Breakfast in bed followed by hot sex in the shower, followed by more hot sex on the bed, has me set for the day—it should have me set for the day, but the minute my gaze catches sight of Rachel in her dress my thoughts scatter, and I’m left with my tongue hanging out of my mouth like an idiot.

“You like the dress?” she asks, twirling around the room, laughing.

It takes a moment or two but once I can think again, I snake an arm around her waist and pull her in. “It’s the woman in the dress that I love, but the dress is going to be a favorite of mine, I think. The way the silk caress over your bottom when you walk makes me breathless.” My hand shapes to her womanly curves.

“I think you look sexy in this tuxedo. The way your pants fit, and cup the bulge just for me.” The palm of her hand presses and her fingers gently squeeze while her eyes are alight with arousal and amusement.

“We’re going to be late.” I push into her hand while my hands slide through the long side-split and caress her thighs, and further up.

She quivers under my touch and I nearly come in my pants when I feel the lacy garters around the top of her thighs. I meet her gaze. “You’ve been sent from hell to tempt me.”

Throwing her head back she laughs. “You’ve discovered what’s waiting for you tonight.”

“Pure temptation,” I agree and place my hands on her hips, putting her away from me. “I need a minute before I leave the room.”

She chuckles. “I think you might need a few,” she glances at the erection, “or I’m not opposed to getting on my knees.”

Cursing, I snap my eyes closed. “Not today.” I inhale deeply.

“Open your eyes, Alex. I’ll be good. I promise.”

Peering at her through my lowered lids, I grin when I see her standing in the doorway between our rooms. “You really are beautiful, and you’re all mine.”

“I am.” Her smile fades and worry slowly slips onto her face. “I wish we could attend the wedding together.”

Moving closer, I catch a tear as it runs down her cheek. “It won’t be for much longer. Once we get back home we’ll tell everyone, okay?” I kiss her sweet lips. “If I could be assured that our relationship will be accepted by all then you’d be by my side today. You know that, right?”

She nods. “I know.” Sighing she glances at the time on the television. “I better go.”

Neither of us move and then I tug her tightly against me for one final hug before we part for the rest of the day. We’ll be around each other just no touching or kissing.

“Go, Rachel. I’ll follow you down.” I kiss her forehead. “Love you.”

“Love you more.” She offers a watery smile and quickly exits through the door to her own room.

I sag into the chair by the window and stare out at the snow capped mountains before me. My head and heart ache at the thought of what’s to come, but there is no turning back. I love my cousin Rachel, and she’s the only woman I want. Nothing feels right unless I’m with her. She makes me feel like I could reach the moon if I so wished.

Glancing at my phone when it beeps, I read the notification from my sister, Olivia: Get your ass downstairs!

Laughing, I snap out of my thoughts and look forward to seeing my family, especially my cousin Charlotte as she marries Tanner. My family is like being in the middle of a soap opera and, I’m hoping that Tanner’s father, Derek, and my cousin Madison, distract everyone so that I might get one dance with the woman in my heart.

Stepping into the elevator, I find Paige with her two Dads, along with my Uncle Michael.

Paige glares and looks along the hallway from where I’ve come from, and then back at me. She frowns. “Where are you staying?” she asks sharply, drawing the gaze of the others.

“This floor,” I reply, and turn to Uncle Michael. “That shawl suits you.” He has a silver shawl over his arm.

Uncle Ramon chuckles, and adds, “I’ve already told him that.”

“You girls can stop having a go at me. Lily left it in the room and she’s cold in the chapel.” Uncle Michael glares at his brother.

The elevator arrives at the ground floor and once we’ve stepped out, Uncle Noah catches my arm and holds me back. I give him a questioning look.

“What’s going on between you and Paige?”

“What?” I say surprised. “There’s nothing going on with Paige and I. Why would you ask?”

“My daughter can be very abrupt as you know, but she hasn’t been herself this morning and then the dig in the elevator made me wonder if you’ve both had an argument.”

I shake my head and sigh, admitting, “Paige has a problem with me, but I’m not going to talk about it until we’re all back home in Lexington.” I plead with him. “Please leave it for the weekend.”

He watches me carefully before he nods. “Okay.” He smiles. “Let’s join the others.”

Uncle Noah wanders into the room, and I’m just about to follow him, when I spot Madison hiding behind a large potted plant. I have to do a double take before I realize it is my cousin.

The little kid in me creeps up behind her and bending toward her ear, I whisper, “Boo!”

She screeches and jumps a mile. I reach out and grab her around the waist before she falls over the green artificial plant.

She wiggles free and punches me on the arm.

“Ouch!”

“You scared me to death.”

“Why are you hiding behind here?”

“I’m not.”

“Really?” I raise a brow and start laughing. “Madison, you know how ridiculous you’re being hiding out here, right?”

“I can’t go in there wearing this.” She widens her arms showing me her dress.

Frowning, I ask, “I’m not sure what you mean. You look good.”

“Ugh!”

“I’m out of my element right now, why don’t I go and get Dylan.”

“Hell no!” she mumbles. “I think I’ll go change.”

“You don’t have time.” Hoping like hell she doesn’t punch me again because she has one hell of a right hook, I grab her arm and thread it through mine, and then we’re in the room.

“What are you doing?” she squeaks.

I glance at her and hold my amusement. “I don’t have all day to stand talking to you behind a potted plant.” I smirk. “Derek can’t take his eyes off of you.”

My comment gets a reaction. “Really?”

“Well, he’s currently trying his best not to look at you, but I think he’s failing spectacularly.” I glance at the man in question and although he is trying not to look at Madison, he also appears angry with himself—at least that’s my guess.

“Will you sit with me?” I don’t get much of a choice as she drags me to where she’s chosen to sit, and pulls me down beside her.

It all works out just fine when Rachel moves toward me from the opposite end of the makeshift aisle. Her father, Ramon, is behind her and then Noah, and Paige follows him.

Rachel’s face lights up when she spots me and she sits beside me. “This worked out well,” she whispers.

About to reply I catch the glare from Paige. I wish she’d lighten up. The sisters have always been close and it bothers me that I’m coming between them. I wonder if some of Paige’s anger is more jealousy—that she doesn’t have her twin all to herself anymore.

“What’s wrong with Madison?” Rachel asks.

Leaning closer, I whisper, “I found her hiding behind the plant outside the room.”

Rachel looks surprised and a small bit amused.

“I think it has something to do with Derek, but only time will tell what’s going on there.”

“He’s a lot older than her,” Rachel mumbles.

“He’s around the same age as Garrett,” I reply.

“I hadn’t thought about it like that.” Rachel turns to Ramon before she turns to me, and whispers, “You can’t help whom your heart falls in love with.”

“No you can’t.” I give her a look that tells her exactly whom my heart lies with.

Silence follows as the rest of our family take their seats with a nervous Tanner standing out front. It must be nerve racking waiting for the woman you love to walk down the aisle toward you, knowing that she’s finally going to belong to you—that no one else will ever be able to stake a claim on her.

My eyes drift to Rachel and I know that’s what I want more than anything—for her to be my wife and by my side for the rest of my life.

She meets my gaze and I’m so close to dipping my head and capturing her lips when a loud cough behind us interrupts.

We glance over our shoulder and see Joshua with a frown on his face, staring at us. He raises a brow and tips his head to the back of the room.

Charlotte has arrived.

I only catch a glimpse through the rest of my family, but as she slowly moves past on Uncle Michael’s arm, I’m unable to miss the clear and bright excitement on her face as she’s led toward her future husband.

Something catches in my chest and I find it difficult to breathe, until I feel the gentle touch of Rachel as she intertwines our fingers together. She squeezes and doesn’t let go—all through the marriage ceremony she keeps hold.

Once Charlotte and Tanner are pronounced man and wife and it’s our turn to follow them from the room, only then do we reluctantly let each other go. I don’t like it.