“It’s not. There’s a professor at the university—he’s married, of course—but he’s forty-seven and I swear I’d date him if he was single. Strong, in shape, quite handsome with his salt-and-pepper hair, tattoos… He’s lovely.”
She smiled. “Well, if you find one of those that’s single, you’ll let me know.” She rose to her feet. “I’m going to check on preparations for the party tonight while Gracie finishes eating.”
The little girl looked up with a syrup-covered grin and we grinned back.
“It was lovely of Ian and Everly to turn their pre-wedding party into a reception for Zaan and Lexi,” I said. “I don’t know that I’d be so selfless on my wedding weekend.”
Dax’s friend and teammate, Zaan Hagen, had apparently eloped with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Lexi, a day or two ago in Las Vegas, and Ian and Everly had decided to throw them a mini wedding reception tomorrow night. The original plan had been an American-style rehearsal dinner—without any type of actual rehearsal since that wasn’t a thing in Scotland—so that everyone had a chance to get to know each other. Ian and Everly’s friends and family were coming from all over the world and many didn’t know each other. Instead, it was going to be a surprise for Zaan and Lexi, who were arriving in Scotland today, and that meant a lot of additional distractions. The following night was the wedding, Sunday was a big, fancy brunch event, and then Monday, Dax and I were leaving for London. And I was already exhausted just thinking about it.
“I think Everly is overwhelmed by the five hundred guests coming tomorrow,” Mum said, interrupting my thoughts. “And Ian couldn’t care less about all the festivities, so it’s a break for her, to turn the focus on someone else, while still allowing us the opportunity to introduce all the guests and family that have come from out of town.”
I nodded. “I know and I’m happy for them. I suppose I’m a bit spoiled.”
She laughed. “You’re only now learning that?”
I playfully swatted at her. “I’ll keep an eye on Gracie and keep her entertained if you have other things to do.”
“Don’t be silly. I asked if I could watch her instead of the sitter Ian was going to hire because I love children and there hasn’t been one in the house in many years. I’m hoping Ian and Everly give me a grandbaby sooner rather than later.” She paused. “Unless you and Dax are working on that?”
I shook my head. “Not quite yet. It’s been two weeks, Mum.” I gave her a look, though we both laughed.
“The light is back in your eyes,” she whispered softly. “It had disappeared, but now it’s back and I’m so glad it’s because of him.”
“Me too.”
The guys came back around two o’clock, hot and sweaty and hungry. Merrie fed the lot of them while I played my tenth game of Candy Land with Gracie. We’d been playing for hours, Mum and I alternating because Gracie didn’t want to play anything else. She was a lovely child, though, with big dark eyes and curly dark hair. Despite the accident that had scarred her, she was happy and healthy and didn’t seem at all aware that there was anything different about her face.
“Hello, beautiful.” Dax leaned down to kiss me and I smiled up at him.
“How was golf?” I asked.
“Hot as fu—er, hot. Really, really hot.” He grimaced in Gracie’s direction but she was oblivious.
“Uncle Dax, did you see my dress for the party?” she asked him.
“Only about a hundred times,” he said, grinning at her.
“No, not my wedding dress—the dress for the party tonight.”
“Oh.” He paused. “I don’t think I did. Is it blue and gold?”
She clapped her hands. “Yes! How did you know?”
He chuckled. “Almost everything you wear is blue and gold.”
“It’s the Sidewinders colors,” she said, giving him a look. “And you’re a Sidewinder. Why aren’t you wearing blue and gold?”
“I wear it almost every day for nine months of the year,” he responded. “During the off-season, I try to branch out to other colors.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yuck.”
We laughed.
“It’s your turn to play Candy Land,” Gracie announced. “Please sit down.”
Dax looked ready to protest but I gave him a dirty look and he immediately sank down beside me. “Okay. I have time for a game, but then I have to shower and get ready for the party. And if you let me win, I’ll wear a Sidewinders-blue shirt tonight!”
“Yay!” Gracie looked delighted. “Okay.”
“You haven’t let me win a game all morning,” I protested, pretending to pout.
“You’re not wearing blue.” Gracie didn’t even look up and I playfully stuck my tongue out at her, so only Dax could see, and he stifled a laugh.
“So, what are you wearing tonight, Isla?” Dax asked, not looking up.
“You’re just going to have to wait and see.”
14
Dax
I’d only been joking when I’d asked Isla what she was wearing, but when she came down the stairs on her way to the party, I had to focus to make sure my mouth didn’t fall open. We’d opted to get dressed here today since driving back and forth to the hotel was sometimes a hassle with traffic. Tonight’s event was casual since tomorrow would be black-tie formal, but even in skintight white jeans, a low-cut halter-style blouse and high-heeled sandals, Isla took my breath away. I spotted her from a few feet away and took a moment to drink in the sight of her.
I loved a naked woman—what man didn’t?—but Isla in this outfit was almost better. She’d curled her shoulder-length blond hair so it floated around her neck like a whisper of silk, and I longed to reach out and touch it.
We hadn’t talked about whether or not we were going to make some sort of public announcement about our relationship, but my feet moved of their own volition to meet her at the bottom
