Finn nodded. “I’ll drink to that.”
“I grow a lot of the vegetables for my restaurant outside,” Johan said. “Harvest in the late summers is awful.”
“I’ve never been so happy to work inside an air-conditioned office,” William said.
They all laughed.
“What about you, Mitchell?” Dave asked. “What do you do?”
“I’m a lawyer.”
He didn’t offer up any additional conversation, so that was the end of that.
Not really Mr. Personality, that Mitchell. Then again, Finn already knew that from the years he’d been married to Brenna. Whenever they’d come over for dinner with the family, he’d been quiet—or away from the table on his phone, something that had always irritated the hell out of Brenna. During the years Mitch and Brenna had been together, he had never been one to interact with Brenna’s family, which was really saying something since the Bellinis were people you couldn’t help but engage with. They were warm, friendly and hospitable. Mitch, on the other hand, was cold and standoffish and always seemed to hold himself above everyone else.
Finn never could figure out what Brenna had seen in him. But he could definitely see why Mitch and Allison were a perfect match.
Erin came up to them. “We’re about to get started, so if you could all take your seats?”
The group ended up finding seats toward the middle. Esther and Brock had quite the group of family and friends, because the vineyard was filled.
Awesome.
Music started playing, the groomsmen took their positions next to Brock and the bridesmaids began walking down the aisle. Finn had caught a chair on the end, so he had a prime view when Brenna appeared.
She wore a violet dress with skinny straps on her shoulders, her hair all wildly curled and pulled up, revealing her incredibly beautiful neck. The dress hit just above her knees, showing off her amazing legs. And her cowgirl boots were the perfect touch. She looked dressed to kill. He didn’t even notice the other bridesmaids because he was focused on Brenna, the most beautiful woman there. As she passed by him, their eyes locked and her lips curved into a hint of a smile.
Damn.
They all stood when the bride walked down with her dad. She wore a short dress, too, with sparkly white boots and the biggest smile. She looked really pretty and happy as she made her way to Brock.
The ceremony was short and emotional as the bride and groom said their vows. It was sweet. They kissed and everyone applauded. Then the bridesmaids and groomsmen led them down the aisle and everyone filed out while Honor directed the crowd toward the barn.
Finn wanted to see Brenna, but she’d already told him that she would have to linger behind for pictures, so he made his way to the barn and grabbed a beer.
“You’re engaged to my wife, huh?”
He turned to Mitch. “Not your wife anymore.”
“You always had a thing for her. Even when I was married to her.”
He wasn’t even going to dignify that with an answer, or say what he really wanted to say about men who didn’t appreciate their women when they had them, so he took a long swallow of his beer and ignored Mitch.
Mitch ordered a scotch and water and the two of them moved away from the bar so other people could step in.
“The two of you have nothing in common.”
Okay, maybe Finn wouldn’t stay silent. “Oh, and you did?”
Mitch shrugged. “More than you do.”
“We’re doing great, my friend. Maybe you should focus more on your current wife and pay less attention to my relationship with my fiancée.”
“Something seems off about the two of you. I just don’t see her with you.”
Finn took a deep breath. “Afraid she might realize that she’s finally found what she was missing all those years? Because I’m telling ya, mate, she has. And it’s a step up for her.”
He could see Mitch’s face turn a mottled red. If he had to, Finn would defuse a fight. Which would be too bad because this asshole deserved a good punch in the face.
“There you are. Did you see how I looked up there?”
Saved by Allison, because immediately, Mitch plastered on a benevolent smile and turned his focus on her. “I did. You were stunning.”
“Thank you. It’s amazing how your taste has improved dramatically since . . . well, since you met me.” She shot Finn a scathing look.
Finn rolled his eyes, finished off his beer and wandered back to the bar, not needing to hear anything else from the two of them. He grabbed another beer and stepped outside the doors.
He paced back and forth between the barn and the vineyard for a while, drinking his beer and muttering Irish curses, wishing Mitch overly hairy, painful hemorrhoids and swollen balls that would make it uncomfortable to sit for the rest of his life.
He smiled at that thought.
He went back inside and found the table where his new friends were sitting. Fortunately Mitch wasn’t there.
The deejay announced the wedding party and everyone stood and clapped when they entered. Brenna had a smile on her face as she walked in, and then they gathered around the dance floor as the bride and groom had their first dance, joined shortly by the bridal party. After that, they took their seats at the main table and toasts were given.
Finn was hungry, so he was grateful once all the talking was done and food was served. He knew Brenna had duties to perform and she couldn’t sit with him, but he had fine company at his table and they found a lot to talk about.
Mitchell had found other people to sit with, which worked great for Finn because his group was having a blast. They drank, they ate fantastic food, they shared stories about their lives and Finn didn’t have to put up with Mitch’s grouchy face.
All in all, a damn fine dinner. After the plates were cleared the bridal party got up and left the table. The bride and groom hit the dance floor, and the bridesmaids headed their way.
Finn stood and turned as Brenna arrived.
“Did you have a good dinner?” she asked.
“Food was amazing. Company was even better.”
She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m so glad. I’m sorry I had to leave you alone for so long.”
He looped an arm around her waist. Not because Mitchell was around, but because he’d missed her and he wanted to be close to her. “Don’t be. These are great people. We’ve all had a good time.”
“I swear you can make friends no matter where you are.”
He cocked his head. “Does that surprise you?”
“I guess it does.”