Chapter 19

“We should probably head back inside,” Piper said, voice shaky. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms and shivered.

I slipped off my tuxedo jacket and draped it around her shoulders. Eyes fluttering closed, she inhaled deeply, and I smiled at the knowledge of her breathing in my scent, of liking me enough to want to have me surrounding her like that.

“Don’t want you freezing to death,” I said.

“Thank you.” She clutched the front of the jacket closed. “Won’t you get cold, though?”

Slipping my hand into her free one, I laced our fingers and gave a gentle squeeze. Her hand was so small in mine, yet we were a perfect fit.

“Vampires don’t get cold.” My lips twitched with a teasing smirk.

“Show off.”

I laughed and tugged her back toward the patio. “C’mon.”

Her heels clicked against the wooden steps as she let me lead her toward the door. She didn’t try to remove her hand from mine, and I took that as a good sign. If only she’d give me a little more, something concrete I could build on. Sure, I knew she was attracted to me, and I knew I affected her in ways that were new to both of us, but she was holding back. With only ten days to show her how much she meant to me, how incredible our lives would be—together—I needed to make every single second count.

I stopped before entering the country club and faced her. “I agreed to not kiss you on the lips, so can you now do something for me?”

Hesitation played out across her face. “What?”

“I know you’re staying for a while.” I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand, savoring how soft her skin was. “And I know you’re uncertain about your feelings right now, so give me these few days. Let’s spend this time together and figure out where we stand.”

Stepping closer, she peered up into my eyes, holding my attention captive. But she didn’t say anything, and her silence had nervous energy buzzing through me.

“No pressure. I promise,” I added quickly. “But I feel like we should get to know each other better, without having to deal with psycho power-hungry witches.”

“What if you find out I’m one of those psycho power-hungry witches?” she asked.

“Then I guess I’ll have to kill you.” I sighed like the very thought of that was a huge burden.

She laughed, then slid her palm up my torso, stopping on my chest. “You’ve got ten days to show me what you got, vampire. Don’t disappoint me.”

A large part of me had expected her to say no, but she hadn’t, and it took a moment for that to fully settle in my mind. When it did, I peeled her hand from my chest and placed a lingering kiss to her palm.

“When I’m done with you, Piper, you won’t want to so much as think about another man.” My voice was low and rough with promise.

“And if you’re wrong?” She raised a brow, the corner of her mouth lifting with a flirty smile.

“Then I guess you get to kill me.” I shrugged, and she rolled her eyes.

Before either of us could say anything else, Chloe burst through the door. “There you two are. Trent and I are getting ready for our speeches, then Isach and Abby are cutting the cake.” Her gaze darted between me and Piper. “Everything okay?”

“Never better.” I gave Piper’s hand another squeeze, and she returned the gesture.

“Then let’s go.” Chloe turned and headed back inside.

Piper and I followed, and once we were back in the banquet hall, Piper shrugged off my jacket and held it out to me. “Thank you,” she said.

I took it. “Sure you don’t want to keep it?”

“Doesn’t match my dress.” Then she spun on her heel and weaved her way around the tables until she reached her seat. She sat and crossed her legs.

Slipping my jacket back on, I returned to my chair at the head table. A freshly poured glass of champagne sat in front of me. I had half a mind to down the entire thing right now, but then I wouldn’t have anything for the toasts. At least I didn’t have to speak this time. Giving the best man speech for Trent and Chloe’s wedding hadn’t been easy—probably because I’d still had feelings for Chloe at the time.

“Where have you been?” Trent whispered.

“With Piper.”

He grinned. “Should I start writing my best man speech for your wedding?”

Suddenly, the thought of marrying Piper consumed my thoughts, but I shoved them away. Right now, I needed to focus on the next ten days, because if I couldn’t convince her to be with me, then a wedding was most definitely out of the question.

“Would the matron-of-honor and the best man please come on up?” the DJ asked.

I relaxed a little as Trent and Chloe made their way up to the microphone.

“It’s no secret to anyone who knows us that I wasn’t exactly a fan of Isach’s when we first met,” Trent said, holding his champagne glass in front of him as he turned his attention to Isach. “In fact, I downright loathed you.”

Everyone laughed.

“But then you met Abby, and everything changed. You became a completely different person, a better person, and it was easy to see the real you, the you that Abby never had trouble seeing.” Trent cleared his throat. “And you bring out in Abby a strength and determination that she didn’t possess when I first met her. You two are the best of each other.” He lifted his glass in the air. “To Isach and Abby. May you have an eternity of happiness.”

Applause echoed in the room. God, my brother could be such a sap at times. I shook my head.

Chloe nudged Trent out of the way and claimed the spot in front of the microphone. I could see the tears already forming in her eyes. No way would she make it through her speech without crying.

“Oh, Abby. Where do I even begin?” Chloe laughed nervously. “We were practically strangers when I moved here, but now we’re family. Best friends. Sisters.” She gave a teary smile. “I am so incredibly proud of you for going after what you wanted and not giving up, even when things seemed hopeless.”

I glanced over at Abby. She wiped beneath her eyes, clearly trying to stop the tears before they streaked down her face.

“And Isach… you’re so much more than just my best friend, and I’m thrilled that I can now call you family. I apologize now for all the craziness that entails.”

Another round of laughter filtered through the room.

“I know you two are going to have a very long, very happy, and very not boring life together. To Abby and Isach.” Chloe lifted her glass, and everyone else did, too.

Among a chorus of “to Abby and Isach,” I downed my champagne, then shifted over into Trent’s empty chair.

“Congratulations,” I said to Isach. “Don’t hurt her, or I’ll have to kill you, and I’m pretty sure she won’t like that.”

Isach laughed. “Thanks, man.”

Abby sighed dramatically. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? You could at least wait until tomorrow to start issuing the death threats.”

“Technically, I should have issued them before the wedding.” I winked, and Abby laughed.

The DJ announced an open dance floor while the cake was being prepared.

“Mind if I steal your wife for a dance?” I asked Isach.

“As long as you bring her back,” he said.

I held my hand out to Abby. “May I?”

She stood, dropped a quick kiss on Isach’s lips, then took my hand. I led her onto the dance floor and pulled her into my arms. We found an easy rhythm. She was positively glowing, and I couldn’t stop from smiling. She’d come a long way from the depressed, grieving girl she’d been months ago.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. I’m just happy to see you so happy.” I twirled her around. “And in case you haven’t been told enough yet today, you look gorgeous.”

She smiled. “Thank you. For everything. Seriously, Jax, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here like this, dancing at my wedding.”

“You did this, Abby. Not me. You refused to give up, even when the odds were heavily stacked against you, and it paid off. I simply went along for the ride.”

“Yeah, well, I probably would have given up if you hadn’t been there with me. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

“Remember this when I come begging for a favor.”

Abby laughed. “So that’s why you’re always so eager to help everyone else? To stockpile favors you can cash in later?”

My lips twitched with a barely restrained grin. “Something like that.”

“That’s probably a good thing. We all know you can’t stay out of trouble.”

I laughed, and as I spun her around on the dance floor, my gaze snagged on Piper. She watched me with a faint smile, and when she caught me looking in her direction, her face flushed.

Abby twisted and followed my gaze. Then she turned her attention back to me. “Piper’s great, isn’t she?”

Meeting Abby’s gaze, I narrowed my eyes. What was with everyone offering up their opinion about Piper? Now that the truth was out that Piper was my soulmate, I guessed I’d have to get used to everyone butting in like this.

“I hope you two can make things work. You deserve to be happy, too, Jax.” The song ended, and Abby stepped out of my embrace. “Thanks for the dance. I’m going to go find my husband. You should ask Piper to dance again.” Then she walked away.

Blowing out a breath, I took Abby’s advice and headed straight for Piper. “Care to dance again?” I asked.

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” She stood, her eyes twinkling.

I clasped her hand in mine, and Sophie gave me an odd look. I’d never been able to shake the feeling that she didn’t like me, but the distrust and disapproval in her gaze went far beyond simple dislike. She’d better not get in my way these next few days, because nothing was going to stand in the way of me spending time with Piper. My entire future literally depended on time with her.

Once on the dance floor, I tugged her into my arms, and she came willingly. Yeah, I could definitely get used to that. I held her close, and we swayed to the music. Her heart beat strong and steady, the sound soothing.

“This wedding has been so beautiful,” Piper said, her tone low and reverent.

“It has,” I agreed. “Chloe and Trent’s wedding was, too. They got married at sunset on the mountain behind my father’s house.”

“I bet that was amazing. The view alone had to be breathtaking.” She eased closer, hooked her arms around my neck, and rested her head on my shoulder.

I adjusted my hold on her back, loving how incredibly perfect she was. We were made for each other. What would I do if I couldn’t make her see that? Sudden intense and debilitating panic seized me. I had to make her see that a relationship with me could be everything she ever dreamed of.

“First your brother, now Isach… do all these weddings make you want to get married?” Piper lifted her head and met my gaze.

“Yes.” No use lying to her about something like this. “To the right woman, of course.”

“Of course,” she said with a small smile.

“What about you? Will there ever be a wedding in your future?”

“Hopefully someday. If the right man were to ask me.”

If I thought for even a second that she’d say yes, I’d ask her right this moment. But considering she hadn’t told me one way or another if I was her soulmate, or if she had any feelings for me at all, I knew the chances of her accepting a marriage proposal was slim.

“Maybe you should just ask him. You know, if you were to ever find the right man, that is.” I twirled her around, then yanked her back to me, our bodies pressed close. “Some men don’t take hints very well, so you really just need to spell it out for them.”

She momentarily rested her hand on my shoulder before coursing her palm toward the back of my neck. Her fingers tickled the hair at the nape of my neck, and I bit back a groan.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she whispered.

Well, so much for my attempt to get some sort of answer from her. I wasn’t a patient person on a good day, and now that I was on limited time, my patience was almost non-existent. But no matter what I did, I could not rush her or force her into anything.

The music ended, and the DJ announced the cutting of the cake. I entwined my fingers with Piper’s. “Mind if I sit with you? Or will your sisters try to kill me?”

She tilted her head. “Why would you think my sisters want to kill you?”

“Sophie’s been staring daggers at me the entire time we’ve been dancing.”

Piper rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. And yes, you may sit with me.”

I ushered her back to her table and pulled out her chair. When she sat, I claimed the chair next to her. Sophie’s expression changed from dark to something with a little more compassion. As if trying to figure out where I stood with Piper wasn’t bad enough, I now had to deal with her sister’s apparent mood swings.

These next ten days were going to end up being the best of my life—or the worst, depending on how things ended.