Page 50 of The Unwanted Wife

Next to him, Tiny, who’s been sprawled on the ground, sits up and cocks his head. "Now, you need to behave, boy. The Champagne is not good for you." Arthur wiggles a finger under Tiny’s nose.

The Great Dane makes a rumbling sound at the back of his throat.

"This mutt not only understands me, but he also answers back." Arthur pats his head. "Remember our discussion. The only reason I brought you along is because you sulked when I said I wouldn’t. And you promised you’d stay away from the bubbles." Tiny looks up at Arthur and blinks. There’s a very innocent look in the Great Dane’s eyes. One I do not trust.

"What are the odds he’s going to be downing the Champagne before the night is out?" Sinclair says from next to me.

It’s true. Tiny has a hankering for Champagne. Not wine. Not even sparkling wine. It has to be Champagne. And the more expensive, the better. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. I watch the Great Dane yawn, then slide his big head between his paws. His ears flop but his eyes… They’re trained on the catering staff pouring the bubbles into the vintage, sixties-style Champagne glasses I instructed the wedding planner to arrange for—because I found out my wife-to-be loves the look of them.

"Ready to tie the noose… Sorry, I mean knot, ol’ chap?" Knox, who walked up behind Sinclair, slaps me on the back.

"Fuck off, ol’ chap," I say in a casual tone.

Knox laughs. "Considering you decided not to have any groomsmen at your wedding, I don’t know if I should be insulted or grateful."

I turn to find he’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, his only concession is a jacket, though this one has seen better days. "I’m not insulted you decided not to wear a black tie."

"I fucking hate black suits and ties, and anything that needs me to loop a piece of cloth around my neck," he says with vehemence.

"Clothes don’t make the man," I shrug.

He seems taken aback, then nods slowly. "Maybe I’ll find a reason to not abhor you, yet."

"Not holding my breath on that."

He cracks a half-smile at that. And I thought I held the patent on being the scary, unapproachable mofo. But Knox, with his scarred face, and his I-don't-give-a-fuck appearance, has me beat.

"Now, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?" Arthur looks between us.

"The fuck you mean?" I scowl.

"The two of you are on your way to becoming friends." He nods.

"I wouldn’t say that." Knox coughs.

"Nonsense, I can see the beginnings of a beautiful relationship between the two of you."

Sinclair laughs. "I’d like to be a fly on the wall when that happens."

Knox gives me a can-you-believe-this-bullshit look.

For once, I agree with him.

"I think I’d better go in search of the hard liquor, the kind I can actually get drunk on." He turns and stalks off in the opposite direction of the Champagne, where I’ve arranged for a bar to be set up with the kind of alcohol my half-brothers seem to favor. And only because I’m not petty like that. They're my guests. The least I can do is cater to their tastes. I wish I could get drunk, too… But sadly, I’ll have to contend with water to see me through.

"How’re you holding up?" Sinclair surveys my features.

"I’m good," I say with a confidence I don’t feel. I wish I could fast-forward to the end of the ceremony. This thing is supposed to be fake, but it feels too bloody real. Like I’ve reached a turning point in my life and now, there's no looking back.

"It’s okay to be nervous," he begins, but I cut him off.

"Why does everyone keep telling me that? I’m not bloody nervous. Also, what happened to the damn breeze?" I pull out my handkerchief and mop my brow.

He exchanges a look with Arthur, something seems to pass between them, then Sinclair nods. "Right, I’ll see you on the other side."

He walks over to join Summer, who’s chatting with a group of women. As he joins the group, he says something witty, and they all laugh. They must be Starling’s friends. I told the wedding planner to ensure she invited all of them. It’s what she wanted, after all, and I want to make sure I give her the wedding of her dreams.

The muted hum of voices fills the air. My half-brothers seem to be everywhere. Connor, who’s taken on the role of bartender, pours Knox a drink. Ryot is standing at a distance, his hand shoved in his pocket, a glower on his face. Tyler is talking to a redhead, and Edward has his arm around his new wife Mira. The two of them are engaged in conversation with Dr. Weston Kincaid, and a woman who I assume is his wife.

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