She smiled, and he had to fight the overpowering urge to cross the room, haul her into his arms and kiss her senseless. It took everything he had not to give in to the need that drew him to her. “I’m sure it’ll be a great time.”

Alex and Jenny came into the house through the front door, holding hands and laughing about something.

Paul experienced yet another profound feeling of envy that his brother had his life worked out to his obvious satisfaction. Why was it that he couldn’t seem to do the same? The brief brush with happiness he’d experienced with Hope had only served to make him want it more than he had before.

“You ready to roll?” he asked Paul.

“Whenever you are.”

Alex wrapped his arms around Jenny and laid a deep, sensual kiss on her that had Paul squirming with discomfort as he tried to look anywhere but at Hope.

“Behave tonight, you hear me?” he said when they finally resurfaced.

“You do the same.”

Alex whispered something in Jenny’s ear that had her giggling like a schoolgirl before she pushed him back. “Go away and leave me alone to party with my ladies.” To Paul and Hope, she said, “My old man is such a ball and chain.”

Alex patted her bottom. “You’ll pay for that later.”

“And that’s our cue to get the hell out of here,” Paul said, grabbing his brother’s arm to lead him from the house. “Have fun, ladies.”

“Oh, we will,” Jenny said, making Alex growl at her.

Paul steered Alex toward his truck, pushing him toward the passenger side.

As they drove out of the driveway, Alex looked back, possibly hoping for a last glimpse of Jenny, who was riding to her party with Hope.

“You’ll see her again in a couple of hours, Romeo,” Paul said. “You’ll survive until then.”

Alex responded with a stupid grin and a deep sigh. “Not sure I’ll make it.” He turned to take a closer look at Paul. “What gives with you the last couple of days, man? Other than the obvious, of course.”

“Nothing gives. Business as usual.”

“Try telling that to someone who doesn’t see you every day and doesn’t know you as well as I do. Something is wrong, and you may as well tell me what it is so I don’t have to beat it out of you.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“We both know I could, so let’s save ourselves the bother.”

“Whatever.”

“Come on, Paul. You know there’s nothing you can’t tell me.”

“It’s not the time. Tonight is about you. We’ll talk after the wedding.”

“We’ll talk now.”