“Oh, good, because I’m not very good at long speeches and that was one of my better ones. I’m not sure I could repeat it with the same amount of emotional oomph, you know what I’msaying?”
He shakes his head. “Notremotely.”
“If I didn’t love you, I’d probablyhateyou.”
“Love you too, babe. That said, you’re still going to thedoctor.”
“No! I’ll put some ice on it. Goodasnew.”
“Sure, we’ll ice it. After we go to thedoctor.”
I sigh. “Isn’t there some kind of memorandum about you not being able to boss me around anymore, since we’re madly in love andeverything?”
“No.”
“Well, that justsucks.”
His lips twitch as he bends and sweeps me up into his arms without further ado, like a bonafide damsel in distress. Which I’m not.Anymore.
Damsel in recentdistress?
Damsel formerly in distress, now over the moon withbliss?
“Hey! I can walk.” I grimace. “Sort of. Actually it’s more of ahobblebut I was managing quite well before youstormedin—”
“Babe?” I literallyfeelhis chuckle as it rumbles out, I’m cradled so close against hischest.
“Yeah?”
“Calling aceasefire.”
I smile as he carries me up a set of stairs. “Why do I have a feeling our happily ever after is going to involve a lot ofceasefires?”
* * *
Luca carriesme back into the reception room, which has emptied of all guests except the bridal party. Setting me down in a chair, he lifts my injured ankle onto a low table and passes me a bag of ice with stern orders to keep it elevated. His lips brush mine in a soft, sweet kiss before he crosses the deck to where the remaining Knox Investigations guys are standing with Parker and Chase. They’re engaged in a serious discussion about Theo, who’s currently en-route to the hospital for treatment of his stabwound.
On our way upstairs, Luca assured me it wasn’t a fatal strike, that he’ll make a full recovery. Still, I can’t help feeling responsible for his injury. If not for me, he wouldn’t have been in harm’s way in the firstplace.
Luca’s barely left my side when my friends flock to me like seagulls to a French fry, all squawking and jabberingatonce.
“Oh my god, Lila!”Chrissy.
“I called it! You and Luca aresotogether!”Phoebe.
“Are you okay, honey?”Gemma.
“Did they catch thoseassholes?”Zoe.
“Do you need a Xanax? I think there’s one in my purse.”Shelby.
I wave their concerns away, adjusting the bag of ice on my ankle. “I’m fine. Seriously.” My eyes cut to Phoebe’s. “I’m so sorry I ruined yourwedding,Phee.”
“Are you kidding?” She snorts. “It wouldn’t be a party with this group if someone wasn’t kidnapped or held at gunpoint or going into premature labor.” She glances pointedly at Gemma’s stomach. “But, seriously, don’t do that. I want to go on my honeymoon, so that bun has to remain in the oven for at least another month, until Auntie Phoebe is back to spoil itrotten.”
“I’ll do my best.” Gemmagrins.
“Guys, I’m starting to feel left out,” Shelby murmurs, plucking a bottle of champagne off a nearby table and taking a swing straight out the top. “I’m now the only one of our friends whohasn’tbeen attacked by bad guys. I might have to start hanging with a shadier crowd, just to up my odds of something dangerous happeningtome.”