The five of us move as a unit to greet Gil and Izzy.I tell them how happy I am to see them both.I shake Gil’s hand and kiss Izzy on the cheek.Then I shake Ryder’s hand.
He nods at me and allows all my brothers to shake his hand as well.
So far, so good.All politeness and zero blood.
My brothers greet the Travis men, one at a time.I even see Cal pat Bo on the back and laugh.I think I hear him apologize for dropping him to the hospital room floor.
I try to focus.It’s difficult with Phoebe standing just out of reach.But I shake everyone’s hands and thank each of them individually, by name, for joining us.I hope to hell I didn’t confuse Mason for Bo, or Bo for Kyle, or Kyle for Mason.
I wonder if they have the same problem with us MacLaines.
Jake is last.He accepts my offer of a handshake but leans in to whisper in my ear, doing his hockey-star best to break the bones in my hand.Not a chance.
“Hurt her, and you’re a dead man,” he says.
I laugh and whisper back to him, “Like what happened in Phoebe’s hospital room?”
He pulls back and glares at me.
This is it.At this moment, we’ll either come to blows or make peace, and I’m not sure which it will be.It’s up to Jake.
Then I see his mouth twitch.He offers me an almost undetectable lift of his chin and he continues into the reception.
Finally, I’m free to look at Phoebe.I turn, and my eyes drink her in.
This drop-dead-gorgeous woman is mine.
All mine.
CHAPTER 62
Evander
Emotion, hot and intense, rushes through me.If we were alone, I’d crush Phoebe to the front of my body and kiss the living hell out of her.
I’d tell her how much I love her.
I’d laugh at how I barely recognize the man I’ve become.
Her golden-green eyes are dazzling.Her skin and hair are luminous.Her lips are shiny and red.And her freckles are adorable.She drops her chin and raises her gaze to mine.
Fuck it.
I go to her, wrap one arm around her waist and use the other to support her back, then dip her in my arms.She kicks a leg out for balance, and I crush my lips to hers.
I hear someone gasp.Someone else applauds.And I don’t give a damn.I just breathe her in, feel the hot silk of her kiss, and enjoy the feel of her weight in my arms.
Then I pull her to a stand and get her balanced on those heels.Her hair is messed up.Her eyes are wide with surprise and her lipstick is slightly smudged.I feel bad about all that, so I pull my handkerchief from an interior pocket and dab at the smear.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world, Phoebe,” I tell her.“You’re breathtaking.”
She wags an eyebrow.“So you like the dress?”
I look around to make sure no one is within earshot.“Fuck yes, I like the dress.I love the dress.It’s perfection, and you’re perfect in it.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I nearly stroked out when you walked in.”
