Harper and Elijah were able to attend but Mandy was disappointed Hayden hadn’t been able to make it.
Elijah whispered to her during the reception, “I was instructed to bring gifts for you as well as the bride and groom. I believe Hayden mentioned something about a spectrometer?”
Eyes wide, she gasped. “Are you…being serious right now?” The bodyguard nodded and it was impossible to hide her excitement. “Oh, my lord…I wish he was here for me to hug him! I’ve been working up the courage to ask for one as a birthday or Christmas present. They are…outrageous.”
“And you deserve the best,” Harper told her. “Whatever lab equipment you need, tell my brother, Mandy. He’ll make sure you have it.”
“I should say something like, oh he shouldn’t have…but I’m not going to say it. No way. I want it and I’m glad he did.” Glancing between the two men, she added softly, “He rocks.”
“Hmm. I think you like him better.”
Crossing her arms, she asked, “Let me ask you something, Harper. Would you ever think to send someone a spectrometer?” He laughed and she grinned. “Hayden and I have more in common. I adore you but I doubt we have many similar interests…and that’s okay. I don’t need to salivate over finance to find you interesting.”
“How diplomatic you are, Mandy.” He held out his arm and she placed hers in it. “I’m starving.”
“Thank goodness. I thought I’d have to pretend my stomach isn’t growling. Let’s hit those massive tables of appetizers before they serve dinner.”
When they had plates in hand, she smiled at Elijah. “Tell him how much he was missed today.”
“I will, Mandy.”
As much as she loved her family and the occasion, she couldn’t wait to experiment with her new piece of lab equipment.
It was hard to play it cool.