Even with the low lighting, his massive body was hard to miss.
It was Atlas.
He was dressed in a deep gray suit that matched the color of his fur. It looked like it was custom tailored for him, perfectly fitted to accommodate his broad shoulders and burly arms. He was hot in workout clothes, but in a suit? He was stunning.
And I was going to talk to him.
I snatched my clutch from the table, pulling out my compact to give my makeup a once-over before scooching back from the table.
“Where are you going?” Mom asked.
“He’s here, Mom.”
She cocked her head. “Honey, half of Briar Glenn is here. I’m gonna need a little more than that.”
“The guy who helped me clean up the cake,” I hissed. “The wolven.”
“Where?” Her eyes lit up and she searched the room like her head was on a swivel.
“Way to be obvious.” I tipped my head in his direction. “He’s over there.”
She pushed her glasses up her nose, staringrightwhere he was seated. Pamela Rollins was many things, but discreet wasn’t one of them. “Oh, Tegan. He is a total hottie.”
“I told you!” I mean, those weren’t my exact words, but she wasn’t wrong.
“And he’s sitting all by himself,” she said dejectedly, still staring in Atlas’s direction. Luckily, he didn’t seem to notice. “You should go talk to him.”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
“She should go talk to who?” My brother, Reece, joined us at the table.
“It’s none of your business,” I snapped.
Reece’s light red brows drew back. Like me and my mother, he was on the ginger spectrum. “Excuse me? As your big brother, it is my business.”
Before I could stab my brother with a fork, Mom chimed in. “Tegan met someone. He helped her clean up the wedding cake she dropped this morning.”
“You dropped the cake?” The way Reece said it was a little too judgy for my liking. Like how he’d reacted when I got a C+ in phys ed my sophomore year at Briar Glenn High.
“It was heavy, and Selene wasn’t there to help me,” I said, matter-of-factly.
“You should really start working out,” Reece said, taking a big bite of his cake. My brother was the poster boy for physical fitness. Biking, running, rock climbing. He practically lived for exercise. But he also had an intense sweet tooth. “So, what’s his deal?”
“He owns that new gym on Main Street,” I said.
“You know, in the old rec center where you and Tegan used to take swimming lessons,” Mom added.
“Hmph,” Reece grumbled around a mouthful of cake.
In his eyes, no one would ever be good enough for me, and it was clear he wasn’t impressed.
He was just going to have to suck it up, though.
I was a grown woman. I didn’t need—or want—my brother’s approval.
I stood and straightened my dress. “All right, I’m going now.”
“Attagirl, honey,” Mom said. “Make me proud.”
