“Hey, gorgeous.” Adira runs his gaze over each of my brothers. He flutters those thick, extended lashes. “I cannot get over how many handsome brothers you have. Little old me could have Snow White fantasies about all these rippling cowboy bods. Especially yours, honeypot.”
Adira pretends to drag his nails down Owen’s chest. “Meow.”
My eldest brother’s shoulders stiffen. His cheeks heat to a ruddy pink. He takes off his hat and threads the brim between his fingertips. “That’s awfully nice of you, but I’m not—”
“We’re not,” Jett adds.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with being into men,” Storm says.
“You’re not actually my type.” Adira sasses them and winks. “Can I steal you away, Summer?”
“Sure.”
He links his arm through mine as we walk through the party. Past Ethan and Nathaniel talking about some legal matter. Ethan has his arm wrapped around Bianca while she sips a mimosa, but her attention wanders to the other guests.
Linc, who is usually with them, is chatting with Riot a few feet away while the youngest Maddox brother’s gaze sticks like glue to Kelsey, who has become the center of attention for Ivy’s drag queen besties.
These queens are the nearest and dearest to her. They took her under their wing and became her family. They were there for her when her dad died. They stand around with pride in their eyes, as though they each had a hand in her becoming the woman she grew into. Which they did. Not a one would miss watching her walk down the aisle.
“You looked like you needed a reprieve.” Adira pats my hand.
“They’re my brothers. I can handle them.” I accidentally lock gazes with West as we wander past him.
West looks so much like Rebel, but when I look at him a chill runs down my spine. His eyes are darker, colder than Rebel’s ever were even when he hated the world. West has this air about him that makes me look away first.
Rogue looks identical, but I’ve never once mistaken him for Rebel.
And that’s how I know my man hasn’t been body snatched. His gaze stirs liquid fire in my veins before he picks up a spoon and taps it to the side of his champagne flute. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
The conversations dry up as everyone tunes in while Rebel welcomes them to Heart Ranch and the wedding festivities.
Rogue leads Ivy out from under the trees and toward his brother.
Pink cheeked and eyes feverish, she touches the bunny ears perched on top her head and straightens them while Rebel thanks everyone for attending.
Rogue holds her in front of him with one arm across her middle, the other around her shoulders. Her ring sparkles in the sunlight when she grabs his forearm to hold him close. They smile at each other and there is so much love there.
I can feel Rebel’s gaze on me.
“I never thought I’d see her come out of her shell.” Adira clasps both his hands to his chest and sniffs. “If her dad could see her now.”
“He’s watching her.” I squeeze his arm as I glance at Rebel, but he’s not looking at me at all. “And you. He’s proud of you both for what you’ve accomplished.”
“Thanks,” he says. “That means a lot.”
“You’ll have time today to unpack and rest. Burke is leading a tour of the ranch by horseback for those who would like to participate.” Rebel gestures at my brothers. “There’s also mudding. Or exploring on foot. And there’s a lake too.”
Rogue steals the microphone from Rebel. His grin eats up his whole face. “Tonight we’ve arranged for a good old-fashioned barbecue with plenty of alcohol, dancing, and a mechanical bull right here in the barn.”
A cheer of enthusiasm goes up around us.
Ivy tugs the microphone down low enough to speak into it. “I hope you all remembered to pack your costumes. If not, Adira and his fellow queens have set up a tent where you can pick out outfits and wigs over cocktails.”
“It’ll be a hoot.” Adira grins. “Have you ever been to such fun wedding festivities?”
I’ve been to a wedding where the groom was dragged away in handcuffs. And that was Ivy and Rogue’s first attempt at nuptials. Before that... well, Owen never made it to the vows. “Ivy and Rogue are unique.”
“That they are.” He pats my hand as his gaze lands on my belly. “Have you sorted out what you’re going to wear, little momma?”
