Kara had told him they’d had nannies to help out growing up, and that her mother had, in fact, taken a lot of time for herself away from her children. The pampering was evident as Judith air-kissed her daughter.

“You look lovely, honey,” she said with obvious approval for the dress Kara had bought at Tiffany’s store. Dan would bet a million bucks that if she’d known it came from a place called Naughty & Nice, she wouldn’t have been so appreciative.

She turned her attention to Dan, her scrutiny nearly making him squirm. “Love the bow tie. It works on you.”

“Thank you.” He’d decided to give Judith and Chuck Ballard the benefit of the doubt. They were going to be his in-laws, after all. But he would never, ever forget or forgive them for the way they’d treated Kara after the debacle with Kelly and Matt. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be cordial, however.

Kara had told him they’d been impressed by him after they met over dinner the night before. As soon as her sister, Kelly, had gone home to Bar Harbor to report that Kara was engaged to a celebrity lawyer, her parents had suddenly taken all new interest in their daughter’s life on Gansett, much to Kara’s dismay.

Leaving Bar Harbor and all the family drama behind had been the best thing she’d ever done for herself, and it had brought her to him, which was the best thing that’d ever happened to him. He’d be damned if he’d ever let these people or anyone else hurt her again.

That was why he stayed close to her as their guests began to arrive. Surrounded by their friends, all of whom had dressed up for the occasion, Dan felt Kara begin to relax. This was their new family, the one they had cultivated together, and being around their friends always made them happy.

He had to give her parents credit, they stayed right by their sides, meeting all their friends and exchanging pleasantries with each of them. Chuck Ballard was tall with white hair, a deep tan and a friendly, engaging manner. A “guy’s guy,” Dan had thought upon their initial meeting, the kind of man others gravitated to. At the moment, he was talking about marinas and the boating business with Big Mac and Linda McCarthy.

Dan had to admit that with the liquor flowing, the endless supply of tasty appetizers, his girl at his side and his friends all around him, this party didn’t totally suck the way Kara had told him it would.

“How ya doing?” he whispered in her ear when they got a break from the socializing.

“Not bad.”

“It’s actually kind of nice.”

“I’ll remember you said that later when you want sex. You’re either with them or you’re with me. You can’t have it both ways.”