Page 58 of At His Wife's Behest

They danced the night away, Kellan never happier than when in Connor’s arms. After the cake cutting came the throwing of the bouquets. Several single lads and lasses rushed to the dance floor. Emma searched the group. “Oh, ex-husband?” She gazed his direction. “Get your butt over herenow,mister.”

“Go ahead,” Kellan said, waving her off.

“The band clearly saidallsingle people.You’resingle. Actually, so’s Connor, so both of you get over here.”

The crowd clapped, egging them on.

Connor smiled at him before clasping his hand and dragging him toward Emma. Once they made it there, Emma winked at him before she and Amanda turned their backs.

Both brides tossed their bouquets, and Emma’s hit Kellan square in the chest. The lady who landed Amanda’s roared with delight, holding it aloft over her head. The revelers applauded.

“Big surprise,” Kellan said, gripping the stems.

Emma spun, her grin wide. “Your turn, mister.”

“Maybe one day.” Kellan turned to eye his boyfriend. Connor’s expression grew odd. Kellan offered the bouquet. “Did you want it?”

Connor shook his head, smiling. “Nope. It landed onyou.”

“No… it was purposelythrustmy way.”

“Potato, pa-ta-toe,” Connor murmured, before dragging him close for the next dance.

Hours passed. He paused to tuck Abigail into bed later that night after her nanny got her bathed and into pjs, but returned to the party soon after the bedtime story was complete.

The merrymaking went into the late hours. He and Connor danced so much his feet began to hurt. Luckily, the brides called it a night soon thereafter. Before they parted, Emma rushed over to give him a big hug.

“I still adore you.”

“Same,” Kellan replied before kissing her cheek.

“We’re off. Our flight leaves super early tomorrow. I’m going to try and wake Little Miss Thing before we go, but I don’t know if she’ll wake up. I’ll Facetime her as soon as we get there, so text me when you’re both home.”

“Will do.”

“Don’t stay out too late. I need you fresh-eyed and well rested while I’m gone,” Emma said. “Mr. Acting CEO.”

After he’d lost his job, Emma had offered him the COO job at her company. At first, he’d balked, thinking she was throwing him a bone and he’d have little to do. He’d quickly learned it wasn’t that at all. He had plenty to keep him on his toes and after a year, he was finally starting to feel comfortable and confident in his role. She’d done much of what she’d set out to do in her first-year plan, changing leadership and shifting the workplace into one that valued women, strove for diversity, and accepted differences. While they still had more work to do to get it right,her revamping of the family name and business had landed her on a couple of magazine covers praising the transformation—TimeandForbesinstead of the tabloids she’d once graced in her youth.

“I’vegotthis,” Kellan told her.

“I know you do. I wouldn’t have left you in charge if I didn’t trust you implicitly.”

He smiled at her. “Appreciated.”

She gazed past him to Connor. “Take care of my best friend while I’m gone, hmm?”

“He’s in good hands,” Connor offered.

“Yep. I know,” Emma said. She leaned in and kissed Kellan’s cheek, tears shining in her eyes. “We made it, Kel.”

Kellan fought his own—not because he saw them as weakness, not anymore—but because they’d end up a breaking down together if he let one slide.

Amanda sidled up to them. “Time to get going.”

Emma wrapped her bride in a hug and planted one on Amanda. When they parted, there was no question what they planned to do next. Emma waved goodbye as they exited the tent.

“How much longer before I can rush off and take you to bed, too?” Connor asked, his lips brushing against the shell of Kellan’s ear.

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