Page 152 of Love Without Control

“Okay, cool it. Go sit down,” I ordered, kissing all of them on their cheeks. Except for Juli. As my maid of honor, she was staying with me until my dad came to get me. I’d wanted to make all of them bridesmaids, as well as my sisters-in-law, Gianna, Kassie, and Lehra. And Charlisse. But nine bridesmaids would have been a bit much, so Dane and I had decided to just have one attendant each.

Though I did ask all of them to wear a lilac dress so they would stand out as special when they sat near the front of the ballroom.

Fiero would be standing up for Dane. He’d hidden out in Florida while the dust settled before moving back to New York. For about a month. And then he’d hightailed it back to the Keys with the excuse that he missed the beach, though we all knew it was a certain beautiful blonde that had drawn him back. I’d asked Charlisse what was going on with them once, and she claimed they were keeping it casual. But I saw how they looked at each other.

The girls left, but a second later, Mady popped her head back in the door and hissed, “Dear. God. The Bouvier men are coming this way down the corridor, and I’m pretty sure tuxedos were invented especially for them.”

“I’m gonna run so you can have time with your family,” Juliette said, pushing a small pack of tissues into my hand.

“Thank you for everything, Juli.”

“Hey, it’s the least I could do for my favorite ARC reader.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe you were under my nose the whole time.”

“I wish I could have told you. I wanted to support you every way I could, even if you didn’t know.”

“I’m not mad,” she said, hugging me once more. “Love you, babe.”

“Love you back.” And then she skipped from the room. I seriously adored Juliette McNamara. She was like sunshine for the soul.

When my dad and brothers entered my suite a few seconds later, I saw exactly what Mady meant. They looked phenomenally handsome in black tuxedos and lilac bow ties.

I held the pack of tissues up and narrowed my eyes at them. “I do not want to have to use these, so don’t you dare make me cry.” Tossing them on the table, I pointed at my eyes. “Gianna did my makeup, and I don’t want to mess it up, so don’t be all sweet and shit.”

Cruz reached me first, giving me a careful hug. “You look kind of okay, sis.” That made me giggle.

“Agreed,” Monty said, stepping in for his turn. “You look very okay. I totally kicked ass on this dress design, by the way.”

“You did,” I agreed with a grin.

Auburn reached me next and gave me a soft peck on the cheek. “As the best looking sibling, I have to say, you’re a close second, Evie.”

“Gosh, you’re too kind,” I told him, sarcasm heavy in my tone.

“You asked for it,” he said, amused.

Dad looked on patiently, hands in the pockets of his well-tailored pants, until my brothers were finished. Then he stepped forward and handed over my bouquet. It was made of fresh white roses with tiny pearls and sprigs of lilac laced between the fragrant blooms.

“I had the florist nestle the flower you gave me in the middle.” He pointed at the dried rose I had kept from our impromptu wedding in Treviso.

“It’s perfect,” I told him, hugging him hard and kissing his smooth cheek. He smelled like sandalwood and home.

“All joking aside, you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, Evie. I’m so happy for you.”

Annnd cue the waterworks.Dad quickly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed delicately at my tears.

“Way to go, Dad,” Auburn teased. “You made her cry.”

Our father smiled, his own eyes gentle and watery. “I couldn’t help it. She’s my baby girl.” He pulled me close, and we swayed in place for a long moment.

In the distance, the music changed, and Cruz said, “I think it’s time to go.” Flanked by my brothers and holding my father’s arm, we walked the short distance to the ballroom entrance. I felt surrounded and loved. Each of my brothers kissed the back of my hand before taking their seats inside beside their significant others and children.

A few months ago, Gianna had given birth to a little girl who they named Nancy after Gia’s late mother. Kassie and Monty’s daughter, Annabelle, was born a week later. Jaxon, Jane, and Sully were all thriving as the “big siblings.” Lehra and Cruz would be marrying later this year, and I was pretty sure they both had baby fever, so it was only a matter of time till they had their own bundle of joy.

Our close-knit family was certainly growing, and if Dane had anything to do with it, we’d be adding one more member about nine months after our honeymoon in Treviso. I hoped so too. Paulie was an energetic and outgoing fifteen-month old, and we’d both love to give him a sibling who was pretty close in age.

The wedding planner opened the wide wooden door, and Dad and I stepped into the ballroom, which had been transformed into my dream wedding. I’d wanted real candles rather than the fairy lights that were so popular these days. I loved the traditional look of candles, and the planner had certainly come through. There were hundreds of votives, tapers, tea lights, and pillars, all made of beeswax, which gave the room a warm glow and a sweet aroma that was reminiscent of honey… Dane’s favorite scent.

All eyes turned toward us, and I looked up at Dad. His chest was puffed to almost twice its normal size. “Ready to get more married?” he asked under his breath, and I grinned. Dane and I had considered ourselves married for years, but today we were making it truly legal in front of our friends and family.

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