A few more people arrive for the party, but most of them are mates of Reese and Chance. I don't have any close friends, but I plan to change that.
Rika sidles up to me and whispers, "Who's the hottie talking to Chance? Another cousin?"
"No, that's Richard Hunter. He and Chance have known each other since university. Richard owns a publishing company that he inherited from his father."
"Hmm. Is he a nice guy?"
"Seems to be, yes."
"Is he married? Or does he have a girlfriend?"
"Not that I know of."
She lifts onto her tiptoes to peer across the room at Richard. "You know my sister, Maddie, is coming to visit us next week. And she's single too."
"No meddling, Rika."
She bats her eyelashes at me with fake innocence. "All I want to do is introduce them."
I don't get the chance to order her not to meddle, because Reese approaches me. Rika leaves us alone while she wanders over to Richard.
Reese grins and slaps me on the shoulder. "Told you, mate. I said you'd be next, and here you are volunteering for the ball and chain."
Being chained to Rika doesn't sound like torture. I never want to let her go, so if a wedding ring shackles me to her, I absolutely do volunteer for it.
"That's right," I tell Reese. "I'm signing up for that ball and chain, as long as it's attached to Rika for the rest of our lives."
And if my fiancée has her way, Richard Hunter will be next.
*****