Page 63

Piano music plays as the guests sit on chairs set out on the sand, waiting for Halliday to make her entrance.

There isn’t a hint of nerves on Sterling’s face as he stands at the top of the aisle beside Sullivan, both in matching tuxedos.

In fact, he’s smiling as he says something to Sullivan and claps him on the shoulder.

My eyes skate past Vincent, sitting at the white grand piano, and over to the guys wearing earpieces, who are dotted around, trying to blend in.

“Will you relax?” Jenson says, from his seat beside me. “You helped pick them.”

“I know that,” I reply, keeping my eye on the security detail brought in for the wedding today.

Killian snorts, next to Jenson. “Baby face is right. They’re good guys. Relax, Denver. You’re a guest today, you’re off duty.”

My teeth grind together. I’m never off duty. Sinclair’s mine to protect. Her and the Beauforts. Killian and Jenson.

They’re all my family.

And family comes first.

“A hundred bucks says this baby face gets me laid tonight.” Jenson smirks at Killian.

“With who?” Killian asks.

Jenson’s face takes on a look of intense concentration as he looks around at the guests. It’s a small, intimate wedding, but that’ll not deter him.

“Maid of Honor is out,” Killian says quietly, his eyes scanning the guests too.

Halliday’s friend from London, Sophie, who brought her husband, Drew, and their baby twins with her is playing that role. Drew watches Sophie the way I watch Sinclair. Jenson’s not stupid enough to even attempt to go there.

“Then you’ve got Sterling’s nieces,” Killian says, nodding in the direction of Sterling’s two brothers and their families, which comprise of more than a few women in their twenties.

Jenson throws a flirty grin at one as she makes the mistake of glancing our way.

“Touch the daughter of a Beaufort and you’ll be eating your wedding cake with the sharks later,” Killian says.

“Denver got away with it,” Jenson says.

“You’re not Denver.” Killian snorts, finding the whole thing amusing.

“Any tips, Buddy?” Jenson elbows me in the ribs.

“Here’s a tip,” I growl. “Shut the fuck up.”

He chuckles as he sees what’s got my attention.

Sinclair has arrived at the start of the aisle with Molly.

She’s wearing a long silk dress in a silver color.

It wraps around her curves in a way that means she can’t wear panties with it.

I know because she stuck her head back around the door as she carried it out of our room to get ready with the girls and told me with a smug smile on her face, knowing exactly what she was doing.

My dick has been fighting its way to a giant fucking boner ever since, and it’s taken every part of my mental training to talk it down so I can walk around with a modicum of decency.

They stand and wait for Halliday and her father to catch up.

I can make out Halliday approaching through the tree line in my periphery, but my attention is fixated on Sinclair, crouching and smiling brightly at Molly in her flower girl’s outfit, giving her a pep talk.

Molly nods seriously, her lower lip poking out as she grasps a basket of petals between her palms, which have a distinct purple hue to them.

Sinclair’s eyes catch mine and she gestures to Molly’s hands, rolling her eyes with a smirk. It’ll have something to do with the case of purple candy Sterling had me guard.

“She looks… wow.” Jenson exhales, his eyes dropping up and down Sinclair’s body as she stands.

“She does,” I agree, my chest swelling with warmth. “And that’s the first and last time you ever look at my girlfriend like that unless you want me to break every bone in your body.”

Jenson laughs but stops the second I flick my eyes to him. “Got it,” he says, clearing his throat.

Sinclair walks around the edge of the seats, her eyes on me as she passes our row. They twinkle as I gaze at her. She slots into a row near the front, next to Mal and his wife, Trudy, saying something to Sullivan.

Vincent starts playing a new song and the guests all turn collectively, an ‘aww’ rumbling through them as Molly starts her walk, ahead of the bride.

It takes everything in me to tear my eyes away from Sinclair and watch.