Page 67

Tory

After Maya and Zac shared a wedding dance that would put professional ballroom dancers to shame, she announced that everyone had to dance with the new Mrs. Carrera.

Half the crowd scattered from the marquee in a flash.

But as the evening settled in and the guests drank more wine, and the fairy lights cast their golden glow beneath the canopy, no one could resist Maya's pleading, or if necessary, her demands.

I giggled watching Maya whip Jaxson around the dance floor with him staggering like he had two left feet. Not that I was any better . . . dancing had never been my thing. I couldn’t wait to get away from that center of attention.

Even Viper couldn't escape the compulsory dance with the stunning bride. Despite his exaggerated protests when Maya wheeled him into the middle of the crowd, the poor guy didn't stand a chance. Somehow, she even managed to choreograph a wheelchair dance with him.

After the newlyweds cut their spectacular wedding cake, which was another Zena masterpiece, Zac, ever the showman, swept Maya into his arms amid cheers and laughter. "Our chariot awaits," he announced, carrying her bridal-style toward the exit.

"Wait! Wait!" Maya called out, and without warning, tossed her bouquet over her shoulder. The bunch of red roses nearly smacked me in the face before I caught it.

"Woohoo!" Maya cheered. "You're next, Tory!"

The crowd erupted into applause and teasing laughter as Jaxson tried, and completely failed, to hide his cheeky grin.

“Come on, husband,” Maya said, playfully slapping Zac’s chest. “We’ve got more partying to do!”

“What have I done?” Zac groaned dramatically, though the grin on his face told a different story.

He carried Maya out of the marquee, and we all followed to the edge of the fence line.

Zac continued along the driveway that led to the airstrip at the back of Aria’s property, where Xander was waiting to fly them to Haggerstone Island; a private luxury retreat that must have cost an absolute fortune.

Maya’s laughter faded into the distance as the rest of us stood on the grass, gazing after them, waiting for the plane to take off.

Indiana and Tyler strolled up to us holding hands.

“You should’ve caught this,” I said to Indiana, holding the bouquet toward her.

“Hell no!” Indiana jumped back like I’d tried to hand her a ticking bomb. “Marriage ain’t for us. Right, babe?” She shot a twisted expression at Tyler.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Tyler said casually, his tone teasing. “It might be on the cards one day.”

“Yeah, well, you’re never getting me in a dress like that,” Indiana interrupted, wrinkling her nose.

I giggled. Maya had looked radiant in her extravagant wedding gown, the kind few women could carry with such grace. But then, Maya had that rare ability to transform anything she wore into something amazing.

“I hear you,” I said. “I’d fall flat on my face if I wore a dress with a skirt that big.”

“We can still get married,” Tyler said, grinning. “You can wear black if you want. Or that skimpy little bikini you?—”

“Excuse me,” Indiana cut him off, tugging on his arm. “I think you’ve had too much to drink, Detective Fancy Pants.”

In the distance, the plane engines roared to life, and we turned to watch as the plane took off. We cheered, raising our glasses as they disappeared into the night sky, and the lights faded into the darkness.

As the evening wound down and guests began to leave, we made our way through the crowd, hugging goodbye and exchanging promises to meet up tomorrow for lunch and to tackle the mountain of leftovers. Zena had provided enough catering to feed another wedding.

Levi and Billie approached us with Levi cradling his sleeping baby in his massive arms. The little one looked even smaller against his broad chest.

Billie pulled me into a warm hug. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” she said, her tone both warm and firm. “You guys need to visit Risky Shores more often.”

“Move up here,” Levi chimed in. “With all the empty houses around, you could pick one up for a song. We can help you renovate, just like everyone helped us when we bought our place, right, babe?”

“Yeah,” Billie said with a grin, “because you have a knack for demolishing things rather than building them.”

We all laughed.

“But seriously,” Billie said, brushing her hand over Jack’s blond hair. “It would be nice to have some more friends in town. Maybe you can convince Whisper and Cody, too. I hear they’re looking for a place of their own.”

“Hey, guys,” Cobra called, strolling toward us. “We’re heading off now. You ready to go?”

“Sure,” Jaxson replied. “Give us a sec.”

We made the rounds, saying goodbye to everyone still lingering, and confirming that we would be back at midday tomorrow, along with just about every other guest, it seemed.

Jaxson and I climbed into the back seat of Yasmin’s car, and she drove us back to their place.

The banter between us was fun and lighthearted, and despite the late hour, the energy in the car was contagious.

It was nearly midnight, and although I should’ve been exhausted, I was riding such a high that I doubted I would be able to sleep.

As we crossed the railway tracks and drove up and over the crest at the top, the view ahead took my breath away. The moon hung like a giant beacon in the sky and shimmered on the ocean like liquid silver.

“Wow.” I curled my hand over Jaxson’s leg. “Look at that moon. It’s beautiful.”

He leaned toward the window. “Yeah, sure is.”

“We should go for a walk along the beach.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”

“I’m in,” Jaxson said. “Hey, Yasmin, could you drop us down at the beach? Tory and I are going to take a walk.”

“Oh, nice! It’s a perfect night for it.” Yasmin kept driving past School Road, and when she pulled into an empty parking lot, we all climbed out. The salty breeze drifted over me, carrying the sound of the waves crashing nearby.

“Wow, it’s beautiful here tonight,” Yasmin said, looking out toward the ocean.

“Thanks for the ride,” Jaxson said. “We can walk home—we won’t be long.”

“Sure, no worries. Oh, wait!’ She clicked her fingers, strode to the trunk, and popped the lid. “I think I have . . . Aha! A picnic blanket.”

She pulled out the tartan checkered rug. “I keep it here just in case Cobra ever gets any romantic ideas.”

“Right,” Cobra said, touching his nose. “Duly noted.”

Yasmin’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Sometimes you just gotta tell ’em straight,” she said, handing me the blanket and pulling me into a quick hug. “Enjoy. And try not to get sand in your crack.”

We all burst out laughing.

“Thanks for the tip,” I said, still giggling.

She winked. “My pleasure. Come on, Cobra, let’s leave these lovebirds to their romantic stroll.”

“Wow,” Cobra said, shaking his head as he turned to us. “She’s as subtle as a sledgehammer.” He shook Jaxson’s hand. “Have a think about what Levi said. We’d love to have you guys move into town.”

“Thanks, mate,” Jaxson said, clapping Cobra on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”

As their car disappeared up the road, we kicked off our shoes and strolled onto the warm sand, hand in hand.

I tucked the blanket under my arm and hooked my other arm through Jaxson’s.

The soft crunch of sand beneath our feet was as comforting as the warm night air wrapping around us.

The waves crashed into shore in a steady, soothing rhythm that seemed to sync with the calm in my chest.

High above us, the moon was so bright that the five islands in the distance were perfectly visible, their dark silhouettes breaking up the horizon. Cruise ships and cargo ships dotted the far-off waters, their tiny lights flickering like stars on the sea.

“This is beautiful,” I said, giving Jaxson’s hand a gentle squeeze.

He lowered his gaze to mine, and his lips curved into a soft smile. “Sure is.”

My insides fluttered at the intensity in his gaze. “I’m talking about the beach,” I teased, bumping my hip into his.

“Oh,” he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “There’s a beach?”

I burst out laughing, and he squeezed my hand a little harder, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in an easy, relaxed motion. That small gesture sent a wave of tingles through me, making me feel like a giddy teenager.

We’d been talking nonstop since we’d arrived at the wedding venue, but now, as we strolled farther along the beach, words weren’t necessary anymore, and we fell into a comfortable silence.

We’d waited a month to be together again. And while today had been amazing, it had also been torture. All I wanted was to be alone with Jaxson. To have him all to myself. To kiss him, touch him, and feel his body pressed against mine.

“Oh wow, Jaxson, look.” I pointed ahead at a turtle making her way across the sand toward the water. “She’s laid her eggs.”

Pausing two feet from the turtle, his arm slid around my shoulders, tugging me to his side, and as I leaned into him, we watched the turtle crawl back toward the ocean, leaving behind her precious clutch of eggs.

Her quiet determination was mesmerizing.

The turtle finally reached the waterline, and her shell disappeared beneath the waves.

“She’s incredible,” I said, resting my cheek against Jaxson’s chest.

“She is,” he said, sounding breathless .

When I glanced up at him, his eyes weren’t on the turtle . . . they were on me.

My breath hitched as he brushed his fingers against my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The way he looked at me, like I was his world, made my knees weak.

“Come on.” He reached for my hand, pulling me higher up the beach like he was on a mission. At a soft patch of sand, nestled in front of two palm trees, he laid out the picnic blanket.

We lay on the blanket, and Jaxson stretched out beside me, propped on one elbow, his face just inches from mine. The glow of the moon made his eyes even more intense, and the way he looked at me made my heart ache in the best way.