He got out too, and started walking towards the house, but Brit yanked him back.
“Not so fast.”
She pushed him up against the truck and kissed him hard, the kind of late-night, breathless, front-doorstep kiss that went on forever until they were both gasping. She felt his body rise against her, his hands gripping tightly, molding her to him—
This time, she was the one to break the kiss and step away. Hunter let out a groan.
“See? Not so fun, is it?”
“I beg to disagree.” Hunter gave her a wolfish look. “It’s always fun.”
Brit reached up and cleaned a smudge of lipstick from his face. She linked his arm through hers. “Ready?”
“Always.” Hunter leaned in close. “And the sooner we celebrate here, the sooner I get you in my bed. Or stable,” he added meaningfully.
Her heart skipped. God, she loved this man. “I can’t wait.”
*
Zoey & Blake
It was a perfect afternoon for a wedding, Zoey decided, as they walked down from the house. The sky was cloudless, blue and bright over the golden sands, with a fresh breeze cutting through the summer heat. Everything was set up for the ceremony, right on the shore: rows of white chairs arranged facing the sparkling blue ocean, and an arbor wreathed in bright fuchsia and white roses. People were starting to take their seats, dressed in their best formal clothes. She saw Garrett, juggling baby Sawyer and chatting with Ryland and Austin, plus a host of faces she didn’t recognize. They were a lively mix of Dex’s rockstar crew and Alicia’s business world friends, but then again, the happy couple had always been an unlikely match; it was one of the things that made them work so well together.
“Did you remember the rings?” she asked Blake.
A moment of panic crossed his face. He patted the pocket of his tux, then exhaled in relief. “Yup, right here.”
“You look nervous.” Zoey was amused. Here was a guy who’d been on the front page of every gossip magazine in the world; who walked the red carpet at his movie premieres in front of thousands of screaming fans, and he was getting anxious about this: a simple wedding ceremony.
“I’m the best man,” Blake said, looking around. A couple of the younger guests were watching him, wide-eyed with adoration, but Blake was oblivious. “Dex is depending on me to play my part right.”
“What about Ash?” Zoey asked. “He’s the other best man.”Blake snorted. “He’s too mushy and in love to focus on anything but Noelle right now.”
Zoey gave him a look.
“Not that I’m not,” he quickly corrected himself, bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss. He shot her a conspiratorial smile. “But we’ve learned to function on pure endorphins by now. That poor guy had no warning, it slammed him for six.”
“True,” Zoey agreed with a smile. She squeezed Blake’s hand. It was good to be back in Beachwood Bay, even for a flying visit. First thing in the morning, they would be heading back to LA to finish up shooting on Blake’s next movie, then moving to London for the rest of the summer, for Zoey to work on her next script with her writing partner, Dash. She and Blake had figured out a schedule so that they wouldn’t have to be apart for even a day; long-distance was no good at all when they still had years apart to catch up on.
And nights to spend, discovering each other all over again.
Zoey found their seats, in the front row. Each chair was adorned with trailing white ribbons and a cute Polaroid of Alicia and Dex striking a crazy pose. She turned in time to see Blake messing with his bow tie again. “Let me do that.” She laughed at the sight of him, all mussed up. “You’re getting it all lopsided. How is it we go to a dozen red carpet events every week, but you still need me to tie a tie for you?”
“Maybe I just like it better when you do it.” Blake grinned, then loosened it. “Damn things always make me feel like a stuffed shirt, on display.”
“I think you look very dapper in this tux.” She retied it, then smoothed down his lapels, her hands lingering on his chest. “Although, I like you out of it, too,” she added, with a wicked look.
“Believe me, I’m counting down the minutes too.” Blake laughed. She looked gorgeous in her simple blue gown, but then again, Zoey took his breath away in jeans and a T-shirt too. Pretty much all she had to do was smile at him, and time stopped. He’d said he was used to the rush, but that was a lie.
He hoped he would never get used to the pleasure of having her by his side.
The guests were taking their seats now. He looked around, and saw Dex and Ash approaching. “I better go see what my next best man duties are required.”
“I’ll go check on the blushing bride,” Zoey agreed. She made to leave, but he caught her hand.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
She looked confused, so he tapped his lips. She broke into a dazzling smile.
“So demanding.” Zoey leaned up and kissed him sweetly. Blake tugged her closer, deepening the kiss as he reveled in the taste of her. Finally, Zoey pulled back, her cheeks flushed. “I’ll be right back,” she promised. “Don’t worry,” she added, giving him a tender smile. “You’ll do great, you always do.”
“That’s because I have you with me,” Blake replied, and her heart skipped a beat—just like always.
Just like it would do, forever.
*