Relentless (Mason Family 4)

My spirits sink. “Hollis is such a good guy. What did he find out?”

“I don’t know,” Mom says. “Riss just said it was bad news, and they wouldn’t be here. She said she’ll call me tomorrow.”

“I’ll have Coy check on him tonight,” Holt says.

“That would be nice, sweetheart.” Mom pats him.

An arm slinks around my waist. I look down to see Shaye sliding next to me.

“Hey, my lady,” I say, pulling her in close.

She grins up at me.

“Shaye, honey, I am just thrilled that you’re here,” Mom says. “Things have been a little … wonky since you joined the family, but now that they’re settling a little bit, I’d love to get to know you better.”

“I’d love that, Siggy.”

“Maybe I could take all of my daughter-in-laws out for lunch this weekend?” Mom raises her voice so everyone can hear her. “Shaye? Jaxi? Bellamy? Blaire?”

Holt sighs. “I don’t know why you’re asking Blaire since she won’t marry me.”

Everyone laughs. Everyone but Blaire. She fires him a look.

“Will you please stop it?” she asks.

“Are you going to marry me or not? I mean, come on, B. Damn.”

“Come on, Blaire,” I say, laughing. “Are you gonna marry him or not?”

Out of nowhere, notes from Here Come The Bride filter from the piano upstairs.

“I hate you, Coy!” Blaire yells up the stairs.

He just plays the song louder.

My cheeks ache from smiling as I look down at Shaye. She’s practically glowing.

“I guess Blaire will sit this one out—”

“Fine! Six weeks. I will marry you in six weeks from today!” Blaire’s face is pink as she looks around at each one of our faces. “I mean, as long as that’s on a Saturday.”

“Somebody get a calendar!” Holt shouts, racing across the room. He scoops Blaire up in his arms and bends her back, kissing the shit out of her.

“It’s a Saturday,” Jaxi says. “It works.”

Mom claps her hands together. “I have some planning to do. Who is throwing the bridal shower?”

Holt releases Blaire.

“It’s not necessary,” Blaire says. “We have everything that we need.”

Bellamy runs a hand over her stomach. “I would, but I’m ready to pop.”

Shaye pulls away from me, leaving a hand on my chest. She sucks in a deep breath. “I … I don’t know you very well yet, but I’d like to throw your party.” She looks around. “I mean, if that’s okay. I don’t want to step on any toes. I just thought maybe it would be a nice way to get to know you all.”

Blaire smiles. “That would be very sweet of you, Shaye. Thank you.”

“Shaye, you must let me help,” Mom says. “Think of me as a collaborator with a credit card.”

Shaye and Mom join the other girls in the corner. I have no idea what they’re talking about, but words like games and cake are repeated.

Wade steps off the staircase and looks around. “What’s happening down here?”

“Blaire agreed to marry me in six weeks,” Holt says, rounding the corner to the hallway. “Get a tux. You’re a groomsman. Both of you.”

Wade gives me a look. “I think I’ll pass.”

“You can’t pass. It’s your brother’s wedding,” I say.

“Exactly. What’s it have to do with me?”

“Wade!” Rosie shrieks, her voice piercing the room. She leaps over Fluffy and attaches herself to Wade’s leg. “I miss you, Wade.”

He looks down at her. “I just saw you upstairs. Remember? You shut my hand in the door.”

“Oh. Yeah.” She screws up her face. “Want to go ride bikes?”

“No. I don’t.” He looks around the room. “Can’t you go play with Bellamy?”

She looks up at him adoringly. “No. I love you, Wade.”

“Great.”

I snicker. “I’m going to leave the two of you to bond.”

I slip through the house and make my way to the kitchen. The air is cool, the room quieter. I wait.

It takes a few minutes, but she comes. I knew she would.

“Hey,” she says, smiling up at me.

“What did you do with it?” I ask her.

She reaches in her pocket and pulls out her ring. It’s a blue sapphire that’s surrounded by diamonds. The band is thin and gold.

She said it reminded her of my eyes when I gave it to her last night.

“We can’t tell them we’re engaged now,” she says, resting her cheek against my chest. “I can’t steal Holt’s joy.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Maybe we can just elope. Just skip telling them we’re engaged and go right to the marriage part of it.”

Her eyes twinkle as she looks up at me. “We can talk about that tonight.”

“I …”

Wade storms through the room, waving to us as he passes. “I gotta go. Talk to you tomorrow at the office.”

“Everyone too happy for you, Wade?” I tease.

He shakes his head and disappears out the door.

“He’s my favorite—besides you,” Shaye says.

“Wade? That’s interesting.”

She runs a finger along my jaw. “I bet when he falls in love someday, he’ll fall hard.”