Page 6 of Entwined

“There's my baby,” I growl and dip my head. After all, her wish is my command.

Everything's coming together, I assume. Whitley calls me at least three times a day to authorize, then send a payment to, someone or somewhere for something. And my guys are ready to go: my brother Tate’s of course my Best Man, then Evan, Sawyer, Zach and Andy as groomsmen. Sawyer was ass-hurt Evan was before him in line, and even after I drew him a diagram, no shit, to show him that Evan would be walking with Whitley and he with Emmett… the dumbass still moped around like the pussbag I've repeatedly told everyone he's always been — which is the only reason I insanely agreed he could be in charge of the bachelor party.

Fucker perked right up then. Whadda know.

But, as we all sit around my dinner table tonight, he's started to lose some of his “pep” … 'cause the women are talking wedding, including the ground rules. And Tate, Evan, Zach and myself aren't helping Saw out one bit, because none of us wanna lose our women… or spend a night in jail.

“How the fuck am I supposed to throw a bachelor party without strippers?” Sawyer yells, banging a fist on the table.

“Easy, don't call any!” Laney throws a dinner roll at his head.

“Zach, you want strippers there too, right?” Saw begs the only single man for help.

“Excuse me, Zach.” Emmett smiles at him to apologize for stealing his turn I doubt he wanted, then flings daggers at Sawyer. “Too? What does that mean, sweetie?” She did not mean “sweetie.” Do not answer her, Beckett.

He answers her. Every woman leans in for a bird's eye view, every guy dropping our heads in pity for the poor, dumb bastard. “Ah, Emmy, I wouldn't touch any of 'em. You know that. But it's a bachelor party. You gotta have tits and ass there. Maybe a few peeks of pussy, depending on budget, of course.”

“Sure, yeah, of course.” She nods her head and concurs with a sarcasm so dry my eyes start to itch. “Ladies, I say in the spirit of pre-wedding traditions, we go check out this male review in Atlanta that I’ve heard about.”

“Um.” Whitley's face scrunches. “Em, that's a lot of traveling for some of the people attending. With only a few weekends to spare, and Hayden having the triplets, we probably need to keep all events close together — time and distant wise.”

Bennett quickly leans over and whispers in her ear while all the guys but Sawyer cover our grins. Whitley's blue eyes widen and she squares her shoulders, determined to pull this off. “Never mind, I was, uh, thinking of some other wedding. That sounds like a great idea, Emmett.”

Laney rolls her eyes and palms her forehead. Bennett gives Whit a “good try” pat on the back and Evan laughs out, “you're so precious, pretty girl.”

But even with all that… Beckett, in his own world as usual, misses the plot and jumps out of his chair. “Like hell you will! And just where in the fuck did you hear about a male review, Shorty?” He roars.

“Seriously, should we maybe help him?” Tate murmurs lowly.

“Absolutely not,” I say right out loud… ’cause Sawyer's not listening anyway.

“Emmy, quit fucking around, babe. You're not going, and who are these jezebels filling your sweet lil' head with such shit?”

“Enough!” Uh oh, Disney's out of her chair now too.

“Should we stop her?” Tate again mumbles.

“Hell no.” I fold my hands behind my head and lean back, getting comfortable for the show. Love to watch my baby go to work — sassy, spunky and sexy as fuck.

“Sawyer Landon Beckett, you cannot possibly be that dense! I love you, I'd give you an internal organ if you needed one, but I'm about to come across this table and smack the stupid outta ya! Emmett was making it up, to prove a point that obviously missed its mark. There is no male review. Well, I'm sure there is somewhere, but not one that any of us know about. Why the hell would I need to look at a male stripper? Have you seen my man?”

“Thank you, baby,” I reach over and swat her ass.

“You're welcome, now hush. Sawyer, Emmett knew you wouldn't like her watching strippers, so she said that so you'd realize it's not fair for you to watch them either! You with me now, big guy?”

“So, no strippers?” He asks Em, sincerely needing confirmation.

“No, sweetie. No strippers.” She smiles sweetly, never-ending patience in her eyes.

“And you have no jezebel influences?” Everyone wants to sigh, or laugh, but Crew rule: we accept him “as is” and let him get there himself.

“Also a no.” She can't tame the curl at the corners of her mouth. “How about you? No strippers?”

“Yes, but only one. You.” He reaches across the table and hoists her up and over it, sitting back down with her now in his lap. “Will you braid your hair and do the lil’ skipping thing for me tonight?”

“I'll see what I can do,” she snickers and kisses him.

“Just to recap.” Whitley raises her hand and waves it to get everyone's attention. “And don’t worry, I've sent an agenda to all your emails. The wedding is at one p.m., on September fourth, at Weaver Gardens. We arrive on the second, bachelor and bachelorette parties, minus any dancers or naked people, are to be held that night, and the rehearsal dinner’s on the evening of the third. Daney, oops,” she giggles, “I mean Dane and Laney, will be in the Lodge and Spa Presidential Suite and the rest of us in the Mountain Villas, both on the venue premises. I’ll bring everyone's dresses and tuxes. Any questions?”

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