Page 9 of Killer Honeymoon
Sawyer shook his head. “Hell no. I don’t believe in wasting good cake.”
Royce held the fork to his mouth, and Sawyer leaned forward, accepting the offering. He saw the moment Sawyer realized the significance of the cake. His eyes softened into a dreamy expression as he quietly chewed.
Sawyer swallowed and cupped Royce’s neck, leaning in to steal a kiss. “That’s your mom’s chocolate cake.”
“I gave Sherry the recipe so my mom could be included in our special day.”
“Perfection,” Sawyer said.
“Come on, you two,” Barron called out. “The rest of us want dessert too.”
“I told you they’d forget about everyone else,” Evangeline gloated.
Sawyer fed Royce a bite without further delay, then they grabbed a selection of desserts to take back to their table. Royce enjoyed watching the delighted reactions people had in choosing their desserts and eating them.
The emcee allowed everyone time to enjoy their goodies before he announced it was time for the dancing to begin. The grooms walked to the makeshift dance floor and smiled at one another. Royce had momentarily worried it would feel awkward sharing this intimate moment with Sawyer while everyone watched, but as Evangeline had aptly pointed out—twice—he soon forgot other people were present in the garden of fairy lights and flowers. Royce pressed his forehead to Sawyer’s, and they swayed to John Legend’s “All of Me.” They were so caught up in the moment they continued dancing long after the song ended.
“I think it’s time for the mothers and sons to dance,” the emcee boomed through the microphone.
They’d decided to do one dance for both grooms rather than two separate ones. Royce and Sawyer wanted the dance to be a special tribute and had had no trouble finding the perfect song. Royce had debated asking his aunt Sheila to dance with him as she’d done with Jace, but he’d chosen Holly’s mom instead. Jackie had been a surrogate to Royce even before he’d become a lost boy missing his mama. He couldn’t think of anyone better to fill his mother’s shoes once more. Jackie had cried when he’d first asked her for the honor and again when the DJ started Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.”
“I don’t want to think about what my childhood would’ve been like without the sanctuary your home and heart provided. I never really thanked you for it, Mama Jackie.”
“Yes, you did,” she replied. “You thanked me by always being a wonderful friend to Holly. You showed your appreciation by turning into a fine man anyone would be proud to claim as their own.” She offered a watery smile and said, “I couldn’t cherish you more if you were my own son. I love you.”
Royce smiled down at her. “I love you too.” The words came naturally to him thanks to the man dancing beside him.
Jackie squeezed him tight when the song ended, and the emcee invited the guests to join the grooms on the dance floor to party as a hard-thumping song came through the speakers. And then the party really started. They danced, laughed, and celebrated until the moon was high in the sky.
At one point, Royce smiled as Sawyer and Tara pulled off a dance he couldn’t name let alone perform. He scanned the crowd, soaking in the joyful expressions on the faces of their family and friends. His gaze landed on Courtney and her mom, Kathy. The women smiled as they watched the shenanigans on the dance floor. As the hard-thumping song ended, Courtney glanced in his direction. She gave him a little finger wave and a gentle smile. The two of them had made great strides in getting to know each other over the past few months, and he loved little Aiden so much it made his chest hurt. He’d been so honored when Courtney had asked them to be the little man’s godparents. Royce bounced his finger back and forth between himself and Courtney and pointed to the dance floor when the song switched to a slow one.
Courtney nodded and moved to stand up. Her mother said something to her, and Courtney leaned down so Kathy could hear her. Kathy playfully tugged Courtney back down in her chair and made to meet Royce instead. He laughed and promised her the next dance.
Later in the evening, Imelda cut in and asked to dance with Sawyer. Royce kissed her cheek and took the opportunity to catch his breath and grab something to drink. Royce drained his glass of water and watched Imelda and Sawyer dancing and laughing. He became aware of someone joining him and looked over to find Vic senior watching the dance floor with a peaceful look on his face.
“It does my heart wonders to see them so happy again,” he said, then looked over at Royce. “I have you to thank for that.”
Royce found himself at a loss for words. The happiest day of his life had to remind Vic senior of the worst day of his. If his son had lived, there wouldn’t have been a wedding between Royce and Sawyer. “I won’t let them down, sir.”
Vic senior patted his shoulder. “I know you won’t, son. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to steal my wife back.”
Royce watched him walk across the patio and interrupt Sawyer and Imelda. Sawyer laughed and stepped back gallantly, and Vic senior swept his wife into his arms and spun her around. Sawyer caught Royce watching him and closed the distance between them.
“How much longer before we can get out of here?” Sawyer said.
Royce looked over and smiled. “We can go anytime you’d like.”
“Let’s start making the rounds to thank people for joining us,” Sawyer said.
Royce quirked a brow. “You go left, and I go right?”
Sawyer laughed. “We’d just have to swap and start all over again.”
Royce and Sawyer exchanged hugs, kisses, and handshakes as they circulated around the outdoor dining area to thank everyone for attending. Their guests filed through the restaurant and spilled onto the front sidewalk where they formed a tunnel and tossed birdseed as Royce and Sawyer dashed for the SUV someone had pulled around for them. A final wave goodbye and Royce pulled away from the Hummingbird Café, heading home.
Bones was lying in wait, hitting them with a sullenmeowas soon as they walked through the door.
“I don’t think he’s happy for us,” Sawyer said.