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I held out my hand to her, but Willa ignored it and hugged me. “Welcome to the family, honey,” she said with a smile as she stepped back. Then she threw her arms around Monroe and squeezed her so tight, Monroe yelped in complaint, but hugged her back just as tightly. “I’ve missed you so damn much, sweetheart.”
“I missed you too,” she said softly. “Is Daddy around?”
“Doc cleared him for light work, so he’s at the shop.” She motioned us farther into the house and then led us into the kitchen.
Monroe glanced at me over her shoulder as we followed, blowing me a kiss as we walked.
“Saturday is the big day,” Willa announced as she pulled a pitcher of fruit juice from the fridge. “I honestly don’t think the compound is going to hold all the wedding guests, though.”
“We’ll find a way,” a little redhead with the biggest green eyes I’d ever seen said as she one-handedly typed on her phone without looking. Those jewel-like eyes were on me, and for some reason, I thought she could see all the way inside of me. All my flaws, all my secrets, even what insecurities I had. After a moment, her gaze turned to Monroe, and I released the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. “And with this thing so last-minute, that makes keeping the paps out of the loop easier.”
“Is there even another place in town that is actually bigger than the compound?” Monroe asked her mom as she took one of the glasses of juice Willa had poured. Picking up the second glass, she pushed it into my hands.
“No. We could have it outside, but the forecast is calling for rain.” Willa grimaced. “But don’t worry, Mon. Emmie appears to be a miracle worker, so between her and Raven, I’m sure we’ll find a solution.”
“Gian, this is Lyric’s aunt Emmie,” Monroe introduced when she realized I’d never met the redhead. “Aunt Emmie, this is Gian.”
I offered the woman my hand, and she shook it, surprising me with how strong her grip was considering how small she was. When I looked at her, I got this feeling she was fragile, but not like a flower or glass. More like a bomb that could go off and destroy everything around her, and she would still be left standing.
After years of watching over Monroe and her family, I’d gotten that same impression of Raven Reid. I’d never thought it would be possible to come across another woman quite like that, yet there she stood in Monroe’s childhood home, typing away one-handed on a phone that seemed to be as much a part of her as her fingers were.
“Fuck,” she said when she looked at her phone. “Excuse me. I have a billionaire football team owner to bitch out.” Lifting the phone to her ear, she walked out the back door, already giving the poor bastard hell.
“He better be on that plane tomorrow night—” were the last words I heard her say as she marched down the driveway.
Willa laughed as she closed the door behind her guest. “I kind of feel bad for the team owner. Apparently the hardest thing to get done this week was making sure Lyric’s brother was able to come for the wedding.”
“He will, though, right?” Monroe asked with concern. “It would be terrible if Lyric’s twin weren’t here to see him get married.”
“Don’t worry, Mon. Emmie is a firecracker ready to explode. Luca will be here, even if she has to get on a plane and kick the Tennessee owner in the head herself.”
For the next hour, Willa told us all about the wedding plans and walked Monroe through the reception details. Aggie’s, the diner in town, was catering the food as well as doing two wedding cakes. All of Monroe’s and Mila’s favorite foods were going to be set out buffet-style at Hannigans’, which was closed for the entire week to decorate.
Because all of Lyric’s family had to travel here, and Lyric didn’t want the town turning into a three-ring circus with the media taking
over Creswell Springs, they would be flying in, going straight to the wedding, and flying out again right after the reception. I’d already offered both my jets to assist. Apparently Emmie had her own jet, and Lyric’s aunt Lana had one that she offered to help out as well. Those four still weren’t enough to accommodate all the family that was planning to fly in, and at least one jet would have to make a second trip to Southern California.
Realizing just how many people would be at the wedding was staggering, and the thought of all those strangers being around my precious girl caused me to tense. But Monroe was so damn excited, I would have to deal with it.
When she yawned, I called an end to our visit, wanting her to rest. But she shook her head. “Not yet. I want to see Daddy before we head home.”
Even as she said it, I heard the roar of a motorcycle pulling into the driveway. She got slowly to her feet, having learned her lesson already after falling the week before. Her eye was still discolored, but at least it wasn’t swollen shut any longer.
Monroe practically skipped to the front door, threw it open, and then launched herself at Spider Masterson. “Daddy!” she cried, and he swung her up into his arms.
“My baby girl!” he said with a happy laugh.
I tensed when he set her on her feet, ready to reach for her in case she was dizzy. But she only clung to his arm for an extra few seconds before kissing his cheek and tugging him toward me. “Daddy, it’s time you met someone incredibly special to me.”
Masterson’s dark eyes met mine, and I saw his jaw clench, but as they reached me, I felt Willa come up behind me. His gaze went to her for a moment, and he released a heavy exhale and thrust out his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. A gun shoved in my gut. A punch to the face. A knife blade slicing across my throat. All of those were scenarios I’d envisioned, but Monroe’s father so easily welcoming me to the family with a handshake was not anywhere close to the top of the list.
Figuring Willa had a lot to do with this cordial greeting, I shook my future father-in-law’s hand. His grip was crushing, but I didn’t even flinch at the pressure. I didn’t want to be his buddy or even his favorite son-in-law. I only wanted us to be respectful of each other because we both loved Monroe more than life.
Seeing the look on her face when we shook hands was priceless, and I found myself agreeing to stay for dinner when Willa suggested it moments later. Monroe was tired, but she wasn’t ready to leave her parents’ house yet, and as long as she was happy, nothing else mattered.
Chapter 23
