Valorous(48)

“Your what?” Jasper and Kristian say in stereo.

“You heard him right, boys,” Marlowe says. “Pigs are now flying in hell!”

“I’m sorry,” Jasper says, staggering dramatically. “I need a moment.”

“Shut the f*ck up,” Flynn says, laughing as he gives his friend a playful shove.

The doorbell rings again, and Marlowe returns with yet another stunningly gorgeous man. This one has chestnut brown hair and golden eyes. He’s dressed in a dark suit that fits his muscular frame like it was cut just for him. It probably was.

“Emmett!” Jasper cries. “You aren’t going to believe it. Our boy Flynn is engaged!”

Emmett stops short on his way into the kitchen. “What’d you say? He’s what?”

“Show him, Natalie,” Kristian says.

I hold up the ring for Emmett to see.

He takes a close look at the ring, then at Flynn and then at the ring again.

“Get the poor guy a drink, Mo,” Jasper says. “He’s been shocked speechless.”

“You’re seriously engaged,” Emmett says.

“As serious as it gets. Emmett, meet my fiancée, Natalie Bryant. Natalie, our chief counsel, Emmett Burke.”

He shakes my hand. “So nice to meet you.”

“You, too. Thanks for all your help this week.”

“Believe me, I’ve enjoyed sticking it to that bastard David Rogers. We’ve made his life a living hell, and we’re just getting started.”

“Thank you.”

Addie arrives with Flynn’s sister Ellie, and then Hayden comes in a short time later, bearing grocery bags and another twelve-pack of beer.

“You let a guy borrow your beach house and how does he thank you? By throwing a rager.”

“You’re lucky we decided to invite you.” Flynn gives Hayden one of those side-handed handshakes guys do these days.

“There’s big news afoot,” Jasper says.

Hayden cracks open a beer and drinks half of it. “What’s that?”

“Our boy Flynn? Engaged.”

Hayden chokes on the beer, coughing profusely while Jasper laughs and pounds on his back.

I have no idea how to take Hayden’s reaction. Once the coughing stops, he stares at Flynn for a long, uncomfortably quiet moment.

“Well,” he finally says, “it appears congratulations are in order.”

“Thanks,” Flynn says tightly. I can tell he’s less than pleased with his best friend’s reaction.

Like the first time I met him, I can’t help but notice that Hayden is incredibly handsome in a rugged sort of way. I muster the courage to speak directly to him. “Hayden, I wanted to thank you for your support on Twitter this week. It meant a lot to me.”

“Sure. We’re all on your side in this thing. I still can’t believe it happened.”

“Neither can we, but the outpouring of support has made it more bearable.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“How’d the interview with Carolyn go?” Kristian asks.

“It was good,” Flynn replies. “Natalie is a natural, and Carolyn asked all the right questions. We’re hoping it’ll put an end to the insanity.”

Hayden laughs at that.

“What’s so funny?” Flynn asks.

“Wait till they hear you’re engaged. You haven’t seen insanity yet.”

“They aren’t going to hear that.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re getting married Monday night in Vegas. By the time they hear about it, it’ll be a done deal.”

The announcement is met with stunned silence.

“Monday,” Marlowe says after at least a minute has passed. “That’s like two days from now.”

“Yep.”

“What’s the rush?” Hayden asks.

I can feel the tension coming off Flynn in waves. “No rush. It’s just what we want.” He puts his arm around me. “Where are those enchiladas, Mo? I’m starving.”

With that, he sends the message that he’s done talking about our plans.





I’m f*cking furious at Hayden. I don’t expect him to jump for joy over my announcement, but I certainly didn’t expect him to question me that way in front of Natalie. Hours later, I’m still fuming. I’m with the guys outside on the deck, playing poker and enjoying some Cuban cigars Kristian brought. The girls are inside laughing and talking and drinking. I’ve been keeping an eye on Natalie, and she seems to be enjoying herself with my friends and my sister.