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remember.”
    “I love you, Iv. I hope we can find a way to make this work with your parents.”
    Ivy felt fresh tears on her cheeks. Kit deserved this and much more. But there were only so many teeth a person could have kicked out, and her parents had kicked out all of hers and Casey’s. She’d be damned if she let them hurt Kit. She had no illusions for how her parents would behave or the prospects of their being a part of their lives in a healthy way. “I’ll do my best, Kit, to build that bridge. You have my word on that.” She thought of another issue her parents’ arrival caused. “What about the sheriff? He was going to walk me down the aisle…”
    “I’ll talk to him. If things go south with your folks, we’ll still need him to do that. Don’t worry. He’s a cool guy. He’ll understand.”

Chapter Five

    Glass clinked as Kit pulled a bottle of beer out of the fridge. The girls were having their bachelorette party tonight. In the billiards room. The guys had wanted to take him out, but he didn’t want to go. With Ivy’s parents coming in tomorrow, he didn’t want to be hung over. Besides, Mandy had planned a formal dinner for Ivy and him and the whole team, and Casey was being allowed to attend it, too.  
    His sister had been running around like a crazy person, getting things ready for tonight. The girls had been secretive and giggly all day. Greer had turned off the cameras and mics in the billiards room—and locked the guys out from turning them back on. None of them knew what the hell was happening in there. He sipped his beer, wondering what dirty things were planned for the adult portion of the night. Greer was absolutely tight-lipped about it. The only thing he’d divulge was that they’d kept within protocol. Which meant they’d gotten any incoming entertainment approved. Or…hell, they were using Val to keep things in-house.
    Blade and Rocco came into the living room. Blade grabbed a beer; Rocco had his sweet tea. When they sat near him, Kit sent them a pained glare. Blade grinned. “You look like someone’s been pulling your short hairs.”
    Rocco didn’t smile. His somber gaze settled on Kit. “You sure about all this? Getting married?”
    “It’s the one thing I’m absolutely certain of. How about you? Things with my sis going okay?”
    “They are.”
    He caught Rocco’s stillness and frowned. “You gonna give her your name soon?”
    Rocco made a face. “I did that once. Totally fucked someone’s life.”
    “That wasn’t a real marriage,” Kit countered.
    “It was to her.”
    “Yeah? Then why’d she try to kill your ass? And Zavi, too?”
    Blade held up a hand as his gaze sliced toward Kit. “Not tonight. Tonight’s for mischief. Rocco doesn’t need to rush into anything. Unlike you, pining for Ivy since I met you.”
    Rocco ignored that attempted redirection. “Has Mandy said something to you?”
    “No. She’s happy, man. Happier than I’ve ever seen. You’re good for her. And I think she’s good for you.” He sipped his beer. “I got a favor to ask you guys.”
    “Anything,” Blade answered without hesitation.
    “Help me contain Val tonight. I gotta tie him up and lock him in somewhere.”
    “Too bad my old cage is gone. Finally have a legit use for it.”
    Kit was surprised Blade could joke about something that still haunted him. He set his bottle down on the coffee table and stood up. “Let’s go.”
    “Where?” Rocco asked.
    “Have a talk with Val.”
    They went upstairs and down the hallway. They passed Fiona’s and Eden’s rooms. They were together in Fee’s room—the men could hear laughter as they went past. Kit shared a look with the others, his mood becoming almost as dour as Rocco’s. In the southern wing, he knocked on Val’s door. There was movement inside the room. After a minute, the door opened.
    Val stood there shirtless in low-rise jeans. Jesus, the guy was ripped. “’Sup?” Val asked.
    Kit pushed inside his room.