Page 169 of Risky Passion

Jaxson hooked his arm through mine, leading me under the marquee. Each chair had been decorated with a small sprig of eucalyptus tied neatly with twine, while fairy lights were threaded around the marquee poles, promising a magical glow as the sun dipped lower.

Everything looked perfect. Including Jaxson. His charcoal suit hugged his broad frame perfectly, and his deep forest-green tie matched the accents in my dress so well it looked like we’d planned our outfits.

Jaxson and I sat near the middle of the aisle with our fingers laced together.

I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything about the day felt perfect . . . the laughter, the anticipation, the love that seemed to fill the air likesomething tangible. I glanced at Jaxson, and my heart gave that familiar flutter when I caught the way he looked at me.

His thumb brushed over the back of my hand, and I leaned into him.

“I feel so lucky to be here,” I whispered.

“I reckon, considering your recent near-death experiences,” he teased, a hint of mischief in his tone.

“No, silly,” I said, waggling my head. “I mean to be at this wedding, with these amazing people. They’re all so nice.”

He nodded, and his expression softened. “Like family.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, squeezing his hand. “Exactly.”

Up near the altar, Zac shifted in his tailored electric-blue suit. He looked like some kind of Hollywood star, and I had no doubt Maya had chosen that suit for him. Despite his polished appearance, he fidgeted with his cuffs and shifted from foot to foot.

Standing beside him were Blade and Levi. Unlike Zac, who looked comfortable in his suit, Blade and Levi resembled caged animals, itching to rip off their jackets and bow ties. Levi leaned in close to Zac, murmuring something that made him laugh. Even so, Zac didn’t take his eyes off the back of the marquee, probably scanning for his bride.

A woman shuffled into the seat beside me, brushing her blonde curls away from her face.

“Made it just in time,” she said, sounding slightly out of breath. “I forgot about Zena’s mini tarts in the oven and nearly smoked the whole house out. Maya’s going to be furious if she smells like smoke because of me.”

“Nah . . . she’ll be on too much of a high to even notice,” I said with a grin.

“Doubt it. Maya misses nothing.”

Another woman slipped into the seat beside her, and the first woman leaned toward me, lowering her voice. “I’m Brooke, Zena’s sister, and this is my wife, Tiffany.”

“Hi,” I said, offering a smile. “I’m Tory, and this is Jaxson.”

Tiffany’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I know who you are,” she said. “I tried to get an interview with you after your plane crash.”

“You did?” I asked, frowning as I tilted my head.

“Yeah, I’m a reporter for theNorth Queensland Chronicle, but your boss blocked me.”

“Oh.” I bit back a smile, imagining the scene. Ryder probably hadn’t let her finish her request before ending her call. Ryder hated reporters; and with good reason.

Jaxson leaned toward me, his voice low but loud enough for the others to hear. “Did you know Brooke and Zena are Risky Shores heroes?”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking, half-expecting him to be joking. “No.”

“They saved Risky Shores’ water supply from being poisoned,” he said.

“And the turtles,” Tiffany added.

“Yeah, and?—”

A sudden blast of music erupted from the speakers, making everyone jump. In the front corner of the marquee, Cobra shot forward, reaching for the sound system, and the music cut off abruptly, leaving a faint buzz in my ears.

“Sorry!” Cobra called out, raising his hands in an apology as he returned to his seat.

The tension broke with a soft cry, and everyone turned to Billie as she scooped baby Jack from his pram.

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