Carol smiled her sticky-sweet I’m right smile. The woman’s presence alone would have driven him to drink, never mind the smile, but Queen Bee had become a constant in their lives in the last few months. She was still mean as a hornet and as deadly as a venomous snake, but she’d somehow become their venomous snake.

She was even helping Sloane and Emma renovate Sloane’s office at the house. She needed more space to keep all her event-planning business plans and papers together, and that didn’t include the paperwork that went with being the co-owner of the florist shop. He was just happy that her five-year plan to convince Mrs. Baker to move the shop to Arbor Bay was in her office and not on their kitchen table.

Brady had offered to help with the renovation, but apparently he liked decorations that reminded Sloane of an eighties horror film.

Rude.

“Can I vote against Brady doing a split?” Callum asked. Like Brady wanted to, though Sloane had told him not to yet, he’d abandoned his blazer and tie on the ride from the estate to the bar. “I don’t think anyone wants to see that.”

Sloane rolled her eyes. “You’re my brother. You can’t keep taking his side on things.” She looked at Carol. “Remember how I wanted to paint the laundry room that blue color we liked? These two teamed up together and shot me down.”

Carol turned that venomous stare his way.

“We can make it three on two real fast,” she threatened. Then she stopped and looked around the party. “Wait. Where is Emma?”

She and Sloane looked this way and that while Callum tried his best to look innocent. He hated keeping secrets, but there was one he’d been doing a stellar job at keeping the last month.

“Probably making out with Dewey in a corner again,” Brady lied. “I heard from someone that weddings really put people in the mood.”

Brady winked at Sloane.

There was that blush again.

The front door opened, and everyone turned. Marcus and Felicity came in to a chorus of congrats and cheering. Brady used the distraction to leave Sloane’s side. He moved through the crowd until he got to the new groom.

“Kickass ceremony and reception,” Brady greeted the man. Marcus laughed and motioned around the room.

“And it’s going to be a kickass after-party,” he yelled over the noise. “Thanks again for letting us have it here.”

Brady meant it when he said “no problem.”

Not only had Carol become a part of Brady and Sloane’s group in the last few months, but so had Marcus. And Felicity.

She beamed at Brady, still wearing her wedding dress, before she was pulled away to a group gathered around Missy.

When she was gone, Marcus lowered his voice. “Did Emma get it?”