“What do you mean?”
“I want to foster a relationship withyou, and I don’t want there to be any bad blood between us. I’ve been the bigbad wolf with you and Coulter.”
I smile warmly. “I would agree we startedout on a rocky footing, but you’re here with Cole and me. We’re good Preston,thank you for making sure. Besides, who else am I going to share my Elvisobsession with?”
Preston laughs hardily. “Good, and I willtalk Elvis with you whenever you’d like.”
“Excellent.” When the song ends, mymother is there to usher me away.
“It’s time to cut the cake.”
“Yum—cake is the best part about awedding reception.” Cole is there waiting for me. I give him a silly smile butthen get a look at the cake. “Holy crap.”
“Kate,” my mother berates.
“Well, look at it. It’s a four tier,chocolate frosted cake.”
“Yes, well, Cole insisted on taking careof the cake. Apparently, it was flown in from some shop in Las Vegas.”
“No way,” I say, amazed. “Did you reallyhave this cake flown in?”
“Only the best cake for my wife.” Westand in front of the cake while the photographer takes a couple of pictures.She keeps having to tell me to look at Cole or the camera. Doesn’t she knowthere’s the biggest chocolate cake I’ve ever seen right next to me? I canhardly breathe, I’m so excited. Finally, I decide I’m done with pictures andturn back to the cake. I stand next to it, inhaling a large breath.
“I just want to take a big bite out ofit.”
“I dare you.” Laura wags her eyebrows atme.
I open my mouth, ready to bite into it.“Katherine Cook, I mean Holt, don’t you dare,” my mother scolds.
“Ah, but mom.” I back away. I won’t doit, but only because she finally got my last name right. Kind of.
Cole picks up the piece we’ve cut, pilinghis fork up high with cake and frosting. “You’re not going to try to smear thatin my face, are you?”
“Only if you say I can.” He gives me amischievous look.
“Um—no, we are not ruining this dress.”So he carefully feeds me a piece of cake. “Oh man, that’s so good.” I mumble,my mouth full of cake.
He leans over, kissing the corner of mymouth. “I’ll make sure we take a nice big piece with us. I have a few placesI’ll be smearing it.” Pleasurable sensations shoot down my body to my belly.“Look at those cheeks?” Cole kisses one. “How they burn with desire.” And Ifeel my cheeks burn hotter.
“Oh you.” I take the piece of cake fromhim, picking up a fork. “Your turn.”
“Now, Cookie. I was nice to you. Returnthe favor.” I pile my fork with cake, feeding him the piece as nicely as I canmanage, but at the last second, I tip the fork up, smearing frosting across thetop of his lip. I hook my arm around his neck, pulling him to me, licking thefrosting off his lip. “Oh, I have a place of my own that is getting a nice bighelping of frosting.” I suck the rest of the frosting off his lip. Cole’s eyeshave turned dark, but he doesn’t say anything, he just winks. After what seemslike forever, my mother tells me it’s time to change so we can go.
Cole and I meander hand in hand up to thehouse. I fiddle with the ring on his finger. “Do you like it?”
“Kate.” He stops turning to me. “I loveit. I will cherish it always. Thank you for such a beautiful gift. What aboutyours?”
“Oh, you mean this.” I hold up my handwith the thick wedding band covered in baguette diamonds.
“Yep, that’d be the one.” He takes my hand, kissing it.
“I love it. Thank you so much. It matchesthe beautiful necklace you gave me, which I also thank you for, Mr. Holt.”
“You are very welcome, Mrs. Holt. Ithought the ring might be nice for every day, or to even wear on your righthand.” He swats my butt. “Let’s get a move on, baby. We have a wedding night toget to.”
“I’m going to grab something in the backbedroom, but I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
“Okay.” Cole gives me a quick peck and Iwatch him walk into the bedroom. If I could skip without falling flat on myface from wearing my wedding dress, I would do it. I’m that happy. I open thebedroom door. “Oh hi, Grandma, hi Alan.” I’m so giddy that it takes me a minuteto register what’s going on. My eyes get wide and my mouth drops open.
