Page 78 of Silver Sanctuary
Lacy didn’t recognize the server who came to take their orders, but he smiled brightly at her and waited patiently as she finished looking at the menu.
“I’ll have the Cobb salad with grilled chicken and the avocado lime dressing. It doesn’t have any sesame or peanut products used in it, does it? I’m allergic.”
“No, ma’am. I’ll double check with the chef, but that should be fine for you to eat.”
“Okay, that will be perfect then. Thank you.”
Lacy handed the menu back and folded her hands in her lap. Luckily the group was happy to carry the conversation, so she let her mind wander, resting for a few minutes before she felt Nash wrap his hand around her thigh.
“This is so nice. Our friends are actually letting us be a part of their wedding day,” Hawk jabbed at Gunner and Lily.
“Hawk—”
Oh, Gunner was definitely about to lay into him.
“It’s okay, handsome.” Lily smiled and turned back to Hawk. “How many times do I have to apologize for being a million months pregnant and needing Gunner’s help? You know we couldn’t wait. We had to be married for him to go on Sage’s birth certificate. And I had all those complicationsafterwards. If we weren’t married and I didn’t have the insurance Seb has for all of you, I would be drowning in medical debt. I mean, is that what you want for me?”
The color drained from Hawk’s face. “Lily, no. Never, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
Lily’s laughter washed over the table and Hawk sat frozen.
“Serves you right to have to apologize to me. Quit trying to make Gunner feel bad for stepping up and being the most incredible husband and father. It’s going to come back and bite you in the butt one of these days.”
“Damn, Lily.” Hawk held his hand over his heart. “Christ, I thought you were really upset with me.”
“You’re an idiot,” Mae groaned.
“Besides.” Gunner took Sage from Lily’s arms and situated her on his lap. “Lil and I have been talking about doing a little ceremony here. We actually found some land that would be perfect.”
“Land?” Sebastian smiled. “To get married on? Or to build a house on?”
“To get married on, and then to raise our family on.”
“Oh my GOD!” Emma squealed. “Oh, you guys. That is so exciting!”
“We had an offer accepted last week. It’s going to be a while before we get a house up, so don’t go thinking about moving into our apartment or anything, Mae.”
“Girl, what?! Like I’d be able to walk in there and not cry my eyes out over missing you! Where is this land? Please tell me it’s not far!”
“No, it’s not far…” Lily stood up and walked around the table until she was closest to Emma and Lacy as Sloane and Mae made their way over too. Her cell phone was out as she scrolled through a bunch of pictures. “It’s just outside Silver Springs proper. We love it so much. Look at this field! I’m hoping Gunner will let me plant a big garden right there.”
They spent the next few minutes looking at the pictures, the girls all giving their opinions about what features needed to go in the house and giggling over all the projects Lily already had lined up for her husband.
The server came back right as the women all took their seats again, the chatter dying down as everyone dug into their meals. Nash had gotten a steak that looked absolutely divine. He must have seen her sideways glances because as soon as he had the first slice cut and on his fork, he raised it to her lips.
“What do you think,wife?How is it?”
Lacy opened her mouth and tenderly removed the steak from his fork, acutely aware of their friends watching the exchange. She chewed for a second, the flavor dancing across her taste buds and the peppery seasoning igniting something deep in her belly. Of course, that could also be from the way Nash was currently looking at her. Like he wanted to devour her instead of his own meal.
“Delicious,husband.”Her whispered response set off fire in his eyes. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers, his tongue licking along the seam. Then he pulled back, humming in agreement.
Someone cleared their throat, and the women all laughed.
“Careful, you two.” Stone grinned. “You’ll have a kid on the way before you even get a chance to book a honeymoon.”
Lacy stabbed her fork into her salad and shoved far too many leafy greens in her mouth to try and drown out her embarrassment. The conversation quickly turned away from them, thanks to Gage and Sloane talking about a trip they were planning to take in a few weeks. Lacy tried to focus on what they were saying, but her ears were starting to buzz, and an unfamiliar itch had her clearing her throat in an effort to stop it.
But it wasn’t working. She set her fork down, taking a shaky inventory of her body. It was odd—nothing tastedoff about her salad. Lacy’s eyes dropped, inspecting the dish in front of her. It looked just like a regular Cobb salad, but her tongue began to tingle all the same. She didn’t want to believe it…
