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My brain might overload from all the sensations happening inside of me at the thought of Declan smiling because ofmylaugh.
“Look who it is!” A wrinkled hand clamps down on Declan’s shoulder. “I heard you were here tonight.” Brady Kane’s lawyer grins.
Declan doesn’t bother trying to smile, and the brightness from before is replaced by cool indifference. “Leonid.”
The lawyer shudders, making his head of gray hair shake. “Please call me Leo. You know how I feel about formalities.”
Leo turns his eyes toward me. “And is this the wife I’ve heard some whisperings about?”
One of Declan’s arms snakes around me before tugging me flush against him. “Iris, this is Leo. He was my grandfather’s best friend.”
Best friend? Why didn’t Declan mention that tiny detail during our thousands of exchanges about the man?
Probably because he doesn’t have best friends, so he doesn’t think it matters.
I refrain from sighing.
Leo holds out his hand for me to shake. I take it, and he pulls me out of Declan’s arms and right into his chest. “We will be having none of that. We’re practically family.”
Are we, really? Did I miss the part where this man never showed up to our wedding?
Leo must read my mind or at the very least the expression on my face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding. I was off the grid for a month while hiking Mount Everest, and by the time I came back, I heard you two had already tied the knot.”
If he seems wary of our marriage, he doesn’t show it.
“Youclimbed Mount Everest?”
“I might look old, but I sure don’t feel it.” He taps his heart with a grin.
“Says the man who called an emergency helicopter to rescue him after he thought he could compete in the Tour de France,” Declan replies.
“It was your grandfather’s idea. Bastard always wanted to show off how fit he was. I’ve always hated cycling.”
Something flashes in Declan’s eyes, and it makes my chest ache. I reach for his hand to give it a squeeze. The move is instinctual, yet I still blink at our interlocked fingers with surprise.
Leo catches the whole thing with a smile. “But enough about me. I want to hear all about you two.”
“There isn’t much to tell.” I smile.
He wraps an arm around Declan’s shoulder and guides us to a table. “Nonsense. But first, we need a toast to celebrate your marriage. Is vodka good with everyone?”
Declan’s groan catches in the back of his throat, and I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.
Leo can’t stop smiling as his eyes bounce between the two of us. “Do you prefer something else?”
“No. Vodka sounds great,” Declan speaks through gritted teeth.
My body shakes from quiet laughter, and Leo shoots me a look before he leaves us to go find a bottle of vodka.
“I fucking hate vodka.” Declan drags his chair closer to mine. He wraps his arm against the back of my chair like we do this all the time. His arm brushes against the back of my neck, sending a rush of goosebumps across my arms.
“Are you cold?” He frowns at me.
I only nod, afraid my voice would betray how I really feel about his proximity.
He stands and shimmies off his jacket. “Here.”
He gestures for me to scoot forward. I comply, jaw gaping as he slides the material over my shoulders. It smells like him—clean with a hint of spice. Without looking too obvious, I take a second sniff, allowing the scent of him to filter through my lungs.
