Page 83 of 4 Weddings and a Feud

Her lip curled. “No, just me.”

“Do you know where she is?”

She gave him a long, ball-shriveling look. “Yes.” She walked inside, letting the door bang shut behind her.

When Alex wrenched it open, the bell jingled merrily. “Where is she, Evie?”

“I think she’d have told you if she wanted you to know.”

“Look, I need to find her and tell her?—”

The bell tinkled behind him. “Who let this asshole in?” a deep voice rumbled.

Alex turned to keep both Evie and Mary’s brother in sight. He knew better than to turn his back to a Forza. Especially Michael.

Evie glared at Michael. “He just walked in. How did you expect me to keep him out?”

Michael glared back. “I’ll show him out.” He advanced on Alex, looking like an offensive lineman protecting his quarterback.

Alex let his knees go loose, prepared to dart and evade Michael’s clutches.

The bell tinkled again. “What’s going on?” This time, it was Rafe. His biceps bulged under the short sleeves of his blue T-shirt.

“Just showing this asshole the door,” Michael growled.

“Wait,” Alex said. “I came in to find Mary.”

“She’s not here,” Michael said, taking a step closer.

“I need to find her.”

“Why?” Rafe asked. He’d always been the more reasonable one. Except that time he’d broken Alex’s nose.

Alex spoke to him, keeping his back to the wall. “I made a mistake when I let her walk away. I need to apologize.”

“She doesn’t need you or your fucking job,” Michael spat. “She’s just fine without you.”

“Better than fine.” Rafe stuck out his chin. But his eyebrows drew together in a way that belied his words.

Alex hesitated for a moment. Then he sucked it up and laid himself bare. “I’m not fine. I was a fool. I—I need her.”

“We just told you she doesn’t need you, asshole.” Michael clenched his fists.

Alex stood his ground. He deserved a punch, and he’d take it like he’d taken their fists after prom. “Don’t you think Mary should decide that?”

“You’ve hurt her enough.” The lines around Michael’s eyes deepened like he hadn’t meant to say it.

The ache was back in Alex’s belly. “I know. And I want to make it right.”

Michael opened his mouth, but Rafe spoke first. “How do you plan to make it right? What you did was shitty on multiple levels.”

“I’ll do whatever she asks. Buy her gifts. Grovel at her feet. Tell her I’m sorry. Walk naked down the Strip while tourists pelt me with frosé if that’s what she wants.” Hell, he’d let both her brothers pummel him if that was what she wanted.

“Recommend her services?” Evie asked. “As an independent contractor. You get no cut of her fees.”

“Of course,” he said. “For every wedding until her schedule is full.”

“If you’re going to grovel, I want video proof,” Rafe said with an evil smile. “Payback.”

---