Page 165 of Shadows of You

“Early?” Maddie asked. “We need all day to prep. It’s girl time. You need to get.”

I jerked back. “It’s my house.”

At least it was for the moment. We’d cleared everything out of my A-frame so we could do a major expansion on the home. We were going to combine our two properties so we could have the view and our animals.

“Not today, it’s not,” Grae singsonged.

Wren patted me on the shoulder. “Holt’s heading up to The Peaks to meet the rest of the guys. Caden’s got them putting on quite the breakfast spread for you.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

Aspen stretched up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine. “See you at the altar?”

I smiled against her mouth. “I’ll be the one saying I do.”

* * *

“This collar is makingmy neck itch,” I muttered.

Holt chuckled. “At least she didn’t want you in a tux or even a tie.”

“Small mercies,” I mumbled.

We were all in navy suits and white shirts. Nice, but not stuffy. Given we were getting married at Caden’s fancy-ass resort, things could’ve been a lot worse. But I’d give it to Aspen, the room she’d picked was perfect. An all-glass conservatory full of plants that looked out at the mountains—just enough space to fit our twenty or so guests.

Nash popped some sort of appetizer into his mouth. “You can get married anytime if these are the snacks Caden provides.”

Caden snorted. “We need an extra food budget just for you.”

Nash patted his stomach. “I’m a growing boy.”

“Yeah, your gut’s growing,” Caden shot back.

Nash glared at him. “I’ll have you know I still have a six-pack. But you look like you’re getting a little soft.”

“Let’s hit the boxing ring tomorrow so I can show you how soft I am.”

Holt shook his head. “At least the black eyes will beafterthe wedding photos.”

The door to the suite burst open, and Lawson hurried inside. “Sorry I’m late,” he muttered as he ran a hand through his already disheveled dark hair. But it was more than his hair that looked out of sorts. It was him.

“You okay?” I asked.

He jerked his head in a nod. “That interview with the nanny candidate went longer than expected.”

“How’d it go?” Holt asked.

The first few interviews had been disasters: a woman who acted more like a drill sergeant, one Lawson had said spent more time coming on to him than answering questions, and another who had only seemed interested in Lawson’s cable package and snack selection.

Lawson swallowed, his throat working as his hand flexed. “Good.”

Nash arched a brow. “That’s all you’re giving us? You sound like Roan used to.”

“Yeah, man. At least give us another hilarious interview story,” Caden said. “I’ve been living for those.”

“She’s nice. I hired her,” Lawson said.

Holt sent the rest of us a quizzical look. “What’s her name?”

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