Page 91 of A Little Luck
Piper’s jaw drops, and she flashes shocked eyes at Britt, mouthing, “Who is this guy?”
Jemima is on her feet, hustling to the stage, where I assume she’ll set the announcer straight.
“Daa-day!” Pinky stomps up in her green tulle dress, grabbing Alex’s hand. “You said you’d dance with me, and he just said it’s the daddy-daughter dance!”
“Okay, baby.” He kisses the top of Cass’s shoulder, before allowing Miss Priss to drag him away.
Piper is out of her seat. “I did not approve this guy.”
Cass smiles dreamily, going to where Piper and Britt are fuming like two protective mother hens. “It’s okay—I seriously don’t care.”
“I want to know where he came from.” Piper watches Jemima speaking to the lead guitarist. “She’d better be telling them to get rid of him.”
“It sounds like he’s been drinking.” Britt’s hand is under her bump, and her brow is lowered.
The music takes over, and the band launches into “The Way You Look Tonight” as Pinky climbs onto Alex’s feet to dance.
Ryan and Owen take off, running around the perimeter of the event space. I walk over to where Piper still has her arms crossed, sliding my hand along her lower back.
“Pretty sure nobody cares about him.” Curling my fingers along her waist, I pull her closer to my side.
Her lips tighten. “Except Cass, and I don’t want her day ruined.”
“She looks like she’s having a great time to me.” We glance at where the bride is dancing with her little sister, holding hands and swinging them side to side while they sing along to the music.
“I’m glad Jemima’s here…” The words are just leaving her lips when her entire body tenses. “Oh, fuck.”
Drake Redford steps up beside Aiden and Britt, smiling like a Cheshire cat. “Lovely wedding. I heard you planned it?”
He’s dressed in a chocolate brown suit with a darker brown sweater under his jacket and matching brown leather sandals. I swear, I hate this guy. Who wears sandals to a wedding?
Britt’s frown deepens. “Piper planned the wedding. I had to bow out because of morning sickness.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He looks over at us and nods. “Nice work. Did you have much trouble finding places for the guests to stay?”
Piper’s eyes narrow, and she chews her bottom lip. I know Marshall’s comment about hotels in Eureka is on her mind, especially in view of her own housing situation, and I step forward ready to shut this guy down.
Cass beats me to the punch. “Are you bothering people again, Drake?” She walks up, holding her sister’s hand. “Haven’t you done enough dragging poor Bo into your schemes?”
“Hello, Cass.” He steps back, surveying her dress. “I wouldn’t have called your marriage a scheme, but I guess you’d know better than me.”
My jaw tightens as Alex walks straight through the group to where they’re standing. “What have I told you about speaking to my wife?”
“Alex…” Drake straightens. “I was merely commenting on how lovely the wedding is. Congratulations.”
“That’s not how it sounded to me.” My brother’s fist is tight, and I make my way around the table, doing my best to get to where he’s standing.
Aiden is beside him, but the last time Cass’s douche of an ex was around—at his daughter’s fifth birthday party, no less—Alex almost punched his lights out.
“And now for the mother-of-the-bride dance.” The emcee is back at it again. “Can we get all the smokin’ hot grandmas on the floor? How about you there? Ready to cut a rug?”
He points to Gwen, who is walking past the stage to where we’re standing. She cuts her eyes at him, and he holds up his hands.
“Don’t mess with that funky grandma, I’ll say.”
Piper groans, clutching her forehead. “Make him stop!”
“Brigitte, how are you feeling?” Gwen goes to where Britt is holding her stomach.