they could stay for the reception, but Chad wanted the event to remain focused on Mal and Poet, and with his celebrity, it probably wouldn't have if they'd stayed.
Ember leaned over to Faith, who had been sitting beside her during the ceremony. "I'm concerned about the photographer." She'd been watching the man snap pictures during the ceremony. Pictures that included Joey.
Faith glanced over at the man and smiled. "That's Paul. He works for Guardian. It was one of the things Jason required of Mal for the wedding. He's taken family pictures of us and of Reece's birthday parties. Those pictures are going to be scrubbed. Just like the guest list was."
Ember blinked. "Guardian vetted the wedding guests?"
"Every last one of them," Faith chuckled. "You get used to it."
"I guess." Ember's gaze swept over the people in the church. She saw it then. The security teams around the outside of the crowd. Men in suits that were not engaged in conversation but were actively watching the crowd. Wow, she'd been at the ranch and then at The Rose for so long she had forgotten the steps taken to protect the Kings that worked in D.C.
Faith nodded to Joseph, who'd escorted the maid of honor to the narthex of the church. "Is Joseph going to the reception with the wedding party?"
"Yes, all four of them are riding in the limo. I was going to catch a ride with someone."
"You can ride with us." Faith tapped Jason on the shoulder. He turned from his conversation with Jacob and put his arm around his wife. "Ember is going to ride with us to the reception, okay?"
"Absolutely." Jason smiled at Ember. "He wore a tux."
Jacob smiled and nodded at the photographer. "I have proof."
"I want a copy of every picture of him wearing it, please!" Ember smiled widely at the thought of framing a picture of them together in formal wear. The photographer had taken several of them together before the ceremony.
Mal and Poet entered the reception to rousing applause. Maliki swept her into his arms and they danced their first dance together as man and wife.
Ember felt Joseph behind her. She leaned back into his arms.
"Have I told you today how much I love you?" he whispered against her hair.
"I think you said you loved me when I left the room this morning for breakfast." Joey's fingers rippled over her ribs, tickling her. She wiggled away from him, laughing. "Go, you have to do the best man thing. You are required to give a toast, you know."
Joey rolled his eyes and then closed them. "Oh, that hurt, didn't it? Poor baby." Ember cupped his cheek with her hand. "Not quite recovered?"
He opened one eye. "Recovered enough to want to eat you alive."
"There's my big, bad wolf. Go do what you need to do. We can feast later."
“It was a lovely wedding, wasn’t it?” Ember’s head laid against Joey's shoulder as they moved across the dance floor later that night. The tux he wore fit perfectly. She ran her hand down the fine wool fabric. He could have posed for a fashion spread. His dark good looks and the silver at his temples plus the Adonis body. Joey was her first and only true love. The man was fierce and hovered, but there wasn’t a better father or husband on the planet.
“Mmm…” That was Joseph talk for it was okay and not as big of a deal as he made it out to be, but he’d never admit it.
“How do you feel?” Ember leaned away a bit and gazed up at him.
“Perfect when you are in my arms.” He leaned down and kissed her. The possession in his kiss hadn’t changed in the years since they’d married. He made her feel cherished and needed every moment of every day.
Ember smiled up at him when he lifted away. “Did you ever think we’d have a chance at being this happy?”
Joseph shook his head and moved them out of another couple’s way with fluid grace. “Never, that’s why I cherish every minute with you. I can’t wait to have you to myself for the next two weeks.”
“You say the most remarkable things.” She sighed against him. Obviously, he didn’t remember inviting everyone they knew to Aruba. As much as she didn’t want to shatter his illusion for the future, she needed to remind him of what he’d done. Ember stopped moving and stared up at him, her eyes narrowed and searching, just to be positively sure he