“I’ll be right back,” Kasey said and exited the bedroom, carrying his coffee with him as he descended the stairs. The noise from below got louder as he got closer, and he realized most of the women were in the kitchen. Hanna, Summer, Sadie, and Seren were dishing up massive amounts of food. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, pancakes, a pile of fresh fruit, and assorted bagels covered the marble countertop island in the kitchen. A stack of paper plates and plastic cutlery were stationed at the head of the counter.
Keeping his eyes on what he was doing, he poured a cup of coffee for Freeman, then topped off his own before turning from the far side of the kitchen to face the room. Tristan had Ben on his shoulders while the six-year-old held a toy airplane high inthe air, and they raced around the room, making the little boy giggle happily.
The bridesmaids and Jodi were surrounding the massive dining table to the right, and Kasey let his eyes wander over Shaun while she was talking to Kit and Tessa. She had on a short sleeved, button-down sleep top that had Maid of Honor embroidered over her left breast, but it was left unbuttoned, the sides hanging open, revealing the ribbed material of his black tank top as it conformed to her breasts in a way that made his dick jump.
Shaun turned and caught him staring, and though her blue eyes shot fire at him, she didn’t say a word. Jodi turned her head and blushed furiously, smiling shyly. He winked at her and he saw Shaun roll her eyes and huff in annoyance, which just made him grin as he wandered over closer.
“Happy wedding day,” he murmured and bent to kiss the top of Jodi’s head. She giggled and swatted him away.
“Thank you. Are you taking coffee up to Free?” she asked, motioning to the two cups of coffee in his hands. “Dad wouldn’t let me take it up.”
Wiggling his eyebrows, he made the table laugh as he whispered loudly, “Are you trying for round two?”
Tessa cackled from the other side of the table and muttered dryly, “Ha. Try round four.”
“You hussy,” Kasey teased, winking at her again, making her blush to the roots of her hair. “But yes, I am taking coffee up to your betrothed. Ladies,” he drawled, notching his chin at the women sitting around the table.
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to walk away from the table and not stay to stare at the sight that was Shaun wearing his shirt. He liked it far too much.
He shoved down the memory of seeing her topless in the faint glow of moonlight last night when she’d yanked that tool’sshirt over her head. Not exactly the way he’d hoped to see her naked for the first time, but the image was burned into his brain, nonetheless. He’d seen the flash of something metallic in the sliver of moonlight and had nearly died at the knowledge that he’d been right after all; her nippleswerein fact pierced, and he wanted nothing more than to touch, to taste, to tease.
After ripping the shirt to shreds with his bare hands, he’d disappeared into the bathroom to take care of the erection he’d been unsuccessful at keeping under control.
He did the best he could to shove all thoughts of Shauntelle Kendall from his mind. Today was about Freeman and Jodi. He handed the cup of coffee off to his friend and cousin and grinned widely.
Roxy poked her head into the room a while later after a quick knock. “I’m going to hang out here for a while, and then I’ll meet Jodi and the other women at the main lodge for hair and make-up and photos.”
“You can head over with them now,” Free said, but she shook her head.
“I’m your grooms-maid. Grooms-woman? Whatever, you know what I mean. I’ll hang out with you guys, then head up there. Though I should come back and make sure you guys are ready on time,” she muttered the last part sternly, making the two men chuckle. “Is it too early to crack open that bourbon?”
SEVENTEEN
“You actually look like a girl, Roxy,” Kasey murmured on a sardonic drawl.
The vivacious redhead did a small curtsy in her floor length black gown and batted her eyelashes up at him, at the same time flipping him off. He laughed out loud as she said with false sweetness, “It’s known to happen on occasion.”
Kasey fidgeted with the knot of his tie at his throat, pulling at it with his index finger hooked into it.Damn uncomfortable things.
“Stop fidgeting,” Roxy muttered, eyeing him shrewdly.
The groom’s party had arrived at the main lodge of the resort, and Levi had insisted they make a stop at the bar, to which Freeman had agreed. Levi had downed his whisky before thumping Free on the back, squeezing his shoulder once, and then he disappeared out of the bar, surely to head upstairs to the bridal suite to find his daughter. The bartender was passing out drinks to the group of them just as Roxy had walked up to them. Kasey raised his glass to his lips, grinning when Tristan elbowed his cousin Tanner hard in the ribs, the teenagers’ eyes nearly popping out of their skulls as they stared at Roxy.
“You’re going to make those kids have coronaries,” Kasey chuckled, leaning down closer to Roxy. She shrugged, grinning. Her dress was simple in design; a strapless top that was fitted snugly to her chest and torso but flared out and flowed around her legs from the waist down. A high slit let a leg peak out when she walked or turned, and Tristan and Tanner hadn’t missed it. Heels adorned her feet and her red hair had been pulled into a loose updo at the back of her neck. Teardrop crystal earrings hung from her ears and a thin crystal choker was around herthroat. A simple bouquet of white florals was clasped in her hand.
Tugging at his tie again, he glanced around the bar. Always perceptive, Roxy noticed and grinned, then whispered, “She’s not down here. They’re still up in the suite.”
Kasey grunted, turning his eyes back to the bar. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhmm,” Roxy drawled knowingly, grinning up at him. “You’re not looking for a tall brunette bombshell?”
He raised his glass to his lips again, choosing not to respond.
“If I was a lesbian, it would be for her for sure. Just wait til you see her,” Roxy continued, sliding her arm through the crook of his elbow as she leaned closer. She opened her mouth just as the wedding planner found them, telling them that they were needed. As they made their way toward the door, Kasey admitted they made a handsome looking group. The black-on-black tuxes that Jodi and Free had picked out were striking. Black slacks, black dress shirts, black vests, black jackets, and black neckties made a luxurious and chic statement. The bridesmaids had all been dressed in black as well, from what Roxy had said.
Kasey could feel the swish of Roxy’s dress around their feet as they exited the bar, making their way to the private ceremony space. The double doors were propped open, and inside at the end of the aisle he could see out the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sun beginning its decline over the snow-covered mountain beyond. The sunset was painting the sky in golden yellow, brilliant orange, and crimson red with just a hint of fuchsia pink at the edges. A crystal chandelier had been strung directly above where Jodi and Free would stand. The room was lit dimly, with candles in tall hurricane jars lining the wide aisle on either side. Soft, romantic instrumental music drifted out of the doors.
Spencer, Micah, and his own father, Adam, were acting as ushers for the small guest list, and as family and friends from either side began to arrive, the three men took turns leading them to their seats. Once everyone had arrived, the blonde wedding planner came around the corner, stopping in front of Freeman to adjust his boutonniere of a single white rose before saying gently, “She’s waiting just around the corner. We’ll start whenever you’re ready.”
