a discussion about privacy and not touching things Mom has expressly forbidden you to touch. And I also want to know how much you’ve read.”
Joey looked chagrined, his gaze downcast. “It was a chapter. You came back into the room before I could read much of it.”
“Joey …” She sighed heavily.
He winced at her disappointed tone.
“Hey.” I smiled down at him, trying to distract them both. “Of course, you can have the first dance.”
His melancholy melted away and he hugged into my side, his arm around my waist. I held him to me as I took a huge gulp of water. Joey was a bit of a contradiction. Exceptionally bright, a gifted musician, he knew more about the world than other kids his age. He was precocious and confident. At the same time, he was still innocent and affectionate.
“What’s with the books?” Dahlia asked Cat.
“They’re romance novels.” Cat worried her lip. “Dark romance novels. With the kind of stuff in it I don’t want my kid reading. Jesus. Can you put a password on an e-reader?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’ll show you how.”
Cat seemed surprised by my offer but smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”
“Jack,” Cooper said, and I turned to see Jack striding across the lobby. He slowed but didn’t stop, his eyes dropping to where Joey clung to my side. His expression warmed as he shot me an tender look before turning to Coop. “Drink?”
Jack shook his head. “I better get inside, grab my seat.”
“Sure? The happy couple might be a little while yet.”
He flicked a look at me before replying to his friend. “I’ll catch you later.”
Guilt suffused me. I knew there was probably nothing more Jack wanted than to hang out with Cooper, but he was abiding by my wishes to avoid me today.
Unfortunately, his abidance didn’t last long.
“Emery, Joey, I hate to cut in, but I’m going to.” Bailey pulled up beside me and Joey on the dance floor. She was glowing with bliss. And a handsome, dark-haired man around my height with dreamy bedroom eyes accompanied her.
“Emery, this is Soren Michaelson. He’s an old college friend of Vaughn’s and lives in Manhattan. Soren, Emery used to live in upstate New York but now owns the boardwalk bookstore.”
Oh, hell no.
I hadn’t believed Bailey would try to play matchmaker at her wedding. But why not? It was definitely something she was capable of.
And she was doing it!
“Do you mind, Joey?” She asked.
Joey glared at Soren Michaelson. “I’ll allow it. But don’t get your hopes up, buddy. I’ve staked my claim.”
Soren grinned. “I respect that.”
“Hmm.” Joey cut me a look. “You want to dance with this guy?”
It was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do, holding in my laughter. “If you’re okay with it, Joey?”
“Sure. Mom says I shouldn’t monopolize your time.”
“Will you dance with me?” Bailey held out her hand to him. “I am the bride.”
“Yeah, so you’re already claimed.”
“Come dance with me, Joe-Joe.” He took her hand. “While we dance, Aunt Bailey will explain to you how girls aren’t something you can just claim like a ball from the lost-and-found. Mmm’kay?”
Soren chuckled. “He’s a character, huh?”
I nodded. “He’s wonderful.”
“Dance?” He held out his hand.
Seconds later, I was in this stranger’s arms, still smiling about Joey.
“You can’t blame the kid,” Soren teased, eyes dancing over my face. “He has great taste.”
My cheeks heated. “Thank you.”
“So”—Soren swayed us a little more, his hand tightening on my back—“things I already know about Emery Saunders: Vaughn is protective of you.”
My eyes flew to his. “How do you know that?”
His lips twitched. “Because he threatened to castrate me if I, and I quote, ‘didn’t treat Emery with the respect and manners a lady deserves and attempted any funny business with her.’”
Vaughn said that?
Soren’s amusement grew at my shock. “He obviously cares about you, and it takes a lot to make an impression on Vaughn, so I’m already intrigued. I also know you run your own business, you have men falling in love with you before they’re even in high school, and you are the most beautiful woman in this room.”
A person could roast marshmallows on my cheeks, I grew so uncomfortable with his flattery. “And you do not know how to take a compliment.” He laughed and drew me closer until my chest brushed his.
Before I could respond, a shadow fell over us.
“Can I cut in?”
Jack.
We stopped dancing under the scowling façade of the father of my unborn child. The father who still didn’t know. The father who had promised