Lexi knew better. She knew it was a warning. “But, unfortunately, Sloan ran off to play army and left me all alone.” Victoria finished on a pretty pout that Lexi wanted to slap off of her face.
“It wasn’t exactly like that, Alexis. My parents and Victoria’s parents are best friends. And they thought that if one had a girl and the other a boy that they would set them up to marry when they became adults. But this isn’t the eighteen-hundreds. There aren’t any contracts it was just something they hoped and pushed for.” Sloan explained, getting irritated with his ‘old friend’. “And it wasn’t the army, it was the Marines, Victoria. There’s a difference. And it definitely wasn’t playing. I’ve got the scars to prove it.” Sloan said grimly, as he tucked his hair behind his ear, fully showing his scars.
“Sorry, Sloan. No need to get all huffy about it.” Victoria replied snidely, pulling a face and raising her hands in surrender. “Well anyway Alexis, he was too busy playing the playboy, screwing
“Alright,” Lexi said, and with Sloan’s hand at her back to guide her off the dance floor they stopped and turned, noticing all the eyes that were on them.
They both flushed, completely embarrassed at the interest they drew. They had been so wrapped up in each other that they hadn’t realized they were the center of attention. They scurried over to the bar to hide from curious eyes, as fast as Lexi’s heels would allow.
“Well, that was awkward,” Lexi stated, cringing slightly.
“Agreed. I guess people can’t resist my dance moves.” Sloan joked, trying to ease Lexi’s discomfiture.
Before Lexi could respond, a stunning tall blonde woman in a gorgeous, sophisticated cornflower blue dress that matched her eyes walked up and tapped Sloan on the arm. Sloan turned, and the look of shock that came across his face was almost comical.
“Sloan Stryker!? I knew it was you! Oh my God, it’s been years since I’ve seen you!” The woman pulled him into a tight affectionate hug. Lexi just looked on with raised eyebrows, not sure how to feel yet.
“Victoria?” Sloan said hesitantly. “Uh…wow! It has been a while.” Sloan pulled away quickly, from her friendly embrace. “So…this is my girlfriend, Alexis Bolden. Alexis, this is my old friend Victoria Sinclair.” Sloan introduced awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you, Victoria.” Lexi reached out a hand politely.
“Nice to meet you too, I’m sure.” Victoria responded insincerely, reluctantly accepting Lexi’s hand to shake.
“Um, how is it that you know the bride and groom?” Sloan asked.
“Oh, well I’m not sure you know this since you’ve been away for so long. But I’m a lawyer now. And I met Aaron in law school, and we both were hired at the same law firm here. Though soon, I’ll become a partner at his new law firm. But anyway, he is best friends with the groom. And the bride helped me and Aaron find our homes. So we’ve all been hanging in the same social circles for years now.” Victoria babbled.
“Oh wow! Congratulations! I know your parents must be proud.” Sloan said genuinely.
“Yes, I think so. So what are you up to these days? You disappeared without a trace before I was even able to welcome you home from the war.” Victoria purred as she rubbed his arm affectionately.
“I’m a general contractor for home construction and renovations now. Alexis got me started back up again. She gave me a chance when no one else would.” Sloan said, squeezing Lexi’s hand and looking down at her with love shining in his eyes.
“Mm…how nice.” Victoria looked at them with jealousy coursing through her. “Well Alexis, did you know that Sloan and I were promised to each other when we were babies, by our parents.” Victoria brought up nonchalantly as if she was sharing secrets with a girlfriend. But Lexi knew better. She knew it was a warning. “But, unfortunately, Sloan ran off to play army and left me all alone.” Victoria finished on a pretty pout that Lexi wanted to slap off of her face.
“It wasn’t exactly like that, Alexis. My parents and Victoria’s parents are best friends. And they thought that if one had a girl and the other a boy that they would set them up to marry when they became adults. But this isn’t the eighteen-hundreds. There aren’t any contracts it was just something they hoped and pushed for.” Sloan explained, getting irritated with his ‘old friend’. “And it wasn’t the army, it was the Marines, Victoria. There’s a difference. And it definitely wasn’t playing. I’ve got the scars to prove it.” Sloan said grimly, as he tucked his hair behind his ear, fully showing his scars.
“Sorry, Sloan. No need to get all huffy about it.” Victoria replied snidely, pulling a face and raising her hands in surrender. “Well anyway Alexis, he was too busy playing the playboy, screwing
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