Page 53 of The Wedding Toast
They both looked up when Laura appeared on the stairs above them and laughed.
“Soft?You?”she asked, looking incredulous.“Don’t buy it,” she told Jacob.“He’s still the same old Neanderthal –” her words cut off when Smoke curled his arm around her waist as she tried to pass him on the stairs.
Jacob laughed as she batted at Smoke’s arms.“Put me down, you big …”
Smoke gave her a mock scowl as he let her go.She smoothed her skirt and continued on her way to Jacob.When she reached him, she took three small boxes out of her purse and handed them to him.
“Smoke said I shouldn’t have brought them out, and he might be right – but don’t tell him I said that.”
Jacob laughed when Smoke joined her and rested his chin on her shoulder as he looked at the boxes.“Too late, lady.You admitted I’m right.”
She rolled her eyes at him.“I usually do when you are.”
“I know.”Smoke turned back to him.“Are you going to open them, see how they feel in person?”
Laura looked up at him wide-eyed.“You finally get it?How it feels?”
Smoke laughed.“No.I’m still a Neanderthal, but Jacob does, apparently.”
She met Jacob’s gaze.“Ignore him – I try to.”
“But you don’t succeed.”
Laura laughed and slapped his arm again.“Would you stop it?Go and get us a drink or something?This is important.”
Smoke met Jacob’s gaze.“I know it is, and I’ll be quiet, but once you know that he loves what you made him for Becca, I need a word.”Smoke’s cool gray gaze met his and all the humor was gone.“I only need a minute.”
Jacob nodded and Laura smiled.“Do you even want to look at them now – or do you want …”
Jacob flipped all three boxes open one after the other.His breath caught in his chest.He met her gaze and nodded.
She nodded back and touched his arm.“That’s all I needed to know.I’m so glad, and you’re welcome.”
He could only watch as she turned and trotted back up the stairs.
Eventually he swallowed.“I should have said something.I … they’re beautiful.”
Smoke chuckled.“You didn’t need to say a word – it’s written all over your face.She knows.”
“I’ll tell her though when I see her.Thank her properly.”
“Seriously, bud, you don’t need to – the look on your face when you saw them already said it all.”
Jacob straightened his shoulders.“Thanks.So – what did you want me for?”
“Only a minute.I know you’ll want to get to Becca – and I imagine the two of you won’t be sticking around for long.”
Jacob smiled.“That’s the plan.”
“I don’t blame you.All I wanted to do is thank you for what you’re doing with Ria and Elena.”
“There’s no need.I love it for myself, and I know they’re both happy about it.”
“Yeah.It means the world to them.Ria’s a good woman.She’s the reason that I didn’t just turn my back on this place and my family and never look back.I talked to her this afternoon, and it means the world to her.”
“It does to me.”
Smoke smirked.“And you’re wondering why the hell I’m going on about it.”
