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“And my wife calls,” Danny added, nodding to where Mel stood beneath the arbor, crooking a finger at him.
“Go,” Aidan said. “She’s the last person we want to piss off today.”
“Seems a wise idea,” Danny replied with a wink. “And looks like you won’t be lonely long.” He pointed at the strawberry blond child on their sister’s hip, wriggling herself free.
Dressed in a poufy green and white dress, Katie hit the ground running. Aidan knelt and braced for impact, the little girl charging him full speed.
“Uncle Ai!” She flung herself into his arms, giggling. They hugged each other tight before she pulled back and thrust her wrist under his nose. Tied to it was a small silk pillow and to it, two titanium rings, one inlaid with emeralds, the other with aquamarines. “I get to carry flowersandrings.”
“I know.” He righted the pillow on her wrist. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Katie was his niece, one of seven niblings, but she was also his and Gabe’s goddaughter, another way his late husband was a part of today’s celebration.
“She’s been showing those off to everyone,” came a voice above them.
Aidan glanced up, more than a little surprised to see Nic standing there. It had been a fifty-fifty shot whether Nic would show—past awkwardness getting in the way of current friendship—but Nic was that, a friend, and a valuable coworker and team member whom Aidan and Jamie had wanted here today. Aidan was happy he had come and happy he didn’t look too tired, especially since he’d been covering their case last night.
“No date?” Aidan teased.
Nic’s blue eyes, the same color as the tie he wore with an attractive light gray suit, danced as he bent down next to Katie. “Will you be my date?”
“Nic-Nic!” she shouted, her nickname for him since last spring. She threw her arms around his neck, bonking the back of his head with the heavy rings. Just as quickly, she unwound herself and ran screaming up the aisle, bragging, “Nic-Nic’s my date!”
“Now you’ve gone and done it,” Aidan said as he and Nic stood. “Ruined her for guys her own age.”
“I couldn’t exactly show up to this shindig stag.” He gestured at Aidan’s hair. “And you showing up red? Just for today, or are you leaving it this time?”
Aidan’s eyes strayed to his soon-to-be husband. “For good.”
“Well, it looks good,” Nic said with a smile. “And so do you.”
“Thank you for coming,” Aidan said, then nodded at the bar. “And for supplying the beer.”
“No problem. Couldn’t have Boston spitting out your fancy champagne.”
They were still laughing when Danny sidled up next to him. “There’s an angry bounty hunter up front demanding we get started.” Aidan glanced past him to where Mel stood tapping her designer heel next to Jamie and Cam.
“Who decided to make the deadliest woman alive the officiant?” Nic added.
“Oh, that would be me,” Danny said, raising a hand. “Because even the deadliest woman alive is afraid of my mother. Now, best not keep my wife waiting. She can get feisty.” His smile stretched into a telling leer.
Aidan winced. “We’ve had this talk, baby bro. Don’t want to hear it.”
Danny strutted away cackling, Aidan following, until he realized Nic wasn’t with them. He turned back to find Nic stalled out by the last row of chairs.
“I’ll just sit here,” Nic said.
Aidan waved him forward. “You’ll sit with the family, Dominic.”
The prosecutor seemed at a loss for words, a rare sight on a rare day indeed.
“You are Katie’s date, aren’t you?” Aidan added, offering him an out.
Nic took it, clearing his throat and buttoning his suit coat as he strode forward. “That I am.”
Aidan waited for him to slide into the open aisle seat next to Katie’s mother before he turned forward, looking ahead to Jamie and his future. Gazes locked, heart tearing at his chest, Aidan took the last few steps to the arbor where the love of the rest of his life waited. He’d have run if he wouldn’t have looked like a fool.
“You two ready?” Mel asked as Aidan twined his hand with Jamie’s.
Aidan turned to face his partner. “You ready to make this partnership forever, Whiskey?”
