“Damn, that’s a great setup,” Derek agreed, tilting his scotch side to side. “Mariska seems good for him. He did not need to go back to Saudi.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” My eyes traveled to my beautiful bride, smiling and singing and glowing bright gold.
Today’s miracle Chinook had blown out as fast as it had blown in, dropping the temperatures back to single digits. The girls were all wrapped in heavy coats over those sexy, filmy dresses they’d worn for the ceremony. Damn, if my wife didn’t know how to turn me on.
I caught Melissa blowing Derek a kiss and laughed. “Looks like you’re up next.”
He frowned for a moment then understood what I meant. “Oh. Yeah.”
I had to give him a double take. “What the hell? I know you’re not having second thoughts.”
He turned back to the bar, bending his elbows as he looked into his drink. “Melissa wants us all in full dress uniform for the wedding.”
“She also wants us to be on the beach. I guess we can break a few regulations for her.”
“It’s not like I haven’t broken a lot more.”
He said it under his breath, but I knew where his mind was. “Come on, man. You’re not thinking about that old thing again, are you?”
“I have to tell her everything before she marries me. I have to give her the chance to walk away.” He winced and took another sip. “If that’s what she wants to do.”
This burden had been weighing on him for a year. I’d talked myself blue in the face trying to get him to let it go. I couldn’t give him the same speech again, but I also couldn’t let him think the worst.
“You know what I think.”
He quickly interjected. “I have to tell her. She deserves to know the truth.”
“If that’s what you need to do.” I took a deep inhale. “But you’d better do it now if you’re going to. Don’t wait until the night before the wedding.”
“I won’t.” His voice was solemn. “If she tells me to go... I don’t know if I can live without her, Patrick.”
“Won’t happen.” I could say that with absolute certainty. “Stop borrowing that trouble, and let’s celebrate. I’ve got a fucking kick-ass wife. And damn is she sexy.”
That cut the tension. He laughed and nodded. “Good work.”
I patted his shoulder and started to where the girls had joined the others in the booth near the piano. Derek was behind me, and Melissa hopped up and ran to him as we got closer.
“Have I told you how sexy you are?” She purred, kissing his lips. He held her tightly, kissing her back, and I nodded.
“That’s right.”
Derek took that moment to put a hand on Slayde’s shoulder. The younger man tensed, his ice-blue eyes cutting to my partner. My chest tightened. Slayde had been a killer boxer during his career, and I didn’t know what my partner was about to do. These guys had a beef the size of Texas between them.
“I saw the article in USA Today about your recognition,” Derek said. “You saved the lives of every man on that freighter.”
Slayde’s body visibly relaxed. Kenny walked over from where she’d been with Piano Pat, and I knew she was worried. She’d seen their exchange.
“I only did what needed to be done,” Slayde said.
“It was heroic,” Derek continued. “I’m proud to know you. I’m sorry I attacked you the way I did.”
I had to wonder if Derek’s apology was related to our conversation at the bar.
“No hard feelings,” Slayde nodded. “Thanks.”
Kenny sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He held her like a lifeline.
Elaine was on my arm, and as I surveyed the group, it was difficult to imagine any problem we couldn’t solve together now that I had my Lainey by my side. Even my asshat older brother was smiling. I shook off Derek’s dark mood and embraced my wife.