“My brothers won’t be warm, just so you know.” I thread my fingers through his and take the lead.

He smiles, walking beside me. “I didn’t expect them to be.”

When we turn the corner, the entrance to Candlelit Hall comes into view, and so do my dad and brothers. My dad leans casually against the wall, laughing, while my brother’s wave their arms, clearly mid-story.

The three of them look over at Aleck and me at the same time. The smiles on my brothers’ faces fall when they see our holding hands and realize he’s with me.

Oh, boy. Here we go.

“Daddy,” I call out. I let go of Aleck’s hand and hurry to my dad, throwing my arms around his neck. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Hi, Winnie. We missed you last Sunday.” He gives me one last squeeze, then lets me go.

“Cal,” I say, leaning into hug twin number one, then reach across and hug twin number two. “Bennie. I missed you guys.”

“Hey, Winnie,” they say in unison.

Then I feel Aleck’s warm static soaking into my back. Pine, fresh soap, and man destroy my senses, forcing a stutter before I choose my next words.

“Uh, t-this is Aleck Fox.” I step aside, feeling the need to be beside him, rather than in front of him. “He’s Preston’s best man. We’ve…” Aleck’s warm eyes watch me with a glimmer of amusement. “We’ve become close.”

Aleck’s hand slides across the small of my back, making it very clear I’m not referring to a close friendship.

“Aleck, this is my father, Gary Sommers.” I gesture to my father.

Aleck extends his free hand to my father. “Mr. Sommers, it’s very nice to meet you. I hear you’re a financial advisor for Hiller and Ashby?”

My dad grins, a spark of interest making his eyes come alive. Some say, if he hadn’t found my mother, he would have married his career. He brings everything back to numbers, probabilities, and odds. He taught me how to balance a checkbook when I was nine. If one was so inclined to talk numbers with my father, he’d hold them at a higher regard no matter whose daughter they were banging.

“Yes. Twenty years now.”

“Barron Hiller is a good friend to my family. I also do a lot of business with Hill and Ash.”

My dad lifts his brow with awareness. “Aleck Fox… Oh! You’re a Fox, with Fox and Lathim. Of course. Are you a lawyer, then?”

Aleck displays his best crowd-pleasing smile. “Yes, sir. Corporate. I was running our New York branch for the last few years, but I’ve recently come back.”

“I hear your father has announced his retirement for next spring…”

“Yes, sir. My brother Hayden and I will take over the firm.”

Man, he’s putting it on extra thick. I almost roll my eyes. This is an Aleck I’ve never seen before. Smiling, agreeable, sir this and sir that… He’s the perfect match. For my father.