Page 160 of Lavender Lake

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“I heard my name,” Declan said, turning his head toward us.

“No, I haven’t told him,” Hadley said. “It’s a surprise.”

“What’s a surprise?” Declan asked.

“About the cake,” Hadley said. “Salem shouldn’t have said anything.”

“What’s the surprise?” Cas asked. “Is someone going to jump out of it?”

“We’re at a wedding, not a bachelor party,” Hadley said.

“Whatdidhappen at your bachelor party?” I asked. “Anything interesting?”

“We were at the Copper Mule,” Declan said. “And since you weren’t there, there were no bar fights.”

“Uh, ouch,” I said.

“Don’t be offended,” Declan remarked. “If I ever need back up, I’m calling you.”

“What about me?” Cas asked. “I’ve gotten you out of a few fights over the years.”

“You also got meintoa few fights,” Declan added.

“Really?” Hadley asked. “Why haven’t I heard about this?”

“Youthful indiscretions,” Declan said. “I’ve mellowed.”

“I want to hear all about these youthful indiscretions,” Hadley exclaimed.

“Later,” Declan said.

“When later?” she demanded.

He leaned over to her and whispered something in her ear that made her blush and laugh.

“Oh, he said something dirty,” I quipped.

My gaze went to Cas’s. He looked at me like he wanted to get me naked.

I glanced away and reached for my glass of water.

And caught Amber Winston looking right at me.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

The Ranch

Every time I tried to approach Harlan, something got in the way. Either a guest wanted to talk to me or there was a problem with wedding logistics.

Muddy was three sheets to the wind and dancing up a storm, which left me to handle any issues that arose.

“I’ll have another ginger beer,” I said to Wade.

“We just ran out,” Wade said.

“What do you mean you just ran out?” I demanded.

“I mean I have no more ginger beer,” Wade said.

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