Nobody Does It Better(6)

Sara: We’re going to need to send her back to acting school, CarolAnn.



CarolAnn: Signing her up now . . .



Miriam: Ha! You’ll all be coming to me soon, wanting me to set up your sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, cousins . . .



CarolAnn: *sifts through list of young single people*



Sara: hopes Miriam is right



Miriam: All kidding aside, she seemed completely open to it. This is going to be good for everyone involved, don’t you think?



CarolAnn: I do have to agree with you there. It feels like it was meant to be.



Sara: And we’re going to make sure what’s meant to be actually comes to be.





4





Shaw





Damn.

I check out my reflection in the mirror at the tux shop, shaking my head in over-the-top admiration. “I’d say it’s amazing . . . but honestly, it shouldn’t be a surprise I look good in anything. Formal wear was made for me.”

Derek adjusts the lapels on his tux as he scoffs. “Hey, Shaw. Have you been tested lately?”

“For extreme levels of good-looking? Why, yes. I was off the charts.”

“No, for your myopia, as in short-sightedness.”

Gabe mimes banging a drum. “Boom.”

“Oh, please. You’re all just jelly I’m still single.” I joke, since I know they’re nothing of the sort. These two cats are most happily taken.

“Ha. As if I want to be out there hunting with the likes of you.” Gabe points at himself, his platinum band shining brightly under the fluorescent lights of the store. “Married, and happy as the happiest clam in the sea, thank you very much.”

As a man should fucking well be when he’s spoken for. And since Gabe is my closest bud, and Derek’s become a damn good friend, I couldn’t be more thrilled one of them has successfully tied the knot and the other will in one more week.

And yet, I also must razz them. “Then you’re green with envy that I look this stunning. Damn, I should be the star of the firemen calendar.” I smack my forehead. “Oh wait, I am. And clearly no one has ever looked as good in turnouts or a tux as I do.”

Gabe clears his throat. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your dirty little secret.”

I lift a curious eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“That you paid the calendar organizer for your placement on the cover.”

Derek’s eyes widen, and he chuckles under his breath. “Oh, I can’t wait to spread that rumor.”

Gabe straightens his bow tie. “It’s no rumor. It’s the God’s honest truth.”

“Like I said, jealousy is your color, Gabe,” I toss back. Then I angle my head to nod at Derek, who’s finishing up his final tux fitting, and drop the ribbing for a moment. “All kidding aside . . . looking good.”

He nods at my reflection, gratitude in the set of his jaw. “Thanks, man.”

And because I’m not a dick, even though I love to give these guys a hard time, I narrow my eyes at the three of us in the mirror. “I mean, hell. Just look at us in our tuxes. We could be the models for this shop.”

From behind me, the faint chuckling of the shop owner carries across the small store.

“Mr. Grayson,” I call, “I know you’re eager to slap our photo on the front window. Just admit it, and for you, we’ll even do it for free.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to scare anyone away,” the older man deadpans as he ambles over and straightens the shoulders on Gabe’s jacket.

I pout. “My modeling career is over. Guess I’ll stick to my day job. Also, speaking of how good we look, allow me to say this.” I turn and meet Derek’s dark eyes then pat his shoulder, bro-style. “I’m glad my sister is marrying you.”

Gabe places a hand on his heart. “Aww. I love it when Shaw goes all honest and mushy.”

I glare at my friend. “I’m not mushy.”

Gabe pinches his thumb and forefinger together. “A little mushy?”

I point at Derek. “He’s a good guy. He treats Perri well. Nuff said.”

“I do treat her well. She deserves nothing less.” Derek’s tone is heartfelt, full of the devotion he’s displayed to my sister, and I’m so damn glad she found a man like him. “I’m a lucky guy,” he tells me. “And I’m also glad you didn’t pull any of that don’t touch my sister shit.”

I laugh. “Perri does that enough for all of us when she pulls her don’t touch my friend shit.”

Derek chuckles. “I’ve never met a lioness more protective of her sister lions.”

I huff, wishing she wasn’t that way, but what can I do?

I sidestep the issue, glancing at the silver-haired shop owner. “Hey, Mr. Grayson, I think I could work in a tuxedo shop. Want to know why?”

“Why’s that?”

I wiggle my brows. “It suits me.”

“Ugh,” Derek groans, and Gabe joins in, followed by the proprietor. “Dude, you have the worst jokes.”

“That’s not true. I have awesome jokes. The ladies love them.”