Page 12 of Ruthless Temptation

“Seriously, it’s just a minor cut,” Lily said, sounding exasperated. Her gaze shot to him again, and he realized she was overwhelmed by the fuss.

“You don’t want it to get infected while on a tropical island. Good work spotting it, Aidan,” Harper said, patting his arm as he stood up and handed the first aid kit back to the employee.

“Thank you, Harper,” Aidan replied. “The bandage should stay on overnight and we’ll check it in the morning.”

He reached down and helped Lily to her feet.

That was when his younger cousins decided to show up.

“What’s up, Aides!” Blake greeted him with a back slap.

“Cuz,” Jacob said, grinning.

His Aunt Samantha, Andrew’s sister, had added to the family a few years after Amelia was born, so they were the youngest of the Dufort pack.

Well, except for Baxter now.

“You remember Daniel and Harper, right?” Aidan asked.

“We met in Philly,” Harper said, reaching out her hand. “At the engagement party.”

“Good to see you again, boys,” Daniel said.

They all shook hands while Aidan found himself placing a hand on the small of Lily’s back to keep her steady as she kept the weight off her foot.

“And this is Emma’s bridesmaid, Lily,” Aidan said.

“I met them in Philly, too.”

Aidan had been very distracted at the engagement party, so of course, they had all met. Right now, he didn’t like the way Blake and Jacob were smiling at Lily.

“When is your mom flying in?” Daniel asked.

“Monday, for the ceremony,” Blake said. “Your parents arrive tomorrow, right?”

Aidan nodded.

“What about Uncle Jonathan? Was he invited?” Jacob asked.

“Yeah, no, he won’t be attending.” Daniel smirked.

There was still bad blood between both their fathers. Aidan knew he had been invited, but despite the air being sort of cleared, it was still awkward having them both in the same room.

Long story short, they had both loved the same woman and while Jonathan had married Margaret and had a family, it was Jena, the love of his life, who was the one who got away.

Aidan had to wonder if it had all been worth losing his brother over. Especially as he divorced Margaret years later, and now was reunited with Jena.

Oh, yeah, and Jena was also Jackson’s mom, making him Daniel, Hunter, and Fletcher’s half-brother.

“Plus, Jenna is undergoing a special cancer treatment and can’t travel right now.”

Oh, shit, he didn’t know that.

“I’m sorry,” Aidan said, and his sentiments were echoed by his cousins.

“That’s very sad,” Lily said, and he noted the heavy tone in her voice.

“You know Jenna is Jackson’s mom, right?” Harper added. “So he and Kristen will be heading right back to NYC after the wedding.”

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