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“But here we are, and I’m thankful for each and every one of you.” Chance clinks his glass to mine and then works his way around the room until he’s saluted us all.
“To Chance and Samantha,” Dad says, and we echo the toast before all swallowing our shot in one go. Chance must’ve sprung for the good stuff because the whiskey is smooth as silk and warms my belly.
Time flies as we get ready, and before I know it, it’s almost go time and my phone is dinging in my back pocket. When I check it, I find a text from Janey. She’s here. I smile, pleased she actually texted me and didn’t blow it off like I’m overbearing.
“Hey, Chance, I’m gonna grab Janey. Be right back.” He nods, in the midst of posing for some staged photos of his socks and cufflinks.
Is that a thing? Pictures of wedding day socks? Who’d want that and why? I’m not sure, but at least it gives me the moment to sneak away.
I exit a side door, walking around the building so I don’t have to fight my way through the arriving guests, and into the lot. Janey’s bright yellow car is easy to spot, her red hair even more so.
I creep up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She squeals and wiggles wildly before realizing its me. “Hey,” I growl in her ear as I let her feet back to the ground, making sure she’s steady in her heels before releasing her.
She whirls, fire in her eyes and a smile on her face. “What are you doing out here? You scared me!”
“I have that effect,” I agree solemnly, and she laughs. “I wanted to escort you in and make sure you’re settled.”
She beams like the simple gesture means so much. To her, it does. To me, it’s the least I can do since I invited her as my plus-one but will be standing up for the ceremony.
“You look beautiful.”
She’s wearing the same gray satin wrap dress that she wore to Paisley’s wedding, which was gorgeous on her then, but now that I know how easy it is to undo one little tie and gain access to her whole body . . . it’s fucking stunning.
“You too,” she says, looking me up and down.
“It’s pink. And floral,” I complain. But I don’t really mean it. I don’t give a rat’s ass about what I wear as long as it’s functional. And today, the function is ‘don’t piss off Samantha’ and so far, this is working.
“You make it look manly and sexy,” Janey growls, mimicking me except for the excessively pouty face. “But I do think I prefer you in jeans and bare feet . . . or nothing at all.” Her gray eyes sparkle as she bats her lashes at me.
I groan, counting down the hours until we can get the hell out of here and go back to Janey’s. Or my place. Or the closest hotel. Or anywhere we don’t have to leave for the next three to four business days.
She laughs and pats my chest. “Come on. The sooner this starts, the sooner it’ll be over.”
I swear she’s reading my mind.
We weave through the lot toward the door, but I stop when I see a man and a woman getting out of a car off to the left. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Janey asks, automatically freezing at my side.
I step in front of her, explaining quickly. “That’s Glenn, Samantha’s dad, and Ashley, his mistress-turned-wife. They can’t be here.”
Her eyes narrow, immediately with me. “What do you want me to do?”
I’m sure that if I asked, Janey would jump on someone’s back like an overhyped labradoodle and use her non-karate moves in an attempt to fight them. But I need more substantial backup to prevent a bigger problem. I consider sending Janey, but I know where the guys are. She might get lost in the maze of hallways or throngs of people. “Stall them. Be right back.”
I give her a pointed look, and she nods, so I bolt for the side door I came through moments ago. Inside, I poke my head into the ready room, keeping my voice low so I don’t get everyone’s attention. I only need one person. “Kyle.”
He looks up and must see something in my face because he immediately sets his drink down, already heading my way. Once clear of other ears, he asks, “What’s up?”
“Glenn.”
It’s all I have to say for Kyle to be ready. There’s a reason I grabbed him and not one of my other brothers, who are more the polished, use your words types. Kyle? If he can’t charm you into doing what he wants, he has no qualms about punching you until you make the right decision. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does? He’s who I want at my side.
