Keep justifying it so you can have some sex tonight, Karli.
I will!
Hell, I’m lucky I made it out the door with him. God, he’s unbearably hot in that tuxedo. Like belongs on the cover of a magazine hot or getting a hundred thousand likes on an Instagram picture hot. There are tons of attractive men at The Hunter Group, but something about Matthew stands out. There’s just that wow factor I don’t get when I look at the other guys—not that I sit around checking everyone out, but it’s human nature to notice those things.
Dominic is standing on the steps of the church as we approach, in his tux, and he appears to have a Led Zeppelin shirt on under the jacket.
That’s so badass. I love Zeppelin.
The second he spots us, his lips twist up into a wry grin. It’s almost like he knew this was going to happen or he expected us together.
When I glance over at Matthew, I know something has gone on between them. It’s just the way they’re looking at each other.
“Glad you guys could make it.” Dominic shakes Matthew’s hand, then reaches over for mine as well.
I shake it because what the hell else am I going to do?
“I’m so happy for you. This church is beautiful.” I can’t believe my words were coherent because I’m quickly realizing I’m far more nervous than I thought I’d be. “And I love that you’re getting the Led out.” I point to his shirt.
“Hell yeah, it was the one thing I fought for and got with this wedding.” Dominic laughs. “And yeah, we love it here. This place is like a second home for us. Thank you for accompanying my good friend Matthew here.”
When I glance over, Matthew’s staring daggers at Dominic but softens his expression a little when he sees me. Something about it cracks me up. I think it’s because I’ve never seen Matthew squirm a little. And he loves doing it to me. It’s like a karmic event taking place before my eyes, in the entrance to a Christian church.
“You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?” Matthew continues to stare down Dominic.
“I am, actually. Should a man not get to enjoy his wedding day?”
“We’re going to head inside, since I know you have other guests to greet.” Matthew takes my hand and leads us into the foyer.
“Enjoy yourselves, you two.”
“What was that all about?” I smile right at Matthew.
“Just an asshole being an asshole.” Matthew grins as he completes the sentence. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Mmhmm, thought he was a great friend.”
“We should make the rounds.”
The second he says it, my eyes go wide. I know he did it on purpose to steer the conversation into his favor. My stomach tightens into a knot of epic proportions when he actually takes me by the hand and leads us right to the group of Collins brothers first, who are also decked out in tuxedoes. Oh, and their significant others and even children are with them too.
“Might as well rip the Band-Aid off.” Matthew says it as if it’s no big deal.
Jesus Christ.
I glance up at the huge Jesus nailed to a cross on the wall, right as I think the words, and immediately apologize in my mind. The only thing that sets my mind at ease as we walk over are the Christmas poinsettias lining the walls, and the other Christmas decorations everywhere. It looks like some children cut snowflakes out of paper and hung them down the hallways.
“Hello everyone,” Matthew says as he leads us to the huddle of my bosses.
It snaps me out of my little Christmas daydream and right back into reality. I glance away, pretending to look at something and fall a step behind him. This is all a disaster. Why did I think this would be fun and a good idea?
When I finally have the courage to look up, Decker, Deacon, and Dexter’s eyes all widen.
At the same time, Abigail, Quinn, and Tate all smile like the gossip at the office just got juicy. Or maybe they’re smiling at how uncomfortable their spouses just became.
To be fair, Deacon and Dexter both seem to shake it off immediately and say hi. Decker looks like a different story.
Fuck!
He shakes his head, and I’m pretty sure he mumbles, “I can’t with this shit.”
Tate elbows him in the ribs.
He straightens up and says, “Glad to see you two.” Then, he walks off.
“Don’t mind him,” says Tate. “He’s like the old man who yells at the cloud in The Simpsons.”
I laugh uncomfortably and try to force my attention to something else. I glance over at Quinn. “Is this your little girl?”
Quinn smiles and nods at the small toddler she’s holding in a fluffy white dress. “Yes, this is Delaney.”
I lean over and smile. “Hello, Delaney.” I give her a little wave. “She’s adorable.”
Deacon falls in behind them and strokes his daughter’s hair. The way he looks at both of them almost does me in. Deacon is bulky, and right now he looks like a giant smitten teddy bear.
“You guys all in the wedding party?” says Matthew.
Everyone in the group nods.
“Who’s the best man?”
Dexter snickers. “Decker.”
Matthew’s head snaps around to him. “What?”
Dexter shrugs. “Dom asked Decker. I think it had something to do with the time he went and bailed him out of jail in Detroit.”
“Makes sense.”
Bailed him out of jail?
I thought Matthew might be exaggerating earlier about Dominic and Mary’s story, but it doesn’t seem so far-fetched now.
An older man walks up behind us and gets the attention of the Collins brothers and spouses. “Excuse me, guys. It’s about time to get this thing going.”
Matthew and I both turn around, and it’s the cutest little old man who must be the priest. Is he called a priest here? Pastor? I didn’t see any sign for a denomination outside, not that I know anything about churches. We weren’t religious growing up.
Regardless, he must be the man who runs this place, which means he must be very close to Dominic and Mary, and he’s probably going to be officiating the ceremony.
“Hello, I’m Jeremiah.” He holds out a hand to us.
“Hi, Matthew.”
When he reaches for my hand, I say, “Karli.”
“Welcome, both of you, and thank you for taking part in this celebration.” He turns his attention to everyone else. “Everyone ready?”
“Ready to do whatever you tell us, Jeremiah.” Dexter claps him on the shoulder while holding Abigail’s hand. He turns to us. “See you guys at the reception.”
Deacon doesn’t say anything as he passes because he now has Delaney in his arms, and I don’t know if anything in the world could take his attention away from her.
Quinn says, “It’s wonderful to see you two. Catch up with you more in a little bit.”
Quinn and Abigail both look amazing in their bridesmaid dresses. Their husbands are lucky men.
“Come on, we better get in there.”
I breathe a small sigh of relief. That interaction was far less intense than I expected, except for Decker. Something tells me he’s not crazy about Matthew and I being here together.
We walk to the entrance of the church and an usher takes us down to our seats. We sit next to a man in a suit with a beautiful woman next to him.