Wreck (Sphere of Irony 4)

14

Epilogue

Hawke

“It’s a gorgeous day.”

I lift Abby’s hand, our fingers entwined, and kiss the back. “It is. It’s perfect,” I agree.

The sun is bright over the Pacific, dappled by a scant smattering of clouds in the sky. A warm ocean breeze ruffles Abby’s blonde hair, a long tousled piece drifting across her cheek. I tuck it back with my free hand, grazing my knuckles down her soft skin.

Abby smiles, her eyes shining as I lean in and kis

s her. It starts sweet, a gentle brush of mouths. Then, as usual, I can’t get enough of her, skimming my tongue over her mouth until she parts her lips and lets me in. I groan, grabbing her hips to pull her into my growing hard-on.

“Please! Can you two control yourselves for two bloody minutes?”

I feel Abby smile against my mouth as she breaks the kiss.

“Kate, you know we’re making up for lost time.” I shoot her a glare which she returns without batting an eye.

“That’s all well and good, but we’re about to start. They’re waiting for you in the house.” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder.

“Okay, tell them I’ll be right there.” Kate huffs, but turns on her heel and hurries across the sand, her dress fluttering around her bare ankles. I turn back to Abby and give her one last peck on the lips. “I have to go. Gavin’s probably a wreck by now.”

She giggles. “I doubt it. He’d be happy to hop a plane to Vegas if Mitch would agree to it.”

I give Abby a sly grin. “You mean like we did?”

Abby smiles, looking down to twist the simple platinum band on her left ring finger. “Exactly.” She glances back up, her face one of pure happiness. “Who would have thought Mitch would be the one to want a real wedding?”

I step back from my wife, knowing if I don’t stop touching her, I’ll never get back up to Gavin’s house. As best man, that would be bad. As it is, Gavin is freaking out, and not because he’s about to get married. Nope. He’s freaking out because his fiancé is a twitching, nervous wreck. The big scary FBI man is a perfectionist, and he wanted to make today perfect for Gavin. Who knew?

“Are you upset we didn’t have a real wedding?” I ask, twisting my own ring with my thumb.

“I’ve got everything I want right here,” Abby whispers. “Now go, before Mitch comes looking for you.”

My eyes go wide and I shudder. “Yeah, you’re right.” Mitch is scary when he’s pissed. I jog toward the house. “I’ll see you in a few, Bee. Love you.”

“Love you too!” she calls out after me.

“Took you long enough,” Adam says as I hurry through the kitchen where he’s hanging out with Dax.

I glance at the two of them, chatting with Ellie and Kate. Gavin’s mom is entertaining Sadie and Lucas, Adam and Ellie’s two kids, and Poppy, Dax and Kate’s daughter. “You all better get out there,” I say. “Once I get upstairs and make sure everyone is good to go, we’re starting.”

“Right. Let’s go,” Dax says, pushing off the kitchen counter he was leaning on. I hear the sounds of everyone exiting the back door to the beach while I take the stairs two at a time.

I pause outside the master bedroom, steeling myself to face the wrath of Mitch for leaving Gavin alone for a few minutes. With a quick knock, I open the door… and have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Three sets of eyes turn in my direction—one pleading for help, one amused, and Mitch? Well, Mitch is losing his shit.

“I can’t, Gav. I thought I could but I just can’t.” Mitch fumbles with the slate gray tie around his neck, yanking at it uselessly.

“Stop. I’ll get it off for you if you’ll stop touching it.” Gavin swats at Mitch’s trembling hands.

“Fine,” Mitch hisses from between clenched teeth. “Hurry up.”

Gavin scowls at his fiancé. With a huff, he deftly unknots the silky material and pulls until it slithers out from Mitch’s collar.

“How are you, Hawke?”