Jess, who hadn’t participated—this time—in the game of tug, sat down next to Mitch. She wore a satin robe and not much else.

“How you doing, beautiful?”

“Fine. Glad that part is over.”

He glanced at her flat belly and asked his daily question since finding out she was pregnant with Smitty’s love child, “And how’s Mitch Junior?”

Jess shook her head. “You have got to stop calling her that. Smitty will have your head.”

“But I love watching how red his face gets.” He looked at the clock on the wall. “You better get dressed. There’s still more to your day.”

She rolled her eyes. From what Mitch could tell, Jess hadn’t had much to do with arranging this wedding other than to insist on the Karaoke Room and no real flowers at the ceremony or the reception since she was violently allergic. From the flowers on the tables to the bride’s bouquet, all were fake flowers but so artfully done, he wouldn’t have known if someone hadn’t said something about it.

“I haven’t seen the other dress. Put it on, and I’ll see if I can give it the Mitch seal of approval.”

“Okay.” She glanced longingly at the rope and the She-dogs still attached to it.

“No, Jess. You can’t play tug.”

She gave a cute little growl before storming off. “My day my ass!”

“I knew you’d be back here. Hidin’.”

Sissy smiled up at her daddy. She wasn’t surprised he’d found her in the back of the kitchen, hiding in the room the staff used to take breaks. He knew his daughter better than most people realized. But they’d always been close. “You’re one of the few who don’t piss me off, Shug,” he used to tell her when she was only five. Bubba Ray Smith was a unique good ol’ boy, but Sissy loved her father and would destroy anyone who messed with him.

“I’m not hiding. I’m taking a much needed break.” She stood and hugged her father. “Hey, Daddy.”

“Hey, Shug.” He always called her that when they were alone. It was his pet name for her. He started off calling her Sugar, but when she’d turned four or so, he’d gotten lazy and shortened it to Shug. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m trying, Daddy. I really am. But she’s pushing me.” Like always.

“You gotta stop letting her get to you.” Her father pulled out the chair for her, and Sissy sat down, her father in the chair next to hers. “She pushes you because she wants you to be the best.”

“The best at what? Matricide?”

“That ain’t funny, and you know it.”

It was kind of funny.

“You’re grown now, Shug. You can’t let her get to youanymore. You’ve got your own Pack, and you don’t even live at home anymore. Although I’d never stop you from moving back if ya want.” And she heard the hope in his voice. It broke her heart and made her feel very loved.

“You know I can’t come back, Daddy. Not to live.” She smiled. “But at least I’m in the States now.”

“Yeah. That’s true. And here I know my little girl’s safe.”

Yeah, her father still saw her that way. His baby girl. Sweet, delicate, his princess. Of course, everyone else knew better. And most women would be annoyed, wondering why their fathers didn’t see them as adults who could manage their own lives. That wasn’t her father, though. Sissy never felt like he thought less of her. He’d trusted her to handle most things when everyone else still treated her like a kid. So no matter where she went or how far away she was, she was Bubba Smith’s baby girl, and she always would be. It didn’t bother her because she didn’t doubt herself as a woman or a She-wolf. You couldn’t when you were Alpha. You couldn’t afford to.

“I was real worried you’d stay over there in Asia, and then I didn’t know what I’d do without my baby girl.”

Because God forbid the man would actually leave the country.

“What’s outside of America that’s all that interesting?” he’d grumble. The fact he was taking an actual vacation starting tomorrow still amazed her. Her mother must have had to work some major Lewis Mojo to make that happen.

“Do your old man a favor, Shug,” he said, taking her hand.

“Anything, Daddy.”

“Don’t get into it with your momma today. Promise me.”

“But—”

“Promise me, Sissy Mae.” Okay. He’d pulled out the full name. Not Shug or darlin’ girl or any of his other nicknames. So he was serious.

To Sissy’s surprise—and especially to her brother’s surprise—this wedding meant a lot to Daddy, and she wouldn’t ruin it for him. She’d simply avoid the heifer. Hell, she’d been doing it since grade school, what was one more day?

“I promise, Daddy.”

He leaned in close and kissed her forehead. “That’s my Shug.”

“Your tits will fall out.”

Jess blinked big, brown dog eyes at him. “What are you talking about?” She looked down at the sleeveless ivory dress she had on. Her ceremony dress had cost a small fortune. This one, specifically for the reception, cost a lot less. Like a mini fortune.

“I’ve seen you dance, Jess. Your tits are going to fall out.”

Jess took a step back and stretched her arms out. “Nipple check.”