Page 24 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

“I am,” said Callie. “And if it makes you feel better, I’ll admit you were right, these guys are awesome. Piper could be one of us, couldn’t she? And all of them are so nice. The only one who makes me feel like an outsider is me.”

Becca grinned. “I’m so happy you can see it now.”

Callie jerked her head toward the stairs where Jacob had just arrived.

“I think you’ll be even happier to see him.

And don’t worry about me when the two of you decide you’re ready to go, just go.

Willow said I can ride back with her and Slade, and Hannah said I can go with her and Grady.

They’re all coming back to the estate anyway, so I won’t get lost or anything. ”

Jacob reached Becca’s side and slung his arm around her shoulders as he kissed her temple. “Sorry it took me a little while. I met Smoke and Laura on the way up.”

“Oh! They weren’t leaving, were they? I really like them.”

“No, I …” he smiled. “Smoke was suggesting that we solve the problem at the head table by having Elena and Walt sit with us.”

Becca’s hand came up to cover her heart. “Aww, that’s a lovely idea. Do you think? I know Ria said we should have Elena there, but …”

“But she wouldn’t have felt right by herself. I think having her and Walt there is perfect.”

She looked up into his eyes. “I do too. They’re family in the most important sense of the word.”

“They are.”

Callie laughed. “I love it. But I don’t love standing around here watching the two of you moon over each other so I’m going to find …”

She didn’t get to finish. Antonio appeared beside her, and Becca could only laugh as he pulled Jacob into a hug.

“Happy for you, my brother.”

Becca loved the way Jacob hugged him back and said, “I’m happy for me too – and grateful to you. Although I hope you’ll forgive me if I take Becca home soon.”

Antonio rolled his eyes at her and laughed. “That was always part of the plan. I only wanted for everyone to be together, to wish you both well, and all the love and happiness in the world. You deserve it.”

“Aww, thank you.” Becca reached out to touch his arm. He was a big personality, and he loved out loud.

His brother Marcos came to stand beside him and nodded at Jacob. He was quieter than Antonio, more serious. But Becca liked him too. She knew that he and Jacob talked business quite often, and all the guys looked to him when it came to investing and financial matters.

“Do you need me to drag him away?”

Jacob laughed. “No, we’re good.”

Antonio slung his arm around Marcos’s shoulders. “See. I told you this was a good idea – that everyone would be happy.”

He turned his gaze on Callie. “Are you happy? No man with you? Would you like one?”

Callie laughed out loud. “Err, no thanks.”

He caught hold of her hand and started to lead her away.

“Antonio.” Becca wanted to laugh at the way the stern note in Jacob’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

He turned back with a smile. “Callie needs to have fun, too, no?”

Becca relaxed when Callie nodded happily and said, “I do, but I can have all the fun I need chatting to your wives, thank you very much. And honestly, Becs, you guys leave when you’re ready. I’ll be fine, I’ll see you in the morning.”

Antonio looked serious as he nodded. “We’ll all make sure she gets back safe. But you guys don’t need to leave just yet – it’s still early.”

Jacob tightened his arm around her shoulders as they watched Antonio lead Callie to where Mary Ellen was talking to Hannah and a woman Becca didn’t know, but who looked familiar for some reason.

“She’ll be fine,” said Jacob.

“Oh, I know.” She dug her fingers into his side. “You have to remember that Callie’s used to holding her own at Cattleman’s bar – these Napa guys are nothing to worry about after that.”

The way Jacob scowled made her want to take the words back. Cattleman’s was the place where that horrible Jamie person had tried to …

Jacob turned to face her and curled his arms around her waist. Resting his forehead against hers, he looked down into her eyes. “I love you, Becca.”

“Aww, I love you too.”

He chuckled. “I’m not going to give that little weasel any headspace tonight.”

“Good.”

“Do you want to dance with me – our last single-people dance?”

She laughed as he started to move her to the music. She’d been about to say that it was still a bit early and no one was dancing yet. But he was right, they didn’t need to wait, and they didn’t need anyone else to dance. She looped her arms up around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.

When they finally came up for air, his eyes seemed to shine. “What?” she asked.

“Remember our first kiss?”

She dropped her head and looked up at him through her lashes. “Sorry.” She’d gotten the wrong idea when he kissed her under Ava’s mistletoe while everyone was at his house. She’d thought that he was trying to get her into bed, and that everyone was laughing at her.

He shook his head. “Don’t ever be sorry. What I meant was that after that, I didn’t think I’d ever kiss you in front of these guys again – in case it made you uncomfortable.”

She wrapped her hands around the back of his head and pulled him back down. “And now you know you don’t need to worry about it. Now you know what they think – that they love you for making me happy.”

“I do, and also it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. I love you, Jacob Jacobs.”

He pressed his lips to hers and then spun her in a circle before pulling her back into his arms. “And I love you, Becca Jacobs. Let’s dance for a while, then we’ll say our thank-yous and go.”

She looked around; several other couples were now up and dancing around them. “Okay. I wish tonight would last for days so that we could dance and hang out and still get home early.”

He chuckled. “I do too, but since we can’t have it all, we’ll just have to dance a little faster.”