mother. The truth was, she was hoping her protector alpha fiancé and brother would handle the Marie situation without drawing her into it.
There was no need to beat the horse to death, so she softened, stepped in, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
His surprised reaction was kind of funny.
What wasn’t funny was the achingly slow and tender lovemaking he subjected her to once the lights were out. The way he held her, the things he whispered, his awareness of her needs, and how she responded set the stage for a magnificent coupling. When the passionate storm passed, she clung to his big body and felt contentment seep into her soul.
On the morning of their wedding, Arnie awoke alone in a guest room of the humongous Malibu estate Senior used his connections to rent for the matrimonial occasion.
The first thing he did when his eyes opened was jump up and run to a window. It was a gorgeous Southern California day. Vibrant blue skies, no clouds, and bright sunshine greeted him.
“Thank fucking god,” he hooted.
Opening the window, he stuck his face close to the screen and inhaled. It wasn’t overly chilly, and he didn’t sense much of a breeze. Exercising control over every little wedding detail was how he managed his bridegroom jitters. He wanted Summer to have the perfect day, but the one thing he couldn’t dictate was the weather. The expansive yard and garden where the ceremony and reception were taking place was picture-perfect, but overly exuberant coastal breezes or a rogue Santa Ana windstorm would take down the massive reception tent and force the ceremony inside.
A loud banging on his door signaled kick-off time was at hand. Laughing, he rushed to the door and opened it to find King, Jon, and Dottie in the hallway.
Dottie had a hand over her eyes. “Is he decent?” she barked.
“Maybe you better put some pants on.” King sniggered. “Avery will be a dick about it if he finds out his girlfriend was ogling your twig and berries.”
Jon cackled with glee. “Jesus, Arnie. Did you get manscaped?”
He glanced down. No, he wasn’t naked but the skimpy briefs he wore to bed were little more than a banana hammock.
“All I can say is if you didn’t tidy the garden before your wedding, then I feel bad for Lorelai for having married an asshat.”
They fist-bumped before Arnie ducked behind the door to pull on a pair of jeans.
He waved them in and asked what the hell was going on.
“We brought you breakfast,” King said with a laugh. “Summer’s idea.”
Dottie pointed at the tray King held. In her hand, she had a carafe of what looked like chocolate milk.
They set everything down on a round table by the window and pushed him into a chair. With a flourish, Jon lifted the lid on a serving plate.
“Not my taste at all but your lady insisted this was your preferred breakfast of champions.”
Arnie laughed when he saw the Pop-Tarts artfully arranged for maximum appeal. Each piece had a different topping.
“Peanut butter, cinnamon cream cheese, brown sugar, and plain.”
A pile of fresh-cut fruit sat beside a fast food breakfast sandwich.
Dottie poured chocolate milk into a water glass. “You’d be wise to lay off the coffee unless you want to be amped and jumpy later for the ceremony.”
While he stuffed his face, King caught him up. Miraculously, the only glitch so far concerned the bartending help. One of the mixologists was sick, so they’d have to make do with the two remaining bartenders. If that was the only issue he wasn’t going to complain.
“Is everyone in place? Have I forgotten anybody?”
“You’ve rented every available hotel room on PCH. Things were hopping last night at the Malibu Beach Inn.” Dottie smiled approvingly. “It was party central for Summer’s crew! A few of her friends from Santa Barbara and half the Sherman Oaks neighborhood took you up on the offer of accommodations.”
“Where’s her bridal party? Where did you stash them?” He looked at King for an answer.
“A hotel for that bunch seemed like an invitation to fuckery, so they’re in a house not far from the NIGHTWIND digs.”
Jon nodded and offered a thumbs-up. “Arnie, I’m impressed with the catering plan. The food trucks started arriving an hour ago. They’re setting up and getting started.”
A big grin spread across his face. Everything was coming together exactly as he saw it in his head.
“Who’s with Summer?”
King’s grin matched Arnie’s. “I believe she’s being inducted into the NIGHTWIND Ladies’ Auxiliary as we speak.”