Page 31 of The Rescuer

Neve set down her empty glass to grasp Hailey’s arms. “More than okay. You are stunning, girlfriend.” Neve wasn’t lying. With her honey-blond tresses loosely swept up and her subtle makeup accentuating her icy-blue eyes, Hailey could have been the main attraction in a bridal magazine.

Joy joined Neve in smoothing Hailey’s ivory velvet off-the shoulder gown. Her dress matched Neve’s and Joy’s, except hers had more lace and theirs were vivid ultramarine.

Joy, the fashionista, stood back. “I love this on you. It complements your skin and really brings out your eyes.”

Hailey beamed. “Thank you for picking out our dresses. I would have probably put us all in flannel and jeans.”

Joy shook her head. “I’m sure Noah would be anxious to stand at the altar beside you no matter what you’re wearing, but …” She held up her index finger. “With what you have on now, he’s going to pop a permanent boner, and it’s not going away until it’s time to consummate this union.”

Hailey’s eyes went wide, Neve’s mouth dropped open, and they fell into a fit of giggles. When they recovered, Joy turned to Neve. “And you. Wow! Reece doesn’t stand a chance.”

“But I’m not here with Reece,” she sputtered. “We’re just … um, placeholders.”

“Sure, honey.” Joy wiggled her eyebrows. “Ever heard the song ‘Love the One You’re With’?”

Neve had almost enough alcohol in her system to blurt out the first thought that sailed into her mind, which was, “If only!” but the part of her brain that hadn’t yet relinquished control reminded her she was dating a guy named Leo. Well, sort of dating. They’d gone out a total of two times—only once since their first dinner—and while some kisses had been exchanged, nothing more physical had followed.

Was it normal for relationships to move so slowly around the bases, or was it a signal of a bigger issue, like that fizzling fireworks thing? Was he being gentlemanly, or was he simply not into her? Or toobusyto be into her? Or was she not that into him, and she was sending out vibes letting him know?

“I take it that’s a no,” Joy joked, pulling Neve from her boozy slushie of nonsensical thoughts. “For the record, Neve, and I mean this with utter sincerity, I think you should take Reece for a test drive. You both look like you could use it.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Hailey bobbed her head maniacally.

“What does that even mean?” Neve yelped.

Before Joy could answer, they were interrupted by the mixing guy. He was cute, in a Henry-Golding kind of way, complete with British accent. “Ladies, your escorts await. I also want you to know I took the liberty of preparing cocktails for the road. They are waiting in your limousine.”

“I think I love you,” Neve sang as she scurried by him and led their trio into the living room, where they were greeted by three tall, gorgeous men in perfectly fitted tuxedos, their hair and beards neatly coiffed.

Oh my, my!

Reece’s gaze followed Neve the entire way, and she thought she detected a slight knot between his eyebrows.

She perched a fist on her hip and lifted her nose an inch. “What, I can’t tell the bartender who’s been supplying us scrumptious cocktails all evening that I love him?”

Now his brows arched to his hairline. “No, I wasn’t … I didn’t mean … You look … sensational!” His face flushed, and he turned toward Hailey. “You too, Hailey. You’re, um, a beautiful bride. Oh, and you too, Joy. I mean … uh, you’re a beautiful bridesmaid.”

God, Reece was cute when he got flustered! It was a sight Neve rarely witnessed.

“You too, big guy.” Joy brushed invisible lint from Reece’s lapel. “A beautifulgroomsman, that is. A tux suits you, Reece.”

“What about me?” Charlie mock protested.

Joy shimmied against him and purred like a cat. “I was saving the best for last, handsome.” He rewarded her with an elaborate eyebrow waggle.

“They clean up nicely, don’t they?” Hailey giggled. Her smile dropped in a heartbeat, and she sent Noah a nervous glance. “Is it bad luck to see the bride?”

“Hell no,” Noah growled, “not when she’s minutes away from being my wife. And for the record, I’m looking forward to seeing more of her.” He raised his hand as though giving a speech. “Thanks for coming, everyone, but my bride and I are skipping straight to the good stuff.”

“Not gonna happen, little bro,” Reece declared without a trace of the embarrassment that had overtaken him seconds before. Then he flashed a smile so bright Neve wanted to shade her eyes. “Let’s get this party started. Who wants bubbly?” He reached for a bottle chilling in a shiny brass stand, which the mixologist-slash-bartender-slash-Crazy Rich Asiansstar lookalike deftly slid from his grasp.

As the man poured champagne, Neve took in flower arrangements overflowing the room. “Wow! Leo really did go all out.” Shewasa lucky girl. And when she got back to Fall River, she was going to prove it by amping up the passionate stuff a level or five.

“The flowers aren’t from Leo,” Charlie corrected.

Neve cocked an eyebrow, and Charlie jerked his head toward Reece.

Wide-eyed, she turned to him. “Youdid this?”

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