Sawyer (Alluring Indulgence #7)(114)
Author: Nicole Edwards

“What’s he doin’ here?” Sawyer asked.

Pretending not to know what he was talking about, she turned and looked around. “Who?”

“Greyson.”

“No idea,” she lied, hoping she didn’t sound as guilty as she thought she did.

“I need to talk to him.”

“Can it wait?” Kennedy asked. “I . . . uh . . . need you to . . .” Hell, she couldn’t even figure out what she needed him to do, so instead, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her, plastering her lips to his.

He was motionless for about two seconds, clearly surprised by her response, but then Sawyer’s arms came around her and he kissed her back.

And then the music started from a speaker that must’ve been close by.

Kennedy smiled against his lips and turned to look in the direction Greyson had been. That’s when she noticed people were beginning to move in closer together.

“What the hell is this?” Sawyer asked, his arm still around her waist. “Is that the song . . . ?”

“The one you tried to get me to dance to at Zane’s wedding? Yes.”

It was a fast-beat, popular song that made her smile every time she heard it, mainly because Sawyer had attempted to get her to dance to it at Zane and V’s reception. When she had refused, he had merely danced around her like a fool. She’d laughed more that night than she had in a long time. By choosing the song, Kennedy had been trying to let him know that it had meant something to her.

Kennedy couldn’t help but laugh as Sawyer’s brothers, most of them anyway, moved into the group and joined in the dancing. It’d been her idea, maybe a corny one, but clearly everyone was enjoying themselves as they moved in somewhat of a choreographed rhythm right in front of her and Sawyer.

“Is that . . . Gage?”

“Yep,” Kennedy answered as she watched Gage laughing and dancing beside Kaleb, who was holding a giggling Mason, and Jared, who had Derrick hoisted up on his shoulders. Kylie and Zoey were beside them, Braydon and Jessie not far behind. Of course, Zane was near the front trying to get V to dance, but she was somehow managing to evade him, laughing as she did. Kennedy wasn’t surprised to see Ethan and Travis standing on the sidelines watching.

Those two men might be willing to do some things, but she certainly didn’t see them as dancers. Not far from them Kennedy noticed her father. He offered a small wave and Kennedy waved back, happy to see that he’d made it out there today.

She continued to catalog the people she knew, recognizing Lorrie and Curtis standing with Cheyenne and Brendon, who were in control of Buster and Scrap. Her gaze strayed back to the dancers and she saw Adrianne grinning back at her. The woman had shed the dog costume that Sawyer had convinced her to wear and was back to looking like her adorable self. She offered a smile of her own and then her attention was drawn to Greyson once again. He was . . . She chuckled to herself. He was dancing beside Olivia. Didn’t that just figure.

“Did you have somethin’ to do with this?” Sawyer asked, pressing his lips to her ear.

“Maybe.”

“I might just have to spank you for that later,” he said, his gruff words sending a chill racing down her spine.

“I might just have to hold you to that,” she retorted.

The music began to fade and everyone began to cheer, even those who hadn’t joined in. Kennedy was enjoying the scene, but as she looked out at the group, she realized everyone had grown quiet.

“Kennedy.”

She pivoted on her heel, expecting to see Sawyer standing next to her, but when she turned, he wasn’t exactly standing. And then it was her turn for a what-the-fuck moment because there in front of her was Sawyer Walker. On one knee.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“It’s never been a secret that you didn’t particularly like me. Not that you didn’t have good reason. But, I’d like to think I finally wore you down . . . at least a little. I’ve got plenty to make up for, and I will. I will spend the rest of my life doing my best to make you happy. So, Kennedy . . .” When he reached behind him, she held her breath, wondering what he was going to produce.

Then he surprised her, making her laugh in the process when he held up a sign that read: Kennedy, will you be my wife?

She met his gaze, tears forming in her eyes and making everything blurry. Kennedy couldn’t breathe, couldn’t swallow past the lump of emotion that had formed in her throat. Here she was thinking she’d been about to say something very, very similar to him, but Sawyer had somehow beat her to the punch.