“I never hated her, Bobby Ray. I wasn’t nice to her, but I never hated her. And based on that,” she pointed at the gift she’d given him, “I knew you loved her. Even then. I never mentioned it before because I thought I lost it. But I found it last time I was home, buried with my stash of old Playgirls.”

Bobby Ray lifted the ID bracelet from the velvet-lined box. Inscribed on the front was Bobby Ray’s name, but it was the inscription on the back that at the time, told sixteen-year-old Sissy what she’d already suspected and had her feeling like a bully for the first time: “To my Jessie Ann.”

“I figured you could give it to her now since you pussed out when you were eighteen.”

“I didn’t puss out; I just didn’t think it was the right time. Judgmental heifer.”

“Gelding.”

Sissy wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him tight. “You have a happy life, Bobby Ray.”

“Yeah. I’m fixin’ to.”

And Sissy laughed.

Mitch threw his arm around his older half-sister’s shoulders and smiled when she went tense and her hands clenched into fists.

Marissa Shaw was Brendon’s twin and Mitch’s older half-sister. Thankfully, she was not his only sister. There was still Gwenie. Five years younger, sweet, innocent Gwen would never be so mean to Mitch. She worshipped him!

Rissa, however, seemed convinced that Mitch was nothing more than a scumbag who wanted to steal their vast fortune from them. And he was so nice to her, too…

“Those shoes were an interesting choice. Were they out of the official clown shoes, and you had to go with the cheap imitations?”

Marissa scowled at him. “Aren’t you needed somewhere? I’m sure Sissy wouldn’t mind you staring at her big ass some more.”

“Don’t be jealous, sweetie. I’m sure someone wouldn’t mind staring at your big ass.”

She abruptly pulled away from him. “Feel free to stay away from me today.”

“I try and stay away from you every day.”

“You don’t try hard enough.”

Mitch watched her walk away. “Love you, Rissa.”

“Shut up.”

Laughing, Mitch pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket. But the laughter died when he recognized the number.

Sissy saw her mother going up on her tiptoes, looking over the crowd for something. Probably her. Panicking, Sissy took several steps back, but those damn shoes went out from under her. Who the hell paid seven hundred and fifty dollars for shoes anyway? In what world was that okay? Give her a pair of boots and a leather jacket, and Sissy was a happy gal for a lot less money.

Figuring she’d hit the floor, Sissy shut her eyes and gritted her teeth. And although she hit something hard, it wasn’t thefloor.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and bit back her smile. “Oh. Hello, Brendon.”

“Uh…hi.” He looked so fabulously horrified sitting in that chair with his mate’s best friend on his lap that Sissy couldn’t stop herself. All the rules drummed into her by Bobby Ray over the last few weeks disappeared as she stared at Mitch’s big brother.

“I guess this is a bit awkward, huh?”

“Well…”

“But I couldn’t hide it anymore.” She put her arms around his neck, and his whole body tightened as his eyes looked around the room, practically begging someone to rescue him. “You and me…perfect together, Brendon.”

“What?” His gold eyes grew wide. “Uh…Sissy…wait a second—”

“Seriously. I’ve seen your kids. We’d have beautiful babies.”

“What’s going on?”

Poor Brendon. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or scared to death when Ronnie Lee walked up to them.

“I finally told Bren that he was mine and we would be together forever.”

Ronnie’s eyes turned toward the ceiling, and she brushed her hair away from her face. “I thought we were going to discuss this first.”

Sissy felt Bren’s big lion body jerk, and she had to fight hard not to laugh.

“I’m Alpha Female, darlin’. I don’t have to discuss a damn thing with you or anyone.”

Ronnie nodded and cleared her throat. “She’s right. I’m sorry, Bren.” She sniffed back a nonexistent tear—Ronnie never could fake actual ones. “I hope you’ll remember me fondly.” Then she ran off into the crowd.

Now Sissy frowned. How had Ronnie learned to run in those damn shoes?

“Ronnie, wait!” Brendon stood and practically tossed Sissy off his lap. “I’m sorry but…forget it.” He ran after Ronnie, and Sissy started to laugh until she caught her mother’s scent.

She spun and ran out a set of big glass doors leading to the gardens. She debated not stopping, just running all the way back to the city, but Mitch’s scent caught her attention. She followed it and found him by one of the marble benches they had all over the property. Like most of the males in the wedding party, he’d lost the jacket, removed his tie, and undone the collar of his shirt. Mitch had also rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and Sissy could see the tattoo on his forearm. He was on the phone and pacing back and forth.

He looked…tense. And she didn’t know why. She should find out.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure,” Jen Chow snapped. “Do you think I’d call you about this if I weren’t sure?”