Page 29 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“Hey Bug, did you have fun playing flower girl?” Rylin wore her dress from Paige’s wedding, throwing dried petals down the short aisle at the chapel as Ivy trailed closely behind her. I’ll never forget the look of excitement on her little face.
“It was so fun!” She’s practically vibrating on the spot as she tells me all about her morning at the ranch with Evelyn, and how they painted her nails for the ceremony.
We take a bunch of pictures as a family and something stirs in my gut — a longing I can’t quite place. Paige has us walk hand in hand down the sidewalk with Rylin in the middle. We swing her in the air a few times, and she giggles. That sound could melt an iceberg.
“Ok, Ry. Why don’t you go inside so I can finish up with Mommy and Luca?”
“Okay,” she says, skipping off into the diner.
“Cade, can you run in and grab the milkshake? Rosie should have it ready. Two straws.” As Cade disappears inside, Paige continues to direct me and Ivy into various poses. “Take a seat on either side of the table in front of the window.”
The sun is setting over the town, casting an almost ethereal glow on Ivy’s face. The light catches in her irises, illuminating the subtle flecks of gold along the inner circle. She smiles her genuine smile — the one that actually meets her eyes — andmy heartbeat quickens. I don’t think it’s ever been directed at me before. I’m so entranced, I almost miss the milkshake being placed on the table between us.
The moment Ivy takes the cherry off the top and takes it into her mouth, I nearly come in my pants like a goddamn teenager. I subtly adjust myself beneath the table, and the photoshoot carries on as Paige directs us into several more positions. It’s shockingly less awkward than I expected — it almost feels natural. Once she gets all the photos she wants in front of the diner, she brings us over to a small park just across the square where the last light of the sun is peeking through the trees.
“Ivy, I want you to lean your back against the tree and put your hands around Luca’s waist. Luca, you’ll put your right forearm on the tree above her head, and lean in as close as you can without your faces actually touching.”
I do as I’m told, lest I incur the wrath of my very pregnant sister, and the whole world stops the second my nose accidentally grazes Ivy’s. I watch as her breath hitches and her tongue sneaks out to lick her bottom lip. Her eyes meet mine, and I can hear the faint clicking of the shutter as Paige walks around us, snapping photos.
My whole body is responding to the feel of Ivy’s hands on my waist, and I can’t help but imagine her beneath me, writhing in pleasure. Time slows, and I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but before I can stop myself, I cup her cheek with my other hand, bringing her lips to mine in a soft whisper of a kiss. Our eyes close, and everything around us ceases to exist as we get lost in each other. It’s the complete opposite of our first kiss — sensual and unhurried. Ivy lets out a moan, sending a signal straight to my dick.
“Fuck,” I mutter, as I jump back frommy wife.
Ivy
“Thanks for closing down for us, Rosie. You really didn't have to go to this much trouble,” I say, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Oh hush. This crew takes up nearly the entire space as it is.”
I finally have a moment to myself after what has been an absolute whirlwind, and I’m standing off to the side of the long counter, taking in the faces of the people I love as they chatter excitedly, recalling the events of the day. I’m filled with a mixture of emotions, not the least of which is an overwhelming desire for something I have no business even dreaming about. Ever since the kiss under the tree, my body has been vibrating with need; longer than that, if I’m being completely honest.
Luca looks delicious in a navy blue three-piece suit that fits him like a second skin. He wore a burgundy tie during the ceremony, but he’s since taken it off, sitting at the table with the top two buttons of his white shirt undone. I’m absolutely feral for the small amount of skin peaking out.Get it together, Ivy. You can’t be swooning over your fake husband.
“You’re a lucky lady, Ivy Jo,” Evelyn says, sliding up beside me at the counter. “He’s a good one.”
“He is,” I agree, returning her smile. But there’s a pang of guilt under the surface for the lies that brought us all together today. I just hope this isn’t all for nothing. “Thanks for being here, Evie.”
“You know I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Lord knows none of my other kids are getting married anytime soon. I’m just grateful to have you and Ry to tide me over until they do. Did you call your family?”
I cringe at her question. The call to my family in Indiana had been a disaster, and made much worse by the fact that mygrandma’s memory is failing. She thought my mom was calling to tell her she was going to marry my dad, and all hell broke loose. Eventually, my aunt took over the call. They expressed their congratulations, though it was awkward and stilted, and we left it at that. Evie takes my silence as an answer and she squeezes my hand. “Love you, Ivy Jo. I’m so damn proud of you, and your mama would be, too.” There’s a tingling sensation in my nose, and tears start to gather behind my eyelids as I pull her in for a hug.
Glancing over at the makeshift banquet table, made up of several smaller ones pushed together, Evie smirks. “Let’s join the party before your husband storms over here to ask me why you’re crying.”
I didn’t even notice the tears had escaped, but I swipe them away, giving Luca a gentle smile to ease his worry before we approach. Ever the gentleman, he stands, pulling out a chair for me to sit. Luca takes his place beside me, stretching his arm around my back, his fingertips grazing my spine, sending goosebumps across my flesh. I stare across the table at Rylin. who’s seated beside Liam’s son, Aidan, chatting animatedly as they color their menus.
A short while later, the diner is filled with the sound of chatter and clinking cutlery as we dig into our meals. I reach over and snag a french fry from Luca’s plate before I can think better of it, and he pins me with a glare. “Thief,” he teases.
With a smirk, I pluck another one, but he captures my hand before I can make off with it. My body heats as he brings my hand to his lips, his tongue grazing the side of my fingertips when he takes the fry into his mouth. I bite my bottom lip to stifle a moan, as a snort sounds from across the table. I look up, making eye contact with Miles, a glint of amusement on his face, and I subtly scratch my nose with my middle finger.
Seconds later, I feel Luca’s body stiffen beside me. Instinctively, I follow his gaze to the front door where Austin is standing on the sidewalk, leaning casually against the hood of his car, staring daggers back at my husband.Holy shit.Husband.
Luca tosses his utensils down on his plate, the loud clatter stealing the attention of our entire party. “I’m going to fucking kill him,” he mutters.
I gently place my hand on his cheek, stealing his attention. “Let it go. He’s not worth it.”
“He’s stalking you, Ivy. He can’t keep getting away with this.”
“I know, but until we have some kind of proof, we can’t do anything but document it and hope for the best. We have a court date coming up.”
