Page 15 of A Happy Endings Wedding
Chapter Five
Hailey was immensely relieved to have a delightful seafood dinner with Josh that night, along with their family and friends, and the very sameBride Specialreporter and photographer she’d previously worked with on their feature for Carrie and Zach’s wedding. Now that had been a fantastic wedding! Seriously, Carrie had looked like a beautiful princess and Zach had been to die for as the besotted groom. Ludbury House had been filled to the gills with gorgeous flowers in a profusion of cheerful colors, and the reception had featured a live band and gourmet food. Hailey had been able to go all out because it was mostly funded by the magazine, who’d been there from proposal to vows.
Everyone had finished dinner, but they were lingering at the elegant long dining room table, chatting and sipping coffee or tea. Hailey was seated at the end, Josh next to her on her right, and the reporter fromBride Special, Judith, on her left. Prince Phillip had joined them, too, at the head of the table.
She sipped some water, her stomach happy for once, and took in her friends, who were like sisters. They were all married now, and she was very pleased to have helped them all find their romantic happy endings in a myriad of subtle ways. The kids were sitting at a small adjacent table. Alex and Lauren’s daughter, four-year-old Viv, was busy bossing eighteen-month-old T.J. around. T.J. was Ty and Charlotte’s son. He remained oblivious to his cousin’s bossing, happily pushing peas around on his plate. Jake had joined them, helping baby Owen sit at the table with his cousins. Owen was also playing with peas, squishing them flat on his placemat.
And there would be more babies soon! Hers, of course, though that was still a secret. Missy was six months along; she and Ben were expecting a girl. Lauren was in her eighth month; she and Alex planned to be surprised on the gender. And Carrie was seven months pregnant; she and Zach were expecting a boy. For sure, Hailey was in good company. She was thrilled her baby would grow up with such a fabulous extended family. Mad and Parker had been married almost a year now and were waiting to start a family, Ally and Ethan had been married almost a year too, and Sabrina and Logan had married four months ago. Babies were definitely in all of their futures. She let out a happy sigh. Maybe she’d start a kickass mom club soon.
The reporter, Judith, a woman in her fifties with a dark cap of hair, leaned close to Hailey. “I’m so pleased you invited us, Hailey.”
“Of course! I’m thrilled you made time for us.”
Judith smiled. “I knew this day was coming the moment I interviewed you and Josh together almost two years ago. The love was palpable in the air.”
Josh grinned and winked at Hailey.
She smiled agreeably with the completely off-base statement. The truth was, back then she and Josh had been fighting like cats and dogs, not involved romantically at all. He’d stepped in as her fake boyfriend in his brother’s place, said a bunch of nice things about her in front of Judith with a smirk on his face the entire time, and she’d been sure he was secretly teasing her. Now she knew he’d meant every word. Even back then, he’d respected her and her work.
“We’ve already got the headline,” Judith said. “Queen of the Happy-Ever-After Gets Her Happy Ending. What do you think?”
“I love it!” Hailey exclaimed. Her previous spotlight in the magazine as the wedding planner for Carrie and Zach’s wedding had dubbed her Queen of the Happy-Ever-After (pulled directly from a compliment Josh had given her during the interview. Swoon!).
Josh smirked and tugged a lock of her hair. “She does love a happy ending.”
She pursed her lips, shooting him a significant look because she knew exactly what he meant by that.No sex talk in front of the reporter!
He grinned, cupped the back of her neck, and pulled her close for a kiss.
“Are you getting this?” Judith barked at the photographer, Rob, sitting next to her.
Rob set his coffee down in a hurry and picked up his camera with the zoom lens. “Could you do it again?”
Josh had already sat back in his seat. He crooked his finger at her, wanting her to take the initiative this time. That finger of his could be so bossy! Still, she wouldn’t deny him a kiss, especially in front of theBride Specialphotographer.
She leaned close, cupped his jaw, clean-shaven for the occasion, and kissed him gently.
He squeezed the nape of her neck, keeping her close. “Barely felt that.”
Their eyes met close-up. She wasnotgoing to make out with him in the royal dining room for the glossy pages of a magazine.
“I felt it,” she whispered against his lips.
“That didn’t count.”
“That totally counted.”
He smirked. “Do I need to do everything?”
“Shut up.”
“Shut me up.”
Her cheeks flushed hot. She kissed him like she meant it, a swift hard kiss. Then she pulled back and made a herculean effort not to glare at him. She was a loving bride with her besotted groom.Warrior beast!she silently hollered at him.
His lips curved up in a slow smile. “Love that fire.”
She softened. He meant her fiery fighting spirit.
