Page 63 of Irresistibly Wicked

“Darlin’, it would be my honor to officiate your wedding,” Preacher said with a smile that softened those granite edges. He glanced at Zander, adding, “Lord knows this is probably the only chance I’ll get to marry this guy off.”

A nervous laugh slipped out, and Zander took her hand. “What do you say, Flores?”

“I think they might be as crazy as you are. This is so much more than I ever imagined, and that makes me one lucky girl.”

“You’re marrying me. That’s what makes you lucky,” Zander said, and they all laughed as he pulled her into a hug.

“They’re laughin’! Uncle Zannie, are we getting married?” a little girl with light brown skin and a mass of golden-brown ringlets shouted as she ran toward the deck in a frilly pink dress.

Sprinting behind her was a fair-skinned, freckle-faced young girl with red ringlets, wearing a pale green dress and a look of determination, hollering, “Rosie! Papa Tank said no deck yet!” as Rosie scrambled onto the deck.

“Are you gonna be my auntie?” Rosie shouted as she ran past Shauna, giggling up a storm, and launched herself at Zander. “Uncle Zannie, save me!”

Shauna and his parents laughed as he hoisted Rosie into his arms, and Preacher scooped up the other girl, her ringlets springing around her shoulders. The girls’ giggles filled the air, and holy cow, seeing Zander grinning from ear to ear with that little girl in his arms was the sweetest, sexiest thing she’d ever seen, bringing all those flutters rushing back.

Zander tickled Rosie’s belly and said, “Shauna, these are Tank’s girls, Rosie and Junie.”

“Is Shauna gonna be our auntie?” Rosie asked.

Zander locked eyes with Shauna. Happiness radiated off him, so real, it felt electric and binding, as he said, “Shauna’s not only going to be your auntie. She’s going to be your coolest auntie ever.”

“Yay!” Rosie and Junie cheered.

Whoops and cheers rang out, and as the rest of Zander’s family headed in their direction, his mother sidled up to Shauna and said, “In all the chaos, we didn’t formally meet. I’m Reba, and I’m sorry for the rough start. Preacher and I look forward to getting to know you.”

“Me too. Thank you so much.”

Reba embraced her and said, “Brace yourself, sweetheart. Here come the troops, led by my daughter. She can be a lot.”

“I’ve got her, Mom,” Zander said, setting Rosie on her feet and putting a hand on Shauna’s back as they headed off the deck.

Shauna barely had time to brace herself before his family converged on them, with dogs and toddlers in tow. “Hi. I’m Madigan,” his sister exclaimed. She was a petite bundle of energy and, holding the hand of a big, broody-looking guy with longish hair and linebacker shoulders, said, “And this is my fiancé, Tobias. We’re so happy to meet you.”

Tobias smiled and nodded as Madigan pulled Shauna into a hug.

Madigan leaned back, her gaze zeroing in on Shauna’s left hand. “Oh my God! Look at that rock!” She held Shauna’s hand up for everyone to see, like she’d uncovered a secret.

Shauna’s stomach dipped, but Zander was already sliding an arm around her waist, flashing that easy grin as he said, “Gotta protect my rep. Nothing less than the best for the only fiancée I’ll ever have.” He winked, and laughter rang out around them.

“Age before beauty. Out of my way,” an older man with a craggy voice said as he pushed through the crowd and studied her with keen eyes. “So, you’re the filly who got Zander to stand up to his old man.”

Chuckles rang out behind him.

Zander scoffed. “Shauna, this is my grandfather Mike.”

“Hi,” she said. “I’ve heard nice things about you.”

“All lies,” his grandfather said with a wink. “I’ve got some advice for ya.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You’ve got to fake it till the check clears, so when he pisses you off, which he will, you come see me. I’ll tell you stories that’ll make you appreciate him for his good looks and sense of humor.”

She laughed.

“Get out of here, old man,” Zander teased. “I won’t piss her off because I don’t want her subjected to the likes of you.”

“He’s jealous,” Preacher called out, earning more laughter.

“A’right, let’s get the introductions over with,” Zander said, and with a hand on Shauna’s back, he pointed to a curvy blonde who appeared to be not much older than Shauna and a teenager with long brown hair. “This is Blaine’s fiancée, Reese, and her sister, Lettie.”

“Hi,” Reese and Lettie said in unison.