Declan huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “After we let the kids out,girlfriend?”
“Should really be ‘wife’ by now, if I’m honest,” Carter mutters, a jab right back at them for mocking us.
I pinch the back of his neck, because that’s just none of his business.
Declan shoots him a look, and I realize something at that very moment, standing in a strange hallway with a bunch of people that I don’t know. As Penny chuckles under her breath and unwinds herself from her boyfriend, and as those hazel eyes burn into Carter’s face for half a second too long, I know for certain that is the look of a man who has already bought the ring.
I pull back from Carter, fighting the urge to smile.
“I’m down for a drink,” I say.
“Oz?” Dec glances over his shoulder.
Shay’s already shaking her head.
“Next time,” Oscar says, slapping his hand into Declan’s. He nods at Carter and me, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders.
Shay says a pleasant goodbye, and then they’re headed out the same way as the rest of them.
When the door shuts behind them, Declan turns to me, his face grave.
“It’s going to be chaos out there.”
“What?”
“They’re waiting for a look at you, I think.” Penny offers a weak smile. “Carter’s a hot commodity around here.”
“Nah, I just got thrown in the slammer to protect your honour,” Carter corrects with a shrug. His eyes search mine. “I’ll be right by your side and stand in their way. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
“No stopping tonight,” Penny says quietly.
“I know.” Declan nods.
“Come on,” I murmur, rolling my neck to look at them. “You can’tnotsign autographs just because I’m here.”
“Just for safety,” Carter says, sliding his arm around my neck. He yanks me to his side, kissing the back of my head even though there is nobody around to convince. “Those paps can be vicious little things.”
“Lucky almost got knocked out by a flying camera once.”
I glance at her, and she winces at the memory, sliding her hand around Declan’s bicep as they start walking toward the exit.
Carter tugs me along behind them, arm still completely thrown around me. He pulls my body even closer to his. “Game face on, Red.”
His hand leaves my shoulders, but his touch only vanishes for a moment. Those long fingers thread through mine instead, squeezing just enough to remind me that he’s there.
Declan takes one look back at us, dips his chin, and tosses the door open. I hear them before I see them. It’s not until we reach the middle of the parking lot that the flashes go crazy. I duck my chin, but Carter nudges me, forcing me to lift my head. He flashes a smile and nods in their direction.
Head up. Own it.
Declan and Penny walk arm in arm to our left, letting the cameras capture us instead of them. Carter rounds his G-Wagon, me in tow, and opens the passenger door for me, helping me inside despite the knowledge that I’m perfectly capable. I buckle myself in as his hand finds my jaw, turning my head in his direction.
“You crushed it, Mrs. Faux Forkerro.”
“All I did was walk to a car.”
“Hey, you didn’t trip.” He smiles wider and flashes me a wink. “A win is a win, Bub.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
