Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)(41)

“That’s right. No thanks to your uncle Jud here. You know, since he never knows what’s right in front of his face.” Tessa sent me a saucy grin filled with some kind of implication.

My brow furrowed. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

She shrugged. “I’m just sayin’.”

“Just sayin’ what?”

She gave me a confused look that was just a little bit sketchy. “What do you mean?”

That frown deepened. Girl was talking in circles.

I didn’t get to press her, though, because Logan came striding in carrying a present and a grin on his arrogant face.

“The party is here. We may begin.”

Tessa rolled her eyes. “Um…the party begins when Eden and Trent get here, dorkface. Now get your butt over here and help. You were supposed to be here forty-five minutes ago to help set up.”

“I was having a bad hair day that turned into an awesome hair day.” Fucker looked at himself in the mirror above the mantle, touching the poof that he’d probably spent two hours perfecting. He made a bunch of ridiculous faces at his reflection before he turned, tossing out guns with his free hand. “Killin’ it.”

A grunt sprung from my chest. “I’ll show you killin’ it.”

He cracked a smirk. “My, my, testy. Seems to me someone here is in need of some lovin’. Too bad all the ladies come running to his baby brother instead. Damn shame.”

“Dream on.”

“Oh, I’m dreaming all right. Living it.”

I shook my head, holding back the laughter that wanted to rumble out.

Dude was ridiculous.

He set his present on the gift table before he waltzed our way as he took in the opulent room. He let out a low whistle. “I know who’s not paying tonight.”

Luckily, he was close enough that all I had to do was reach out to smack him on the back of the head.

“Dude. What the heck? Why so violent?” Logan spat it like I was in the wrong, that mischief playing around his mouth.

“Manners, man.”

With a roguish smile, he waggled his brows. “Only time I’m willing to spend this much money on dinner is when I’m getting something out of it.”

“Well, you’re not gettin’ dead, so there’s that,” I shot back.

Gage giggled like crazy. “Oh, you better watch it, Uncle Logan, Uncle Jud is about to Take. You. Dowwwwn.”

“That’s right, Gage in the Cage. Uncle Logan is about to go down.” I cocked my head at my crazy-ass brother.

“Pssh. You wish.”

“No wishin’ to it,” I grunted. “I speak facts.”

“Would you two knock it off? We have work to do,” Tessa scolded. “Logan, you put out the favors at each spot at the table. Jud, you set out the name cards. I have them in order, starting at the head of the table with Trent and Eden and working around the right.”

She shoved the stack at me.

“You serious?”

She had a freaking seating chart?

“Dead serious.” She sent me a glare.

Right. Of course.

Fuckin’ Pinterest.

In exasperation, I shook my head, but I figured I wasn’t going to win this one. I moved to the table set for twenty and placed the cards for Eden and Trent at the head of the table. Then I worked my way down the long side to their right, Logan, Gage, then me. Next to me on that side was a few of our employees from Absolution who’d become more like family. I rounded the opposite end then started up the other side where Tessa had sat some of Eden’s teacher friends, herself, Eden’s dad, and then…

What the ever lovin’ fuck?

I froze at the name written on the card.

Salem.

It was set up so she was sitting directly across from me.

My stomach sank and tightened, and then the world shifted. Felt every hair on my body stand at attention, and fuck me, my dick did the same when that energy struck the air.

I looked back just in time to see her standing in the double doorway.

Her hands were latched on the shoulders of the same little girl who’d nearly dropped me to my knees on Wednesday. She seemed unsure, wary to take a step forward because she might just be treading into a field of landmines.

“Juni Bee! My bestest friend in the whole wide world! You came to have a party with us?!” Gage screeched it as he went racing that way.

“Yes!” she squealed. “Miss Tessa said we hads to come because you and your daddy are getting married!”

My chest fucking fisted.

“And look at my pretty party dress! My mommy sewed it up because we gots it at the special store for the seconds and now it fits and now I’m a princess!”

That fist tightened in a death grip.

Had to rip myself from the snare of the sweet little thing.

Only it had me jerking up to meet the ferocity in Salem’s eyes.

Thunderbolt eyes.

They seared through me and sent every sane thought I possessed scattering.

Mindfucked.

She was nothing but hot-as-hell body. Lush curves and tempting shape.

She wore this slinky, cream-colored blouse that had my hands desperate to sink right in. A black, flowy skirt with another pair of those heels, and shit, my heart was doing that stupid, wayward thing.