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Nowthatwas something I could believe.

“I think that is a detail that will have to come out.” He’d done an amazing job and there was no reason to downplay that. “It wouldn’t be a believable story otherwise.”

Austin didn’t do anything ugly…now dramatic and ridiculous, well, that was to be expected.

“It’s Tanner and Shane’s day…but yes…it’s probably a necessary detail.” The best part of his slightly dry delivery was that I couldn’t figure out if he was joking or not.

“Agreed.” As I tried to find the best way to excuse myself from the conversation and the party, he stepped forward and took my arm, lacing his through mine. “Are we…”

“Walking. Yes.” It looked like I was in charge, but he was definitely the one steering us around the elegantly decorated yard.

Politely nodding at the people who were still hanging around and chatting, it took me a couple of awkward encounters before I realized he was moving us toward somewhere private.

Yep, he had a motive.

I wasn’t going to poke at it until we had as much privacy as possible, though. Knowing Austin, he could’ve wanted it for a variety of conversations and I wasn’t going to push my luck. If he wanted our privacy to end up looking completely accidental, I wasn’t going to argue.

After entirely too much small talk, we ended up on the other side of the yard where a quick walk around some large bushes completely obscured us from the rest of the party. It looked like a dead end, but there was a side door I thought led to a laundry or mud room.

“Silas is on watch and he’ll let me know if anyone comes close enough to hear us.” His shift into all business mode would’ve been startling if I hadn’t seen it countless times before. “Do you understand that I’ve done as much as I can to give us complete privacy for this conversation? Unless we wish it, no one outside the community will even know we met at all.”

Damn it.

“Yes.” Refusing to snap at him, I gestured around us. “The meandering route. The bushes. Not going inside because there are too many places to hide. Silas keeping watch.”

Inviting me to something as private as the wedding to begin with.

Yes, everything was making more sense.

Austin gave another regal nod as he took all that as praise for how smart he was. “And if anyone asks, he’s going to tell them that I’m showing you the updates to the media system I had installed. You’re curious about the speakers I had put out here for the wedding.”

Austin had everything planned as best he could, so I could only nod, which got a pride-filled smile from the insane and insanely smart omega. “Good.”

I could hear it coming, whatever his crazy was going to be, but I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Had he bought another country?

Had he found another mate?

Had they inadvertently made a sex tape?

“I need to know why you want to join the club.”

Fuck it all.

It was about me.

“I explained my interest in BDSM in the application.” It’d been very well-written and I’d answered every question, even the stupid ones.

“You left something out.” Studying me, he frowned. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I need to know what youdidn’tsay before I can let you in.”

For fuck’s sake.

“I answered every question in detail.” I’d even listed out an interest in spankings and that stupid cross thing just to make sure I had legitimate topics to include.

“I know.” Narrowing his eyes at me, he sighed. “It was beyond frustrating to read.”

If anything was frustrating, it was Austin.

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