Max nodded after taking a bite of mixed vegetables. Pressing into my ear so only I could hear, he said, “Anywhere and anytime. It’s my pleasure to take care of my wife to be. I’ll be your slave. I can do as you will, but be warned...I will give you pleasure beyond what you can handle.”

Holy Max! His words were hot enough, but when I felt his hand slide up to my clit from the front slit of the dress, I almost choked on my water.

“You better watch it, Mr. Knight, I might just end up getting under the table and taking you on.” I couldn’t believe I had said that, but I was having so much fun flirting with Max that I couldn’t help myself. And the fact that he made it so easy, it came out natural for me. I also knew Max loved this new side of me. He claimed he was the cause of the new Jenna, and I would let him know every time that he was right.

Max jerked a little when I glided my hand, which was already resting on his thigh, to his crotch. “Okay.” He guided my hand out on the table. “I think we’d better stop or I’m going to have to cover myself if I need to get up.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, except there was a side of me that felt guilty for being so happy. Becky was sitting with her matched up groomsman at a table adjacent to us. I wondered why she was sitting there. Surely Nicole would have sat us together. This only made me wonder if she asked Nicole to seat us at different tables.

Becky was getting tired of me asking her questions about Matthew. It was like talking to a wall when that conversation came up. Knowing how stubborn Becky could be, I already understood I wasn’t going to win this one. Matthew and I had already conceived a plan. It had to be something sneaky. Something Jenna, the old me, wouldn’t have done for sure.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better these days,” Max said, placing broccoli on my plate.

“Me too.” I was just grateful that it hadn’t lasted that long. I’d read that morning sickness lasted during the entire pregnancy for some women. How awful.

Max held my hand underneath the table. “It hurt me to see you like that. I wanted to take it away for you. And if I could have taken your place, I would have.”

I knew he would; that was the way my Max was. My wants and needs were always first. Giving him a warm smile was my reply to thank him. “Max, stop giving me your food. I’m not that hungry. You need to eat, too.”

Max chuckled. “Sorry. I can’t help it. You’re eating for two. I can’t wait to see your stomach grow.”

When Max had told me he would be there for me, I never knew to what extent. I’d had a glimpse of his promise in action when he was there for me during the hardest time of my morning sickness. Although I never doubted him, he confirmed his commitment at that moment, and continued to confirm it with every new experience and every roadblock. Actions were always louder than words, and Max’s actions were very loud.

After the father-daughter and mother-son dance, it was time for all of the groomsmen and bridesmaids to dance. Max growled softly when Andy took my hand.

“Have fun with Mandy,” Max whispered quickly before I was whisked away.

I looked over my shoulder and mouthed, “Be a good boy.”

Max gave me a shy, adorable grin.

That silly, funny, adorable, hot Max...how he turned me on.

Andy was a perfect gentleman the whole slow dance, but I would be too if I had someone staring at me the way Max was staring at Andy. I couldn’t help but smile. Every time I looked at Max, he would wink and blow me a kiss. I was just glad he didn’t come and cut in to exchange places with Andy.

The wedding and the reception went smoothly, without a hitch. The planning and organizing paid off. Nicole had done a fabulous job, along with her helpers, including myself. Being overly fatigued, I decided to leave earlier than I had planned. Since Kate promised to look after Becky and take her home, Max and I left the party.

Becky

I walked out of my bedroom and saw Jenna sitting on the sofa, folding her laundry. She had gone to Max’s place last night from the reception, so I figured she would stay today as well. “Jenna? You’re home.”

“I came home an hour ago,” she replied.

I headed toward her, wondering if she’d come home because of me or if she’d had a fight with Max.

“What did you do for lunch?” Jenna asked as she continued to fold her laundry. “I called to see if you wanted to have lunch with me, but you didn’t answer your phone, text, or email.”

“Oh.” I plopped down next to her on the coach. “I went out to eat.”

“With Matthew?” Jenna’s tone got a bit too excited. She even stopped to look at me.

“Nope. With Tanner.” I started folding a towel from her basket.

“Tanner?”

“You forgot his name already. Tanner, my groomsman partner.”

“Oh.” Jenna sounded very disappointed. “Did you have a nice lunch with him?”

“I did. He’s very sweet. I like him a lot. I like hanging out with him. He’s so funny, too. When I’m with him, he makes me forget my worries. Did you know he has a place in Paris? He told me that if I ever visited there, I could stay at his place.”

Jenna gave me a smile, but it was only half of it. “That’s great, but what about Matthew?”

“I told you that we’re done.” I took a deep breath to keep myself from tearing up. Changing the subject, like I always did whenever Matthew came up, I asked, “Nicole’s wedding was beautiful, wasn’t it?”