“Clint is going to be so pissed.” Sarah laughs. “You better hope he doesn’t find out, Jax.”
“My brother will be thanking me after he’s done.” Jax thumbs to the stripper winking over at Dawn who blushes.
“Your funeral,” Dawn murmurs and Jax’s smile falters.
“I best be going. You ladies enjoy your evening.” Jax back-pedals to the front door.
“Where is Emily and Matt?” I ask my mom, who is pulling several dollar bills from her purse. Where in the world did she get so many dollar bills?
“Luke took Emily to Mrs. Barley’s for a tea party, and Matt went with him to Clint’s for the bachelor party,” my mom says, then grabs her drink and points to Milkman Thor and waves her money. “Dance, hottie, dance.”
“Oh, good Lord,” I mutter, looking at a wide-eyed Dawn before taking a big gulp from my margarita. If I have to help babysit my mom and Miss Janet, I’m going to need a lot more alcohol.
“Let’s get this party started!” Miss Janet waves for us to follow her sashay to the couch where she places a giant pitcher of margaritas on the coffee table and squeals like a teenage girl trapped in an eighty-year-old body.
“There is still time. We can slip out the back,” I whisper.
“No one is going anywhere.” Sarah looks between me and Dawn. “This is Dawn’s bachelorette party. If she can’t drink, she can at lease shove a wad of cash down this hunk of a man’s banana hammock.”
“She’s got a point.” I shrug at Dawn, who looks mortified.
“I’ll look but no touching.” She rolls her eyes, rubbing her small pregnant belly and I can’t help but laugh.
“Don’t worry, dears. I’ll do all the touching for you,” Miss Janet hollers from the living room, dancing in her seat and literally drooling.
Music from a speaker Milkman Thor brought clicks on and my mom whistles as we all take seats on the couch.
“Who’s ready to party, ladies?” Milkman Thor asks, then tears his clothes off and my mom goes nuts.
I need more to drink.
19
- Luke -
Amber is stunning in her light pink bridesmaid dress. Emily and Sarah are wearing matching dresses of their own, but the dress was made for Amber. Her curves are softened by the floor-length design, but her breasts peek out and I openly check her out with no shame.
Walking down the aisle with her is much different than the last time we were paired together for a wedding. For starters, her smiles are genuine and every time she looks at me with the warmth and happiness she has for her friend Dawn, my chest tightens. I picture us walking together and her warmth and happiness is for us.
I only have eyes for Amber as my brother and Dawn say their vows. When our eyes met, I swear she read my mind and her smile spreads farther across her beautiful face, though she tried to hide it. I nearly interrupted the wedding so I could get down on one knee and ask her right then and there, but I’m certain Clint would have murdered me. Amber would help bury my body for ruining Dawn’s day, and I would never get my wedding day with her.
Besides, I need to be patient with Amber. Things are good between us, but she needs time to get use to us having a future. Plus, we still need to figure out what Henry is up to. The last thing I want to do is add more stress to her life.
Watching Amber now chatting with her family at the reception, my patience to slip a ring on her finger is wavering. At least I have her next to me in our—yes, our bed—because I’m not letting it be just her bed or mine. We’re together for better or worse, even if she hasn’t figured that out yet.
“Who the hell invited that jackass?” Eric hisses when he hears Sarah laugh at something Sheriff McKnight says to her.
“He’s not so bad.” I shrug. “He helped Dawn and Clint when her ex blew into town.”
“It’s his job to help people, that doesn’t make him a damn saint,” Eric growls then heads for the bar where Sarah and McKnight are chatting.
“Eric has his hands full with your sister. What is going on between those two?” I ask Amber when I take a seat next to her.
“Warren is staking a claim.” Amber giggles, watching as Eric pulls Sarah away from McKnight.
I raise a brow at her. “Warren?”
“He asked me to call him Warren.” Amber shrugs as Emily climbs off her lap and into mine.
“Are you going to dance with my mommy?” Emily whispers loud enough for Amber to hear.
“Absolutely, little human.” I smile over at Amber.
“Not until this mommy gets some champagne.” Amber winks then stands and heads over to the bar.
“Hey, Matt, looking good in that suit,” Clint says, holding his fist out.
“Thanks,” Matt mumbles then fist bumps Clint. Matt is really breaking out of his shell. He was fun at the bachelor party, even without having anyone his age to hang out with. We have really started to bond.
Despite the looming custody hearing and Henry’s recent threats, everything is falling into place. Amber isn’t resisting me, the kids like me, and the house nearly complete.
“You look handsome,” Dawn says. She places her hands around his face and kisses his forehead. A deep blush colors Matt’s face, and I bite back a chuckle.
“This place looks great,” I tell the happy couple when they sit with us. Benny’s Bar was transformed into a reception once again, but there are less tables and a smaller buffet, making the space feel more intimate and less crowded—exactly the way Clint and Dawn wanted it.
“Thanks, brother,” Clint grunts, wrapping an arm around Dawn, who hasn’t stopped smiling since she walked down the aisle.
Jax falls into the chair next to Dawn. “Whose idea was it to invite McKnight?”
“Mine.” Dawn looks over at my little brother.
“You’re brilliant.” Jax smiles and leans over to kiss her cheek. “Personally, I can’t stand the guy, but I love watching Eric lose his shit.”
“Keep your paws off my wife,” Clint growls, pulling Dawn closer into his side.
Dawn looks around confused. “Why’s he going to lose it?”
“McKnight and Eric have been bitter enemies since high school, and it all started over a girl.” Jax smirks over his glass of whiskey. “That girl being Sarah.”
“Oh no . . ..” Dawn looks worried and glances at Clint.
“Shut it, Jax,” Clint grunts and shoves Jax.
“Speaking of Eric, where did he and Sarah run off to?” I ask, glancing around for the couple.
“If he’s lucky, making up for lost time,” Jax snickers.
“Children,” Amber says and smacks the back of Jax’s head as she comes around the table to take a seat.
“Sorry, pipsqueak,” Jax says, raising his glass to Emily then Matt.
“I’m not a pipsqueak, I’m a little human,” Emily says and lays her head on my shoulder.
“Sorry, little human.” Jax nods, smiling at my girl.
“Are you getting tired?” Amber asks as she runs a hand over Emily’s head.
“No,” she says around a yawn.
“I’m going to see if Linda needs any help packing up the food,” Dawn says to Clint, who tugs her back toward him and kisses her so passionately it makes even me blush.