Gina’s gaze was glued to him, and I shook my head. I hoped Jax did let her down easy so that she could move on from whatever fantasy she had about her and Jax getting together.
I wandered over to where my friends were sitting and plopped down in an empty chair. “Hide me,” I said. “I don’t think I can handle one more dance.”
“Sorry,” Abby said with an unapologetic shrug. “You’re the bride. It’s sorta your job to dance with everyone at least once.”
“Well, if that’s the requirement, then I think it’s quitting time,” I said with a small laugh. “Because I’ve officially danced with everyone here.”
“Except for any of us,” Whitney said, motioning around the table.
I gave her a dirty look, and she laughed.
“Seriously, though, Chloe, this wedding is the best one I’ve ever been to,” Ellie said.
“You’re welcome,” Whitney said and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“Hey!” Abby swatted at her. “We all helped, too.”
“Excuse me, ladies,” Trent said, his hand resting on my shoulder. “May I borrow my wife for a moment?” He flashed a sexy smile at them, winked, and reached for my hand.
And I swore every single one of my friends melted into puddles right there at the table, Whitney included.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” I asked as he led me toward the edge of the canopy, to the spot where it was the darkest and most secluded.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“You do realize you’ve just given them wet dreams for like, a month, right?”
He laughed—he’d been doing that a lot tonight, too, and I loved it. I wanted him to be this happy all the time.
“As long as I’m your wet dream, too, I don’t care,” he said, tugging me into his arms.
I ran my hands down his lapels and peered up at him—though in these heels, I didn’t have to crane my neck back quite as far. “So, why did you drag me off into a dark corner?” I asked, my tone suggestive.
He must’ve picked up on that, too, because his eyes darkened with lust. “I wanted a minute alone with my hot wife. I’ve had to share you entirely too much tonight,” he said.
My face heated. I coursed my hands down his torso and around to his back, relishing in the way his chest rumbled with a low groan. I’d give anything to be able to leave right now and go home with him.
“Well, you’ve got me alone. Now what’re you going to do?” I asked.
“This.” He brushed his lips over mine. “And this.” He flattened his hands against my back, his touch like a branding iron on my bare skin, and then he kissed me. Slowly. Deeply. Passionately.
By the time he pulled away, I was dizzy and couldn’t breathe, but my lips tingled in the most delicious way.
“I’m going to talk to my brothers and Isach for a few minutes,” he said. “I didn’t want you to worry if you couldn’t find me. But I won’t be long. Promise.”
I narrowed my eyes and stepped out of his embrace. “Why?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, and my stomach sank. “We need to talk about Ivy,” he said.
“No. Absolutely not.” I shook my head vehemently. “We agreed that we weren’t going to deal with any of this until after the wedding. And, I’m sorry, but I’m still wearing my wedding dress, which means this wedding isn’t over yet.” My voice rose with each word.
I could not believe he was going to run off to deal with Ivy. I was moments away from stomping my foot, throwing a tantrum, and demanding he stay here with me. Was it too much to ask to want my husband to be with me right now, to want his undivided attention?
“I know,” he said softly. “But we’re leaving tomorrow, remember? We won’t be here to deal with this, and someone needs to. Jax, Colt, and Isach offered. I’m simply going to find out what their plan is.”
I crossed my arms. “Fine, then I’m going with you to talk to them.”
“I don’t want to ruin your night with this. Please.” He cradled my face in his hands. “Five minutes,” he said. “And then you have my word—no more Ivy or Zoya until we get back from our honeymoon.”
I dropped my arms to my sides, and my shoulders slumped. “Whatever,” I said, defeated.
Because I knew what was going to happen. Trent would talk to them, Jax would suggest something extreme—like sneaking into Ivy’s house and killing her—Trent would tell him how stupid that was. They’d end up arguing, Jax would intentionally say something to get under Trent’s skin, and then they’d start throwing punches.
“Just make it quick,” I said before walking away.
“Chloe, there you are,” Larissa said, catching me just as I stepped back into the lighted area. She had a sleepy Little Frank in her arms.
“Low-ee.” He reached for me.
“Hey, buddy.” I took him, and he rested his head on my shoulder. “Are you leaving?” I asked Larissa.
“No. The nanny’s here to pick him up. She’s taking him back to the hotel,” she said. “I thought you might want to say goodbye first.”
Trent walked by, momentarily distracting me. His gaze lingered on me, and his steps faltered, but then he continued on toward Jax, Colt, and Isach.
Larissa laughed. “He has not stopped looking at you tonight.”
I forced a smile, not wanting to tell her that Trent wasn’t looking at me because he couldn’t help himself; he was looking at me because he knew I was upset with him, and he was gauging my reaction. Did this count as our first fight as a married couple? That was a depressing thought.
I kissed Little Frank’s forehead. “Night, buddy. Love you,” I whispered and then gently handed him back to Larissa.
She headed toward the house, and my gaze snagged on Trent. He stopped in front of Jax, Colt, and Isach, said something, and then turned around and strode up
