“What do you call these?” I asked, pulling my hand from his so I could shove the engagement and wedding rings in his face.
“You tried to tell me those were too much.”
“They are! I don’t need your money, Hayden. I’m not with you so you can buy me things or take me to luxury restaurants. I never wanted a fancy lifestyle, and it was important to me that you know I wasn’t doing this for the money.”
“Doing this?”
“Agreeing to marry you. Loving you. I want you for you, not what you can buy me.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” I gave him an amused smile.
“Shut up,” he muttered, taking my hand again and pressing a kiss to the back of my fingers. “Let’s just get this lunch over with.”
Hayden’s friends—whom I recognized from our wedding and a number of holidays spent with Piper’s family—were both already there when we arrived at the lunch.
Orlando, Piper’s older brother, stood and walked toward us.
“Dani, you look lovely,” he said with a grin. “That dress is absolutely stunning.”
“Watch it, Amato,” Hayden growled, his hand curving around my hip with unmistakable possessiveness.
Orlando’s smile didn’t even dim. “I wasn’t talking to you, Hayden.” His gaze swept up and down my dress again. “I’m assuming this is an original? Can I commission you to make one for Isabelle?”
I could feel the flush spreading over my cheeks. “I would be more than happy to talk to her about it.”
“Wonderful. She’ll be thrilled.”
“Speaking of your wife, where is she today?” Hayden asked.
“She should be here soon.”
“You didn’t come together?”
“Obviously not. She and Freddie’s wife were having some kind of girls’ night last night.” He pushed his lip out in an exaggerated pout, and I laughed.
“It could be worse,” Hayden said. “She could be best friends with your brother.”
Orlando’s face twisted into a horrified expression, and he gave a dramatic shudder.
The three of us walked to where Freddie sat at an otherwise empty table with six chairs around it.
“Danielle, it’s nice to see you again,” he said with a nod.
“You too.”
His gaze lowered to where Hayden’s hand was firmly settled on my lower back, and when he looked up again, he was smirking. “You look happy.”
“We are,” Hayden said, his tone more threatening than joyful.
“Would you stop?” I hissed under my breath.
“What?”
“You’re being excessive.”
“Excessive would be hiring a hit man to get rid of everyone in this room who’s been eyeing your breasts. Don’t tempt me.”
