Page 25 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

Hannah leaned her head against Grady’s shoulder and pointed to where Jacob was dancing with Becca.

“I didn’t think we’d ever get our big brother back like this.”

“Me neither,” said Xander. “I’m glad we did though. Glad that it’s Becca, too. She’s good for him.”

“She’s lovely and …” Hannah sat up and turned to him. “I love that she gets to be part of our family, and I love that we get to be part of hers.”

Xander laughed. “I know what you mean. Darlene’s awesome. Have you seen her bossing Jacob around?”

Hannah laughed with him. “Isn’t it wonderful? I think he needs that sometimes.”

“He does,” Xander agreed, “and neither of us was ever going to do it. And there’s Chuck. I have a lot of respect for that man.”

“Oh, I love him. He’s quieter, but he’s just like this steady presence.

He doesn’t need to say much. You just know he’s there, and you feel like when he is, that all’s right with the world.

” She looked over to where Tori was sitting talking to Trick and Elliott.

“Is everything as perfect as it seems in your world?”

“It is,” said Xander. “And you’re going to have to come to Summer Lake soon so that you can see just how great things are. And you know Tori wants Ava to be part of the wedding.”

“And Ava’s excited about it,” said Hannah. “I can’t believe that both my brothers will be married before me.”

“I can’t either, but I’m not complaining. How about you guys?” Xander grinned as Grady came back to sit down. “Are you finally ready to make an honest woman out of my sister?”

Grady laughed. “I’ve been ready for years. It’s just figuring out all the details.”

Hannah turned to him, and he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. She spotted Delaney over his shoulder and got to her feet.

“There’s Delaney. I just need to …”

Xander laughed. “You might just need to reassure your man before you go – he kisses you and you get up to leave.”

She looked back down at Grady, but she knew he didn’t need any reassurance. That man knew how much she loved him, and she knew right down to her bones how much he loved her back.

He squeezed her hand and said, “Go check on your friend. Xander’s only teasing.”

By the time she reached Delaney, Mary Ellen had gotten to her first. Of course, Hannah had forgotten that they knew each other from the times when Delaney had done work for Hamilton-Groves. When it came to luxury branding, Delaney was one of the best in the business.

“Hey!” Hannah greeted her old friend with a hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too.”

Mary Ellen smiled. “I forgot that the two of you go way back, don’t you?”

“We do,” said Delaney. “All the way back to when we used to work together in LA.” She made a face at Hannah. “To the days when this one used to photograph people and not just wineries and grapes.”

Hannah laughed. “Believe me, wineries and grapes and even wine people are so much easier to deal with than models.”

Delaney sighed. “Tell me something I don’t know. I used to think you were crazy for leaving it all behind, but these days I’m wishing I could follow you.”

“You could,” said Mary Ellen enthusiastically. “You could move here to Napa, hang out your shingle, and have more business than you know what to do with by the end of the week.”

Hannah grinned. “She’s right, you know.”

“I am. Cam would probably bring you on staff if you wanted to work it that way – we have so much work to put your way just as soon as you can fit us in. Hamilton-Groves is ready for a makeover.”

“And I know that Jacob would love to bring you in again,” added Hannah.

Delaney pursed her lips. “You’re making this sound appealing, ladies.”

They all turned when Antonio appeared beside Mary Ellen, bringing Becca’s friend with him. He wrapped his arm around Mary Ellen and kissed the top of her head as he drew her to his side.

“Forgive me interrupting, but we need to find Callie a man,” he announced.

Hannah had to laugh at the way Callie’s eyes widened and she shook her head rapidly.

Mary Ellen grinned at her. “It’s all right, you’ll get used to him. It’s easiest to just smile and nod until he carries on his way.”

Antonio gave her a hurt look. “Tell me you don’t do this to me, bella?” He looked around at them. “Say it isn’t true.”

Hannah held her hands up. “I’m staying out of it. You know we all love you.”

“We do,” Delaney agreed. “And we’ll love you even more if you leave us to some girl talk.”

Antonio heaved an exaggerated sigh and kissed Mary Ellen again before turning back to Callie. “Look around at the couples here this evening and the next time I see you I’ll want you to tell me if you honestly believe that love isn’t the most important thing in the world.”

Callie shot a sideways glance at them, and Hannah laughed.

“I’m afraid he’s dead serious,” Mary Ellen told her.

He nodded emphatically. “It’s true. And when you see how happy my family and friends are because of the love they have found, you’ll understand. And you’ll want to find the same – and we can help.”

Mary Ellen rolled her eyes at him. “And who exactly do you have in mind?”

Hannah followed his gaze when he jerked his head toward where the pilots were standing talking.

She was surprised that they were still here; they didn’t drink much and never the night before a flight.

She knew from talking to Trick, that they’d planned to go home early from the dinner at Bentley’s place, but she guessed that Antonio had worked his powers of persuasion on them too.

What surprised her even more was Callie’s reaction; she too had followed Antonio’s gaze, but when she spotted Trick, Elliott, Reaves, and Ollie, she dropped her gaze, and her cheeks turned pink. Antonio might be onto something after all.

~ ~ ~

Callie was relieved when Delaney reached out to touch her arm and said, “Antonio might be right that love’s important, but we single ladies need to stick together, don’t we?”

“Right.” Callie couldn’t help glancing over at Ollie again. She wasn’t looking for a man – sure as hell didn’t need one, but there was something about him. She’d panicked when Antonio had indicated that when he said he wanted to find her a man, he was talking about the pilots.

Delaney met her gaze. “From what I’ve seen, I’d guess that your work is more important to you than any man could be.”

That got Callie’s attention. “What do you mean?”

Delaney smiled at Hannah and Mary Ellen. “Have you seen her work?”

Mary Ellen shook her head, but Hannah’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! I have. You made that beautiful mug for Becca, didn’t you?

I keep asking her how I can order one. And Jacob even asked me if I could figure out how to commission you to make a dinnerware set.

He thought that Becca wouldn’t ask you.” Hannah stopped and frowned.

“Shoot, that sounded wrong. Not that she wouldn’t want to ask you. ”

Callie laughed. “It’s okay. She wouldn’t ask me because she knows that I’m not … I don’t.” She shrugged. “Everything I have for sale is on my Etsy store.”

She was a little taken aback by the way Delaney rolled her eyes. “Good lord, girl. Can I please close that down for you?”

Callie frowned. “And how exactly do you want me to make a living if I do that? The markets are fun, but I can’t take much to them. I sell out what I take but …”

Delaney covered her eyes with her hand and groaned. “You’re selling at markets?” She heaved out a big sigh.

“What’s wrong with that?” Callie was starting to feel a little offended – she didn’t know this woman.

Delaney leaned in toward her. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound bitchy; I’m frustrated that’s all.”

“But why? I’m not like you guys. I need to sell what I make to support myself.”

“You’re not like us, no.”

Callie scowled. There was no need for her to spell it out so clearly.

Delaney shook her head with a laugh. “I’m messing this up. What I’m trying to say is that you should be selling every single piece of your exquisite work for more than you could ever make at a market.”

Callie pursed her lips. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I’ve seen your work – it’s not only gorgeous, but it …

it has that something . Even I haven’t figured out a tag line for it yet but …

girl! And hearing Hannah say that Jacob wants to commission you would confirm it for me even if I weren’t already damn sure – that man has impeccable taste. ”

Callie felt like that was the first thing they could agree on – Jacob had the good taste to choose Becca.

She turned to Hannah and Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen shrugged. “I don’t know – all I’ll say is that if Delaney wants to brand you and your work, I’ll look forward to having you as a neighbor soon.”

Hannah smiled. “What she means is that if Delaney Morgan decides to market your work, you’ll make a fortune and become a well-known, highly sought-after name before you know what’s hit you.”

Callie just stared. They didn’t know what they were talking about – she made clay mugs. Wind chimes from the broken pieces and the projects that didn’t quite work out.

“I have to go and stop Antonio from harassing people,” Mary Ellen said with a smile.

“Oh, and look, Hannah, Grady’s calling you over,” Delaney said.

When they’d both gone, Delaney gave Callie a wry smile. “You can tell me to take a hike. I’m not going to try to take over your work or anything.”

“Wise move. That wouldn’t work out well for you.” Callie might not know how things worked in the branding world, but one thing she knew was how to defend herself in every sense.

Delaney sighed. “I’m sorry, am I coming across as a condescending bitch?”

Callie let out a short laugh. “You want the truth?”

“Your laugh told me the truth. And I’m sorry, can we start again?” She held out her hand. “I’m Delaney Morgan. It’s so nice to meet you – I’m a huge fan of your work. Is there any chance you’d be interested in getting together to talk about how I might help you market it?”

“What’s in it for you?” Callie asked.