Page 58 of Sweet Redemption

“Oh yeah.” I grab a mini quiche from a passing waiter and offer it to her. “You know, I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him, Delaney.”

Her cheeks flush as she shakes her head.

“Trust me, I’ve known him a long damn time. He’s like another brother. One way less obnoxious than mine. And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him as happy as he is with you. That makes you family. If you ever need anything, and Ryker’s not around, you call me, okay?”

Delaney shakes her head and sips her water as Ryker joins us. “Trying to steal my wife, Hendrix?”

“Not steal. More like save,” I joke and Ryker glares.

“I’m the only one saving her, asshole.”

“Nobody’s saving me from anything tonight, husband,” she says sweetly and kisses Ryker’s cheek. “But I am trying to figure out who Henny is staring at.”

Damn. Delaney’s got to work on her sign language. I’m not sure she got any of that right.

Good thing Ryker can read lips.

“Henny?” I arch a brow. “Have you been around my sisters?”

Delaney smiles sweetly. “Don’t avoid the question.” She bats her lashes at Ryker before looking back at me. “Come on. You look like you’re ready to play Kiss Marry Kill with the women on the dance floor.”

“You know it’s Fuck Marry Kill, right Bambi?” Ryker teases before looking out over the inlaid wooden dance floor brought in just for tonight. “Not Kiss.”

I ignore my friends and go right back to watching the woman I’ve absolutely been staring at since Bodhi walked down the aisle. She’s dancing with Langley now, his hand resting on the bare skin at the small of her back. My teeth grind as I look away, trying to convince myself it’s fine. Because it fucking has to be. Men put their hands on women when they dance all the damn time. It doesn’t mean I should walk over there and remove his hands from his fucking body.

Doesn’t stop me from wanting to though.

Serena laughs at something he says, and my hands fist at my side.

Fucking hell. She’s allowed to laugh and date and build an entire life that doesn’t include me. I had my chance. We had our chance. In more ways than one. And every time life handed us another open door, one of us managed to slam it fucking closed.

But still . . . His hand moves slightly lower, and I see red.

“Isn’t that your cousin?” Delaney asks Ryker and his head whips my way before the fucker laughs.

“Serena? You’re staring at Serena?” He shakes his head and wraps a hand around Delaney’s waist pulling her closer. “Hope you know what you’re doing, man.”

I want to tell him to fuck off. Or maybe tell him he doesn’t know the half of it. But I don’t need to.

“Be nice to him,” Delaney warns. “I think they’d be cute together.”

“Bambi . . . you’re supposed to pick my side.”

There are times in a man’s life when he needs to defend himself. Set the record straight.

Now is not one of those times.

Nope. Time to back away. Slowly.

But I somehow manage to jump straight from the flames into the fire.

A fire, or more accurately, a firecracker named Olivia St. James.

She shakes her head as I approach, maybe in warning.

That’s interesting. Is she warning me to be nice to her date?

Liv never brings a date to these things, so he’s probably already been put through his paces. Can’t hurt to do it again though. “You gonna introduce me to your friend, Livvy?”