He shrugs unapologetically and smirks. "I couldn't resist."

I take a sip of my poison then turn to glance around the reception room trying to find my wife. "It was a fucking hot night, wasn't it?”

"It gets my dick hard just thinking about it."

I nod in agreement and lift my glass to his. I watch as Aubrey and Natalie are deep in conversation. I frown, wondering why they look so intense.

"All jokes aside," Reece says, dropping the humor from his face, "I'm happy for you, man. You guys kind of give me inspiration. You know I love to live the bachelor life, but now I'm thinking maybe I need to slow down and enjoy the good life."

I tilt my head and give him a knowing look. "The good life it is, Reece. Take my word for it. Get yourself a woman who knows you and loves you more for it."

Sipping my drink, my brows crease when I see Aubrey reach for Natalie's arm only for Natalie to yank it back and whip it behind her back.

"Mind if I have one dance with your wife?"

I snap my eyes back to Reece. He's got a good poker face, but I know he's dying inside holding the laughs in. "Don't even fucking try it."

"But I didn't bring a date."

Eyeing him, I raise my hand and point my pinky at him. "Not my problem." I finish off the cognac then place the sniffer on the bar counter. "I'll be back in a bit. I need to see what my wife is up to."

"I'll be here scoping out the room, hoping to find my own cradle to rob."

I shake my head. Reece is such a douche bag. I laugh because he's a good guy at heart and I know he's not serious. He has wedding fever right now. The phase won't last long. Come next week, I'll get a call from him wondering why he was acting like a pussy on my wedding night. I bet he’ll say the bartender drugged him or something equally as dumb.

I stride to where Natalie and Aubrey are standing, still deep in conversation. Just as I reach the little corner they're in, Natalie lifts her hand to Aubrey and I catch a sparkling reflection under the chandeliers. It happens again, and harsh frown lines fill the space between my brows. My stomach sinks as I close the distance between the three of us.

"What the hell is that?" I blurt out as I stare at a fucking yellow diamond ring on my daughter’s left hand.

She snatches her hand away and places it behind her back. Natalie's eyes are round and wide, like blue marbles ready to pop out of her head.

"You got engaged and didn't tell me?" I say, slightly hurt.

I'd only gotten a quick look at it, but I'd say it's close to the size of Aubrey's, if not a little bigger. Not something that's easily overlooked, especially since it's a rare yellow diamond at that. I wait, hoping for a solid response, but Natalie watches me with guilty eyes knowing she’s been caught red-handed.