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“I told you, you’re not getting away.” Luke kissed her lightly on the lips. “Our turn, princess.”
Luke’s lips were warm and firm against hers. Perfect. She missed kissing him. She missed so many things. Her body lit up like the fourth of July.
“Now we have best man Luke ‘Strike ’em Out’ Stryker and the beautiful maid of honor Abbey Jayne.”
Abbey was nearly frozen in place, stunned by Luke’s surprise kiss. He pulled her along into the banquet room while guests applauded and cheered.
“Smile pretty, princess.” Luke smiled down at her. She thought she saw love shining in his sparkling blue eyes. No, he’s just flirting. That kiss meant nothing. But you wanted it to. Yes. No.
Abbey righted herself and walked with Luke to their spot at the head table. She tried her best to smile as if she was perfectly fine. Shouts of “Strike ’emOut” and “Go Cobras” were heard from several guests. Leah looked at her with a raised brow and a smirk on her face.
“And now, everyone please stand and welcome, for the first time as man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Cassie Tyler!”
The guests and head table roared as Jake and Cassie stepped into the banquet room. Jake raised his and Cassie’s joined hands high in the air in victory. He gestured to Cassie and she did a little twirl, and they continued to the captain’s chairs at the head table.
Tinkling from guests hitting their glasses with utensils could be heard above the applause. Jake took a hold of Cassie, dipped her, and kissed her passionately.
“Get a room!” someone yelled.
“I already got them one!” Luke yelled back.
Once everyone took their seats, Pastor Jenkins made his way to the DJ’s table. “Everyone, Pastor Jenkins would like to lead of our evening off with a prayer.”
Everyone bowed their heads and the entire head table held hands. Abbey felt the stirrings of arousal again as Luke held her hand firmly. She pressed her knees together, trying to relieve the pressure.
“Thank you, Pastor, for that wonderful blessing. Once everyone has their champagne, the best man and maid of honor will come on up for the toasts and then dinner service will begin.”
A moment later, a server was pouring champagne into Jake’s and Cassie’s toasting glasses. Abbey had never seen such an unusual bottle before. The dark glass champagne bottle was encased in an elegant, shiny silver sleeve which had some sort of engraving on the front of it.
Jake looked over to Luke with a concerned expression on his face. Was he upset that Luke got them champagne? “Luke, what the fuck?” he whispered. “We were supposed to have a wine toast.”
“What’s the big deal, Jake? It’s a nice gesture,” Abbey said, defending Luke for some stupid reason.
“The big deal is this is Moët & Chandon Dom Perignon White Gold,” Jake answered.
Abbey shrugged, still not understanding why Jake was so upset.
Jake let out a breath, like he was trying to calm down. “The bottle casing is plated in real white gold and it’s almost twenty-five hundred dollars a bottle.”
Well, Abbey hadn’t expected that. Even so, Luke’s generosity shouldn’t be this upsetting to Jake. Something else had to be wrong.
Jake looked at the servers pouring champagne for the other guests and glared at Luke. “What are the guests getting, Luke?”
Luke sighed and shrugged. “Just Moët & Chandon Bicentenary Cuvée Dry Imperial 1943. It’s no big deal.”
Jake growled. Actually growled at Luke. “No big deal, at around fourteen hundred dollars a bottle, with the number of guest we have, that’s probably around thirty five grand. Unbelievable. You said you would stop going overboard with the gifts.”
Luke glared back at Jake. Were they going to have a throw down before the toasts? Over champagne? Crazy expensive champagne, but champagne none the less.
“And you said you were going to relax about my wedding gifts,” Luke countered.
Jake shook his head. “Wrong. I said maybe. If I recall it had something to do with secrets. Remember?”
Secrets? Disappointment filled Abbey. Secrets. She knew it. Any hopes she may have entertained, however briefly about Luke, were all but dead now. She should have known better. Now she did and she would behave accordingly.
Abbey regarded Cassie as she examined their champagne bottle. When Cassie teared up, Abbey didn’t know what to do. Cassie looked at Luke with gratitude.
Jake gazed at Cassie, concern etched on his face. “Babe, what is it? Are you all right? Is it the baby?” he whispered.
