Page 63 of The Wedding Toast
Becca smiled.“She does.Callie’s awesome.”
“She is – tell her I said thanks.I’d better run.I’ll see you back here later.”
She stole another quick peck.“It might not be until this evening – today’s going to get crazy, but we need to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.”She laughed.“And then you need to make sure your bag’s packed for the night.”
He gave her a dark look.“It already is.I’ll take it over to the cottage with me.And tell Callie that as much as I appreciate her staying with you tonight, I’m still not thrilled that she gets to spend the night with you, and I don’t.”
Becca laughed.“It was your choice – you were the one who wanted to go with the tradition of not seeing each other till we meet at the altar … well, under the arch.Oh.Don’t panic if you see me near the garage in a little while.Callie and I are going to collect Zia from Alara and bring her to Hannah’s with us.I think she and Ava will have fun together.”
“Okay.I’ll look out for you – or let me know when you’re on your way down there.”He curled his fingers around the nape of her neck and gave her one of his soul-searing kisses before pulling back with a smile.“I’ll steal another one of those if I can catch you.”
After he left the study, Becca stood there for a few moments, fingers pressed to her lips as she marveled at what a wonderful man he was – and how much she loved him.
~ ~ ~
Jacob enjoyed the feel of the sun on his back as he walked down to the garage with the others.Even though part of him wished that he’d get to spend tonight with Becca, he was looking forward to his night with the guys.When Bentley had asked if he wanted to spend the night at his place, he’d declined, not wanting to be that far away from Becca.
So, Slade had stepped up and suggested that a few of them could stay at his and Willow’s cottage right here on the estate.Jacob grinned at Xander.He understood why his brother had wanted to find a place for just him and Tori to stay while they were here, but he was glad that he was going to join them all at the cottage.
His brother smiled at him.“And Becca really has no idea what you’ve done?”
“Not a clue.”
Slade laughed.“She’s gonna love it, you know.”
“I hope so.”
As they approached the garage, he smiled when he saw Alara.It looked as though the arch was complete – all except the flowers.He’d been a little uneasy at first when she insisted that she wouldn’t place them until tomorrow morning.But both Chuck and Walt had reassured him that it would be better that way.
He chuckled when he saw Zia come running from the trees, a cornflower blue ribbon trailing behind her on the breeze.His stride faltered when he saw someone chasing her.
Xander laughed.“Have you seen Reaves?”
Jacob looked again and was surprised to see that Reaves was the one chasing her.
“I thought he didn’t like kids.”
“So did he,” said Slade.“Until he met Zia.”
“I can’t blame him.She’s a real little character, isn’t she?”said Xander.
“She is,” Jacob agreed, giving his brother a puzzled look.“You know her too?”
Xander nodded.“I met her when Tori and I came over to see Slade and Willow yesterday.”
“Did she give you a name?”asked Bentley.“I’m feeling a little left out.It seems that she’s named everyone around here.”
Xander grinned.“She did, and I am proud to announce that I am the dragon from another land.”
Jacob laughed.“That figures.”Xander and Slade had always been close.They were alike in many ways, so if Slade was the growly dragon who guarded the estate, it didn’t surprise him that Xander would also be a dragon.
Slade punched Bentley’s arm.“We’ll have to get her to name you while we’re here.”
Zia ran all the way past her mother, who looked up and frowned as the girl came to greet them.She stopped in front of them and rubbed her hand over her eyes before blinking up at Jacob and bowing with a flourish.
“Hello, King Cornflower.”
Bentley chuckled beside him.
