Page 77 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

The crowd chuckled.

“But then he grew up and became a man. He started to build a life for himself, and when Justin first brought Valerie home, I knew that she would someday be my sister-in-law. She fit in too well with our family to ever be anything but.”

A collective “aw” emerged from the room.

“But more than that, she loves my brother, even after she learned about his lack of culinary skills.” More laughs. “And that was all I needed to know. There’s no doubt my brother is a lucky man, but I think Val’s lucky too. Because my brother looks at her like she’s the center of his universe. To find the kind of love they share is rare.”

Looking across the room at Callie, their gazes locked and held. “I just hope someday to be as lucky as my brother.”

Her eyes were so wide, they seemed to swallow her entire face.

Addressing the whole room again, Everett held up his glass. “Everyone, raise your glasses and enjoy the sparkling apple cider as we toast my brother and sister-in-law, Justin and Valerie Silverton.”

The room cheered as Everett took a drink from his glass. While Justin and Val went off to cut their cake, Everett made his way over to the DJ stand.

“Did you know that being the best man is highly overrated?” he asked Callie.

“You don’t say.”

“Oh, yeah. The only thing I want to do right now is pick you up and carry you out of here.”

“I just might let you do that in a few minutes.” She fiddled with the laptop for a minute or two before calling Dalton over.

“What’s up?”

Everett’s eyebrows raised at the kid’s cold tone. Had Everett’s relationship with Callie put a bee in Dalton’s bonnet?

Either Callie was ignoring it, or she hadn’t picked up on his attitude. “I’m going to announce the first dance and then take a break. Can you press play on this folder, and after the song ends, say, ‘At this time, Justin and Valerie would like to invite all of their friends and family to join them on the dance floor’?”

“Yeah, I think a kid can handle that.”

Callie’s lips thinned, and Everett wondered if she’d told Dalton he was too young for her. Was that what all the hostility was about?

“Thank you.”

Everett stood back as Callie announced the first dance and noticed that she seemed stressed as she did so. Her voice shook toward the end, and when she came out of the stall and took his hand, he could feel her tremble.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just need some air.”

Everett let her drag him outside and through the dark until they were around the back of the barn.

“Have I told you again how gorgeous—oof!” Everett wasn’t prepared for Callie to push him back against the barn and plaster herself against him.

“Kiss me.”

He straightened up a little and pulled her into his body, taking her mouth gently. He could hear muffled music inside and pulled back a little. “Hey, don’t you want to see Justin and Val dance?”

She shook her head and tried to pull him back down to her.

“Why not?”

“I hate this song, okay?” Her words were sharp and oozed enough irritation that Everett pulled back to see a wildness in her expression he didn’t like.

“Callie, what is going on?”

“Nothing.” She slid her hands down his shoulders, leaving a trail of heat as they traveled over his stomach to the bulge in his pants. He groaned when she cupped him through his slacks, caressing his balls and cock.

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