Page 322 of The Christmas Wife

"Tiny!" Isla lifts her skirts and races after him. "Tiny, stop."

The man pouring the champagne into the glass pauses midway. Then Tiny leaps onto the table, which crashes under his weight. The man jumps back. The bottle falls from his hands. Tiny snatches it out of the air, tips it upside down, and into his mouth.

"Tiny, you’re a bad boy!" Isla grabs the bottle and tugs it from Tiny’s jaws. Liam reaches her and seizes Tiny’s collar.

"Did that dog neck a bottle of champagne?" Edward asks in a dazed tone.

Zara and I share a laugh. I turn to Edward. "We have much to catch you up on."

"Does that Great Dane have a taste for champagne or am I seeing things?" Edward looks from Isla to Liam.

"It’s her mother’s dog." Liam raises his hands. As if that explains everything.

"We’re baby-sitting him, while my mother is on a trip with her knitting club." Isla explains.

"And he has a fondness for bubbles?” Edward asks in a disbelieving voice.

"From the very first time we opened a champagne bottle in front of him. And it doesn’t seem to hurt him, at all.” Isla raises a shoulder. “Occasionally, he has a hangover, which is when my mother gets really upset with him."

"He’s so cute, though." Abby bends and hugs the Great Dane. Liam’s tied Tiny’s leash to his chair, and for now, at least, the dog sits on his haunches watching the humans with a long-suffering look on his face.

"He’s a darling, except when he’s in proximity to champagne," Isla agrees.

"Not that I’m encouraging him or anything, but he can have my share, considering I’m not drinking," my wife announces.

"Oh, my god, I totally forgot to congratulate you." Solene, leans over and hugs Zara.

From across the table, Declan watches Solene with a frown on his face. The two turned up separately to the wedding, have not exchanged a word since, and are seated at opposite ends of the table. Interesting. Not that it’s my business. Still, now that I’m married, I can’t help but wish the same for my friend.

"I’m so excited for you.” Isla flashes my wife a smile. “Marriage and a baby, back-to-back. Who’d have thought you’d beat me to the baby side of things?"

"Umm, it was an accident," Zara mutters.

"But one I’m really excited about," I interject.

Isla straightens, then glances between us. "It’s going to be good for the polls as well, right?"

Zara and I look at each other. "It can’t hurt," Zara says finally.

"Actually, the coverage has been very positive." Abby waves her phone in the air. "I didn’t want to bother either of you, since this is, technically, still your wedding, but the press has lapped it up. There are already gushing accounts of the wedding and the upcoming baby. And the latest polls see elevated approval ratings for Mr. Whittington."

"Call me Hunter."

Abby flushes a little. "Yes sir, Mr. Hunter."

"Just Hunter."

"That’s what I meant. Your idea of a surprise wedding with the press invited to it is a hit. Of course, some of them are complaining that they’d have liked to have been told beforehand so they could have dressed accordingly, but other than that, it’s one big love fest."

"It’s a good way to start our honeymoon, huh?" I tuck a strand of hair behind my wife’s ear. My wife.How did I get so lucky?

"Our working honeymoon," Zara raises her sparkling juice to her lips and takes a sip. "You still have a campaign to run."

"You’re going to keep me on the straight and narrow, hmm?"

"You know that’s impossible. You have a mind of your own, baby. All I’m trying to do is give you options. I know you’ll always make up your own mind, but it’s not going to stop me from sharing my viewpoint."

I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckles. "I want you to actively campaign with me. I want you to talk about the causes that are dear to you. I want you to head up a fund that supports the needs of the women, the vulnerable, and children with special needs."

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