“I knew it,” she exclaims. “I knew there was something between you two. Waitresses just know. We watch people all day. It’s our specialty. I just . . . I knew it.”
“Did you?” I ask before looking up at Holden.
He bites his bottom lip, clearly entertained by Debbie’s incorrect observation. I wrinkle my nose at him.
“I knew it too,” Liv says. “From the moment this guy walked in—no, before that. As soon as Sophie said she saw the hot vet—”
“Liv, please,” I beg. “Just . . . stop.”
“What? You said it. Not me. Besides, you married him, so what’s wrong with me pointing out that there were fireworks all along?”
“Oh, please.”
Holden’s fingers strum against my side, redirecting my attention back to him. It takes all I can do to stay still and not lean into his touch. I can’t do that—not even a little. Not only will it make him think I like it, but it will only encourage my sister’s antics.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with someone saying how hot you found me from the beginning?” Holden’s body shakes as he chuckles. “I love hearing how you’re smitten with me, sugar.”
I fire a warning glance up at him. It only makes him chuckle harder.
“You know what?” I ask, stepping free of his grip. “I need a drink. Excuse me.”
I mosey through the townspeople congregated in my backyard. I’m stopped and congratulated, my ring examined over and over. By the time I get to Dottie, all I want to do is scamper inside and run a bath.
Alone.
“Well, look at you,” Dottie says smugly. “A married woman now. Who would’ve thought?”
“Don’t start with me. Please.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the dessert table. “Start with you? Honey, I’m just congratulating you on your wedding. How exciting.”
I quirk a brow. We both know she’s not just congratulating me on my wedding—she’s pressing for information. She smells something in the air like the hound dogs brought into the clinic. I have half a notion to point out the similarities but stop myself short.
She must sense how tired I am, because she sighs. Wrapping one arm around my shoulders, she pulls me into a half hug.
“I hope this is okay with you,” she says. “When we put out the call to come over and celebrate, we asked everyone to bring a quick dish. It is a weeknight, after all. We weren’t sure when you guys were coming, so we’ve been here for a while, eating and drinking. Left you some food, though. Didn’t want you to be without energy for later.” She winks.
“Wait a minute. You were a part of organizing this thing?” I ask.
She nods. “I called Liv to see what was going on because Holden is a terrible liar. She told me you two were eloping. We couldn’t let that go without a party. Although if you’d have thought it through, you might have done it on a weekend so we could really have a shindig.”
“Oh. Darn.”
She snorts. “I can tell you’re just upset about it.”
“Totally. I—”
I’m cut off by Liv’s voice. Everyone turns to see her standing by the tire swing.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming by tonight to welcome Dr. and Mrs. McKenzie home,” she says.
Holden comes up behind me as everyone begins to clap. His breath is hot against my ear.
“Welcome home, Mrs. McKenzie,” he teases.
I smile at the onlookers. “Who said I’m changing my name?” I say without moving my lips. “You might end up being Mr. Bates.”
Holden can’t hide the puff of disbelief that escapes his lips. “Right.”
“Now without further ado,” Liv says. “Can I ask my sister and her husband to please come forward?”
My heart pounds in my chest. I look at the door to the kitchen—it’s only a few steps to my right. I could make it inside and shut the door in just a few seconds. But before I can, Holden takes my hand in his.
“What is she doing?” I ask, swallowing a dose of anxiety.
“No clue.” He bends down as if to kiss my cheek. Instead, he whispers, “Let’s go before things look suspicious.”
“Right,” I mumble.
He leads me toward Liv. I shoot her the quickest glare. She accepts it with a sweet smile.
Ugh.
“We don’t have time tonight for all the traditional wedding things, like cutting the cake. But Birdie did bring you an apple pie,” Liv says loud enough for everyone to hear.
Birdie beams. “You’re going to love it, Holden.” As if she just realizes that I’m standing here, too, she looks at me. “And you, too, sweetheart.”
I lace my fingers through Holden’s without thinking twice. Only when he gives me a smirk do I realize I’ve even done it.
There’s no time to mitigate my actions, however. Liv makes sure of that.
“But what we do have time for,” Liv says, “is one of the best traditions of a reception. In my opinion, anyway.”
“What are you doing?” I groan.
“The first dance. I should’ve asked you what your song was, but you were off eloping. So I picked one. Hope that’s okay.” She winks. “Please make room for Dr. and Mrs. McKenzie.”
“What?” I stammer as the group surrounding us begins to part.
It’s only now that I see her phone connected to a speaker by the kitchen door. My stomach falls as my blood pressure soars.
Ever so slowly, I turn to Holden. I don’t know what I expect his reaction to be, but it’s not what I get.
As Elvis begins to croon, his voice singing about fools rushing into love, Holden’s face sobers. The smirk from earlier is gone. The levity I always see in his gaze has evaporated.
He watches me with hooded eyes.
He raises our interlocked hands and presses a sweet, gentle kiss to our knuckles. I can hear the gasps from Liv and Dottie.
My heart swells in my chest as Holden pulls me close. He wraps his other hand around the small of my back. I let mine do the same to his.
My brain misfires as my body overheats. The combination of Holden’s steady gaze and gentle yet intentional touch makes it hard to stay in control of my thoughts.
I have completely given up control of this situation.
Our bodies move together, swaying back and forth in time with the smooth, rich voice of The King. The sun slipping behind the trees paints shadows on Holden’s face. It makes him more handsome, if possible.
The greens of his eyes deepen as he guides me in a slow circle. The muscles in his back flex as we move, and I fight the strongest urge to move my hand beneath the hem of his shirt—to feel his back, his skin, his sweat.
The song fades into the background of Holden’s embrace. Everything does.
His lips part into a smile that I haven’t seen before. It’s a hint of something, a promise that’s just for me. I don’t have time to decipher the meaning because he pulls me closer yet again.
He leans forward and lets his lips hover against the shell of my ear.
My skin breaks out into a fit of goose bumps as the heat of his breath runs across it.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he whispers.
I force a swallow through my constricted throat. “Why does that feel like a warning?”