Ella set her napkin on her plate, and her eyes remained cast down. “Brian will be back the Friday before the wedding.”
“Oh, Ana, it’s gonna be beautiful.” A.J.’s mom waved a dramatic hand toward the backyard. “Church wedding, then the reception will be right here. Fireworks at night while everyone dances. Magical.” She was clearly doing her best to keep the peace between her kids.
“Yeah, maybe it’ll rain.” Caleb reached for the neck of his beer, eyes on his sister, but Ella didn’t look his way. And from the looks of it, Caleb wasn’t a fan of this Brian guy, either.
“Rain on the wedding day is supposed to be good luck for marriage,” McKenna said with a big, innocent smile.
“Then I highly doubt—”
“It’ll be the Fourth of July weekend,” A.J.’s dad spoke up, cutting off whatever A.J. was about to say, which was probably a good thing. “I bet your teammates could use another weekend off.”
“Wow, the Fourth is coming up soon,” Ana chimed in, hoping to help dispel some of the tension. Though it seemed like an issue between siblings, and therefore none of her business, Ana felt compelled to do what little she could to protect A.J. from Ella’s silent fury. But knowing A.J., if he’d done something to try and scare off Ella’s fiancé, he had a good reason. Ana trusted his judgment.
“The Fourth of July down here in Alabama is like Christmas,” A.J.’s mom commented with pride. “You were planning on staying with Grant for the wedding weekend, right?” She fidgeted with her silverware, straightening them beside her plate.
“I’ll offer the invite to the team,” A.J. answered, his tone turning glib. “Wyatt and Natasha are getting married toward the end of July, so I’m not sure they can fit two joyful occasions in one month.” The way he’d said “joyful” had the hairs on Ana’s arms standing.
“Alexander,” Ella hissed in warning.
“What?” A.J. pushed back from the table. Footsies were officially done. “You’re marrying the wrong man, and you know it.” He stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I better help Jesse with that beeping.”
“Me, too.” Caleb followed A.J. into the house, leaving Ana at the table with a few awkward throat clears from A.J.’s parents.
“Sorry about the boys,” A.J.’s dad began, eyes moving to Ana from where he sat at the head of the table, “but they get a bit protective of those they love.”
“That’s all it is, Ella.” A.J.’s mom reached across the table and set a hand over Ella’s. “Ignore them.”
“Yeah, sure,” Ella said softly. “Anyway, Ana is our guest, so let’s talk about something happier.”
Happier than your wedding? Hmm. Did she really want to marry Brian?
“A.J. hasn’t brought a woman home in, hell, more than a decade.” A.J.’s dad was similar in height to A.J., about six feet, and had a full head of silver hair, thick beard, and kind blue eyes. His skin was tanner than A.J.’s, probably from all his outside work on the ranch over the years. “So, we’re happy you were able to join us.”
“You know, I reckon A.J. hasn’t had a girlfriend since Brooke, and that was in his twenties,” his mom said. “Brooke is one of Ella’s closest friends. Bridesmaid. Of course, if Rory doesn’t make it home for the wedding, she’ll be the maid of honor.”
“Rory will make it,” Ella quickly defended, then peered at Ana. “Rory is Jesse’s sister, and she sure took a liking to one of A.J.’s friends last weekend. Well, she didn’t use those words, but—”
“Chris?” Jesse asked as he returned to the table with A.J. and Caleb.
“Beeping gone?” Ella asked with a sarcastic tone.
“Taken care of,” A.J. answered before sitting. “And what were you all talking about?”
“How Rory has the hots for that friend of yours, Chris,” Jesse explained. “From what Ella is saying, at least.”
“Oh.” A.J. scratched his beard. “Yeah, feelings might be mutual.” He tossed out the words as casually as possible. “Anyway.”
“So, A.J. told me all about your professional singing career, Mr. Hawkins,” Ana quickly said, and A.J. looked up and sent a silent thank-you for the reprieve with his eyes. “I’d love to hear you sing.”
“A.J.’s the better singer,” his father admitted. “I think it’d be nice if you sing a song or two after dinner, don’t you?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” A.J. shook his head.
Ana had heard him sing in the car the other night, and her ovaries would probably burst if he were to serenade her in front of his family. But, how could