Page 15 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

“You’re seriously fucked if you think I’m going to get between my woman and the chance to plan a wedding.” He tugs open a roll, smearing butter in the middle before popping it into his mouth. Speaking around the bite, he continues, “In her defense, she didn’t get to help plan her own wedding.”

She smiles at her husband affectionately, no doubt recalling her gorgeous surprise backyard ceremony. “It was perfect, babe. But you make a good point,” she says, plastering on a fake pout. “Pleeeeease?”

“Ugh. Fine. You win.”

“Liam is ordained,” Cade chimes in again, adding yet another lingering question about the ever mysterious Liam.

“What? Why? And why are you telling me this?”

“Well, if you wanted to get married somewhere other than city hall, Liam can officiate and it would be basically the same thing. You’d have to apply for the license and we could plan some kind of ceremony at… oh, I don’t know… the ranch?”

My heart skips a beat at the mention of my favorite place in the world. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to get married out there someday, but this is too much for a fake marriage.

“The ranch?” Sofia asks, taking in the very conflicted emotions flitting across my face.

“Whispering Oaks. It belongs to Russell and Evelyn Hayes,” I explain. “They’re basically my surrogate parents. It’s beautiful out there, all lush green hills and a pasture with the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. It’s peaceful.”

The ranch is where I found solace after my mom died, and again when I left Austin. It’s my sanctuary, and it would feel like a betrayal to make this into something it’s not — something profound and permanent.

“It sounds perfect,” Luca says. “If that’s what you want.” His arm reaches over Rylin’s head to tuck a stray hair behind my ear and, for a moment, the entire room fades away — the graze of his fingertips causing goosebumps to scatter along my body.

I’m not ready to explain what the ranch means to me, so I deflect. “I think it’s best if we keep it small. Besides, there isn’t enough time to pull off something like that.”

“We don’t have to rush. With my ring on your finger, Austin won’t— ” My face falls and I watch in slow motion as his expression changes, realizing his mistake.

Without hesitation, I stand from the bench to perch myself on his lap, planting a bruising kiss on his mouth to shut him up.

The kiss isn’t heated, but I can feel his bulge beneath my ass and HOLY.

FUCK. He’s hard as a rock. It takes a moment to reel myself in after I release him from the kiss.

A roll hits me in the back of the head, and Luca chuckles. “Seriously? At the dinner table?” Paige scolds, rolling her eyes. “What if you get married tomorrow at the chapel, and we can do a small reception afterwards at Rosie’s?”

We’re all at the mercy of my best friend, and I’m helpless to deny her anything.

I retake my seat beside Rylin, and we pile our plates with pasta as Paige takes over the planning.

By the end of the awkward dinner, she has a mile long list of notes for the day, and I’m left with a hell of a headache, and a thousand thoughts swirling through my mind.

This time tomorrow, I’ll be married again.

The thought sends me into a tailspin as the group chat blows up with a million notifications.

I take Rylin out to the tree swing, then step back onto the porch, rolling my shoulder to ease the tension. Taking a seat near the railing, I pull out my phone, bracing myself for the chaos that awaits.

Paige:Ivy’s getting married tomorrow! 5pm at the chapel, followed by Rosie’s to celebrate.

Cara: I think you skipped a few chapters, girl.

Dean: I didn’t know she was seeing someone. Who the hell is she marrying?

Cade: Luca.

Mags: WHAT?!

Liam: The plot thickens.

Miles: Not just the plot… ??

Cade: Jesus, Miles.

Miles: What? Obviously the ?? is good.

“Well… is it, sweetheart?” I’m so caught up watching the group chat get out of hand, I completely missed Luca hovering over my shoulder. He whispers in my ear, and my entire body responds, “Go on, Ivy. Answer them.” Ignoring my desire to jump his bones, I tap out a text.

Ivy: You all know I’m in this group chat, too, right?

Miles: So… can you confirm?

Ivy: I could but then I’d have to kill you.

Paige: Gross. Can we not talk about my brother’s junk?

Mags: It’s giving small ?? energy, Miles.

Cara: Can we get back to the topic at hand? When did all of this happen?

Luca laughs, and the sound has me clenching my thighs together. “Are they always this unhinged?”

“What? Oh. This is nothing. Watch this.”

Luca has been added to the chat.

Luca: Uh. Hi. ??

Dean: Welcome to the chaos, dude.

Luca: Happy to be here… I think?

Ivy: It’s a long story. We can explain it all tomorrow. Just say you’ll be there.

Mags: Congrats, Ivy! Send lots of pics. ??

Paige: You could just move here, Mags.

Miles: Please, no.

Mags: I hope I haunt your dreams, Miles.??

Miles: You have no idea.

“What’s up with those two?” Luca asks.

“Fuck if I know. There’s this weird sexual tension whenever they're in the same room, but nobody has any idea what happened and neither of them will talk about it.”

Ivy: Well this has been fun. See you all tomorrow.

Paige: Cara, if you’re not working the night shift, we’re dress shopping in the morning!

Cara: Count me in!

I place my phone down on the stairs beside me and shift to face Luca. Our eyes meet as the group chat continues to vibrate. “Are you sure about all of this? It’s not too late to back out.”

Luca’s gaze dips to my mouth for a moment before he looks out into the yard, finding Rylin in her happy place, her little legs propelling the swing back and forth. “I’m sure,” he says, reaching for the hand that’s picking at my thumbnail — a nervous habit I've never quite been able to break.

Luca gently intertwines our fingers, and I melt into him, my head resting on his shoulder. “I want to help you, Ivy. If you’ll let me.”

I let out a shaky breath, steading myself. “Ok,” I sigh.