Henry makes a guttural sound. In my periphery, I catch the flex of his shoulder as he prepares to draw back his fist.
I latch onto his forearm. “Data, remember?”
Henry inhales slowly. “Data,” he rasps and lowers his arm.
In a tone that’s pure tattletale and proves Elliot is about as smart as a box of rocks, he addresses Henry directly one more time. “If she didn’t want me, why did she invite me to a hookup on your father’s yacht?”
I should’ve let Henry punch him.
“That was a group invitation. My husband would have been with us,” I snap.
Elliot’s mouth turns down in distaste. “He’s not my type either.”
I tighten my grip on the handle of my cane.
Strong, familiar arms wrap me in a warm hug, and I suck in a lungful of Henry-scented air, grounding myself.
Henry motions one of the guys over. “Franki, can you check on the kittens? I believe the little one is due for a feeding. Ryan will walk you up.”
“Henry?” I turn in his arms, my unspoken question hanging in the air.Do you have to do this?
He lifts his eyebrows. “Yes.”
I didn’t marry him despite who he is. I married him because I love him exactly as he is. “The rehearsal dinner starts in less than an hour. Weallhave to be there,” I remind him.
“Of course.” Henry drops a kiss on my mouth and releases me. “Meet me in the dining room in thirty minutes. That gives us plenty of time.”
Henry clamps a heavy hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Elliot. Let’s take a walk. There are steps built into the cliffside. You’ll enjoy the view.”
Doubt enters Elliot’s brown eyes, and he swallows hard. “I don’t think I need to see—”
“Oh, you do. You really, really do.”
3
Crazy
Henry
Elliotdoesn’tlikehavinghis hands strapped to a railing with his own tie. He especially doesn’t like dangling over the edge of a cliff.
At least, that’s my assumption from his blubbering.
I move my lips into a smile. “You really whiffed it on the steps.”
“Help,” he wails.
“Are you a strong swimmer? You know what? Don’t bother answering. At this height, the water would feel like concrete, either way. If you slip, keep your body rigid. Go in feet first. If you can slow the fall by grabbing onto the cliff face on your way down, it’ll increase your odds of survival.” He’s not going to fall. I’ve got him trussed up nice and tight, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“Help me,” he squeals.
I raise an eyebrow. “When you tripped, whohelpfullytied you to the railing in case your grip was weak? Honestly, I feel unappreciated right now.”
“Pull me up.”
“We need to talk first.” I lower to a crouch beside him, my forearms resting on my knees. “Get a lot of women throwing themselves at you, do you? The cashier at the market? The barista where you get your coffee? Every woman you meet wants you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
