Missing Linc by Kori Roberts (i can read books .TXT) 📗

was lost, pushing in one last time before he blew,

drowning and yelling out Mitch”s name like a fool.

For several seconds, neither of them moved, both caught in the moment, in each other.

Slowly, he lowered himself, his gaze still holding Mitch”s, unable to look away.

“Damn,” Mitch whispered. “That was…” His words trailed off, his expression filled

with awe.

“I know.” It wasn”t much of a response, but it was all Linc had. He eased out of Mitch

and stood, pulling Mitch along with him.

“Man.” Mitch stretched. “I”m going to feel you all day.” “Good.” Linc growled against his lips, kissing him hard. “I want you and Tomi thinking

about me all day, every day.”

The look in Mitch”s eyes made him pause. “We already do.”

Linc nodded. It was the same way for him.

Christ, he was so fucking screwed.

*

Mitch closed the hotel room door, his gaze immediately searching for Tomi. He

followed the sound of her voice to the patio, where she stood with her back to him, talking

on the phone.

He leaned against the patio doorway, watching her for several minutes until she finally

became aware of his presence. Smiling, she reached for him, pulling him against her when he

grabbed her hand.

“Okay, we”ll see you tomorrow.” She disconnected the call and turned in his arms.

“Hi.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “That was Linc. He said he”d see us in the morning.

Rosa has a special breakfast planned for us tomorrow.”

He nodded as he placed kisses on Tomi”s forehead, her nose, and her lips. “Did I tell

you I love you today?”

Her smile grew even wider. “Yes, but you can feel free to tell me again as many times

as you”d like.”

“I love you more than you can ever imagine, more than I could ever express.”

She reached up, and her warm, soft hand stroked his face. “I love you too. Tomorrow

can”t arrive soon enough for me.”

“I know you do.” Mitch cupped her face. “I know that your love for me is equally as

strong and true as mine is for you. It”s deeper than anything I”ve ever felt before, and I know

that it will never change, never fade.” He looked into her beautiful eyes and smiled. “The love we have for each other can handle anything, Tomi” — he took a deep breath —

“including being in love with someone else.”

Several emotions flashed across Tomi”s face all at once. She closed her eyes for a

moment and when she opened them again, they reflected the resignation she felt. “I didn”t

mean for it to happen.” Her voice trembled, her eyes turned watery. “I —”

“Shh.” Mitch stopped her, using a finger to wipe away a stray tear rolling down her

cheek. “It”s okay. Neither of us meant to fall for him, but it doesn”t change the fact that we

did.” He pulled her close, and Tomi clung to him as if she never wanted to let him go.

“What are we going to do?” she whispered.

Mitch didn”t respond immediately. Finally, he chuckled sadly. “Unfortunately, I”m

fresh out of answers.” His face grew serious again. “We”ll talk to Linc, but not until after our

wedding.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Marrying you is my one and only

priority right now. It”s more important to me than anything and anyone.” Mitch leaned

down and kissed her. “Everything else will work itself out.” He tried to assure her, while

silently praying that he was correct.

Chapter Thirteen

Linc stood at the edge of his aunt”s large yard, watching the reception party in full

swing. The wedding had been beautiful, but he hadn”t expected anything less. It took place a

couple of hours earlier in a secluded section outdoors on the grounds of Tomi and Mitch”s

hotel.

Tomi was stunning in a long, white, strapless dress made out of silk. The style was

simple, but Tomi made it look incredible. Fresh orchids adorned her normally free-flowing

tresses, which she”d pinned up for the occasion. Mitch was similarly clad in a long-sleeved

shirt and loose-fitting slacks. The white silk material emphasized his newly tanned skin.

As promised, Linc”s relatives showed up in full attendance, taking up every available

seat. Mitch and Tomi made several last minute changes, electing Tracee as the maid of honor

and Linc as the best man. Pedro had the honor of escorting Tomi down the aisle.

They looked picture perfect as they stood in the gazebo facing the setting sun and

overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The ceremony didn”t last long — maybe twenty minutes at

most. By the time it ended, all of the women — and a substantial portion of the men — were

teary-eyed, including Linc. When they exchanged vows, Linc remembered silently saying them as well, wishing

with everything in him that he could put a voice to the love that he felt for them, just as

they”d done with each other. As they kissed, Linc felt it clearly, as if he were kissing them as

well. He smiled and clapped with everyone else when the officiator announced that Mitch

and Tomi were husband and wife. Inside, he was dying, aching to be a permanent part of the

bond they shared, but knowing it wasn”t possible. The handshake he”d given Mitch and the

chaste kiss he placed on Tomi”s cheek didn”t scratch the surface of the emotions that he felt

for them.

As everyone followed Tomi and Mitch back into the hotel, he caught Pedro staring at

him knowingly, his cousin”s expression a mixture of disappointment and sympathy. Linc

ignored him and headed to the waiting vehicles parked in front of the hotel.

He”d arranged for Tomi and Mitch to have a separate limo take them to his aunt”s

house. They”d asked him if he wanted to ride with them, but he”d declined, hiding his true

feelings by joking that they should take advantage of their private time before they reached

the reception and wouldn”t have a moment alone for the next several hours.

The truth of the matter was that Linc couldn”t handle being alone with them, too afraid

that he”d ask them for things that he had no right to request.

He felt a hand on his shoulder just moments before he heard Pedro”s voice. “How are

you holding