It Must Be Your Love (The Sullivans #11)(36)

Nicola, thankfully, didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the commotion, and when she jokingly rolled her eyes and said, “Musicians always have to be the center of attention, don’t they?” everyone laughed. Everyone except Ian, who looked as though he was barely restraining himself from tearing across the grounds to pummel Ford.

Mia shot him a pointed look between photos. You promised.

Today only, was the reminder he sent back in just as pointed a manner.

Through it all, Mia was pretty darn pleased with how well she pulled off her relaxed smile. Only Ian and Brooke knew just how hard she was having to work to manage it.

The second the photographer declared the family photo session finished, Brooke pulled her aside. “How are you doing?”

“Well,” Mia said in a low voice that she made sure wouldn’t carry to anyone else, especially her other brothers, “I’m glad I gave Ford a piece of my mind.”

In the way that only a true friend could, Brooke raised her eyebrows as she scanned Mia’s slightly messy hair, obviously well-kissed lips, and flushed skin. “It certainly looks like you gave him something.”

“I didn’t break my promise!” Mia insisted. “There were no tongues in either direction.”

“Well, that’s good, I guess,” Brooke said in a rather doubtful voice.

“It was good,” Mia had to admit. So good that she could still feel the imprint of his lips all across her skin. “At least until Ian walked in on us.”

Brooke’s eyebrows shot up twice as high as they’d been before. “How is Ford still alive?”

Mia looked over to where he was signing autographs, and a rush of heat moved through her when he lifted his gaze to meet hers. “He might not be for long,” she murmured, even as she found it impossible to look away.

Just then Rafe walked up to them and slid his arm around his fiancée. “Something’s up with Ian. He looks like he’s going to burst a vein soon. And when did Ford Vincent get here?”

Mia didn’t even have to send her friend a save me look before Brooke pressed a very distracting kiss to Rafe’s lips. “I think we’re supposed to sit down now for the meal and toasts.” Before Rafe could say anything more about Ian, Brooke began a rather one-sided conversation about how beautiful the wedding had been and how pretty the vineyard was and how she was absolutely starved. Anything and everything she could think of to keep Rafe off the scent.

Yet again, Mia thought as she squared her shoulders to prepare herself to make it through the rest of today’s wedding in one piece, she owed Brooke big time.

Although, when she found her name card at one of the family tables up at the front of the reception area, Mia decided she might very well have to kill Nicola and Marcus, even though it was their special day...

Because, as luck would have it, they’d seated her right next to Ford.

* * *

When Ford realized where he was seated for the meal, he hoped Nicola’s new husband wouldn’t take it the wrong way when he planted a big wet one on both of them later.

From his seat, he could see Mia standing a few yards away downing a glass of champagne, and was immediately taken by the urge to lick the stray drops of the fizzy liquor off her lips. But he’d always wanted to meet her family, and despite knowing that at least one of her brothers already had it in for him, Ford wanted to take the opportunity to get to know as much about Mia and the Sullivans as he could.

Fortunately, he had an ally in Tatiana, who found her place card at his table, as well. Unfortunately, a moment later, so did Ian, directly across from Ford.

Weddings were always full of surprises. Usually, however, those surprises came in the form of a drunk old auntie who was later found face-down in a hedge, snoring off the bottle of whiskey she’d smuggled from catering. Just think how long people would talk about this one if Mia’s brothers gave him what he deserved.

“I’m a big fan of your music,” the guy pulling out a chair beside Ian said to Ford as he held out a hand. “I’m Ryan Sullivan, and this is my fiancée, Vicki Bennett.”

“Great to meet you both,” he said before he finally realized why the guy looked so familiar. Ford had been so focused on Mia during the ceremony that he’d completely spaced on recognizing the best pitcher in the National Baseball League in the lineup of groomsmen. “I was blown away by your pitching last season. And,” he said as he realized who Vicki was, “I’m also a fan of your sculptures.”

She was obviously pleased that he knew of her work. “Thank you.”

Ford was struck by how comfortable Vicki and Ryan were with each other, how they looked like two people who were clearly meant to be together. Had they ever screwed things up, or had everything in their relationship gone perfectly from day one?

“Are you two going to be the next Sullivan wedding?”

“Maybe,” Vicki said with a laugh. “Unless Zach and Heather or Smith and Valentina or Brooke and Rafe beat us to it. But we’re used to waiting,” Vicki said with an easy smile as she leaned back into Ryan’s arms and looked up at her fiancé. “Aren’t we?”

“I fell for her when we were fifteen,” Ryan explained to Ford, “and then she went and married some other guy. Fifteen years later, I finally convinced her we were meant to be.”