Page 74 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

The sound of water shutting off in the en-suite bathroom signals Theo finishing his shower. Moments later, he emerges with a towel wrapped around his waist, beads of water still clinging to his chiseled chest. His dark hair is damp, hanging over his piercing blue eyes as he catches sight of me. His eyes sweep up and down my naked body, unashamed.

“Morning, Oakley,” he greets me, his voice low and measured. “You’re up early.”

“Morning,” I reply, my gaze drawn to the droplets trailing down his skin. “Yeah, my dad called about a family luau this weekend. He wants you all to come too.” I pause and look at him, feeling the weight of our shared past pressing against my chest, and that awkward morning-after feeling catching up with me. I grab a hotel robe and slip it on. “We should talk to Reid and Gray about it when they wake up.”

“Sure.” Theo nods, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We’ll be there.”

My fingers twist the hem of my robe. A sudden urge to reach out and brush the damp strands of hair from his forehead washes over me, but I resist, knowing that doing so would only add fuel to the fire of unresolved feelings between us.He can’t have meant all those things he said last night. It was just the heat of the moment.

The lingering scent of steam fills the air as Theo and I lean against opposite sides of the doorway, our eyes meeting in a moment of shared warmth.

“Thanks, Theo,” I say softly, grateful for his support. I turn to grab some clothes, getting ready for the day and trying not to think too hard about my complicated web of relationships with the three Archer brothers—relationships that only got more complicated after our night together.

The sun beatsdown on my face as I step out of the taxi at the beach, the scent of the ocean filling my nostrils. I scan the area, spotting my dad directing some workers as they set up tents and tables for the luau.

“Hey, Dad!” I call out, walking toward him with open arms. His face lights up when he sees me, and we embrace tightly.

“Oakley, sweetheart! I’m glad you’re here,” he says, squeezing me one last time before pulling away. “Thanks for coming, even though I know you have your reservations about this whole trip.”

I sigh, feeling a mixture of love and frustration. “Dad, you know I’d do anything for you, even attend a luau with a certain stepmother who shall remain nameless.” I gesture grandly at the gorgeous view, the beautiful themed decorations, and the tables of food. “I mean, it’s torture, right?” I chuckle and my dad joins me.

“Well, nevertheless, I’m grateful.”

I glance around at the bustling preparations. “Need any help?”

“Sure thing,” he replies, handing me a stack of disposable plates and cutlery. As I busy myself arranging the table settings, I can’t help but think about the Archer boys.

“Oakley, what on earth are you doing?” a shrill voice interrupts, making me cringe.

I turn around to see Tina approaching, her designer dress and heels completely out of place in the casual beach setting. Her eyes narrow as she surveys the tables, her lips pinched in disapproval.

“Setting the tables,” I reply through gritted teeth, irritation bubbling up inside me.

“Ugh, those plates are all wrong,” she snaps, picking one up and examining it with disdain. “And don’t even get me started on the cutlery arrangement. You’ve done it all wrong, Oakley.”

“Actually, Tina, we’re following the instructions given by the caterers,” my dad interjects diplomatically, trying to defuse the situation.

“Regardless,” she sniffs, tossing the plate back onto the table. “It looks terrible. I’ll have to fix everything myself.”

As Tina marches off to find someone to do her bidding, I clench my fists, struggling to keep my frustration in check. I watch as Tina continues to scrutinize every detail of the luau setup, her hawk-like gaze picking out any perceived imperfection. My hands itch with the urge to do something—anything—to stop her incessant complaining.

I lean in toward my dad and whisper, “You know, Dad, a little poison in her drink wouldn’t be the worst idea.”

His eyes widen for a second before he breaks into a hearty laugh, shaking his head at our shared morbid sense of humor. “Oh, Oakley,” he chuckles, “as tempting as that may be, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t actually follow through with it. Besides, we don’t need any more drama today.”

“Fine, but only because you asked so nicely,” I tease back, smirking as I imagine the sheer panic that would undoubtedly cross Tina’s face at the mere suggestion of such an act.

“Thank you,” Dad replies with a grin, clearly enjoying the brief respite from the tension. “Now, let’s just focus on making sure everything else is in order for the guests. I’m sure once they arrive, Tina will have someone else to pester.”

“True,” I concede, watching as she berates one of the catering staff over some trivial matter. I take a deep breath, reminding myself that today is about supporting my dad and having a good time with friends.

If I can keep my cool with Tina, then I’ll consider it a personal victory.

“Alright, let’s get back to work,” I say determinedly, grabbing another stack of plates to set them up as far away from Tina’s reach as possible.

Dad nods in agreement, patting me on the back. “That’s my girl,” he says proudly, his smile warm and genuine. With renewed determination, we dive back into the preparations, doing our best to ignore Tina’s icy presence and focusing on creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for everyone else.

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