the blue. Just ‘hey, I was thinking.’”
“Jesus.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure he’d heard that the roses and lava cakes hadn’t worked. He figured why go to all the trouble.”
“You go to the trouble because it fucking matters. But you go to the right trouble. You don’t do it because some cheesy movie did it or because you want to make a big public spectacle of how great you are. You make it meaningful for you as a couple and for...” He pulled in a breath and sat back suddenly. “Never mind.”
Yeah, they should both never mind all this talk. For sure.
“Should we head back?” he asked. “I can show you one of the pontoon boats.”
She nodded. “That’d be great.” She actually wanted to stay out here with him for a few more hours. Or days. Or forever.
So, yeah, they should definitely get back.
14
“We’ll have to walk a bit down to the far dock for the pontoon,” Mitch told her as they coasted up against the dock.
But it was immediately evident that their plans were about to change.
Maddie, Tori, Juliet, and Kennedy were coming down onto the dock.
Well, fuck. He was about to lose her. “Or we could make a break for it,” he said dryly.
Paige laughed. “We’re outnumbered.”
He just sighed.
“Hey girls,” he greeted as he jumped from the boat to the dock to tie it up.
“We need Paige,” Tori said.
“You’ll have to get in line.” He meant that. She was his. At least for tonight. As much as he loved her helping out with the weddings—and he really fucking did—he wasn’t into sharing her tonight.
“Nope,” Tori said sweetly.
Dammit. Tori was the hardest one to be firm with. Juliet was second.
He could absolutely be an ass to Kennedy and Maddie. No problem. But Tori and Juliet hadn’t grown up on the bayou, and it showed. They were nice. And it made everyone want to be nice to them right back.
He finished securing the boat and straightened, planting his hands on his hips. “What do you need her for? It can’t wait?”
“It can’t.” Maddie held up a few sheets of paper. “We found these.”
“What are those?”
“Oh crap.” Suddenly Paige was beside him on the dock. “You weren’t supposed to see those.”
“Yet,” Juliet said. “I hope you mean yet. Because you better have intended to show these to us at some point.”
“What are they?” Mitch pressed.
Paige sighed. “Some of my wedding notes. I thought I got them all when I left the office. Guess I missed a few.”
“This is just some of them?” Tori asked her, eyes wide. “You have more?”
Paige pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded.
“Oh my God, yes, we need to talk.” Maddie reached for Paige and grabbed her hand, pulling her forward.
“I didn’t mean to step on your toes,” Paige said. “I was just thinking and jotted a few things down and—”
“Step on my toes,” Juliet said. “Please. I will gladly hand over my binder and everything. This is amazing.”
Mitch knew he was standing there with his mouth hanging open. He felt like he’d just been hit by a tornado. A very blond and brunette, nice-smelling tornado.
Tori, Maddie, and Juliet practically carried Paige up the dock toward Ellie’s.
“Hey! It’s date night!” he called after them.
Maddie looked over her shoulder. “What do you mean? You’re just friends.”
Then she gave him a wink. And kept walking Paige away from him.
He should probably save her.
But he felt himself smiling.
Paige needed a place to belong. She needed to be a piece that fit somewhere. She needed to take care of a few people.
So maybe he’d take his time about saving her.
“My God, you’re head over heels already, aren’t you?”
He looked to his left to find that Kennedy was still on the dock with him watching the other women go.
“How can you tell?” he asked, instead of denying it.
“That stupid grin on your face,” she said. “It’s how Bennett looks at me,” she added with a stupid grin of her own.
He shrugged. “Yeah, I’m pretty much fucked here.”
Mitch was no better off two weeks later.
In fact, he was far, far worse.
Not only was he crazier about Paige, but he was horny as hell.
Paige had been officially installed as the wedding planner for all three Landry weddings, and she seemed thrilled. She’d been glowing since the girls had whisked her off to Ellie’s.
His family loved her, and they were including her in everything.
And that meant he’d been cock-blocked.
Repeatedly.
Ever since their swamp boat ride.
Okay, she hadn’t exactly been glowing the next morning after their first