Her Unexpected Admirer Page 0,67

up into his arms. “Good job, honey,” he said and kissed her chubby cheek.

Julia suddenly remembered her role and wiggled down out of his arms. Racing back to the white carpet, she dumped her basket of petals into a pile, then ran over to her dad who was rolling his eyes as he stood next to Davis as the Best Man. She practically skidded to a halt, turned around and ran over to her grandmother as she’d been told to do when they’d practiced the previous day.

Adriana pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing as she started her walk down the aisle. Georgette smiled, winking at her pretty little daughter before taking her place behind Adriana.

And then Kate stepped out. She was walking alone, proud to be coming to Davis on her own. As soon as she stepped out, she looked down the tent for him. When their eyes met, she knew that she’d made the right decision on wedding dresses. Davis couldn’t keep his eyes off of her as she walked towards him.

She saw his eyes gleaming as she placed her hand in his, ready for the ceremony to start. But Davis bent down low and whispered in her ear, “You’re stunning, my love.”

Kate beamed with happiness as the minister went through the ceremony. Twenty minutes later, Davis claimed his first kiss from his wife and the small crowd cheered with excitement.

The catering staff quickly moved the chairs out of the way and the reception began with champagne flowing freely. The meal was absolutely delicious but she noticed that Davis barely touched his food. Every time she tried to ask him what was wrong, something distracted her.

“Here you go, brother,” Antonio said as he placed a bottle of beer in Davis’ hand. “I figure you need something other than the bubbly.”

Davis sighed with relief. Kate was out on the dance floor with Zane who was doing a great job of swinging her around the floor. He was taking after his father who was a big guy. About as big as his three brothers and himself. He took a swig of the beer and almost spit it out. “What is this stuff?” he demanded.

Kate looked over at the four men in handsome tuxedos, three of them who were laughing and slapping her new husband’s back. She had no idea what they were doing to him and, one look at Georgette and Adriana and she knew she didn’t want to know.

“You guys are a pain in my neck,” he told them, putting the sparkling apple juice onto a table and grabbing a glass of scotch from a passing waiter. “Go away,” he told them, wanting to watch his new wife dance.

He took a sip of what he thought was scotch and rolled his eyes. “How the hell did you get apple juice in every damn glass I’ve had tonight?” he growled at his brothers, again who were laughing and congratulating themselves. “First the sparkling apple juice for the toasts while everyone else had champagne, then a beer bottle and now the scotch. You’re driving me nuts.” He started to turn away from them but he came right back. “Oh, and don’t think I’m forgetting the meal covered in salt! That’s going to earn all of you guys a special place in my heart.”

He walked over to Kate just as the song ended. “Let’s get some cake,” he told her, ignoring his brothers who were still laughing. He was starving and needed a drink but he wasn’t going to get it here. But payback was hell, he thought.

He cut the wedding cake and fed a bite to Kate, enjoying the way her lips surrounded his fingers as he served it to her. He returned the favor, then bent her over his arm, kissing her senseless, thoroughly enjoying her slinky dress.

They danced and laughed, Kate looking glorious in her wedding gown and Davis loving her more as she blossomed with her art work. If only he could get a damn drink at his own wedding!

“We’ve got to get out of here,” he warned her as he set down yet another glass of apple juice. How the hell his brothers had conspired with every catering staff member to keep him from getting a real drink was beyond him. But he was damn well going to grab his new wife and head for his honeymoon.

Kate smiled up at Davis, excited that they were finally leaving. “I thought you’d never ask,” she said, hugging him close.

“You don’t need to change or anything do you?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Not if you need to get out of here faster.”

“Sorry to break up the party, but my brothers are being real…” he hesitated, changing his words for her ears, “brothers,” he said as if the word were an epithet.

Kate followed him out, heading right for the limousine instead of the house. The driver wasn’t prepared for them but Davis was just relieved that the car hadn’t been tampered with. Unlike what he’d done to Dylan’s car after his wedding.

They climbed into the back and, when the car was pulling away from his house, he leaned back and sighed with relief. “Finally, alone!” and he pulled her into his arms, kissing her and exploring the silk of her dress that had been driving him crazy ever since he first saw her.

He lifted his head and looked around. “Ah! A bottle of champagne!” he said with enthusiasm.

“Haven’t you had some?” she asked, but picked up the two glasses, eager to toast her husband.

“Not a drop!” he said, pulling off the foil cover and popping the top. “My adoring brothers have somehow conspired with everyone at the wedding and I’ve had several glass of damn apple juice,” he told her. “Oh, and I need some food. They made sure that my food was inedible.” He poured two glasses and then picked up the phone that would communicate with the driver. “Hey, can you stop at a fast food place and grab me a burger? I’m starving!”

When the driver assured him that he would stop at the first one, Davis turned back to Kate and took one of the glasses. “Finally! Something other than apple juice!”

“To us,” she said and clinked his glass, smiling with happiness.

“To us,” he agreed, then took a sip.

“Damn it!” he roared and leaned his head back against the leather seat. “How is it possible?”

Kate covered her mouth as she realized that even this bottle was filled with sparkling apple juice. When she saw the frustration in his eyes, her laughter only increased and Davis set the glass down and pulled her closer. “Oh, you think that’s funny?” he demanded, tickling his new wife in all of the places she knew she was extra ticklish.

“Yes. It’s hilarious!” she gasped, trying to wiggle away from him between her laughter. But it was no use. Davis was too strong and he knew all of her ticklish spots.

“I love you!” she gasped out and that halted the tickling as Davis looked down at her. He was looming over her, having pinned her against the seat underneath him but with her words, his eyes softened. “I love you too.”

And sealed those words with a kiss.