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Wyatt laughs. “Then why do you look like you’re facing a firing squad?”

I adjust my tie. “I hate this.”

“You hate attention.”

“Yeah.”

“And there are about seventy people staring at you.”

I look at him. “Keep talking.”

“You going to break my jaw?”

“Thinking about it.”

“Very festive.” Wyatt claps me on the back.

Snow falls beyond the lodge windows. A fire burns behind me. Lila covered the room in pine branches, white flowers, and candles.

“You know,” Wyatt says, “last time you stood in front of people like this, you paid a hundred grand for a woman.”

“Best deal I ever made.”

“Still can’t believe that worked.”

“Neither can I.”

And then music starts and everyone stands.

Lila appears at the top of the stairs.

Fuck.

Her dress isn’t elaborate. Long sleeves. White satin. Fitted enough that I have several thoughts inappropriate for a room containing Hank and half the town.

Her hair falls over her shoulders and she’s smiling at me. Only me.

I forget there are seventy other people in the room.

Then she reaches me.

“You’re staring,” she whispers.

“Yeah.”

“Making sure I’m real?”

“No.”

“What, then?”

“Thinking about getting you out of that dress.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “Dane.”

“What?”

“We haven’t even started.”