Page 10 of Moonlight & Matrimony
I carefully extricate the knife from Paige’s grasp, dismissing her with a wave. “Take your cute little bump upstairs and get yourself ready. Luca and I can handle this on our own.”
“Ugh. You’re the worst,” she grumbles as she carefully slides off the stool.
“Love you too, bestie!” With one hand on her lower back, she raises the other, flipping me off as she waddles down the hallway. Once she’s out of sight, I turn to Luca. “Are you ok with sharp objects, or is it a family trait I should be concerned about?”
“I can hold my own in the kitchen,” he says, rounding the island to stand at my side, his hip lightly bumping against me. My body reacts to the brief contact like a bitch in heat. “Tell me what you want, Ivy,” he says, his tone laced with innuendo. Suddenly the room feels as though it’s 110 degrees and I can’t get out of there fast enough.
After giving him explicit instructions on how Paige wanted everything arranged, I take the opportunity presented, putting as much distance as possible between me and Luca.
Time passes in a blur as I put the finishing touches on the decor. The back deck is stunning with wildflowers scattered around the area — a callback to Paige and Cade’s wedding. I’m just getting done greeting all the newcomers when a commotion erupts behind me. “Mags! You’re here!” Paige squeals.
“You act as if you had no idea I was coming,” she laughs, pulling her bestie into a tight hug. Paige and Maggie were best friends and roommates before she moved here from Toronto. It took some convincing, but eventually we came to a bipartisan agreement to share the title. Recently, there have been talksabout Maggie moving to the area post graduation, but she’s still hesitant, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why she’s holding back.
A familiar voice interrupts their reunion, and Maggie’s nostrils flare. “Hey there, Wildcat.”
“Misery has arrived,” she deadpans.
Miles Barlow and Maggie Watson couldn’t be more different if they tried. Where Maggie is short and slender, with very few curves, Miles is tall and broad, with muscles like a Norse god. Her long wavy brown locks and honey brown eyes are a stark contrast to his messy blonde hair and striking baby blues. Maggie’s style is what you might call whimsical thrift store chic, whereas Miles looks like he just stepped out of the latest issue of GQ.
Dramatic as ever, Miles stumbles backwards like he’s been shot. “You don’t mean that,” he teases.
“Oh, I very much do.” She rolls her eyes before her gaze lands on me. “Hey, Ivy,” she says as she wraps me in a one-armed hug, the other arm laden with gift bags. “Is Rylin here? I figured the little munchkin would’ve tackled me by now.”
“She’s with Evie today. She gets overstimulated in larger crowds, so she’s sitting this one out. But she made me promise to give Auntie Paige a special gift.”
“Aww,” Paige coos, her hand stroking lightly over her bump. “My sweet Ry Ry. I love that girl so much.” I smile. Most days, I feel like a failure, wishing I could give Rylin a better dad and a bigger family, but when I see how much love we have in our chosen circle, it makes every sacrifice worthwhile.
“Don’t get too excited,” I warn. “There’s only so much a 4-year-old can do with a paintbrush and some watercolors.” Rylin insisted on painting a special portrait for the nursery, complete with what I think is supposed to be a cat, but it could also be an elephant — the jury is still out, but I know better than to ask.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Luca approaching our small gathering. His face is impassive, but there’s a hint of something I can’t quite place as he reaches his sister. “I forgot something at the house. I’ll be right back.” She eyes him curiously, then nods. “Hey Ivy, can I get a hand with something?” he asks, catching me completely off guard.
“Um, sure? I guess I’ll be right back, too.”
Paige pins me with an assessing stare, and I shrug as Luca leads me through the side gate and over to where he parked his pickup. “Hop in,” he says, holding the door open for me like a gentleman.
“Oooook… are you kidnapping me?” At this point, I would let him live out every one of my dark romance fantasies. Luca simply glares at me, not giving anything away.
“No. Get in the truck.”Ah, so the grumpy neighbor shtick is back.I grab onto the handle and hoist myself up into the cab.
“Buckle up.” The gruff command in his voice sends shivers up my spine, and my whole body tingles.
“Yes, sir.” I shoot back. His gaze heats for a moment, but it’s gone before I can even lay claim to it. Closing my door with a thud, he rounds the truck to climb into the driver’s side.
We quickly pull onto the familiar streets of Oak Ridge, making the drive in awkward silence. I stare off into the distance, admiring the town I love so much. Flowers are in full bloom in the hanging baskets outside of the shops on Main Street as we inch closer to our neighborhood, and a few people I vaguely recognize from the bookstore are walking down the sidewalk towards Rosie’s. A few minutes later, Luca pulls to a stop in front of his home.
“Come with me.”I’d love to.
Before we even reach the top of the porch steps, Luca’s door swings open and a familiar face comes into view. “It’s about damn time, Luca.”
“Nana, I’m five minutes early. Can you put down the wooden spoon?” She smiles up at her grandson, her eyes alight with amusement before she places the offending object on the entryway table. Exasperated, Luca turns to face me. “Can you help Nana into the truck while I load up a gift for Paige?”
“Ivy! It’s so good to see you again.” Sofia steps onto the porch before pulling me into a hug. She’s barely five feet tall with short, dyed black hair peppered with grays and her eyes are a deep brown, not unlike her grandson. Her general demeanor reminds me so much of Paige. “I hope my Luca is being good to you.” Her kind eyes crinkle with curiosity, as if assessing why Luca would’ve brought me, of all people, and I can’t say I didn’t wonder the same thing.
“He’s been a perfect gentleman, Miss Sofia.”
“Call me Nana,” she says. “Everybody else does. Be careful with that one, sweet girl. Luca’s had a stick up his ass for years, and he could really use a lady like you to help him remove it.” I let out an unrestrained laugh, grasping her forearm to lead her towards the truck.
“Nana, stop being such a menace,” Luca teases.
