Chapter 36
Kade
“Where’s Leah? Her ex is here,” Alec said, scanning the heads at the reception, which was in full swing.
I had no idea where she’d gone. I was seated so far away from her at dinner that I’d barely seen the top of her head. Hosting her wedding might’ve meant all my workers got an invite, but our table was barely even in the tent.
“I’m surprised Cassie invited him. And how do you know all this?” I asked.
“He came as someone’s date. Leah’s mom filled me when I was feeding her shots.”
“You were feeding her shots? Please tell me that you’re not serious about banging her.”
“I was only plying her with alcohol for info.” He pointed across the room to a fair-haired, upper-crust-looking guy. We couldn’t have appeared more different.
Greg wrapped an arm around his date and then leaned in to whisper in her ear, making her laugh.
“That weasel is making sure everyone in this place knows he doesn’t give a shit about Leah.” I took a step toward the couple.
Alec matched my movements, his hands up, ready to block me. “You can’t go beat the shit out of him just for hugging his date.”
“Maybe I can’t beat him for it, but I can definitely fuck with him a bit.”
If Alec were smaller, I would’ve shoved him out of the way, but as far as fighting ability, we were pretty much a draw. We’d end up wrestling here for hours until someone quit due to exhaustion. We’d done it before.
“You want to make it look like she cares? Like she’s been sitting here crying for him? Then be my guest. Go start with the guy.” He stepped out of my way and waved his hand.
“I hate when you’re right.”
“You think you would’ve gotten used to it by now, but you’ve always been a slow learner.”
“But quick with my right hook, which I’ll remind you of if you don’t shut up. Actually, forget it. I don’t have time to fight with you. I need to go find Leah.”
“Don’t make her feel worse.”
“Why would I do that?”
“How would I know why you like being a dick to her? I don’t know, she doesn’t have pigtails to pull anymore?” He threw his hands up.
“Wait, looks like she’s on a collision course with Greg. I have to go.”
“Wouldn’t dream of stopping you,” Alec said.
I made my way across the crowd to where Leah was talking to her ex and his date.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and gave her a peck on the temple, hoping she wouldn’t blow the game up.
She leaned into me. “Greg, this is Kade,” she said.
Greg scanned me, looking like a man who knew he’d blown it. Was the bimbo his plan on getting back with Leah? Did he think trying to make her jealous was the way to go?
“Kade? The guy you grew up with?”
“Yes,” I answered for her. “That’s me.”
“I thought you were here on a sort of work parole?” Greg asked. “You’re allowed to dally with your warden?” He waved a finger back and forth, his mouth tightening.
“Why? Does that bother you?” I asked.
“Of course it doesn’t. I just thought it would be against the rules to?—”
“I’d watch what you say next.”
Greg looked at me, trying to assess me.
“That’s right. I’d tread carefully. You don’t have much farther to go,” I said, helping him keep his teeth. As much as I wanted to punch him, and man would it feel good, I didn’t want to ruin this wedding or have to call in more favors to keep Leah here.
She tightened her grip on me, locking her arm on my forearm.
“Well, it was nice seeing you, Greg, but Kade and I have some things to handle before dinner.”
“Yes, we like to handle things quite often,” I said, just to stick it to him a little more.
Leah was tugging on my arm, but I couldn’t make it that easy for this man or he’d be running his mouth all night. No, it needed to be taken care of now, before he ruined this event, or tried. I’d drown him in the river before I let him ruin anything for Leah.
“We good, or was there something else you wanted to say?” I asked, not budging from my spot.
“What else would there be to say?” Greg asked, playing stupid and attempting to save face.
I nodded at his floozy, giving her the benefit of the doubt that maybe she didn’t realize the trash she’d arrived with.
I steered Leah toward the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Dancing?” I curved an arm around her waist as I moved us around the dance floor. As if on cue, a slow Eric Clapton song came on.
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not letting that little shit think you’re unhappy, sitting here alone and pining away in a depression, even if you are.” I waited, watching her eyes, hoping she’d tell me she wasn’t that miserable here. She smirked. It was enough that I’d take it as a win.
“By the way, I slipped an extra couple bills into Cassie’s wedding gift just as a thank-you for this dress. That girl knows what works,” I said.
“Don’t tease me. I know it’s a lot.” She looked at the crowd, a pretty pink flush across her cheeks.
“There’s a lot, and then there’s this.”
“You’re not funny.”
I wasn’t trying to be. She had no idea how utterly captivating she was, but I didn’t think she was quite in the right space to hear it, either.
“You sure? I think I’m quite funny. Maybe we should take a vote?”
“Votes don’t work out so hot for you,” she said.
But she laughed. I wasn’t oblivious to the reception she seemed to be getting from some of this crowd, but here she was, chin up and facing them like none of it fazed her.
“I know you bribed them last time. I’m positive of it. I just haven’t been able to gather proof of it yet,” I said, hoping to lure more laughter out of her.
The music stopped and Leah’s gaze narrowed in on a spot over by the bar.
“Oh no.”
“What’s wrong?” I glanced over and spotted Alec, who was staring very intently across the party at a red-haired bombshell. Shit. “You’re the one who told me to invite him.”
“I know, and I’ll go handle it.”
“I’ll come with you.”
We turned to head over, and Elijah appeared. He was dressed in a fine suit with a piece of hay stuck to his arm.
“Kade, I need you to come down to the barn for a second. Princess is acting up again.”
“Go check on her. I’ll handle this,” Leah said, already walking off.
* * *
Leah
We hadn’t even made it halfway through the wedding and Alec was locked on to Missy like a heat-seeking missile.
He turned to me. “Leah, who’s that woman?” Recognition flashed as he squinted. “Wait, is that Missy?”
“ No .” The word came out of me like it had been ripped out of my gut.
Alec kept on staring. And staring, as if he couldn’t stop himself. As if she were the only person in the world.
“Huh?” he said, turning to me, blinking. He didn’t even realize how obvious he’d been or that I’d caught him staring.
I’d wanted to give Missy a moment, but not one that would lead to what was happening here. She was too young, too sweet for the likes of Alec, whether he realized it or not.
“Not her,” I said, glancing in Missy’s direction. “She’s not one to add to your roster—remember our talk?”
He dragged his gaze back to me. “Oh, no, I’d never. I’m just surprised.” He looked back to her. “I mean, I knew she was a cute kid, but damn is she turning into one of the most beautiful?—”
“You’re doing it again, and no.”
“Doing what?”
“Staring at her with that look you have, and don’t tell me you don’t know what one I’m talking about.”
“I told you I wasn’t going to do anything. She’s a kid. I’m surprised, is all.”
“If you’re not going to do anything, stop staring at her. She’s not a one-night-stand girl.” Was it possible he didn’t even realize the heat he was throwing off? Was he kidding me or himself?
He shook his head, as if he hadn’t realized he’d been doing it again. “You’re beating a dead horse. How many times do I need to tell you I’m not interested in that way?”
He wasn’t bullshitting me. He was bullshitting himself.
“Just promise me you won’t touch her if the urge presents itself.” Or if he finally acknowledged it.
“She’s too young and innocent for me. I don’t mess with girls right out of the playroom.”
Again, he sounded like he believed what he was saying, but I knew that look. He wanted her, whether he realized it or not.
“And I, for one, own my feelings,” he said with a raised brow.
“Are you trying to insinuate that I don’t?”
“If the shoe fits.” He shrugged.
“I am not into your brother.”
“Strange how you didn’t think for a second I meant Elijah or Adam.” He made a long humming noise.
“I’m not.” Was I attracted to Kade? I was human. Were we maybe becoming friends again, or some shape of that? Perhaps. But we weren’t anything more, and couldn’t be.
“And I’m not angling for Missy.”
“Then we’re good. Nothing else to talk about.” I looked down the bar, trying to wave over the bartender. I needed a shot and didn’t care who saw me right now.
“Nope,” he said.
“Not at all,” I agreed.
The bartender stopped in front of us.
Alec looked at me, and I nodded.
“Two shots of the best whiskey you’ve got,” he said.
“Maybe bring us that bottle,” I added.
“Good thinking,” he said.
We were on the same page at least on this.