Chapter 33
DECEMBER
Skye
I had no idea pregnancy came with so many perks. My family spoiled me nonstop, as did Rob. I could get used to this. In fact, I already was. I patted my sizable belly, waiting for the DJ to play the song for our first dance. Rob winked, squeezing my hand tighter.
The weddings were taking place at a gorgeous hotel at a lake in upstate New York.
The restaurant was elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed us a splendid view of the lake and the mountains behind it.
A white landscape stretched outside the window.
Snow covered the ground, and translucent icicles hung from the A-frame roof.
All the trees were snowed in. It was a true winter wonderland.
A crisscross of wooden beams spread across the ceiling, giving the space a rustic feel. I loved it. Heather and I were both wearing white dresses, but they couldn’t be more different.
While hers was an A-line princess style, mine was mermaid-shaped, highlighting my belly. We’d both chosen to style our hair in buns. Hers was high and centered, while mine was low and slightly to the left. We were both absolutely stunning.
“I can’t believe I’ve been talked into this,” Ryker whispered. He was on my other side, holding Heather’s hand.
I grinned. We’d taken dance classes to learn a special choreography. It had been challenging as hell, but the result was an impressive dance. Rob smiled as we took our positions on the dance floor.
“You’ve been suspiciously happy about the dance classes,” I whispered.
“It had its perks.” His gaze was so shameless that my cheeks warmed up and heat spread through me with a lightning-quick speed.
The second the music began, he brought a hand to my waist. My breath caught, and I became so wrapped up in him that everything around us faded.
It was a good thing we’d rehearsed so many times, because I was doing this dance by muscle memory only.
I didn’t think he’d ever cease to captivate me so completely.
On a twirl, I lost my balance a little, but there was a firm arm around me…
and a smirk on his face. I pinched his arm lightly, and all the guests laughed.
Ah, apparently I was more obvious than I thought.
“Don’t laugh at me,” I whispered.
“You’re adorable,” he replied. And that… how could I do anything but melt when he said things like that?
After the first dance was over, we welcomed the rest of the guests onto the dance floor. Theoretically I could sit down, but I had this strange energy that made me want to keep dancing.
“Want to rest?” Rob asked.
“Actually, not at all. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I want to keep dancing.”
He frowned, looking at my belly. The second-best part of being pregnant, besides being spoiled around the clock, was watching his protective instincts becoming more and more pronounced. Sometimes to the point of being overprotective, but I secretly enjoyed it.
“The doctor said you should take it easy.”
“He meant work, not dancing. I asked twice. You were there.”
Except lately he thought he knew better, even more so than my doctor. He held my gaze captive until goose bumps formed on my arms.
“Skye….”
“Rob… I’m going to dance. Anything against that?”
In response, he just pulled me flush against him, holding me so tight and possessively that my breath caught again. Damn, this man was determined to make me swoon before this day was over.
“You’re getting feisty already, wife.”
“What are you going to do about it?” I batted my eyelashes.
“Give me the same treatment as you did the kitchen staff?” Tess had informed me just before the ceremony that Rob had scared the living daylights out of the servers and chefs with his this-is-how-this-will-go speech.
“You just can’t turn off that bossy switch, can you? ”
“I’ll show you just how on it is if you keep at this.” His gaze darkened at once. He tilted forward slightly, skimming his lips over my cheek to my ear.
“I love you, Skye,” he whispered.
“I love you too.” I leaned into him, breathing in his woodsy scent before pulling back, blushing. I kept forgetting we were at our wedding… surrounded by guests.
Looking around, I caught Anne’s gaze. She winked at me, and I winked right back.
She was slowly getting back into the dating scene.
Well, more like she’d encountered a hottie during the bachelorette party and sparks had been flying.
Rob had successfully intimidated Anne’s ex into getting his shit together, so he was now regularly spending time with Lindsay.
Rob’s parents had flown in from France, and they were now cuddling their granddaughter. His grandfather had congratulated us via FaceTime. He said he didn’t want to face a trip across the ocean at his age. Rob promised we’d visit him soon.
The man looked eighty, tops, and was as charming as my husband. They even looked a bit alike—the same green eyes and cheeky smile. I kept teasing Rob that now that I knew how he’d look in sixty years’ time, I was even more sold on him.
Three dances later, I had to admit, I was spent. This was the downside of pregnancy. I tired fast. That, and the cravings. Oh, the cravings. Weirdly, I didn’t have a sweet tooth, but I did want everything I wasn’t allowed: cream cheese, sushi, medium-rare steak.
Guess who was watching me like a drill sergeant, making sure I didn’t break any rules? My husband. I loved him even more for it.
Grabbing my glass, I gulped down the ice-cold water before smoothing my hands down my dress. Alone at the table, I couldn’t deny it, I was on pins and needles.
Mom sat next to me a few moments later. Could she feel that I needed her?
“How are you, sweetheart?”
I pointed to my smile. “Happy, but also super nervous.”
She took one of my hands between hers. My pulse slowed down at once.
“Enjoy your happiness, darling. Don’t be afraid of losing it.
As long as there is love, respect, and understanding between the two of you, you can overcome everything.
Money comes and goes. Health too. Some moments will be hard and trying, but if you just remember the things that made you fall in love in the first place, you’ll realize they are still there.
They’ll give you strength. Choose to love and respect your man, and the rest will work out. ”
She always knew what to say. I looked around the room at my family—they’d always be there for me. And Rob—I was sure we’d have a strong marriage. I’d never been more certain about anything.
“Thanks, Mom.” I was absentmindedly patting my belly and caught her looking at me.
“You know, I was thinking about retiring,” she said.
“How come?” I asked suspiciously. Not that we hadn’t hoped this for years, but I still wasn’t sure she was serious.
“I don’t have as much energy to run the school as before, and with my first grandkid on the way… I’ll have plenty to keep me occupied.”
The corners of my mouth twitched, but I didn’t dare laugh. So this was the secret to getting my mom to slow down a bit: give her a grandchild.
She placed an arm over my shoulder and a hand on my belly.
“Mom, thanks for being there whenever I need you.”
“Always.” She smiled, glancing at the dance floor. Just then, my husband walked up to Mom, holding out a hand.
“Amelia, a dance?” he asked with a wink.
“I’d love to.”
Mick didn’t miss a beat and whisked me back on the dance floor one minute later. He took my arm, and amazingly, a sense of calm seeped into me. He always emanated this sense of peace, like he had everything under control.
“Mick, I never told you, but I’m so happy Mom found you, that you’re part of our family.”
He smiled warmly, kissing my forehead. Mick was a man of few words, but he was never shy to show his feelings.
“What’s this I hear about Mom retiring?” I asked as we swayed to the slow rhythm of the song.
“I told her you’d probably need her more, what with the store and the baby, and I practically saw her eyes light up.”
We laughed together as if we were accomplices. We were, in a way, but I’d just contributed without knowing.
I looked around, grinning when my gaze crossed Heather’s. She and Ryker had been dancing nonstop. She was red in the cheeks, and one strand of her chocolate-brown hair had fallen out of her bun.
When the song was over, she and Ryker stalked over to me, as did Rob.
“How about a trip to the photo booth?” Heather asked.
I nodded in agreement. Ryker had insisted on one, and I didn’t see the point at the time, but now I totally did.
It was so much fun. Josie had found this photographer that had a setup like a booth where he had all kinds of hats and accessories we could wear.
Genius! I put on a mustache and a glittery hat, Rob a police cap.
I tugged at the waistband of his pants, playfully whispering, “A striptease, Mr. Cop?”
His eyes flashed as he slid a hand up my back slowly… suggestively. Holy shit! I was getting a striptease later, I was sure of that. And in case he forgot, I planned to remind him.
When we returned to the main room, I noticed Cole. He was standing at the edge of the dance floor, looking every bit the Charmer he was. He was too handsome for his own good in a tux. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“Why do you look so pleased with yourself, brother?” I asked him. “Even more pleased than usual, I mean.”
He chuckled. “Just congratulating myself on being the last bachelor standing.”
“I think you’ll find Ian and Dylan disagreeing with you.” I smirked, nudging my head in their direction. Josie’s siblings had arrived for the wedding yesterday. We’d known Isabelle and Ian were single, but it had been a shock when Dylan had arrived without his plus one.
Josie filled us in that his long-term relationship had blown up in his face just the night before. He looked understandably pissed off with life, but by the hot looks he was getting from at least two gals, I was certain he’d have some fun tonight.
“The most eligible, then,” Cole said, as if he was determined to win the argument.
“You certainly are eligible to… fall,” I teased.
“No, thanks. Bachelor and proud,” he said so seriously that I couldn’t help laughing.
As if knowing we were talking about them, Dylan and Ian joined us.
“Gents, you’re a hot topic here,” I informed them.
“It looked like it,” Ian said.
“I was just telling my sister that I’m proud to be a bachelor.”
“Me too,” Ian said, holding up his glass. Cole mimicked the motion. Dylan just glowered, but he still clinked his glass to theirs.
“You truly know how to bring people on your team,” I said.
“I’m talented like that,” Cole agreed.
Tess and Isabelle joined us, fanning their cheeks.
“Oh, man, I need a break. Why did you bring the party to the edge of the dance floor?” Tess asked.
“I was just commending Cole on his talent to bring together yet another bachelor pack.”
“What’s the female equivalent to that?” Tess asked. “Bachelorette pack?”
Isabelle tilted her head, her fiery red hair falling in gorgeous waves. “Hmm… I don’t think there is an equivalent. Single?”
Tess laughed. “No, the single pack sounds depressing. We’ll come up with something, but not right now. Tonight is for dancing and having fun.”
Cole, Ian, and Dylan returned on the dance floor. The girls and I stayed at the edge, watching them. Mom waved at us from her table. I crooked a finger at her to join us.
“Girls, let’s get back to dancing,” she said.
“I agree,” Tess replied.
“You know, I never thought Ryker would settle down. Gives me hope that Cole might follow in his footsteps too. What do you think?” Mom asked.
Seeing as my brother’s goal was to charm a gal just for the weekend, I couldn’t see this happening soon. I didn’t have the heart to wipe off Mom’s hopeful smile, and neither did Tess, so we just grinned, leading Mom onto the dance floor.
As for Cole? He was dancing the shoes off one of Heather’s bridesmaids. She watched him as if he was the eighth wonder of the world, and he bestowed his trademark Charmer smile on her. Yep… heartbreaker alert right there.