“You heard the boss.” I arched an eyebrow at Jace, daring him to challenge the fact that Scarlett owned his ass completely. Because she absolutely did. And honestly, I loved it. Jace had been nothing but an uptight billionaire workaholic before Scarlett came along and loosened him up into something resembling a human being.
“We should all go on a trip together!” Dakota suddenly squealed, bouncing on her toes.
“Oh my God, yes!” Scarlett clapped her hands.
“I already spend enough time with these idiots,” I muttered. “Now you want me to vacation with them too?”
“Well, get used to it,” Scarlett shot back, “because we’re going to be spending tons of time together now.” She actually clapped. Like full-on seal clapping.
Dakota nodded enthusiastically. “Let’s talk to Tessa when she gets back from the honeymoon. Maybe we could plan something for spring?”
Speaking of the happy couple, Blake and Tessa were lost in their own world on the dance floor, gazing into each other’s eyes like they’d forgotten the other three hundred guests existed.
“Look at those two,” I said. “Blake’s probably already calculating how many hours until he can get her alone.”
We all danced near each other for a few more songs, lost in love and all that.
“Let’s grab drinks,” Scarlett said, tugging on Dakota’s hand.
I smirked, shoving my hands in my pockets as Jace and I dutifully followed our women toward the bar. “They’re plotting something.”
“They have a plan,” Jace agreed, then nodded toward the bar. “Speaking of plans, look who’s doing his best impression of a stalker.”
Ryker stood about twenty feet away from Faith, nursing a whiskey and staring at her like she was evidence in a case he was dying to examine more thoroughly.
“Someone needs to put that poor bastard out of his misery,” Jace muttered.
We approached our self-appointed brother.
“Dude,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “If this is you trying to be subtle, you need to work on those googly eyes. You’re about as covert as a neon sign.”
“Shut up, Axel.”
“What’s stopping you from asking her to dance?” Jace asked.
“It’s not just …” Ryker stopped. Was it just me, or did he smirk a little, as if hiding a secret, only to swallow it? “What if she says no?”
I threw my arm around his shoulders in mock sympathy. “Aww, don’t worry, buddy. I heard from Jessica, who heard from Stacy, who heard from Kevin that Faith totally likes you and wants you to ask her to the spring formal. Maybe you two can share a milkshake after!”
“Fuck off.” Ryker shoved me away while I snickered.
“Either make a move or stop staring,” Jace said with typical CEO bluntness. “You’re making the rest of us uncomfortable.”
“Spoken like a true executive,” I said. “What’s next, a PowerPoint presentation on Effective Dating Strategies?”
Jace shrugged. “I’ve got another piece of advice: shit or get off the pot.”
Ryker glared at him. “Your romantic wisdom is truly inspiring.”
“What’s your actual holdup here?” I pressed. “You’re a criminal defense lawyer. You’ve stared down murderers without flinching. One tiny woman shouldn’t be this terrifying.”
Ryker rubbed the back of his neck. “Blake may have given me a warning that involved the precision of surgical scalpels if I hurt his sister in, and I quote, ‘any way, shape, or form.’”
I burst out laughing. “That’s pretty ironic, considering he just marriedyoursister.”
“Right?” Ryker sighed heavily. “His hypocrisy is stunning.”
“Blake’s all bark,” Jace claimed. But we knew better. “Besides, what’s he going to do? Stitch you back together wrong?”
