Page 7 of Recklessly, Wildly Yours

She’s not wrong. The tiny puppy is a handful of cream fluff with eyes and a little face that I would challenge anyone not to get sucked in by.

We spend the rest of the drive to the church alternating between talking about the dogs Maddie grew up with and laughing at how enthusiastic and excited this puppy is.

The drive takes us close to twenty minutes, which is a ridiculous amount of time for this short drive. There must be something happening in Manhattan today that’s caused more people and cars to be on the roads.

“So, I’ll call the Health Department and find out how to reunite this pup with her owners,” Maddie says when the car pulls into the church driveway.

I don’t mention the fact that she’s got a wedding mess to sort through. Every indication she’s given me strongly hints at the fact that she wants to avoid that for as long as she can. The dog will provide her with a good distraction for a little while.

I open the car door as I think of something. “You don’t have a phone. I’ll call my assistant and ask him to help you. Do you need cash?”

“Ethan, no. I don’t need cash or your assistant’s help.” She smiles. “But I appreciate the offer.”

I watch her for a moment, trying to figure out if she really doesn’t need anything. How the hell she intends on making a call without a phone is beyond me. In the end, it’s the fact I’m now almost at the point in time where Callan will disown me that forces me to let this go.

“Okay.” I get out of the car and take the suit bag that George has retrieved from the trunk. As I’m about to close the car door, the puppy begins barking. I duck my head back in to say goodbye and am greeted with the dog jumping into my arms. I fumble catching her due to the bag in my hand but manage not to drop her. She crawls up my torso and nuzzles her nose into my neck, curling up against me.

Maddie gets out of the car and joins us with a huge smile on her face. “She likes you.”

“You know who won’t like me if I don’t get my ass inside this church in the next minute?” I attempt to pry the puppy from my neck.

“Your brother.” She reaches for the dog who resists being taken from me.

I glance down at the tiny animal who seems to want to stay in my arms. “Sweetheart, I’ve got four brothers who are ready to kill me, so you’re gonna have to let me go. Today is not my day to die.”

When she doubles down in her efforts to stay with me, Maddie tries to help but the dog really doesn’t want to be shifted.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Maddie takes charge. “I don’t want to be the reason you die today, so we’ll all go inside. I need to use the bathroom and then I’ll take the puppy.” She removes my hat and sunglasses that she’s wearing and places them in the car, and then is three steps ahead of me before I start moving. Turning back to me, she makes wide eyes. “Hurry up, Ethan. Today is not the day for you to die.”

I grin.

What a weird fucking day this has turned into, but then, none of my family will be surprised that I’ve turned up to Callan’s wedding with a stranger and a puppy in tow. Doing anything but what they expect is the story of my life after all.

3

Madeline

Gatecrashing a wedding while wearing your own wedding dress isn’t something I recommend. For more reasons than one, but mainly because it’s rather awkward and not at all respectful.

Fourteen questioning sets of eyes are now on me after I followed Ethan into the room at the back of the church where it looks like the bride and bridesmaids have been getting ready. I’m unsure how this many people fit in this tiny room.

I blame the puppy for me even being here. I should have just taken the dog from Ethan outside but she appeared so anxious about letting him go that I wanted to give her a few more minutes with him.

I’m jolted back to the reality of my life when one of the bridesmaids spots me and exclaims to Ethan, “Holy fuck. Why is Madeline Montana standing in this room with you?”

I can’t be here.

Ethan turns to me, his mouth curving into another one of his gorgeous smiles. I’ve never met a man who smiles so much. It’s refreshing. “That’s your name?”

The bridesmaid’s mouth falls open in shock. “How can you not know her name? Everyone knows her name.”

This conversation is not one I want to be having. I’m saved from it when a very serious looking man with salt and pepper hair joins the group. He’s older than the four guys who were already in here. My guess is they’re Ethan’s brothers and this man is his father. That hunch is proven correct when he looks at the groom and says, “Let’s get you married, son.”

It’s chaos after that as everyone frantically finishes getting ready.

I take the puppy from Ethan. “I’m going to go.” I glance at the dog who seems okay in my arms now.

Olivia, the bride, who is wearing the most stunning red wedding dress, interrupts us. She looks between Ethan and me with a kind smile. “You’re welcome to stay. Anyone who is a friend of Ethan’s is a friend of ours.”

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