While the rest of the group cracked up at her comment, Owen studied her with new respect and a hint of interest.

“Down, boy,” Luke said, attempting a menacing scowl.

“It’s like that, is it?” Owen said.

“You’re damned right it is.”

“Who is this guy?” Owen asked Mac and Joe. “And what’ve you done with quiet, unassuming Luke Harris?”

Joe slipped an arm around Janey. “Happens to the best of us, my man.”

“Y’all are falling like dominoes around here,” Owen said with a shudder. “Remind me not to drink the water.”

“You’re still playing at the wedding, right?” Janey asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, sweet pea.”

Janey rewarded him with a bright smile. “You were Joe’s only request.”

“I’m doubly honored, and I understand I’ll be sharing the stage with the eminent Evan McCarthy.”

“Well, I had to ask my brother, too, but you’re the headliner,” Janey said to laughter from the others. “Just don’t tell Evan that.”

“Ohhh, blackmail,” Mac said. “I never get any dirt I can use on her.”

“If you lived a pure, pristine life like I do, I wouldn’t always have truckloads of dirt on you,” Janey said haughtily.

Joe guffawed at her comment, and Mac held up his hand. “Whatever you’re dying to say, Joseph, stifle it. That’s my baby sister.”

“It’s so nice to be out like this,” Syd said, and the others focused their attention on her. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to blurt that out.”

Maddie gave her a one-armed hug. “Don’t apologize to us. We’re thrilled to have you with us.”

For Owen’s benefit, Sydney said, “I was widowed fifteen months ago.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.”

“Had you been out at all?” Mac asked. “Before you came here?”

“Don’t ask her that,” Janey said with a chastising look for her brother.

“What? It’s a perfectly innocent question.”

Sydney smiled at their sibling banter. “It’s fine. I went out exactly once, and it was a disaster of epic proportions.”

“Okay now I have to hear this,” Janey said, settling in for the story.

The others chimed in with agreement, and Luke had to admit he was curious, too.

“After I went back to work, I started seeing this one guy everywhere—in traffic, at the gas station, in the grocery store and at the coffee shop. After we’d seen each other a few times, he was behind me in line getting coffee one day, and he leaned in and said, ‘We really have to stop meeting like this.’”

The guys groaned at the cheesy come-on.

“I hope you didn’t fall for that,” Luke said.