Entering the reception area I watch Charlotte as she smiles up at her husband. Tanner is just as besotted with his new wife, and so far, I haven’t seen them let go of each other. It makes my heart heavy with longing for what I can’t have for now.

It was beautiful getting to hold Alexander’s hand throughout the ceremony. I’d felt his touch all the way through to my soul. Even the dark look from Paige hadn’t put a dampener on how light my heart had felt.

Alexander is close to me and that helps me move forward to wrap my cousin, Charlotte, up in a hug of congratulations.

“You look like a Princess, Mrs. Jackson,” I whisper, pulling away. “And you’ve certainly caught your Prince Charming.”

“I have haven’t I?” She grins and kisses my cheek. “You’ll catch yours one day.”

Moving into the room, I whisper, “I already have,” and get caught up with Aunt Sabrina, Alexander’s mom, as she slips her arm through mine.

“We’re sitting at the same table. I switched you with Sofia so you can breathe.”

I glance at her face and sigh when she smiles. “I’m not blind Rachel, and there is something going on between you and Paige. I’m not taking sides, but I have seen how uncomfortable she’s making you regardless of how much you try to hide it.” She pats my arm. “Weddings are for smiles and laughter, and that’s what you’re going to experience.”

Turning into her, I throw my arms around her shoulders. “I love you, Aunt Sabrina.”

“You’re going to make me cry.” She pulls back and dabs at her eyes. “I love you too.” She cups my face and only lets go when her husband, Lucien, wraps an arm around her waist.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“I’m always emotional at weddings. You know this.” She nuzzles into his neck while Uncle Lucien cups her chin and lifts her to his mouth for a brief kiss. The kiss may have been brief but I bet it would have continued on if they’d been alone.

I haven’t spoken to Uncle Lucien since the night he found Alexander and I in Uncle Michael’s study.

As I’m taking my seat he glances between Alexander—a frown marring his brow—and me. I turn to Alex. “Your mother changed the seating around.”

He raises a brow so I continue, “She picked up on the anger in Paige. Moved me here so that I didn’t have to worry about her.” Sighing, I add, “She’s my twin and I do need to talk to her, but I’m sick of arguing and having her lecturing me.”

“She’ll come around,” Alex says.

“I hope so.”

“Anyone else froze to death outside?” Uncle Sebastian says, sitting his wife before himself. “I wouldn’t recommend the trip from the hot tub to the room.” He shudders. “I nearly turned into a damn icicle.”

Uncle Lucien rolls his eyes. “Haven’t you grown up yet?”

“Hey, I have a hot wife. What can I say?”

“Not in front of the children, please,” Olivia adds, dropping into her seat.

Ryan pulls his cloth-covered chair out, and joins us. “I’m eloping. Less hassle.”

“Since when did you plan on getting married?” I raise a brow.

Ryan has always insisted that there’s too much choice to settle down with one woman. I honestly think that’s the opinion of a lot of guys, especially younger ones. Ryan has his pick of women and knows it too, which doesn’t sit too well with his mother, Aunt Rosie.

“The married cousins are slowly making me change my mind.” He grins. “I think it would be nice to have a partner.” His eyes glaze over while he’s lost in thought. “Someone to wake up to every morning.” He clears his throat and grins. “Nothing better than slow morning sex.”

I feel my cheeks redden as the table goes silent and then of course Uncle Sebastian has something to say, “I totally agree with you … Make sure you try the Jacuzzi, that’s a close second.”

“I’m sure your nephews and nieces would prefer not to hear about our sex life. I sure would rather they didn’t.” Aunt Carla nudges her husband harshly in the ribs.

“Hey, Sis, who was that you were talking to?” Alex asks, and Olivia has the caught in the headlights look.

“Um, who?” she replies, a blush working it’s way on to her face.

Alex grins and looks to be about to continue, when I change the subject, “How’s Sofia doing at the bakery, Ryan?”

Olivia offers me a grateful smile while I hear Alex give a light chuckle, and he whispers under his breath, “I’ll get you for that.”

I pay no attention and focus on Ryan.

“She has a big wedding coming up in Lexington. She’s really buzzing about it.”

“Do tell?” Olivia asks.

Ryan shrugs, digging into the entrée. “I don’t know much more than that, other than the brother who is paying for his sister’s wedding is a recluse. Has a fortune too.” He quickly clears his plate. “She hasn’t met him yet.”

I frown. “I really must catch up with her. It feels like forever since new year.”

“Who is the recluse?” Uncle Lucien asks.

“Shane Fletcher. Something to do with computers.” Ryan smirks. “I’d much rather talk about who Olivia was talking to earlier.”

Olivia gasps, smacking Ryan on the arm. “Will you and my brother quit? It was a friend of Tanner’s, all right? Stop bugging me.”

Alex goes to open his mouth but I think my hand on his thigh shocks him enough that he stays silent, although I do hear a soft hiss. Feeling happy, I squeeze and move my hand higher before leaving him alone. I nudge into him. “Stop teasing your sister.”

“I’d rather be teasing you,” he whispers so low that I only just catch his words.

“Hmm.” I cast a glance in his direction and catch Aunt Carla looking between us both before she turns her attention to her husband.

“What’s going on with Paige?” Ryan asks.

My eyes snap to him as he’s shoving more food into his mouth, and I find I’m lost for words.

Ryan meets my gaze and frowns when he looks at the others. “I guess I was supposed to mind my own business, huh?”

“Since when have you minded your own business?” I smirk. “Paige and I are having a disagreement, and that’s all I’m going to say.”

“Fair enough.” He glances at his food then back to me. “It’s nothing to do with Seth is it?”

“Who’s Seth?” Olivia asks, all eyes currently on Ryan.

“God, these four remind me of us when we were their age,” Uncle Sebastian moans.

“Some of us have even grown up.” Uncle Lucien raises a brow.

Uncle Sebastian doesn’t comment but focuses on Ryan. “So spill the beans.”

“Um,” Dylan hedges. “Ask Jaxon.”

“Someone at college then?” Aunt Carla mumbles. “I’ll ask Dylan, he can’t resist his mother when I want to know something.” She frowns. “In fact, isn’t he a friend of Dylan’s? I’m sure I’ve met a Seth when we’ve visited Dylan at college.”

This conversation is going to annoy Paige when she finds out, which she will because Ryan has to know everything going on. “Instead of speculating,” I say, “why don’t we talk about something else.”

“Good idea,” Aunt Sabrina agrees. “Why don’t you tell us about your Italian trip? It’s been moved forward from what Ramon was telling me.”

My heart sinks and I feel Alexander still beside me.

The family know that I’m intending on going to Europe for a few weeks, but I haven’t had chance to tell anyone other than my fathers that it’s been moved forward. Now though, I don’t want to go anywhere unless Alexander is with me. But I can’t say that with a table full of witnesses.

“Um, yeah. I’m heading to Florence in a few weeks for a month.” I shrug. “It’s part of my study program. A lot of the students opted for the semester abroad, but I don’t want to be away that long.” I nervously glance at Alexander and realize he’s forcing himself to eat while ignoring me.

“We’ve been to Italy,” Aunt Carla says. “It’s a romantic place to visit, and the food is amazing.”

“Perhaps you’ll meet an Italian hottie, and spend the rest of your life in Italy,” Ryan suggests wiggling his brows.

The others laugh, mine is forced, and Alexander’s is none existent.

“That isn’t funny,” Alexander growls, throwing his napkin on his plate. He shoves away from the table and leaves without a backward glance.

My first thought is to run after him—to tell him that he’s the only man I’ll ever want—that I want him to spend as much of the month I’m in Florence with me, except his father, Uncle Lucien, goes after him. I don’t miss the tired glance he gives me before he goes after Alexander.