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“Hi.” I wave awkwardly.
“That’s Palmer, the bride to be.” She points out the woman wearing a veil. “This is Piper, who is Palmer’s older sister.” She moves on down the line. “Jade—” she points at a redhead— “she’s dating Orrin Kincaid. Alyssa, she’s Sterling’s best friend.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you.”
“What are you drinking?” Jade asks me.
“Oh, I’m not. I still have to close up when y’all leave, and drive home.”
“That’s not going to work,” Ramsey says, tugging me toward the refrigerator for a drink.
“Really, I’m good.” I laugh. “How about you have one for me?” I suggest.
“Party pooper.”
“I’ll stay sober with the bride,” I tell her.
Palmer cheers. “My girl.” She stands and rushes to give me a high five. “Let it go on the record that if I wasn’t preggers right now, I’d be indulging,” she tells me.
“Noted.” I nod, biting my cheek to keep from laughing. Palmer pats the open seat next to her, and I take it.
“Okay, now, tell us about you,” Ramsey says, taking her seat at the round table.
“Not much to tell. Recently divorced after four years of marriage to a man I probably never should have married in the first place. I live in Florida, and I’m a book editor. Mostly romance novels for independent authors.”
“Maureen is your grandmother?” Piper asks.
“She is. When she fell and broke her leg, I volunteered to come and help take care of the manor while she recovers. I can work anywhere, so it made sense. Not to mention my parents are empty nesters and do lots of traveling these days.”
“Well,” Palmer sits up in her chair, “I’m Palmer. Brooks Kincaid is my baby daddy, and future husband.” She stops to smile, and it lights up her face. “I’m a photographer. I have a studio in town.”
“My turn. I’m Piper, sister to the bride, and sister to that one’s fiancé.” She points at Ramsey.
“Oh, me too.” Palmer laughs. “I forgot to mention that.”
“Should I be taking notes?” I ask them, humor in my tone.
“Maybe.” Palmer nods.
“Anyway, I’m Piper. Heath is my man. He’s not a Kincaid or a Setty, but he’s mine.” She flashes me a grin that matches her sister’s. “I’m a schoolteacher, and I teach here in Willow River.”
Jade raises her hand and introduces herself. “I’m Jade, and I’m dating Orrin Kincaid, the oldest of the nine brothers. I’m a radiology tech, and I work at the hospital in Harris, the next town over.”
“My turn.” Ramsey smiles. “I’m Ramsey, soon-to-be Setty. The Kincaid boys are my cousins but might as well be my brothers. Their brother—” she points at Palmer and Piper— “Deacon and I are getting married in June. It’s our two-year anniversary of the day we met. I work at the local law office with my future hubby.”
I turn my head to the only one left. “I’m Alyssa. I work as a receptionist at a doctor’s office in town. I’m Sterling’s best friend. And yes, we’re just friends.” She laughs.
“Thanks for having me,” I tell them. “It’s nice to meet all of you.”
Before they can answer, there is commotion by the door. We all turn to look, and my mouth drops open at what I see. There is a large group of men who all look like they could appear in a woman’s fantasy. I lift my hand to make sure there’s no drool on my chin.
“It’s a lot when you see them all together for the first time.” Palmer leans in close to whisper.
“Wow.” I’m at a loss for words. What do they feed the men in Willow River?
They all start walking our way, and Brooks is leading the pack. He makes a beeline for Palmer. She jumps from her chair and rushes toward him. She leaps into his arms, and he catches her easily, pressing his mouth to hers.
“Enjoy that while you can,” Ramsey calls out to them. “It won’t be long before my niece or nephew will keep that from happening.”
Palmer tosses her head back in laughter. “You just worry about making me an aunt again, so we can have two Palmers in the family.”
The group laughs. Well, everyone except for me. “I think I missed something.”
“Palmer gets the credit for Deacon and me meeting. She organized a blind date photo shoot. She didn’t tell us who we were going to be meeting. Anyway, she claims that our firstborn should be named after her.” Ramsey grins. “And since she’s marrying my cousin, I figure they can name their baby Ramsey. I always wanted to be a Kincaid.” Something flashes in her eyes, and I can tell that there’s a story there, but I’m not going to push.
Archer takes the seat next to me that Palmer vacated. “We tried to hold him off as long as we could, ladies.” He rolls his eyes.
