Ball & Chain (Cut & Run 8)

Livi sat down hard, sighing audibly. “Thank you for keeping it mostly civil with Daddy’s guys.”

Deuce rolled his eyes and limped to the wet bar to make himself a drink.

“Where is Amelia now?” Ty asked Livi. “Does she have a nanny or babysitter or something?”

“Not usually, but the island employs a full-time nanny, her name is Maisie. Amelia took to her immediately, they’ve been inseparable ever since.”

“You trust her?”

“Her mother was our nanny when we were young.” Livi waved at her brother. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I introduced any of you. This is Theo, my older brother. Theo, this is Zane, Ty, Nick, and Kelly.”

Theo raised his glass to them. “Pleasure.” His tone wasn’t convincing.

“Don’t get too excited, bud,” Kelly said.

Livi cleared her throat and stood, smoothing her hands down her skirt. “Well. I guess we should get back to the party.”

Ty sat in a chair around an unlit fire pit on the edge of the garden, far enough away from the heaters for it to be a little chilly, nursing his drink and watching the few remaining people mill about the dining area.

Amelia had long ago been tucked safe in her bed, along with all her cousins. Nick and Kelly had, of course, landed at a table with three of the bridesmaids, including Ty’s baby cousin, Emma. She was a beautiful young woman with a personality to match. Ty would have to remember to threaten both men if they even thought about making a move on her. Nick was the most obvious danger, but Kelly had a way of slipping through the defenses before you noticed him there.

Deuce and Livi were making the rounds to the last trickle of guests, saying good-night. Zane was standing at the end of the bar, water glass in hand, stuck talking to another of the groomsmen. He finally made his escape as Ty watched. He had to smirk when Zane strolled toward him, one hand in a pocket, his shoulders thrown back and relaxed. He’d taken his tie off and loosened the top few buttons of his shirt, and he cut an impressive figure.

Ty bit his lip. “Indeed,” he said under his breath. Zane saw his expression and smiled as he came closer.

Soon the patio was empty enough for Deuce and Livi to retreat into the darkness of the gardens and sit with Ty. They both looked exhausted. Ty held his glass up and tapped it against Livi’s.

“To the lovely bride,” he said.

“To my future brother,” she replied, grinning. “God help me.”

“You mind if I smoke?” Deuce asked as he dug into his jacket.

“Only if you share,” Livi answered wryly.

It wasn’t a cigarette Deuce pulled from his pocket, though. Ty laughed in exasperation. “How did you get that through airport security?”

“Private plane, man. What, you thought I was marrying her for her personality?”

Livi snorted. Zane materialized out of the shadows and settled in next to Ty, who set his glass on the ground and wrapped an arm around Zane’s shoulders. Zane leaned into him, and they shared a kiss before he propped his feet on the fire pit.

Just as Deuce was getting ready to light up, they noticed Nick, Kelly, and Emma heading their way. Deuce glanced at Ty. “Nick still a cop?”

“Sort of. Little far from his jurisdiction.”

“Did he go hardass? Like . . . forget-who-his-friends-are kind of cop?”

Ty frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m more likely to arrest you than he is,” Zane told Deuce.

Nick and Kelly came strolling over, Emma between them with one arm hooked through each of theirs. She was a natural blonde with hints of strawberry and darker tones in her long hair, and it was split into two messy ties just behind her ears. She was tan and fit with an athletic, curvy build and delicate features, and her eyes were a deep green. She’d always been a pretty girl with a mischievous personality, just the type Nick and Kelly both would probably be drawn to. Ty gave her skimpy cocktail dress a disapproving once-over.

“Did they forget to sell you the rest of that dress, sweetheart?” Ty asked her.

“I got it half-price,” she answered with an unconcerned shrug. Ty laughed and stood to hug her. She let go of Nick and Kelly and threw her arms around Ty’s neck, hugging him so hard that he staggered backward.

“I thought you had better taste than these two,” Ty finally grunted with a nod at his friends.

She stepped back and smacked Ty in the side of the head. “I haven’t heard from you in forever!” She turned to Zane and stuck out her hand. “You’re Zane, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Nice to meet you, Zane. I’m Emma, Ty’s poor, neglected cousin.”

“Quit bitching, I called you on your birthday. Last year,” Ty said as he sat back down.

Emma gave them both a big grin. “Mara told me you two were cute together,” she said, completely devoid of any tact, just like Ty and the rest of the family.

Zane seemed to struggle with that piece of news. “She did?”

“It’s not supposed to still be a secret, is it?” she asked worriedly. Ty shook his head. She rolled her eyes in relief. “That’s good, ’cause everyone knows.”

“Awesome,” Ty grunted. He’d known his extended family would all find out sooner rather than later because that was how his mother rolled, but it still caused butterflies. He winced at Emma. “Good or bad?”

“I’d say mostly good. Pretty much nobody gives a shit because they all expected you to be dead by thirty. Actually, Elliot won like three hundred bucks on a bet he made with Tag back in high school that you were g*y, so Tag’s still kind of pissed at you.”

Ty barked a laugh.

Zane shrugged and smiled at Ty. “Hell, your opinion’s the only one that matters anyway.”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Emma said as she looked Zane up and down. She glanced at Ty. “Yeah, they’re going to eat him alive.”

“I know,” Ty agreed with a long-suffering nod. “And seriously, where’s the rest of your dress?”

“Shut up, I’m flaunting it while I’ve got it.”

Nick sat in the chair next to Ty, holding a glass of champagne he’d been nursing. He put his feet up on the fire pit, setting them next to Zane’s. “Emma was telling us about what she does. I still haven’t decided if she’s messing with us or not.”

Emma laughed. “I’m not messing with you.”