Page 16 of Bad Boy Crush

“This is it.”

“Incredible,” Hunter said excitedly. “So much better than where we were last year.” He turned a full one-eighty and his gaze landed on the wedding arch. “Damn. That’s nice work.”

“Ant made it. Along with those benches.”

Ant sent Donny a death glare. He didn’t want or need the admiration—at least not from this guy.

“Impressive work, man.” Hunter pulled off a pair of neon yellow sunglasses to study the intricate detail of the arch. “I haven’t made one of these yet. I mostly do sculptures. Are you participating in the events?”

“He should,” Donny said before Ant could reiterate the no he’d given everyone who’d asked him the same question. “We’ve all been trying to convince him to participate.”

“Why not, bro?” Hunter asked, losing style points for using the word “bro” on top of driving a douche-mobile.

“I’m not a good logroller,” Ant replied flatly.

Right then the side door coming from the kitchen opened. Sofie stepped outside, followed by Faith and then Lou. A light breeze caught the edge of Lou’s skirt, lifting it to reveal the knees he’d teased her about earlier. She really did look incredible today.

“Damn,” Hunter muttered. “Which one of them is Lourdes Daniels?”

“Not the brunette. That’s my wife,” Donny growled.

Sofie shouted goodbye to Faith, who waved and walked to her car. That left Sofie and Lou, which gave Hunter his answer.

Hunter literally rubbed his palms together. “This won’t be painful at all.”

He slapped Ant’s arm and trotted over to introduce himself. Lou gestured to a pair of Adirondack chairs. A moment later, they sat down and got cozy.

“So, we’re finished,” Sofie chirped. “I’m going to hang with the kids for a bit. You good?”

“We’re good, Scampi.” Donny bent for a kiss. After another lengthy lip-lock, Sofie took Donny’s beer and helped herself to a drink.

“Try not to miss me!” She walked back to the house, and Donny kept his eyes on his wife’s ass the entire time. Once she’d gone, he turned back to Ant.

“You’re not sick of each other yet?”

“Fuck no.” Donny flashed a feral grin. “Did you want to see the setup for the events while Lou interviews Hunter?” When Ant didn’t answer right away, Donny elbowed him. “Ant?”

“I heard you.” Ant didn’t take his attention off Lou and Hunter.

“She’ll see right through him,” Donny said, hinting the murder in Ant’s heart must’ve traveled to his face.

“I’m not worried.” Hunter was a blockhead with more muscles than brains. Like Ant, but Ant drove a better truck. “Lou isn’t interested in dating.”

He didn’t think. She’d been single since Liam left, and he had that on good authority. Brady’s girl, Elliott, was good friends with Lou. Brady would know if Lou had gone on a date because she one hundred percent would have told Elli.

As tempted as Ant was to stand here and make sure Hunter didn’t lean too close or touch Lou, he knew she could handle herself. “Show me the rest of the grounds.”

“You sure? We can chaperone if you like.” Donny folded his arms, but Ant wasn’t amused.

“Shut up.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, they’d looped the area where the competition would take place. The Pates had an ideal space for the festival, and had been paid handsomely to loan it out.

“I’m happy for you,” Ant told his friend, meaning it. “This place. Your family. All of it.”

“Sofe and I are willing to do as much good as we can do with this house, this land. Expunge that Pate family stink. Get the bad energy out, you know?”

---