Free Our New Love by Melissa Foster Page A

Catherine and Jack’s mother, Joanie, across the room, chatting with a handful of her cousins. The two women were shaking their heads but smiling, a look she’d seen often from the women who had raised such big clans.
    Treat leaned in close to Jack. “How’s she holding up?” He was dancing with his wife, Max, and holding their youngest, Dylan, in one arm, as he asked Jack the question. His ever-watchful eyes skirted over Jack’s shoulder to his daughter, Adriana, named for their mother, who was smiling and chatting away while dancing with their father, Hal.
    “I’m fine,” Savannah said, feeling more like herself again. After their mother had died, Treat had looked after Savannah and their other four siblings with eagle eyes, too. Now the dark eyes that all the Braden men shared came back to her with an assessing gaze.
    “Vanny, are you sure you’re feeling okay other than the tears?” Treat asked, before pressing a kiss to Dylan’s chubby cheek.
    “Yeah, actually, I feel great. You know how weddings affect me.”
    “Then can I steal you for a minute?” Max asked. Max was a petite little thing. Savannah had several inches on her, and as Max pulled her from Jack’s grasp, he held her fingertips until Max tugged her away with a smile. “I’ll bring her back. I promise.”
    They disappeared into the crowd and joined the other girls on the opposite side of the tent. Their families had really grown. A small family wedding meant the five Remington children and their significant others, and not only Savannah’s immediate family, but their eighteen Braden cousins. And that was just on the Braden side. The Remingtons had invited their cousins from the East Coast, as well. It had been a tough decision for Rush and Jayla to exclude their friends from the Olympic ski team, and for Dex and Ellie to exclude their closest friends, all of whom had hoped to honor them. But they wanted the joint wedding to be small, and even with just family, there were close to a hundred people there.
    “Savannah!” Siena, Savannah’s sister-in-law, was a gorgeous model who’d recently wed her fiancée, Cash Ryder. She pulled Savannah from Max and wrapped her in her arms. “It’s time to have some fun.”
    Savannah noticed the glint of mischief in the other girls’ eyes. Her very pregnant sisters-in-law Jade and Lacy were huddled close to Riley, whispering and watching their handsome husbands, Savannah’s older brothers Rex and Dane, who were busy chatting with Savannah’s youngest brother, Hugh, Jack’s brother Sage, and his father, James. Riley’s eyes were locked on Josh, who was standing just a few feet away, watching her right back. The love in the room was overwhelming.
    Savannah glanced back at the dance floor, where Brianna held her toddler, Christian, while dancing with her daughter, Layla, and Kate, Sage’s fiancée. Jayla’s sisters Mia and Jennifer were chatting with Savannah’s cousins, but it was Jack who held her attention. He stood with his arms crossed and a serious look in his eyes as he talked with Savannah’s cousins Nate, Cole, and Ty. Four gorgeous men, and the best-looking of them all was all hers.
    “Stop staring at your hunka hunka burning love and pay attention.” Siena turned her toward the girls, who were quickly flocking around them, along with Joanie and Catherine. “So, here’s the plan. Now that the cake has been cut and the afternoon is winding down, all of us girls are going to the spa. Well, not Ellie and Jayla, of course. They’re going to christen their wedding day.” Siena smiled at the brides, who both turned a pretty shade of pink.
    “Thanks for that, Siena,” Jayla teased. “Because everyone needs to know exactly what we’re doing tonight.”
    Joanie laid a gentle hand on Jayla’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, it’s your wedding day. Enjoy it.” She turned a sarcastic tone to Siena. “But you probably didn’t need to announce it, honey.”
    “Oh, Mom.” Siena waved her off