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“You’re not going in too?” Charlie watches Dash with wide eyes.
My brother shrugs as he loosens his tie before going to work on his shirt buttons. “That’s my future wife out there. Can’t let her go it alone.”
The groom strips down to a pair of boxer briefs in front of his in-laws and does an elegant dive off the back of the boat.
Impressive. Dash has grown up since those days we spent at the community pool together. Doesn’t have to pinch his nose closed to dunk his head under the water anymore.
The memory has me smiling as I unstrap my heels, setting them far away from the edge of the boat. My soles enjoy the relief of resting flat on the deck. With the sun beating down on us, I start looking forward to this next bit. Everyone’s attention stays fixed on Paige and Dash as the pair splash around in the gentle waves. Which means I don’t have an audience when I reach back to unzip my jumpsuit. After carefully folding the fabric, I tap a server’s shoulder, the same guy I’d talked to earlier about the towel. The bafflement on his face skyrockets when he sees me in nothing but my red bra and panties. I pat myself on the back for wearing a matching set today, almost as if I knew there’d be an opportunity to strip down.
“Would you mind putting this somewhere safe? Thanks.”
He accepts my outfit with a wordless nod.
The sound of my question brings Charlie’s eyes around. Now I have the Man of Honor’s full attention.
“Luna?”
I grin at him, wanting to borrow some of his lighthearted nature, if only for the day. “You coming?”
“You’re going in?”
“Someone has to fight off any alligators trying to eat the happy couple.” I pat his chest as I stroll by. “Good thing I didn’t go commando today,” I throw over my shoulder, enjoying the shock that slackens Charlie’s face for a single breath before I cannonball in after my brother.
ChapterFive
CHARLIE
Paige is in her kitchen when I walk in the back door. Normally, I’d knock first, but Paige said not to bother when I texted I was heading over.
Pumpkin gives a warning bark and scrambles off her dog bed in the corner.
“Pumpkin, sit. Friend.” Paige uses a confident tone she never had when we were younger, and the pit bull pays attention. The dog’s butt hits the ground, and her barks peter off. Extending my hand slowly, I let the sweet girl sniff my knuckles. Pumpkin snuffles, then licks my palm when she recognizes my scent.
“Pumpkin, free,” Paige says, and the dog trots back to her dog bed.
“You all did a great job training her,” I offer as I move to the counter, searching for any sign of coffee.
“Shocking, right? Since I was flirting with the trainer the whole time, you’d think we never would’ve gotten a thing done,” Paige teases.
I grin over my shoulder, matching her expression. She met Dash at the dog rescue when she adopted Pumpkin and basically bribed the guy to get him to agree to help her with training.
Later, my friend found out some of Dash’s hesitance came from his attraction to Paige and thinking he, an ex-con, would not do well lusting after a judge’s daughter.
Luckily, the guy got over his hang-ups because Paige deserves to be happy.
And Dash makes her happy.
Hence, the whole wedding thing happening in a few days.
“I managed.” The former dog rescuer and current mechanic strides into the kitchen. He gives me a nod before pulling a box of cereal off the top of the fridge and dumping the Frosted Flakes into a bowl.
“Is that your way of saying Paige sucked at flirting?”
My friend chucks a dish towel at me as her fiancé smirks.
“She wrote her number in a romance novel and gave it to me. Real kinky stuff.”
“You love that book! Plus, I landed you. Obviously, all of my efforts worked.” She leans over to kiss his shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
