Page 129 of Irresistibly Wicked

Zander had watched his beautiful wife flourish as he and his family walked alongside her and Brian on his recovery journey. But since she’d moved back home, the pieces of their lives had come together even more connected than before, and she’d roared to life like a bike that had finally found an open road.

He looked across the room at her now, taking in the music, the laughter, and the din of family, so happy Shauna had become a part of it. As he headed for the angel who had saved his life, the woman who had changed his world, “Never Stop” came on, the lyrics so perfect, they could have been torn from his soul just for her.

THE LIVELY CELEBRATION had eased into the comfortable hum of an evening nobody wanted to end. Shauna stood by the dance floor with Zander, Brian, and a handful of others, volleying conversations. Brian was arguing with Sid about the best barbecue in town, while Gunner and Zeke tried to stir the pot by telling them both they were wrong. Chloe was leaning against Maverick’s side, shaking her head at them, and Madigan was holding court in her wedding gown like the queen she was, commenting on everything. Aria stood beside Zeke, taking it all in, while stealing glances at Blaine and Reese, and Starr and Justice, who were slow dancing by the band.

Emerson sat a few feet away, nursing baby Ashlyn, while Baz stood beside her with Brennan asleep on his shoulder, chatting with his best friend Evie and her fiancé and two of Zander’s cousins from Colorado. There were so many people there, Shauna couldn’t keep their names straight.

Across the room, Grandpa Mike hovered near the dessert table like a man on a mission, while Ginger and Reba kept eagle eyes on him, ready to swat his hand away. Rosie was sneaking behind them, hoarding cookies for him. Shauna wasn’t about to tell Rosie or Grandpa Mike that Ginger and Reba were one step ahead of them. Every dessert on that table was sugar free. They were simply playing a part, so as not to spoil Grandpa’s or Rosie’s fun, because Grandpa enjoyed sneaking around and Rosie was delighted to be his coconspirator.

That was only one of the many reasons she adored this family. They didn’t try to change people. They accepted them for who they were and watched out for them in ways that would go unnoticed by many. The way they had welcomed her and Brian into their close-knit group warmed her heart. Brian had been cautious at first. Like Shauna, he’d had to learn how to relate to people who wanted to get to know him for no reason other than genuine friendship. It was harder for Brian, being fresh out of rehab. He’d had to learn to trust himself in order to trust others. His therapist was helping, and Zander was as patient and thoughtful with Brian as he’d always been with her. She was proud of Brian. He was taking responsibility for every aspect of his life and working hard to stay on the right side of sobriety. She couldn’t be happier to have her first best friend back.

“You think you can outdance me, Con?” Dare Whiskey, one of Zander’s many cousins from Colorado, shouted.

“I don’t think. I know,” Conroy said. He handed the adorable toddler he was holding, Leo, to Preacher, and then strutted toward the dance floor.

“Shit, I’ll outdance you both!” another cousin called out.

The room erupted into shouts and challenges, and people rushed to the dance floor as the band started playing “Uptown Funk.” Within seconds men and women were stomping and spinning, hips shaking, arms waving, with exaggerated flair. The crowd circled them and cheered them on. Kids came running, giggling as they tried to copy the adults’ moves.

Lettie burst through the crowd in a pretty green dress, her hands raised. “Move over, old ones. Let me show you how it’s done!” Lucas, a teen relative from Colorado, barreled onto the dance floor after her. Blaine pushed through the dancing crowd, planting himself beside Lettie, and stood there, arms crossed, like a freaking bodyguard.

“Let’s go!” Madigan hollered, dragging Tobias toward the dance floor, inciting mayhem.

Amid the flurry of excitement, Aria took a step back, and Zeke put an arm protectively around her.

“Let’s go, darlin’!” Zander took Shauna’s hand, and they followed Brian and the others to the dance floor.

They all danced in a group, acting silly, wiggling their butts, twirling around, and cracking up. Even Blaine and Tank got in on the fun as one song bled into another. They danced until they were all out of breath, and then they made their way to the refreshment table, laughing and joking.

“That looked like fun,” Aria said as she and Zeke joined them.

“You should’ve come with us,” Madigan encouraged, sinking back against Tobias, who wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Aria shook her head. “Too wild for me.”

“I don’t blame you,” Shauna said. “That was total chaos.”

“Nah. It’s just family, darlin’.” Zander pulled her in for a kiss.

“Translation for people like us…This is what normal families do,” Brian said, holding a plate stacked with pigs in a blanket. “It’s like getting used to people showing up at your door at six in the morning.”

“Or stealing food off your plate,” Gunner said, snatching a snack off Brian’s plate.

“Dude,” Brian complained, but he was beaming.

“I’m starved.” Maverick reached over Brian’s shoulder to grab one and popped the whole thing into his mouth.

Gunner high-fived him.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Men. You give them food and they still act like toddlers.”

“Toddlers with better facial hair,” Maverick said, planting a kiss on Chloe’s cheek. He stole another pig in a blanket off Brian’s plate. “Thanks, man.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank Zander,” Brian said. “I would have a plate full of sugar if not for him. He’s got me watching my macros and working out harder. I swear this guy’s got my brain and my body working better.”

Shauna leaned into Zander and said, “He’s good at taking care of people.”

“I’ve got to admit, Zan, you’ve become hella responsible,” Zeke said.