Instead of placing my hand on his arm, I hug him. “Thanks, TJ. I have yours, too. We’re family.”
He nods, offers his arm again and we stroll out to the beach in a stately manner.
The briny breeze ruffles my dress, and the train billows from my shoulders. The sun is a bright white coin in the sky, and I look at the love of my life standing at the other end of the silk-covered aisle.
Noah is absolutely stunning in his black and white tuxedo. The wind runs its fingers through his hair, tousling it. A brilliant grin splits his face, and his eyes shine with love. He looks at me like I’m all he could ever want in life. Emotions surge, my heart in my throat as thousands of butterflies flutter in my belly.
As Ivy plays “Here Comes the Bride,” I take the first step toward my new future with the love of my life.
Chapter Forty-Five
Bobbi
“What is life without proper parties to celebrate its milestones?” Yuna says raising a glass.
Music is floating in the air and people are dancing. The liquor flows freely as well. It’s the seventh round of drinks she’s serving to the guests at our intimate reception. She must’ve secretly worked as a bartender because she makes the soju and champagne bomb shots with such ease and flair, lining up the specialty flutes and dropping the soju shots in a sort of domino motion.
“It’s like everyone’s winning at life and love.” Cassie grins. TJ proposed a couple of months ago, and she now sports a gorgeous solitaire ring on her finger.
“Winning is important,” Josie says, slurring slightly. She’s the cheap date of the family. “Nobody remembers the losers.”
“Is that what you tell your patients?” I ask, laughing even though I’m not sure what she said is funny. But it feels funny to my brain.
“You should, cuz you’re honest,” Ivy says.
“I’m just glad I got married first. Mom would’ve been impossible,” Yuna says, then giggles.
“Baby, I don’t think you need another shot,” Declan says, pulling her from the bar. “Let’s dance.”
Just as he says it, the music dies. Declan frowns, and Yuna sighs. “Guess it’s time for another shot after all.”
Suddenly a dramatic tune from “La cumparsita” hits the crowd. Grant and Aspen clasp hands and begin moving to the music with shocking expertise. I had no idea they could tango so well. Meanwhile, Sebastian looks pained, while Lucie tugs at his hand with a smile that’s slightly loopy from too much sugar and happiness.
“Come on, Seb,” she says, then laughs.
Sighing, he rests his hands on her waist and leads her. Instead of moving with him to the beat, she wraps her arms around his neck and clings. He laughs, looking at his wife fondly. A giggle bubbles from her, and she buries her face in his shoulder.
Noah places his hand on my bare shoulder.
“I can’t tango,” I say quickly.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to attempt a tango in front of those two and make an idiot out of myself.” He angles his head to whisper into my ear. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Seriously?” He has to be joking.
But his expression is dead serious, except his eyes are bright with mischief.
“Noah! We can’t leave our own wedding reception.”
“Sure we can. Nobody’s going to notice. We fed them and plied them with alcohol.” His hand glides down my arm, sending delicious goosebumps over my sun-kissed skin. “Don’t you want to experience the genius behind Silicone Dream’s Lick-a-Lass?”
Silicone Dream is Sierra’s sex toy company. And I’ve actually heard of that toy. I jerk my head up. “You’re behind that one?”
“Hell, yeah. I was intimately—intimately, I tell you—involved in product development.”
“Huh. So the Five Heavenly Motions come from you?”
“Ah, I see that you’re a woman of experience. But why settle for a mass-produced imitation when you can have the one and only, the original, the nonpareilhumanLick-a-Lass?” He cocks an eyebrow lasciviously.
