Page 50 of A Convenient Ring to Claim Her

“Mom, would you consider coming to Germany for the wedding? It’s a big ask, considering who will be there.” He meant his family. “But the hotel renovations in Wildenfels are nearly complete. We could book it out before the official opening in October.” The project was ahead of schedule and he and Quinn were planning to spend the next weeks in Berlin so the residency requirement would be easy to meet. “It’s convenient for the business associates I’m expected to invite.”

“It won’t be a huge wedding anyway,” Quinn interjected. “This is friends of the bride right here.” She drew a circle to indicate their little party. “And you’re all related to Micah.”

“That’s not true,” Eden scoffed, and began rattling off mutual friends from school who absolutelyhadto be invited.

Quinn had floated the idea of an elopement, but since German marriages were typically conducted in private civil ceremonies at a registrar’s office, and the pomp was actually the reception, she had agreed to Micah’s desire for something bigger. He didn’t want any rumors it was a shotgun wedding. A splashy celebration would set the appropriate tone, especially with his father’s side of the family.

“I would go anywhere to see you two marry,” Lucille assured them. “When were you thinking?”

“The hotel is scheduled to open in a month, so three weeks from today.”

“That’s not enough time!” Eden cried.

It was too long, in Micah’s opinion.

“If I’m designing your gown, that starts today. Let me get my tablet,” Yasmine said, searching for her bag.

“Mama, do you still have those bridal magazines from when I was planning my wedding to Hunter? They always have checklists in them.” Eden turned on Micah. “I know what you’re doing. You’re making this happen fast so I don’t have time to go over-the-top with the arrangements. You are underestimating me, my friend,” Eden warned playfully.

Quinn, the devil, took advantage of the mild chaos to bring Micah two open longneck bottles of beer. She tilted her head toward Remy. He was pretending an interest in a romance novel Lucille had left on an end table.

“Take him outside and tell him about your dream wedding. Or discuss women’s rights. Or socket wrenches. Dealer’s choice.”

He knew damned well what she wanted him to talk to Remy about. He walked over to offer one of the bottles. “Shall we get this over with?”

Remy accepted the beer and nodded for Micah to precede him out to Lucille’s extremely well-tended garden. She opened it for a week every summer to walking tours as part of a cancer research fundraiser so it was an immaculate network of paths among water features, a freestanding swing, and a “pollinator’s paradise” of fragrant blooms that attracted butterflies and other insects.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” Remy said, helping himself to a raspberry off a cane.

“Congratulations on your recent marriage,” Micah said with equal parts sincerity and irony.

For a moment there was only the chorus of crickets in the long grass beyond the fence.

“It was a nice offer you made to Yasmine, but she doesn’t need anything, so...” Remy’s tone suggested Micah get very lost.

“I’ll wait for her to tell me that herself. As I’ve been informed many times, women are allowed to make their own decisions, so...”Bite me.

They both took a long pull on their beer.

“Eden has low blood pressure,” Micah thought to inform him. “If she gets dehydrated, she faints. On a day like today, put some pretzels or salted nuts in front of her.”

“Aware,” Remy said starkly. “She passed out on the beach and scared the hell out of me. It won’t happen again.” He jerked his chin toward the house. “If Yasmine gives you something to wear, wear it. It hurts her feelings if you refuse. She’s always right anyway. And you could afford to loosen up a notch.” His side-eye hit Micah’s tie.

It was his mother’s birthday dinner. He had dressed appropriately. Although Remy did look comfortable yet smart in his raw linen shirt over striped trousers.

A burst of female laughter came from inside the house. They both glanced that direction.

“Never get between Eden and Quinn,” Micah said gravely. He was doubly invested in that one.

Remy snorted. “I pity the fool who would think to try.”

“Good answer.”

They clinked their bottles and finished their beer in companionable silence.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LIKEANYBRIDE, Quinn became so caught up in planning her wedding, dispensing with the vestiges of her life in Canada and securing a job, she overlooked the fact that she was completely changing her life. For a man. A man who didn’t love her.

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