Seffi looked every part the quintessential princess as she walked down the aisle in the most over-the-top ceremony. Landon was in place of Father, giving her away. That was the part that got me – a constant reminder of my guilt.
It could have been so much worse, but at least now, I can look at my family again, safe in my position on the periphery, and watch over them. They’re all so much alike. Strong and capable of anything they put their minds to.
“When can we leave?” Noah comes up behind me and rests his hands on my shoulders, playing with the edge of the lace dress Willow picked for me. It’s taken all day, but I’m not fidgeting in it anymore.
“Soon,” I say wistfully. “It’s been a lovely day.”
“Lovely isn’t the word for this.” I can’t help but grin, still looking out at the dance floor and following Ivy and Blake. “And I thought I told you I don’t do suits.”
Noah’s tolerance of anything Broderick is ... limited. Being forced to wear his morning dress caused an argument I didn’t think I’d win. Of course, as soon as the photographs were over, he stripped everything off until he was back in the relative comfort of a shirt and trousers. Both looks made him far too sexy. And I love him for putting up with all this against his will. I know we’d both rather have a quieter life, a simpler life, but I’m happy to be here with the family that, at one point, I thought I might lose forever.
“It was a beautiful wedding.”
“A wedding doesn’t need to be this big to say I love you,” he grumbles, turning me to face him.
His eyes travel up over the risqué dress before locking on mine. They burn with an intensity that only he can show. My stomach drops away, desire creeping through me. He has this trick perfected, and now I don’t fight my feelings when he instigates; I embrace them, knowing that he feels the same way about me as I do him. It wasn’t just our circumstances. Adrenalin, fear, danger … They're all intense senses that can play with your mind, but if anything, I love Noah more now than when we were in the middle of the catastrophe. The events of last year might have thrown us together, but we’ve fought to stay together after that.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I ask, giggling as he pulls me to him. He moves us from the corner of the lavish room into the hallway.
“The devil cat should tell you enough.” Murph living with us at his farm was indeed a sign that he must love me. For a man of little words, actions do speak volumes. He kisses me. Slow, measured moves against my lips, like he’s erasing all my thoughts until there’s no room for anything but him.
“God, get a room,” Ivy scorns as she walks past. Blake is by her side, his arm wrapped protectively around her and Ivy’s shoes in his hand.
I smile behind Noah’s lips. “Are you calling it a night?” I ask, standing to the side of Noah and checking my dress.
“Yes. Pregnancy, it turns out, doesn’t mix with my idea of having a good time.”
Blake smiles at Ivy’s complaint. I can’t believe they’re going to have a baby. Ivy will make a wonderful mother, although I hope they don’t have a girl. That might tip Blake’s over-protective nature into overdrive.
“We’re leaving early tomorrow, so we’ll see you back in London.”
“How come? I’m taking every advantage of what Landon’s offering with this wedding while I can. We’ll be sleep deprived and shackled to a baby in a matter of months.”
“You’ll love it. How about we do something in the next couple of weeks. Before baby?” I offer. Our relationship has been … strained, but we’re both working at fixing that.
“I’d like that. Look after our girl, Locke,” she calls as they head off down the hallway towards the front of the Château.
“Always do.” I don’t know if Noah’s response is for Ivy’s or my benefit, but the sentiment makes me swoon a little inside. It’s the truth. He always does.
“Shall we leave, too?” I ask. “It’s getting late.”
“We could just head home tonight. We would be back at the farm by morning.”
“You really want to?” The builders finished last week. The farmhouse was his home, and I knew he’d never move. And luckily, he wanted me there with him. It’s still got the farmhouse kitchen and the cute snug with the open fire, but it’s also got a couple of extra rooms downstairs. Plus, one of the outbuildings has been converted to an office for me because he still doesn’t like me interfering with his toys.
He gives me a look, his head cocked to the side and his eyebrow raised a little. Of course, he wants to leave.
“If you don’t mind driving through the night, let’s do it.” Noah grabs my hand and all but hauls me towards the exit.
“Where are you two off in such a hurry.” Landon’s voice echoes in the entranceway.
“We were just leaving.” Noah practically growls his disapproval at being stopped.
“Broderick wedding not your kind of thing, Locke?”
“You could say that.”
Willow nearly outshines Seffi in her dress, cut low in the front but somehow still managing to be modest. Her smile is intoxicating.
