“You had fun. Admit it.”

“I had fun making you laugh.” He kissed her again, lingering just long enough for her to start looking forward to the end of the reception. They were getting naked tonight for the first time since the surgery.

Noah dragged an empty chair close to hers. He sat down and hooked his arm over her shoulder. “You doing okay?” he asked, nuzzling her hair. His softer tone meant he was serious this time. He’d been hovering over her for weeks like she was going to break. He wouldn’t even let her carry her own coffee mug in the morning, and he’d damn near tackled Mack at the rehearsal dinner when Mack tried to pick her up in a bear hug.

“I’m perfect,” she murmured, burrowing her nose into his neck. His skin smelled warm and tangy from exertion, but so uniquely Noah. She ran her fingertips along the hard, smooth line of his jaw. She was still getting used to the clean-shaven version of the man she loved.

With a contented sigh, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe Mack pulled this off. He should seriously become a wedding planner.”

“Dear God, don’t tell him that. He’ll make all of us join him.”

“But you guys did such an amazing job. I’ve never seen such a beautiful wedding reception.”

“Ours will be better.”

Alexis leaned back so she could peer up at him. “Noah Logan, did you just propose to me?”

“You tell me.” He winked when he said it.

“I think you did. And the answer, as you know, is yes.”

He dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. She smiled, because she knew someday he’d propose for real, and she’d say yes for real, and they would live happily ever after.

A disgusted noise to their left brought them apart. “God, you guys are as gross as them.”

Sonia dropped into a chair at the table and waved her hand toward Liv and Mack, who were so wrapped up in each other on the dance floor that the rest of the room might as well have disappeared.

Colton suddenly jogged over and leaned down, hands pressed to the table and color high on his cheeks. “Holy shit, you guys. You are not going to believe it.”

It must’ve been something really big, because this was the first time he’d left the side of Gretchen all night. Something was definitely brewing between them, and Alexis planned to get the full story out of Gretchen as soon as possible.

“What won’t we believe?” Noah asked.

“She’s real.”

Alexis scrunched up her face. “Who is real?”

“The Russian’s wife!”

Noah stood and looked over Colton’s shoulder. “Holy shit.”

Alexis peered around him and followed his gaze. A tall, impossibly gorgeous woman stood just inside the entrance to the ballroom. Next to her, looking both shocked and slightly pitiful, was the Russian.

“I thought she couldn’t come to the wedding,” Noah said.

“Looks to me like he wasn’t expecting her,” Alexis said.

As if on cue, the woman turned on one dangerously high heel and began to walk out. The Russian raced after her.

“Uh-oh,” Noah breathed. “That doesn’t look good.”

“Maybe we should follow them,” Colton said.

Noah shook his head. “Leave them alone. Something’s obviously wrong.”

“Oh, I hope not,” Alexis said, leaning on the table. “He’s so tenderhearted. It would destroy him if he’s having marriage trouble.”

Colton smirked at Noah and left the table. Noah returned to his seat, and Alexis once again rested her head on him. “How long should we stay?”

“If that’s an offer to leave so I can finally get that dress off you, then my answer is now.”

She laughed and brushed the tip of her nose against his jaw. “Looking forward to that, are you?”

Noah’s long fingers slipped inside the back of her dress. “You should too. I have some fun stuff planned for you tonight.”

“Fun stuff we’ve done before?” Her voice was suddenly breathless.

Noah caught her earlobe with this lips. “And some that we haven’t.”

Alexis tilted her head and sighed as he kissed behind her ear. “And where did you learn these new fun things?”

He turned her face toward his. And just before lowering his mouth, he murmured, “The Bromance Book Club, honey.”