Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss (Pregnancy & Passion #3)(18)

“Gee, thanks,” Devon said dryly. “Glad you’ve got my back on this one.”

Cam’s gaze found Ashley on the dance floor as her brother spun her around. She laughed and her smile lit up the entire room. It was clear she was having the time of her life.

“At least you won’t suffer a broken heart,” Cam said in a low voice. “Can you say the same for Ashley?”

“I’m not going to break her heart, damn it. Can we drop this? The last thing I need is for someone to overhear us.”

“Yeah, sure. Think I’ll go cut in on Ashley’s brother, pay my respects to the bride before I head back to the cave you accuse me of crawling out of.”

Devon watched as Cam sauntered onto the dance floor. A moment later, Eric relinquished Ashley into Cam’s arms.

“You’ve made my little girl very happy,” William Copeland said.

Devon turned around to see his father-in-law come up behind him. William smiled broadly and clapped Devon affectionately on the back. “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Thank you, sir. It’s an honor.”

“You take Ashley and you two have a good time. Don’t worry a thing about the business. We’ll have plenty of time to focus on what needs to be done when you get back.”

Devon nodded. “Of course.”

“Ashley’s mother wanted me to tell you that the car taking you and Ashley to the airport is waiting outside. Now tradition is that you stick around, do silly stuff like cut the cake and stuff it into each other’s faces, but if it were me and I’d just married one of the sweetest girls in New York City, I’d duck and make a run for it. You could be to the airport before anyone notices you’re gone.”

Devon smiled. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve heard all night. You’ll cover my exit?”

William smiled back conspiratorially. “That I will, son. Go on now. Go collect your bride. Everyone here will be more than happy to eat the cake for you. No groom I ever knew gave a damn about cake anyway.”

Devon laughed and then waded into the crowd to go retrieve Ashley from Cam.

Eight

The sun was sinking over the horizon when Devon carried Ashley through the doorway of their suite. As soon as he put her down, she ran to the terrace doors, flung them wide and gasped in pleasure at the burst of color splashed across the sky.

“Oh Devon, it’s beautiful!”

He came up behind her, slipped his arms around her body and pulled her into his chest. He nibbled at her ear and she sighed in pleasure.

“I can’t believe this is our view for the next week. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been to the beach? I was a little girl.”

“What?” he asked in mock horror. “You don’t go to the beach?”

“I know. Terrible, isn’t it? I don’t know why. It’s just not where our family ever went on vacation and my friends aren’t really beachgoers. I just haven’t made it a point to go and yet here we are and it’s so fabulously gorgeous that I don’t even have the words to describe it,” she said breathlessly.

He chuckled. “Sounds to me like you have plenty of words. But I’m glad you like it.”

She turned in his arms, allowing his hands to drop to her waist as he held her there. “How on earth did you find this place? I’d never heard of St. Angelo.”

“We’re constructing a resort here. We broke ground several weeks ago. Ryan and Kelly live here, remember?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Oh yes, you told me about them. I remember now. I’ve never met them. I’ve only met Cam.”

“A situation I’ll remedy soon. Bryony and Kelly are both very near to their due dates and so they aren’t able to travel. We’ll have dinner with Ryan and Kelly while we’re here and I’m sure we’ll have the occasion to meet Rafe and Bryony before long.”

“I can’t wait.”

“I couldn’t care less about them at the moment,” Devon murmured. “I’m more interested in our wedding night.”

Heat exploded in her cheeks at the same time a delicious shiver wracked her spine. “I have to get ready,” she said in a low voice. “I have something special. It’s a surprise.”

“Mmm, what kind of surprise?”

“Umm, well, it was a gift from my girlfriends. They assured me no man alive would be able to resist me in it.”

“Oh hell, remind me to thank them.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t seen me in it yet.”

“I’ll like it. I’m sure I’ll like it. I’d like you in sackcloth. Whatever it is they bought you, I’m sure I’ll appreciate it. Right before I peel it off your delectable body.”

She all but wiggled in excitement. She was barely able to contain herself. “Okay, you wait here. Give me fifteen minutes at least. I want to look perfect. And no peeking!”

He held up his hands. “Would I do such a thing?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Promise me.”

He sighed. “Okay, okay. But get moving. I’m going to go down and arrange for a very good bottle of wine and also give them our breakfast order for the morning. You have until I get back to do your thing.”

She went up on tiptoe, kissed him and brushed past him into the suite. She waited just until he walked by and out of the bedroom before she hurriedly retrieved the bright pink, totally girly gift box from her suitcase.