If Rich was here now, even if he was at the gates that lead into our community he was in violation of the restraining order and could be arrested. But I knew that Emmie didn’t want that kind of publicity on our wedding day. That she was asking Jesse to handle it rather than just calling the cops told me that much.

Not long after Jesse had left, Lana and Harper came over to check on me. I was already showered, and had gotten as far as putting on my dress pants. I was walking around with no shirt on which had the girls stopping and gawking at me.

“Nice ink!” Lana exclaimed, stepping closer to get a better look.

I glanced at the new tattoo I had gotten just the night before. I hadn’t gotten the tattoo I had wanted when we were staying in Florida the summer Emmie had been pregnant with Mia. Every time I had made plans to go to Miami something had always seemed to come up. But with Emmie away I decided it was now or never.

A heart engulfed in flames on my left pectoral. Inside, in cursive black ink, was fan-favorite lyric from Ember, the song I had written for Emmie. It had made it to number one for five consecutive weeks on the Billboard chart. There’s this Ember in my heart that has hold of me and it won’t let go…

“So that’s where you and Shane were when I called last night.” Harper grinned. “I thought it was him getting the ink though.”

I shrugged. “He got some ink too.” But I would let Shane show it to her. Just as my ink was a surprise for Em, Shane’s was one for Harper.

Drake came out of the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his lean waist. Upon seeing his wife, he seemed to light up from the inside out. “Hey, Angel. Enjoy your time at the Spa?”

“Not as much as I thought I would.” Lana walked into Drake’s waiting arms. “I missed you.”

“So, did you get new ink too?” Harper asked, bending to pick up Mia who was holding her arms out to the beautiful violet-eyed woman.

“I didn’t leave the house. Someone had to watch Mia.” And he never missed out on a chance to spend time with Mia. Drake brushed a tender kiss over Lana’s lips and stepped back. “I have to get dressed, Angel. No, don’t come in here. Shane’s in the shower.”

“But…” Lana’s bottom lip stuck out in a small pout. “I haven’t seen you in two days.”

Drake laughed, something he did a lot more often these days. I wasn’t ever going to get tired of hearing it. There had been too many years when Drake hadn’t even smiled, let alone laughed. “Five more minutes isn’t going to be the end of the world, Angel.” But he ended up rushing to get dressed and was back within two minutes, fingers combing his long dark hair.

“Let’s take Mia for a walk on the beach,” Lana suggested, taking the baby from Harper and reaching for Drake’s hand. “I’m sure she is getting restless stuck in here.”

“She could use some fresh air.” I brushed a kiss over Mia’s cheek as they passed. “Bye, baby doll.”

“Bye, Da-da.” Mia waved her chubby little fingers then blew me a kiss over Lana’s shoulder before the door shut behind them.

Left alone with Harper I turned to face the girl I was sure would end up my sister-in-law eventually. “How is Emmie?”

Harper grinned, violet eyes lighting up. “Well …”

“Is it that bad?” Was Emmie having second thoughts?

“No, it’s not bad at all.” Harper rushed to assure me, seeing how pale my face suddenly got. “That’s not what I meant, silly. It’s just that Em is a control freak and all the caterers are running for their lives because someone forgot to include those little franks in a blanket that you love so much.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, okay.”

“Relax, big guy. Emmie isn’t going anywhere. All she could talk about for the last two days was you and how much she couldn’t wait to be your wife.”

I knew I had a goofy grin on my face. “Good.”

When Shane came out, he took one look at Harper and they disappeared into the bedroom again. The violet eyes Drake had sketched up for him looked so alluringly real and was now inked into his chest. Harper had been both speechless and teary eyed. When I started hearing Shane’s groans, I grabbed my shirt and headed for the door. Yeah, that wasn’t awkward at all! I liked Harper a lot; she wasn’t like Shane’s normal type. Listening while the two of them fucked in the guesthouse bedroom made me feel all kinds of wrong.

The tent was still being set up, along with chairs and a few tables that would be groaning under the weight of food later. I stood at the back of the tent watching everyone hard at work. I wanted to make Emmie’s day a little easier if possible and was willing to step in if needed. But knowing Emmie, she wouldn’t stop rushing around, even if she had a hundred people to help her.

I could hear Mia laughing farther down the beach and the sounds of Drake laughing in between making growling monster sounds. I grinned to myself at the sound of such happiness coming from two people that I loved so much.

“Well if it isn’t the luckiest bastard on the face of the planet,” a deep, lazy voice called from behind me.

I turned my head to find Axton walking toward me. He was dressed up in new jeans and a burgundy red shirt with a leather jacket. Most of his tattoos were covered up, but his facial piercings were still in. I raised a brow at how put together my friend was today. The last time I had talked to him he had been the drunkest I ever remembered him being. I hadn’t really thought about the reasons for it until Drake, and then Shane, had told me what was going on.

Dallas Bradshaw, Lana and Harper’s old roommate and quite possible the hottest blonde on the planet, had broken up with Axton right after New Year’s. I wasn’t sure what had happened. The first time I had seen those two together I thought that it was really a perfect match. Truthfully, and I had told Emmie once after meeting the girl, I thought Dallas was Emmie’s doppelganger in personality and spirit.

Axton had been seriously infatuated with Dallas from what I had seen the few times that we went out together. But it was something that only those closest to him could see. Ax put on a front that made people think that he didn’t have a care in the world. That he was some rich, arrogant, asshole rock star that didn’t take life seriously. It was true that Axton lived hard and played harder, just as it was true that the guy could be a total bastard. But he was also the most sensitive and kindhearted guy I knew.