“I heard that.” Emily sneaked behind her mom, wrapping her in a hug. “No meddling, Mom.”
“I think Emily deserves a little meddling,” said Charlie. “Remember, she act
ually talked to you on the phone after she talked to Steven, and didn’t breathe a word about his plans.”
“You knew and you didn’t tell her either,” Emily accused her sister. “You just didn’t have my great acting skills, so you didn’t answer her phone calls.”
Anne turned aside to Steven and said quietly, “Hope you’re prepared. This arguing goes on all the time.”
“We’re not arguing,” said Charlie, “It’s just friendly banter.”
“No, it’s a quarrel, and I’m winning,” declared Emily.
“No, it’s a battle of wills, and I can last forever,” Charlie countered.
“It’s a mêlée and the rest of us are innocent bystanders. Have mercy!” Anne complained to Steven. “You see what I mean? They’re constantly provoking each other.”
“Like me and Evan?”
“No, that’s more like mortal combat,” Anne said. “Have you forgiven him yet?”
“For getting handsy with my wife? No!”
“To be fair, I wasn’t your wife yet. I wasn’t even your fiancée.”
“You were the one who wasn’t being fair.” Steven nuzzled her hair. “Teasing him with that dress.”
“I didn’t want to buy it—Gram picked it out.”
“From now on, you can only wear it in front of me.” He leaned in close to whisper in her ear, sending goosebumps down her arms. “Although, I won’t promise I’ll let you keep it on for long.”
“Haven’t we been here long enough?” Steven whispered in her ear as they sat at the table. “We’ve already had cake and toasts and thrown the bouquet. What are we waiting for?”
“Everyone’s having a good time visiting.”
He reached under the long tablecloth and fumbled with her skirt until his hand found the bare skin of her knee. Her eyes opened wide as he began to slowly edge his way up her thigh.
“I’m thinking they could have a good time without us,” he breathed into her ear.
Her face heated, first from embarrassment, and then from the sparks that began firing in her nervous system.
“Steven!” she warned in a harsh whisper.
“What?” His voice was innocent, but his hand continued its slow progression. “We’re married now, and no one can see what I’m doing under the table cloth. You only need to keep a straight face.”
Her eyes closed and her breathing increased. She grabbed his hand.
“I can’t control my expression when you touch me.”
“I know.”
“So you can’t do that here!”
“I know. That’s why we need to leave now.” He kissed her ear and trailed his lips down onto her neck.
Anne attempted to push him away. “Steven, people can see you.”
“Then take me some place where they can’t see me,” he urged while his hand attempted to move closer to his goal.