“The babe needs to eat. Bend your knees.” She curled so that both feet rested on the seat, and felt Rory arranging the skirt of her dress around her. “Don’t move,” he ordered before closing the door.
She didn’t intend to. With the bile churning, it felt like the slightest movement on her part would upset the delicate balance and she’d hurl. He came around and slid into the driver’s seat, lifting her head so that it rested in his lap. After starting the engine and backing out of the parking space, he laid his hand on her stomach and gently massaged the tense muscles.
“Damn town doesn’t have a fast-food joint,” he complained.
Shay placed her hand on his, entwining their fingers. “It shouldn’t take long to get to the reception, and then I can eat. Kiesha’s not going to prolong things. Alex will ensure it since she’s pregnant too.”
She closed her eyes and did her best to relax in the few minutes she had before they arrived. Shay must have been more tired than she realized, because the next thing she knew, Rory was lightly shaking her shoulder. “Shay, wake up. They’re lining up to go inside.”
She cautiously rolled to a sitting position and ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing the curls into place behind her ear. She’d wanted to add ruby-colored streaks to match her dress. Yet another thing her mother had vetoed.
The door opened, and Rory reached in to lift her out. When she was stable on her feet—once more in the damnable heels—he placed his hands on the sides of her neck and used his thumbs to raise her chin. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t feel up to it. I can take you straight to the table and fix you a plate. Alex will understand.”
Alex would, but her parents wouldn’t. Such action would cause more trouble for her than it was worth. “I’m fine. The nap and the foot rub helped.” She glanced over his shoulder. “They’re waiting.”
Chapter Four
Rory led her across the parking lot—asphalt this time, fortunately—and they took their position. Both sets of parents were escorted inside, then Shannon and her partner, followed by Shayla and Rory, with Mary Elizabeth and Hugh bringing up the rear.
Mary Elizabeth and Hugh, as maid of honor and best man respectively, sat at the high table with Alex’s and her parents. Shannon, the guy with her—what was his name?—Rory, and Shayla sat at a reserved table to the side. They remained standing and clapped as Alex and Kiesha walked in. Her cousin was beaming. Marriage looked good on her.
As soon as everyone was seated, Rory stepped away from the table. Shay caught him by the arm. “Where are you going?”
“To get you some food.”
“The bride’s table is supposed to eat first.”
He shook her loose. “Screw that. Your health and the well-being of our child are more important than protocol.”
Realizing he was prepared to make a scene, Shay let him go. Maybe he could slip over to the buffet table and back with none the wiser. She turned to Shannon and asked, “Where’s Nik? Shouldn’t he be out his coffin by now?”
“He’s on the way.”
“I’m surprised he wasn’t with you at the ceremony. The whole sunlight thing got him, huh?”
Shannon laughed. “Sunlight doesn’t hurt him, just makes him sluggish. He stayed away because he knows he makes a lot of the shifters uncomfortable.”
“How are they adjusting to you mating a vamp?” Shay was curious. There had been some problems in the beginning because so many people were against it.
“The people that matter are for it. Everyone else…” She shrugged.
“I hear you.”
Shayla played with the silverware, wishing Rory would hurry. She was starving, and the smell of all that meat was making her salivate, in a good way this time. The MC—an older black lady Shay had never met—was droning on in the background, announcing the order of events. Just as she released the wedding party to go fix their plates, Rory returned to the table with hers.
It was piled high. There were meatballs, chicken wings, riblets, some type of pastry that looked like it contained meat, seafood salad, and more. Shayla picked up her fork and calmly jabbed it into a meatball before bringing it to her mouth. She forced herself to eat slowly, knowing her mother was watching.
For a species that felt marriage was unnecessary, these shifters certainly knew how to plan a reception. The food was delicious, the decorations exquisite. Through closed double glass doors she could see a pool. Floating in it were flowered wreaths with tea-light candles lit in the center. Spaced evenly around the perimeter were torches, the kind that repelled flying insects.
The inside was decorated just as nicely. There was a stage on which a live band played. To the left a long table contained a mountain of wedding gifts. The table to the right held a huge three-tiered wedding cake adorned with pink rosettes. The center was open, forming a floor for dancing.
There must be over a hundred guests present, seated in groupings of eight at round tables. Each table had a floral centerpiece made of some flower Shay didn’t know the name of but could see was very pretty and delicate. The jewel tones of their bridesmaid’s dresses were repeated throughout the room. Coupled with the soft lighting and artificial candlelight, it gave the room a romantic feel.
Nikolai arrived while the guests were being served. The guy with Shannon quickly decamped, leaving the vampire his seat. Watching the two of them together, she could clearly see how in love they were. She wondered if she and Rory would ever look like that; then she snorted. Not bloody likely. Shannon and Nikolai were too sappy for words. She looked around the room. All the mated couples were, including Kiesha and Alex, and Mary Elizabeth and Hugh. It was enough to make a girl gag.
Shay leaned back in her chair and let the conversation wash over her. Now that her stomach was full, the nausea was gone and sleepiness had returned. Rory reached down, lifted her legs into his lap, and rubbed her calves. The tablecloth hid what he was doing, but at this point she really didn’t care if her parents saw.
She propped her arm on the table, rested her cheek on her fist, and semidozed through both the maid of honor and best man’s toasts, the cutting of the cake, and the tossing of the bridal bouquet and garter belt. Shay roused when Rory lowered her legs and stood. “Time to do our duty.”
Shay reluctantly slid her shoes back on her feet and allowed Rory to lead her to the dance floor, where Kiesha and Alex along with both sets of parents were already dancing. They danced quietly through the rest of the set. Then came the rounds of switching partners, until each of the wedding party had danced with everyone else. By this time some of the older guests had left, Alex’s parents among them.
Shay’s parents approached. “Baby girl, your mother and I are getting ready to leave. We’re hitting the road tonight. Our flight leaves in the morning, early. I wish we could stay longer, but I’ve got an important meeting I have to attend and your mother needs to prepare for the next semester.”
“Okay, Daddy. Call me when you get in so I don’t worry.”
Shay’s mother pulled her to the side. “Shannon’s brother…very nice. He’s interested too. It shows. You better snap him up.”
“Moooom.”
“You do what I tell you,” she scolded.
“I don’t think so.” Shayla had to protest. If she agreed, her mother would be suspicious.
“Rory!”
“Mom, don’t,” Shay protested as her mother motioned for him to come over.
“Ma’am?” The glance he slid Shayla was questioning.
“You take good care of my girl while she’s working for you. Introduce her to some nice men. A girl like my Shay-Nei has a lot to offer, yes?”