“Ready for the show of a lifetime?” He gives me a wink and rings the doorbell.
“The way I feel about you isn’t a show, Archer. We’ve got the real deal.”
“You’re absolutely right, sweetheart.” He steals a kiss right as the door swings open. Belinda’s wearing a tiara with a beautiful and simple white dress that falls to her knees.
“There’s the beautiful bride,” I sing-song. Archer and I take turns hugging her.
“Hope your sweet tooth is ready. Might’ve gone alittleoverboard on the pies and cakes.” She beams.
“I’m more than ready,” I admit, never one to turn down her food.
We find Gemma and Tyler sitting on the couch with sweets piled on their plates. As soon as Gemma sees us together, her face breaks into a wide smile. Tyler gives Archer a head nod.
Jerry’s happily holding Scarlett as he chats with Noah and Katie. Half the town is here along with the cooks and servers from the deli. The house is packed.
“Want to grab some food?” Archer asks, then leads me into the kitchen. I pull him close, sliding my tongue between his lips and not giving a shit who sees.
A clearing of a throat behind us pulls us apart. Tyler’s standing behind Archer with his arms crossed, but he’s not mad.
“So, should I be expecting a wedding invite soon?” he taunts, filling his cup full of Belinda’s famous pineapple punch.
“What if we’re already married?” I ask with amusement, giving him an evil eye. “It’s funny because you don’t know if it’s true or not, and considering you did it to me, you’d deserve it.”
Tyler scoffs. “Okay, but there was a very good reason for that.”
“Yeah, but I haven’t forgotten,” I remind him.
“Archer wouldn’t propose without asking me first. So, you should sleep well at night knowing that I’ll know about your engagement before you do,” he teases, and I groan at the accuracy.
“He does have a point,” Archer says, and I smack him.
“Whose side are you on?” I try to escape him, but he snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me closer.
“Yours,” he whispers in my ear.
“Just glad you two aren’t still sneaking around like we’re all stupid or something.” Tyler gives me a pointed look. “And I’m leaving before you give me any details.”
I snicker, then shrug because I love watching him squirm.
Archer and I grab plates, then find all the pies and cakes. “Wow. Belinda wasn’t joking.”
I notice the island is full of brownies and cookie squares too.
“I might gain ten pounds today.” Archer takes little pieces of everything.
“Oh, youhaveto try this.” I point at the whipped cream concoction. “It’s Southern coconut cream pie.”
“A delicacy?”
“An absolute must-have,” I say, grabbing the knife and cutting us both a slice. “Gotta say, I’m glad we didn’t eat beforehand because I plan to try everything.”
Katie, Noah, Gemma, Tyler, Lexie, and her husband, Brett, are sitting at the dining room table, and we join them, taking the last two chairs. Archer rests his hand on the inside of my thigh, and I love the way it feels.
When I look over at him, I smirk as I take a bite of the coconut pie.
“This is orgasmic,” I say, holding back a moan.
Lexie snorts. “It really is. Pretty sure it got me pregnant.”