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  “Just ignore her man; she’s been all over the fucking place since Dee started with those fucking pussy drinks.” I look over at Beck, wondering why the fuck he is putting up with this shit again from Dee.

  “Warned them last time, when the pussy drinks start coming out, I’m gone. You’re on your own, motherfucker.” I laugh and make quick work of saying goodbye. There’s no telling how long they will stick around tonight, and after all my shit, I’m not in the mood to stick this one out.

  I catch Mandy standing in the corner shooting daggers at me on my way out. It might be time to cut that one loose before she becomes even more of an issue.

  The morning of Axel and Izzy’s wedding is a mess. Everything seems to be going wrong. Axel is having a fit trying to keep Izzy calm over the phone. Dee won’t stop blowing my phone up about every fucking thing from flowers to condoms for Axel. Last time I checked, he is a grown fucking man and can take care of that shit on his own. The last call about grabbing Izzy’s panties before leaving their house is met with the dial tone. I might love her like a sister, but no fucking way I am digging through her underwear.

  I have managed to get all the small fires out before finally making my way back to their house. Emmy has been frantically setting up the backyard for the reception to follow the wedding. After spending all day yesterday setting up the tents and tables, not much is left to do other than the chairs and shit. Between the two of us, we manage to finish it up and make it back to the church in time to get ready.

  Before I can even throw the truck in park, she climbs out and runs. Not just runs, but takes off in some mad sprint like someone just yelled cake at fat camp.

  “Emmy!” I yell across the parking lot. “Babe, what’s the hurry?”

  “Don’t give me your sass, Greg Cage! You know we were supposed to be here an hour ago.”

  I call bullshit. Emmy might be many things, but she is shit at hiding something that’s weighing hard on her.

  “Try ten minutes ago, babe. What’s really got you tied up? You’ve been quiet this week.”

  She quirks her brow at my quiet remark. Truth is, she is always quiet and always assessing. Axel is convinced she has some magical powers. Izzy thinks she is trying to make herself invisible. I think she just has a bad crush on the wrong dude.

  I know what’s eating her today. Maddox is bringing a date. No one we know, but he told Izzy the other day to expect one. I think his exact words were, “Girl, gotta date.” Luckily, Iz speaks Maddox Locke, because even now, after almost fifteen years, I still don’t understand the motherfucker. This wouldn’t have been a big deal, but he waited until Iz was chatting with Emmy up front at the office to make his grand announcement. Subtle.

  “Em.” I say, “Don’t waste your time. As much as I hate to say it, Locke is just never going to be the man you wish he was.” She closes her eyes tight, nods her head, and spins on her heels. Before I can even breathe, she disappears.

  I make a mental note to pull him aside and remind him again that he needed to set this straight. I’m sick of watching her mope around and wait for something that will never happen.

  After grabbing my tux out of the truck, I take off into the church and search out my girl. Ever since the first day I meet Izzy, even though the circumstances sucked, I have known that she will always hold a piece of my heart, a piece I thought was forever lost when Gracie died. It isn’t hard to love her. Watching her struggle to survive what her ex-husband put her through isn’t easy.

  The last year, give or take some time, has been a real struggle. In a sense, I am beyond relieved that someone I consider blood isn’t in danger; won’t be in danger. But, the flip side of that is the knowledge that she doesn’t need me anymore. Sure, she will always need me, but not the same way. She doesn’t need me to make sure her demons will stay away. I don’t think I will ever get used to the fact that my girl doesn’t need my protection anymore.

  I can even admit to myself that I have a hard time trusting even Axel with her. It just hits too close to the pain. Grace. There isn’t much about Izzy that doesn’t remind me of Gracie. The only difference is that Gracie… Gracie didn’t win. She didn’t win, and I wasn’t there to make sure she did. Walking Izzy down the aisle today will be bittersweet. Beyond bittersweet. My girl found her other half, finally, and they deserve this. But even knowing this, I can’t help the crushing wave of pure agony that swims through my body.

  My Gracie will never know this happiness. My Gracie isn’t here because I couldn’t keep her safe.

  Never again, I vow. I will never let anyone or anything stand between those I love and their happiness.

  “This church is too damn big,” I curse, walking the maze upon maze of hallways. Checking my watch and noting the time doesn’t help my panic one bit.

  “Yo! G-Man. You keep muttering to yourself instead of getting your ugly mug ready, there won’t be a wedding.” Coop. Damn. If anyone could hold me up even longer, it will be this bastard.

  “Well, then help me out asshole. Where can I go get ready?”

  “Hey, you think there will be some single ladies here tonight?” he asks, completely ignoring me. I can feel the sweat prickling my skin. My jaw drops and my head pounds as he goes on and on about his mission. Idiot.

  A slap him on the back of his sexed up head finally gets him to shut up about how weddings are a perfect place to look for new pussy. “Don’t say pussy in church, motherfucker.”

  “Oh yeah? Because motherfucker is better?”

  “Zeke Cooper… so fucking help me, tell me where the hell to go get into the monkey suit.”

  He opens his mouth to answer, but is cut off by Izzy’s sweet voice calling down the hall, “G! Get in here!” She must have been standing there long enough to listen to Coop’s one-sided conversation about how pussy at weddings is the best, because they are all desperate for some good dick.

  “Don’t fuck this day up by trying to get your dick wet.” I can hear his laughter trailing behind me as I take off in a jog towards where I heard Izzy’s voice.

  I can hear the female chatter before I even make it to the door. How the hell did I miss this room on my thirty-minute search? When I open the door, what I see almost brings me to my knees. If I ever questioned the bond between Izzy and me, I have no doubts now. Pride. The overwhelming pride that takes over my system is so powerful. I haven’t felt like this since Gracie called to tell me she got her first teaching job. She had been so excited to start work at the local private school, so eager to start her life.

  I shake off the pain and walk over to Izzy, wrapping her up in a hug that must have been a little too tight.

  “Get off her, you overgrown ape!” She giggles against my shirt at Dee’s scorn. “You mess up her makeup, and I will kick your ass.”

  “Shut up, Dee.” I pull back and smile down at Iz. “You look beautiful, baby girl.”

  Her eyes immediately start to fill with tears, and I look around, trying to figure out a way to fix whatever the fuck I just broke. When my eyes land on the one person I didn’t expect to see, my body fills with instant heat. Fuck! I step back from Izzy so she doesn’t feel what this beauty has done to my body with just a glance.

  I cough a few times and bring my attention back to my girl. “You ready?”

  “Yes!” She all but screams in my face.

  “Move, dumbass.” Dee grumbles next to me.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Yeah, nothing my ass. Let me guess, you and Beck are playing hide and seek again? One of these days, you two will learn that it’s more fun to play hide and hump.”

  “You are such… such… Jesus, that sounds like something Coop would say.”

  I laugh because really, that is something that would come out of his mouth.

  “Maybe so, but damn… when the hell are you two going to get your shit together?”

  She gives me a cold look before turning back to Izzy and doing whatever the fuc
k chicks do to make something already perfect the same.

  “Go get ready.” She bites out.

  I turn around looking for the bathroom, and lock eyes with Nurse Sex. Fuck me, she is beautiful. Pure lust unlike anything I have ever felt hits me. I know the connection is powerful between us but this is beyond even that. Her eyes take in my appearance; all faded jeans and old black tee glory. Her eyes meet mine briefly before taking a slow ride down my body. On her way back up, her eyes pause on my dick. There is no way she can miss how turned on I am. She licks her lips before meeting my eyes and with a quirk of her lips, a wink, and a throaty laugh, she turns on her heels and walks back over to Izzy and Dee.

  With my back still turned to the females clamoring about this and that, I quickly place my hand over my rock hard dick and squeeze, mentally reminding myself to play nice today. This is about Izzy and Axel, not my hormones.

  Turning slowly and making sure my dick is under control, I walk over to where my bag is and take one more look at beauty. Skintight red fabric hugs her body, her tits are covered, but that doesn’t do anything to hide their perfection. Right when I’m about to turn around, I notice the shoes. Tall as fucking hell and leopard print. Her tanned legs look a mile long, and immediately, visions filter through my mind of them wrapped tight around my thrusting hips, with those shoes digging into my ass. So much for having my shit in check. Groaning slightly, I grab my bag and stomp over to the changing room in the corner.

  It’s going to be a long fucking day.

  Well, that was interesting. Laughing to myself, I move my eyes from the door that just slammed, back to the girls¸ the girls that are looking at me with calculating eyes.

  “What?” I innocently ask. These girls might not have known me long, but it doesn’t take much for another woman to recognize the feeling of off the charts sexual desire.

  “Don’t give me that crap, Meli! You two were practically having sex in the middle of the room. I know eye fucking when I see it.” Izzy starts laughing at Dee’s outburst. I can’t tell if she’s pissed or just being a bitch.

  “Uh… is there something going on between you two? I didn’t mean—”

  “Hell no!”

  “Okaaay. Then the problem is what?” I meet Izzy’s eyes, and she seems to find great humor in this. Well, at least she’s calmed down some. You would think she was expecting the world to fall apart around her if she doesn’t get married as soon as possible.

  “No problem.” Dee mumbles and walks out the door.

  “Don’t worry about her; she just needs to cool off. Some drama between her and Beck, but believe me, you will get used to it.”

  Emmy walks back in a few minutes later with a bright smile and hands Izzy a blue box.

  “What’s this?” She questions.

  “What do you think?” She replies with a smile.

  “He got his?”

  “Oh yeah. I left to a bunch of overgrown idiots making fun of him for choking up over some cufflinks.” I meet Emmy’s laughing eyes and let out a few giggles of my own. Giggling. Really Melissa? The more I hang out with the girls, the more I’m starting to feel like a walking billboard for cheer.

  I can understand the guys thinking it’s funny, but when Izzy explains the meaning behind the angel wing cufflinks that she found for her future husband, even I get a little misty.

  We watch as she flips the lid and brings out a single chain. She gasps softly and sinks down to the chair behind her, just rubbing her thumb over whatever is attached to the bottom.

  “What the hell happened in the two minutes I was in the bathroom?” The deep rumble comes right behind me, causing me to jump slightly.

  “Nothing, G. Shit, calm your ass.” I haven’t heard Emmy get such an authoritative tone before. Damn, if I was into chicks that would be kind of hot.

  “What is it, Baby Girl?” He asks, kneeling down in front of her. This is the first glance I have of him in his wedding garb. Holy shit, he can clean up nice. His dress shirt looks made for his body and his alone, pulled tight across his muscular frame. The way he is bent over gives me a perfect view of his tight ass. His brown hair is gelled and styled to calm the unruly locks. He looks all man and pure sex.

  And I thought it was going to be easy to resist this man.

  I give him a few more sweeps of my hungry eyes before moving my attention back to whatever Axel has sent over to Izzy.

  “Isn’t it perfect?” She whispers to Greg.

  “Yeah,” he whispers back. They say a few more things, softly and clearly meant only for their ears, before she throws her arms around his neck and holds tight. Dangling from the chain in her hand is a wing shaped locket. She must have opened it to show Greg what was inside because staring back at me is an inscription on one side and on the other, a picture of their adorable son. Whatever it says clearly holds some powerful meaning to them.

  “What’s it say?” I quietly ask Emmy.

  She sniffles a few times before answering, “It’s Latin for ‘Love Conquers All’.”

  After that, it takes a few minutes to calm Izzy down and fix her makeup. Greg is clearly unhappy about her being upset again. Their connection is so strong you can almost feel it. The jealousy that I feel towards that is not something that I’m used to or something I like.

  At 5:00, we make our way back up to the top floor of the church, and I give Izzy a tight hug before Emmy and I find our way down to our seats. I take one look at Axel, standing in the front with a big smile on his face, before settling in next to the rest of the boys from his security business.

  Axel and Izzy have decided to keep the wedding party small, and by small, I mean one person each. Izzy’s is Dee, and after Greg walks her down the aisle, he will take his place next to Axel.

  Now, where their wedding party is small, their guest list isn’t. Izzy explained to me that since moving his company from California, and joining up with Greg, their security and investigation business has become the go to company in Atlanta. They invited what looked to be the whole population of Atlanta.

  When the music starts and Dee makes her way down the aisle, it reminds me of the last wedding I attended. The last wedding I was the Maid of Honor for. But just looking at these two, I know this marriage will have a much longer lifespan.

  When everyone is busy staring at the bride, I am busy looking at her walking partner. I am really beginning to doubt my quest to stay away from him. When his eyes meet mine through the crowded sanctuary, I know it was only a matter of time before we collide.

  The ceremony was beautiful. Even with my jaded heart, I can admit that much. There is no doubt in my mind that Izzy has lucked out and found one of the good ones. I know little about her past with her ex-husband, but what I do know makes me happy my friend has found this. And because of that, even I was wiping tears away by the time they said ‘I do’.

  They keep the ceremony short and sweet, asking everyone to please join them for the reception to follow. When they reach the end of the aisle, Axel pulls her into his arms and crushes his lips to hers. When his fist thrusts into the air as a symbol of victory, and he pulls back to look into his wife’s eyes, Emmy reaches down and grabs my hand. She is a mess, crying and vibrating with extra hormones. I want nothing to do with that, but the lump in my throat is having fun calling me a liar. There is just no way to watch a love like that unite and not feel it.

  I sit with Emmy, and talk about the reception to follow for at least ten minutes or so. We are waiting for the congestion in the parking lot to clear out before we head over to the reception. At the same time, I also try to avoid the look of contempt coming from the corner of the church lobby. I can literally feel the eyes on me this very second. Talk about creepy.

  When a shadow falls over me, I am ready to turn around snapping, but when I look up and meet Greg’s blue eyes, I quickly snap my mouth shut. His already handsome face is taken over by a look that is pure peace and happiness. I can already feel the tingles of arousal coiling in my gut.


  “Beauty, you need a ride?” He asks me, interrupting my inner slut. His eyes darken slightly, and there is no mistaking the real question behind those words.

  “Depends on what kind of ride we’re talking about, stud.”

  He laughs, and even that sounds like sex. “If I thought you were serious, I would tell you to jump on, babe.”

  “You two really should just go lock yourselves in the confessional and get it over with.” Emmy interrupts.

  I look over at her, begging her to shut the fuck up, before answering Greg’s question, “Well, babe, I don’t know what kind of ride you’re offering, but it looks like that position is already filled.”

  “What?” I have to give him some credit. This man can play the game. He genuinely looks confused, clearly caught off guard by my reply.

  “Your little friend from the other night?” I say, pointing over his shoulder to the little hooch in the corner. The look of shock on his face is almost comical. He really had no clue that she was standing there.

  “Motherfucker,” he grumbles under his breath. “She is not with me. Come on, Beauty, run away with me.”

  I look into his eyes a few seconds. I’m trying to decide if that really was a line or not, before bending over, and laughing so hard that the people left in the lobby all look over at me as if I have lost it.

  “That was terrible. You want some of this, you’re going to have to try harder than some cheesy ass lines.”

  I pick up my clutch before standing. Once again, I am reminded of how powerful and large this man is. In my heels, I come close to six feet tall but he still looks down on me.

  “Come on, Beauty. Just a ride.”

  “Maybe later, stud.”

  “You crush me,” he says dramatically, clutching his hand to his heart.

  “Does that work for you on the ladies?” I ask, a smile coming over my face. It’s been a while since I found myself enjoying a man’s company.