Page 137 of Wild Card

Which is why my chest hums with satisfaction when she says, “Kira called from the studio. She was wondering if I might want to buy it.”

I freeze mid-sip, not sure how to react to that. “And?” I ask, leaving room for her to go in any direction she wants.

She smiles softly with a subtle shrug. “It might be a good idea. I could see myself doing that. I’ve got my personal studio here, and I can keep teaching my classes in town. It gives me something to do other than just lie around, gawking at my hot-ass boyfriend all the time.”

That makes me grin. “Your hot-ass boyfriend has something to confess.”

“Ooh, juicy. Do tell.”

“Clyde asked if you could be his date, since I’m in the party for Ford and Rosie’s wedding. And I said yes without asking you.”

She throws her head back and laughs. “What a chickenshit! He could have asked me when we were at his place for dinner two nights ago. But is that going to make you jealous if I show up with him?”

I chuckle. “Of course, but I’ll keep my temper under control for the sake of appearances.”

She taps her lips thoughtfully. “Maybe I could taketwodates to the wedding. YouandClyde. I’d be the envy of everyone there.”

I shake my head and grin because this prospect would excite only Gwen. It’s one of the many, many things I love about her.

A zest for life.

A glass-half-full attitude.

Her passion for making margaritas out of limes.

She has the special gift of making everything around her better.

Including me.

It’s late and the band at Ford and Rosie’s wedding is fun and loud and making me feel like an old man. I’ve been up doing my groomsman duties with West and Rhys all day long, and now at eleven o’clock, I have officially decided that it’s past my bedtime.

From where I’m seated at the head table, I can see Gwen dancing with Clyde. Her head thrown back in laughter. Sheglows.

And she does nothing to help with my train of thought. The one that keeps wandering back to what it might be like to be married to Gwen. What our wedding day would be like. What she’d wear. Where we’d host it.

I feel like a lovesick teenager who can’t stop dreaming about her wedding day. West even busted me doing a very impromptu online search for engagement rings. Something he’s been teasing me about all day now.

Chuckling at the memory of him exclaiming,Yes, Bash! I thought you would never ask!I push to stand and sneak out of the massive, white tent. Seeking a little space and fresh air.

I catch sight of the lake, and like always, I’m drawn to it. Like Gwen, it soothes me. The sound, the sight, the smell. Even the color of it when light reflects off the top—light purple.

Stepping down the embankment, my dress shoes hit the sand, and I feel instantly ridiculous. Who the hell wears dress shoes at the beach? Gwen would mock me mercilessly for this. So I crouch down to unlace them, only to come up short when I hear her voice.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going? Are you putting your feet in the sand without me?”

I turn and look over my shoulder at her. The pink dress she’s wearing is dotted in a small floral print and does the most incredible things for her tits.

Looking her in the eyes—beautiful as they are—has been a struggle all night long. Especially now, with the moonlight highlighting the sinful curve of her cleavage.

“Are you stalking me? Because I hope so,” I volley, shooting her a playful grin before taking her hand to help her down the embankment.

“Nah. I just suddenly couldn’t feel the heavy weight of you staring at my chest and got to wondering where you went.”

I snort at that but don’t bother denying it. Then I bend down to remove her sandals before finally ditching my own shoes and socks.

Hand in hand, we walk toward the edge of the lake, the sounds of water lapping against the sand only slightly louder than the band that plays up the slope.

Several minutes pass in a companionable silence. I soak up the calm of the night, sinking my toes into the sand. Feeling the earth beneath me. I relax so completely that the minutes just bleed together, a deep sense of peace coursing through me.