TWENTY-TWO
DRINKS AND DINNER came after the big reveal.
An apparel change alone wasn’t good enough for Jane.
No, they were out there more than a little while with makeup artists, stylists, colorists, the whole roster.
On their return, she was a brunette again, just like the old days.
When she and Zairn got together. And the look on his face when she returned to him…
Yeah, no medals for noticing his obvious gratitude.
Nostalgia? Maybe. But pleasing him was some kick.
During the wedding planning stages, she’d suggested, requested, her gown be red. Yeah, Jane didn’t go for that. This was the compromise. In the change for dinner, she got to wear the red dress, a miniaturized version of her wedding gown, that went perfect with her slippers. Score one for diplomacy.
Jane maintained the theme. Her miniaturized dress was iceberg blue. Embroidered with fewer diamonds, though no less striking, the color created an optical illusion. Blue? White? Who knew?
Feeding so many people was a colossal task and the Grand staff were impeccable in every way. Because Bastian, the hotel’s owner, was in the room? Maybe. Either way, she’d make sure they were tipped ridiculously well.
Who was she kidding? Zairn would’ve taken care of that already. He’d have done it before the big day and would no doubt do the same again after. Knowing their group, as she did, Knox had probably tipped too… and his dad… maybe his brother.
Hell, this was a lucrative event for staff. Wonder if there were any openings.
Cam gave a speech. Ballard gave a speech. Everyone laughed. Joy filled the room.
More than for just herself, she almost wished the day would never end. Each time she glimpsed Jane, the reward was right there.
People came to the top table, frequently. During the meal, guests were told several times to take their seats. The mood had a lot to answer for; everyone’s smiles rode high.
Dessert had been cleared and another round of drinks served. She didn’t partake. The glass was there, but with the speeches over, they’d be dancing soon. Getting up in front of the room with a full gut would be a mistake.
At that particular moment, Zairn was talking to a trio of guys who’d appeared on their platform a while ago.
Too long ago. Her guy’s forearm rested across her lap, though he was twisted the other way.
Like being in the club, only this time there was light and conversation and far less leg in the room.
Be polite. Be patient.
Though were these guys being polite or patient? If she heard the word “projections” one more time… This was not a business day. It was their wedding day, as much Zairn’s as hers. Her husband. Her public husband. Her no-longer-a-secret husband.
They didn’t have two chairs. Another Jane addition that won her extra points. On the couch in the club, they sat thigh to thigh, and there, at their wedding feast, they did the same. No light, no air, passed between them.
One feature of her layered skirt hadn’t been exploited.
This one did have quick emergency access.
The layers weren’t fully stitched as they had been in the wedding gown.
She’d been waiting for the most opportune moment to educate her husband.
There it was, upon them. Easing one layer this way and another that, the table concealed her actions.
Some things were kept only for her spouse.
He was still talking when she picked up his hand to guide his palm to her flesh. Nice and high on her thigh, skimming it up and down on the—
Zairn’s attention flew around to her. One glance down and then to her face, ah, check that surprise!
“That’s a suspender belt.” Shock. Horror. “You’re wearing a suspender belt?”
“I am,” she said, relishing his astonishment.
“You’re wearing lingerie?”
“For one night only. All you had to do was wait eighteen months, buy me lots of jewelry, fuck me a few hundred times, oh, and marry me, to see it.”
“Shit, are you a doppelganger? Did I marry the right Lola?”
Once again, her life choices paid off. See how much more effective it was because she didn’t do it every day?
“Special treat, just for you. From Lola Bunny upstairs to leather and lace in the ballroom. Not bad, huh?”
“There’s leather involved?” he asked, arching a brow as he leaned in.
“You’ll have to wait and find out, won’t you?”
Instead of a kiss, he left her hanging and stood, sweeping up a flute of champagne and a spoon. The ting of the two coming together, surprisingly, did its thing to silence the room, eventually.
A tech guy hurried over in a crouch to give Zairn a microphone. Yep, their wedding was so crazy that it required tech people.
“Thank you,” Zairn said, putting his champagne on the table by hers.
“I told Lola once that the groom doesn’t give a speech at the wedding reception.
And she loves proving me wrong so… my gift to you, baby…
” Laughter rippled through the room. Damn, did he have to be so fine and funny too?
Someone should marry that guy. “I’ll be brief, talking for too long about my relationship tends to get me into trouble. ”
Oh, so long ago, man, was she glad for every second with him.
He continued. “You may be surprised to learn that the world-at-large doesn’t know the full truth of our relationship. Shocking, right? Sometimes feels like you can’t turn around without seeing one or both of us…”
“They see more of me, Casanova, they prefer my cleavage to yours.”
Zairn took the microphone closer to his lips.
“So do I.” Haha, oh, so proud of him. “I couldn’t let today go by without thanking the most important person in my life.
” It didn’t matter who else was there. When he looked down at her, he beheld only her.
“This day last year…” And she’d hoped they might get through the party without recalling this day last year. “I broke your heart.”
“I broke yours first.”
She had no microphone, but he would hear her.
“Walking away from you was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.
” On an exhale, he addressed the room again.
“Roxanna and I fit together from the minute we met. Touching her, being with her, as far as the world was concerned, crossed some line. With women, before Roxanna, in business, in family, there were uncrossable lines.”
“Boundaries,” she said almost behind her glass.
His head didn’t move, but his lips betrayed he’d heard her.
He kept on going. “It’s never been like that with her. It’s cliché to say I knew from the minute we met, and that wouldn’t be completely true given the first thing we did was argue.”
“Shocker!” came a call from the crowd.
Rourke, that was Rourkey-Baby, and he was sitting there all smug, enjoying his laugh.
“We’re solid and that’s no exaggeration. You’ve seen the news reports, things written about us… Things we may have accidently streamed…”
“My fault,” she called to the room and held up her glass in admission.
Though it came up so regularly that the masses already knew.
“I’m not sorry,” he said, once again looking at her.
“Not for a second of it.” Because each of their seconds together brought them to that moment, to their love, their happiness, their forever.
“For that brief spell, when I walked away, I could never free myself. Even if you hadn’t come back to me, I’d still have loved you, then, now, forever.
What we have, Lola, is bigger than just you and me.
Being with you… I thank whatever fate set me on this path.
Without you, life would have no meaning.
With you, I know there’s nothing I can’t face, that we can’t face or overcome.
As long as we have each other, everything else is meaningless.
Nothing has power over this except you. Your heart, your love, it fuels me every day.
I want to make you proud, baby, to make you happy.
“This is just our first step. Today we’re renewed and can finally tell everyone the truth.
” Uh, no. About their marriage? No! “We can confess to our friends and families that… you made the first move on me.” Phew!
The room’s laughter echoed again, it kept going until her cheeks ached with the grin that plumped them.
“Okay, okay, but seriously…” he quieted the room.
“You saved my life with that kiss, Roxanna Kyst. Who I was, the way I was going then, everything was about to fall apart. I was shattered, broken, and you sailed on in with that incredible smile and the caboose I can’t resist…
” See, she knew him. “You’re pure energy, pure light, and every single thing I’ve built has been for you.
Doesn’t matter that I didn’t know you then, I know you now, and I know it’s for you.
All of it, Roxanna. I get out of bed every day for you.
Eat, drink, sleep you. There’s no tomorrow, no yesterday, only what we have right here and now.
And as long as you’re happy, nothing else matters to me. ”
Rising, she cast her glass aside and moved the microphone to free his mouth for hers. Their guests had gotten more than one show that day. Hell, did she care? This was her guy and she’d take every available chance to appreciate him.
His tongue touched hers one last time before retreating.
“You really do do your best work with an audience, Casanova.”
He laughed. “I do my best work for you.”
“You got the girl,” she murmured. “No one is ever taking me away.”
In the next kiss, his arm locked around her, lifting her from her feet to take their kiss to his height. The guests may be applauding, cheering, but they couldn’t keep going all night. What a damn shame. Hmm, wonder how long it would take to clear the whole place.
Someone prodded her, jarring her from the kiss. Toria.
“Uh, they’re playing your song.”
Song? What did?
Oh, the dance floor was dark, the band illuminated.
“Ah!” In her joy, she kissed Zairn again, quick this time. “Now you have to dance with me.”