Page 23 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

When they arrived at Muse, Becca was a little taken aback when Rodney, the ma?tre d’, came out to welcome them and greeted her as if she were royalty. Of course, she’d met him before and she liked him, but she’d always thought of him as kind of aloof.

She raised her eyebrows at Callie as they followed him up the stairs to the open-air terrace. It was a beautiful evening and the weather was perfect to be up here, to dance under the stars.

Her hand came up to cover her mouth when she saw how it was all decorated. There were fairy lights everywhere – it couldn’t be more perfect. She looked around for Mary Ellen.

When she spotted her, she came over shaking her head with a smile. “And this is why I love that man so much.” She pointed to the edge of the terrace where there was a heart all lit up with red fairy lights. “He has such a huge heart; he loves love, and he wants to share that with us all.”

“Aww!” Becca had to dab at her eyes. “I’ll tell him myself as soon as I see him, but please, Mary El, tell him how much this means to me.”

“I will.”

Chelsea laughed beside her. “We should all tell him; he’ll bask in the glow of it for weeks.”

Becca had to laugh, but she also wondered how Chelsea knew Antonio so well. She and Mary Ellen were best friends but … and then it hit her. Chelsea and her brothers, Smoke and Cameron, were cousins with Antonio, and his brother Marcos, who was Molly’s husband.

Chelsea gave her a puzzled look. “Are you okay?”

“I am, I’m fine.” She looked around again, taking it all in. It really was beautiful.

Willow came to join them. “He’s awesome, isn’t he? And he did all this just hoping that he could persuade everyone to come.”

Mary Ellen nodded. “And don’t look like that, Becca – he would have been okay if you and Jacob hadn’t wanted to bring the party here. To him it’s more about having everything set up just in case he gets the chance to show how much he loves you.”

Willow laughed. “I’m not even going to wonder about how that translates to your personal life.”

Mary Ellen laughed with her. “Good, because I wouldn’t tell if you asked. All I will say is that married life suits me very well, thank you.”

“I’m so glad he found you,” said Hannah. “Oh, it just struck me – has he met Zia yet? Has she given him a name?”

“Not as far as I know,” said Becca. “I don’t think he’s been over there.” She looked around at the others. “Have you met her yet? That little girl is so wonderful.”

Chelsea laughed. “I have. I came over to see Elena – you were out with Callie. And I met her – that girl is my kind of people.”

Willow grinned at her. “Of course she is – you two are kindred spirits.”

Becca had to nod her agreement. Zia might not be as feisty as Chelsea yet, but Chelsea definitely had the same irreverent and insightful approach to life as the little girl did.

“Did she name you?” asked Hannah.

Chelsea stood a little taller, which still left her smaller than the rest of them. “She did. Ladies, I think that in the future, I would like you all to refer to me as the Sparkle Fairy!”

They all laughed.

“It suits you,” said Willow.

“It does,” Hannah agreed. “I can’t believe that I’ve been right there on the estate with her the whole time and haven’t had enough of a conversation to earn myself a name yet.”

“I’m sure you will,” said Becca. She was relieved that Hannah was happy to keep an eye on Zia tomorrow and was hoping that she and Ava would get along well.

Chelsea turned to Willow. “I know that look on your face – did she give you a name?”

Becca raised her eyebrows, and Willow laughed.

“Okay, so she did.”

“What is it?” Hannah asked. “Do you hate it, is that why you’re not telling?”

Willow smiled through pursed lips. “I don’t hate it. I kind of love it, but …” she blew out an exaggerated sigh. “I mean it’s true, but …”

Chelsea slapped her arm. “Tell us already.”

She grinned. “I am Warrior Princess – the dragon tamer.”

Becca tried to hold in her laughter but didn’t manage it. “Oh my goodness, that’s perfect.”

Willow shrugged happily. “It kind of is, isn’t it?”

“And here comes your dragon now.” Mary Ellen pointed to the top of the steps where Slade and Xander had just appeared.

They spotted them and came over. “Jacob’s right behind us,” Slade told her.

Xander grinned. “But Bentley’s driving him, and he’s more sensible than I am. They’ll be here soon.” He surprised Becca when he leaned in to kiss her cheek and murmured, “Thanks for making him so happy.”

She could only nod as he left them and went straight to Tori’s side. Becca loved the look they exchanged when he reached her. Xander might be more of a tough guy, while Tori seemed more delicate than the others, but there was no missing just how much they loved each other.

~ ~ ~

When they arrived at Muse, Jacob was surprised to see Smoke standing on the steps outside waiting for him.

Bentley smiled at them. “I’ll leave you guys to talk while I get the drinks in.”

“Thanks.”

Smoke grinned. “Don’t look so wary.”

Jacob had to laugh. “I’m not wary – just hoping everything’s all right.”

“Everything’s great,” said Smoke. “But I didn’t manage to get near you for a chat while we were at Bentley’s place, and I doubt I will when we go inside, so I wanted to pull you aside for a minute.

” He looked down at his phone. “Laura will be out in a few. She brought everything with her.” He frowned. “I wasn’t happy about it.”

Jacob smiled. “Normally I wouldn’t be either. I’d hate for them to get lost or worse, but I can’t wait to see them.”

“I thought she sent you photos?”

“Oh, she did, but it’s not the same as seeing them in person.”

Smoke laughed. “I never thought I’d hear you talk like that. I mean, with Antonio I’d expect it, but you …?”

Jacob shrugged happily. “I wouldn’t have believed it of myself before I met Becca, but …”

“Yeah, I know. I love it for you. And …” he chuckled. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve gone a bit soft myself.”

They both looked up when Laura appeared on the stairs above them and laughed.

“Soft? You?” she asked, looking incredulous. “Don’t buy it,” she told Jacob. “He’s still the same old Neanderthal –” her words cut off when Smoke curled his arm around her waist as she tried to pass him on the stairs.

Jacob laughed as she batted at Smoke’s arms. “Put me down, you big …”

Smoke gave her a mock scowl as he let her go. She smoothed her skirt and continued on her way to Jacob. When she reached him, she took three small boxes out of her purse and handed them to him.

“Smoke said I shouldn’t have brought them out, and he might be right – but don’t tell him I said that.”

Jacob laughed when Smoke joined her and rested his chin on her shoulder as he looked at the boxes. “Too late, lady. You admitted I’m right.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I usually do when you are.”

“I know.” Smoke turned back to him. “Are you going to open them, see how they feel in person?”

Laura looked up at him wide-eyed. “You finally get it? How it feels?”

Smoke laughed. “No. I’m still a Neanderthal, but Jacob does, apparently.”

She met Jacob’s gaze. “Ignore him – I try to.”

“But you don’t succeed.”

Laura laughed and slapped his arm again. “Would you stop it? Go and get us a drink or something? This is important.”

Smoke met Jacob’s gaze. “I know it is, and I’ll be quiet, but once you know that he loves what you made him for Becca, I need a word.” Smoke’s cool gray gaze met his and all the humor was gone. “I only need a minute.”

Jacob nodded and Laura smiled. “Do you even want to look at them now – or do you want …”

Jacob flipped all three boxes open one after the other. His breath caught in his chest. He met her gaze and nodded.

She nodded back and touched his arm. “That’s all I needed to know. I’m so glad, and you’re welcome.”

He could only watch as she turned and trotted back up the stairs.

Eventually he swallowed. “I should have said something. I … they’re beautiful.”

Smoke chuckled. “You didn’t need to say a word – it’s written all over your face. She knows.”

“I’ll tell her though when I see her. Thank her properly.”

“Seriously, bud, you don’t need to – the look on your face when you saw them already said it all.”

Jacob straightened his shoulders. “Thanks. So – what did you want me for?”

“Only a minute. I know you’ll want to get to Becca – and I imagine the two of you won’t be sticking around for long.”

Jacob smiled. “That’s the plan.”

“I don’t blame you. All I wanted to do is thank you for what you’re doing with Ria and Elena.”

“There’s no need. I love it for myself, and I know they’re both happy about it.”

“Yeah. It means the world to them. Ria’s a good woman. She’s the reason that I didn’t just turn my back on this place and my family and never look back. I talked to her this afternoon, and it means the world to her.”

“It does to me.”

Smoke smirked. “And you’re wondering why the hell I’m going on about it.”

Jacob gave him a wry smile. “I kind of am. I know that you’re close with her, but … is there more to this little chat?”

“Yeah. You know how Elena said she didn’t want to sit at the head table with you and Becca and everyone – that it’d be better for Ria to take that spot since she has Russ and that would keep the numbers even?”

Jacob sighed. “I tried to persuade her, but she insisted that it would mess up the tables. She said that since Becca’s folks would be on her side, there should be two people in the spots on my side as well – not just her.”

Smoke grinned. “Ria agrees, but she suggested that it might be better if those two people were Elena and Walt .”

Jacob laughed. “And she’s right, of course.”

“She usually is,” said Smoke. “She wasn’t going to push it, but I thought I might as well stick my nose in and at least suggest it.”

“I’m glad you did,” said Jacob.

“In that case, I am too. Now get in there and find Becca.”

Jacob laughed as he jogged up the stairs beside Smoke – he didn’t need telling twice.

~ ~ ~

“Are you having fun?” Becca asked.