I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before my father came to walk me inside the main dining room. It wasn’t like the dress I wore at the Magnolia Inn. It wasn’t a full bridal gown, but it was a designer I fell in love with in New York. I felt like a bride, even without the bouquet and the bridesmaids, or the layers of tulle. It was fitted all the way to my heels.

Dad knocked on the door. “Evelyn?”

“Yep. I’m ready.” I touched up my lipgloss and swung the door open.

It seemed less scary to do things this way. I wasn’t a bundle of nerves like my sister was on her wedding day. People should skip the scary ceremony part and jump straight to the reception from now on.

Dad held his arm for me. I wanted to walk into the room with Jer, but this entire weekend was about the Rossi family. I had to take the opportunities to mend fences where I could.

If he wanted to walk his daughter in, I’d let him.

Bella’s was closed for the night. The staff had converted the restaurant into our reception venue. I remembered a wedding here once when I was ten. I had watched the bride and groom from the kitchen window.

We didn’t have to introduce an entire wedding party. This was the only piece of the night that held any pomp and circumstance. As soon as we rounded the corner, I could hear the guests clap. I saw Jeremy standing near my mom.

He smiled as we approached. There was no minister. No Justice of the Peace. It was a simple transfer as Dad handed me off to my husband. Jeremy kissed my cheek.

“You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” I blushed.

I had spent the day trying to forget about the conversation we had on my parents’ porch last night. I got it. He was spooked. He was damaged. He was questioning everything around him. His family. Mine. But the one thing I wasn’t going to let him question was us. I dared him to try to pull that shit on me again. We were both wounded for different reasons and the only way to get through life, was together. I needed him in my corner and he had me in his.

“Do we have to dance now or something?” he whispered in my ear. Everyone was watching us.

“No. We can mingle and say hi. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the Rossi family.”

“Or we could skip that and I could take you to the basement. I know the best damn couch in this place,” he taunted. “It would be so easy to bend you over in that dress,” he growled.

My cheeks had to be a dark crimson by now. I shivered at his words.

By the time we got home last night it was after midnight. I didn’t know there was such a thing as falling asleep without having sex with Jer. The emotional roller coaster got the better of us.

Before we had morning coffee Frannie was on my doorstep, whisking me away for more girl time. I’d spent another day without my husband. I didn’t like the separation that Newton Hills caused. It was the first time I wanted to get back to New York. In New York we could be together all the time.

“I wish,” I whispered.

He threaded his fingers through mine. “Just say the word and I’ll barricade the cellar.”

I giggled. “I bet you would.” My panties were wet thinking about it. My core ached to have him inside me again.

“What’s so funny?” Frannie popped up next to us.

“Where’s Marcus?” I asked.

“He was paged. Some kid shoved a penny up his nose.”

Jeremy made a face. “They do that?”

“That’s nothing. Last week he had a call because a kid tried to put a pet goldfish in his sister’s ear and the mom was convinced she was going to have an ear infection.”

“I think I need a drink.” Jeremy pointed at me. “I’m guessing white wine with that dress.”

“Yes. Please.” I smiled, watching my sexy husband disappear to the bar.

“You shouldn’t be drinking, you know.” Frannie leaned in.

I threw her a warning glare. “Stop it. I already told you.” I didn’t want to share yesterday’s disappointment with her. With Jeremy in the picture, it changed how I looked at the process. It was our journey now. He was my partner in everything that happened.

“I know. I know. I’m only saying if you want to get pregnant, maybe cut out all the alcohol and caffeine. Start treating your body like it is pregnant.”

I stared at her. “I live for caffeine.”

“I know you do. It’s just a suggestion. I read a study in one of Marcus’s medical journals. Women who pretend they are pregnant are more likely to get pregnant.”

“Or be committed for being insane.”

“No. Just clean eating. Vitamins. Walks every day. Plenty of water. Do some yoga.”

“I’m healthy.” I defended myself.

She sighed. “You never asked me what I did for my three pregnancies. I’m telling you. I changed my lifestyle.”

Jeremy returned with a large glass of white wine. I took it, stared at my sister, and began to gulp.

She groaned. “Fine, don’t take my advice. But when he wants babies, don’t say I didn’t try to help.” She stormed off in her blue sparkly cocktail dress.

“What the hell was that about?” Jeremy watched Frannie.

I exhaled. “As usual my sister was trying to tell me what to do. She thinks I should give up alcohol and caffeine so I can get pregnant.”

“Really?” He sipped a glass of bourbon.

“Can you believe that? She has three kids. I know. We all know.”

“Let’s do it. Let’s try that.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I’ll do it with you. We used to do this in pre-season training. Cold turkey. Cut everything out. Nothing processed. No sugar.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“Oh it’s fucking awful.”

“Then why would we ever want to do that?”

“To have our baby.”

“Not tonight,” I warned. “I want this wine and all the wine I can handle.”

He chuckled. “Not tonight. I think there’s an expensive Malbec calling our name. But tomorrow?” He waggled his eyebrows.

I whined. “No coffee? There’s no way. I love coffee. I write with coffee. How can I think? How will I function?”

“One cup. We’ll start there.”

This was going to suck. I gulped the wine. “Oh, there’s Kelsey and Megan.” I saw my friends coming toward us with their husbands.

“Jeremy Hartwell,” Kelsey gushed.

“It’s been a while,” he answered, shaking the husbands’ hands. “Thanks for coming.”

“It was so good to see Evie yesterday at the luncheon. And now the party.” Kelsey looked at us. “This is awesome. Your parents are such great hosts. I can’t wait to try all the food.”

“Thank you.” I waited for Megan to say something.

“I think we’ll stop by the bar.” It was the only thing that came out of her mouth.

I didn’t have time to wallow. My aunts attacked us before I could catch my breath. They pinched Jeremy’s cheeks and squeezed him like he was a marshmallow. They had decided to ignore the fact that he was the town’s only celebrity. Tonight, he was the cutest new member of the Rossi clan.

We moved through the guests, stopping to talk to neighbors and friends. Jeremy had an incredible memory. For someone who hadn’t lived in Newton Hills in years, he didn’t forget anyone’s names or faces. He was like a walking yearbook.

We paused, gearing up for another table when I saw his eyes move to the front door. The light in his expression was snuffed out. The smile was gone. The shimmer in his blue eyes. All of it was instantly dark.

“Jer?” I followed his gaze.

“What is she doing here?” he asked.

I didn’t set the guest list. I didn’t plan the party. It never occurred to me who my mother and Frannie would include. I had asked Jeremy if he wanted to invite anyone and he was adamant that he didn’t need any names on the list. I never felt the need to get involved, but that was a mistake.

I felt him stiffen next to me. I prayed under my breath that our beautiful reception wouldn’t become another victim of the Hartwell family feud. Because there was nothing I could do now. I wasn’t going to make a scene. I wasn’t going to threaten her.

I couldn’t humiliate my mother-in-law.

Sylvia Hartwell stood in the doorway as if she owned the place.