A Merry Vested Wedding - Melanie Moreland Page 0,45

chuckled. “I didn’t kill Reed.”

Van laughed. “He said you tried.”

Richard sniffed. “If I had really tried, I would have succeeded.”

We all laughed, knowing he was full of it. Richard got along well with Reed and had been surprisingly relaxed over their relationship.

“I found it hard when Heather first moved here,” Richard admitted. “I worried constantly. Was she safe? Lonely? Was she eating? Would she tell me if she wanted to come home? Knowing she had Reed and the way he cared for her was, and is, actually very comforting.”

That made sense in an odd sort of way.

“Gracie will be different,” I warned. “The firstborn thing.” I eyed Richard through a haze of smoke. “What’s with her boss? He’s pretty intense.”

Hal snorted. “Pot meet kettle.”

I flipped him the bird, ignoring the laughter from the rest of them.

Richard shrugged. “He helped her get here. Apparently with all the problems with weather and broken-down planes, they got as far as Calgary, and it looked like they were stuck. He rented a four-wheel-drive SUV and drove like a madman to get her to the wedding. I had a good conversation with him. He’s a little uptight, but decent. He thinks Gracie is a brilliant intern and will be a great lawyer. I know she says he is hard to work for, but they must get along all right. She said he asked to come today. I think he wanted to see the winery.”

“Is that all?” Reid asked dryly.

“What else could there be?” Richard asked. “He’s her boss and mentor. He’s older than her. I think he was just curious.”

I met Maddox’s gaze, and he lifted an eyebrow. I was sure I had noticed a few glances between the two of them that were not boss/intern-like. I was certain Richard was in denial, but I wasn’t about to argue with him. I could be wrong—my head was a little mixed up today, and it seemed to be getting worse.

The table was silent for a moment, the music from inside muted. I looked at the bottom of my glass, wondering who drank my scotch. The glass was full only a minute ago.

Wasn’t it?

“She’s leaving,” I groaned, peering through the patio glass. “She isn’t coming to say goodbye.”

Everyone laughed. “Because she’ll be five minutes away and you’ll see her in two days, Bent,” Aiden pointed out. “Two days.”

“Still.” I stood and headed to the doors. Someone yelled about a cigar, but I kept going until I found Addi.

I made sure she knew I was happy for her and I would see her in a couple of days. I didn’t want her to think I was too busy checking that all her uncles were okay not to say goodbye. She would be upset, and I couldn’t have my baby girl upset on her wedding day. I welcomed Brayden to the family. It was the least I could do. Emmy pulled me in for a kiss as I went by, and I was pretty certain she propositioned me, but for some reason, none of the conversations were sticking in my head. Words floated by, but they were hard to grasp.

I returned to the table and picked up my glass.

“She’s gone,” I said morosely.

Someone clapped me on the back, and I shut my eyes.

Suddenly, Emmy was in front of me, shaking my shoulder, her beautiful dark eyes staring into mine. “Come on, Rigid. It’s time to go home.”

I looked around, noticing the balcony was empty except for Aiden. He winked at me, sipping his scotch. Someone had drunk all of mine.

Bastard.

“Is the wedding done?”

She smiled. She was so beautiful. Even more beautiful than the girl I married. I loved her more now than ever.

Her smile became wider. “I know.”

“Am I drunk?” I whispered.

“Ah, a little. You knocked them back pretty fast.” She tugged on my hands. “You need to go home to bed and sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“Weren’t you going to have your wicked way with me?”

She laughed, wrapping her arm around my waist. “That was your line, and maybe we’ll save that until the morning.”

“Oh.” I glanced over my shoulder. “Is Aiden coming with us?”

He stood, laughing. “Right behind you, Bent. Always am.”

I had to smile.

He was. My best friend and business partner was always there. So were Maddox and my whole extended family. And I had my Emmy.

I was a lucky man.

Emmy squeezed my waist. “Yes, you are.”

“Aiden?”

“Yeah?”

“I survived my baby girl getting married.”

“You did good, Bent.”

The balcony tilted a little. I leaned into Emmy