Face-Off at the Altar Read online

  He gave her a look that said he didn’t agree. She knew what she was about to say was the reason her cat was so overweight, yet she sang, “I’ll give ya a treat, treat.”

  Mr. Right’s ears perked up, a little meow leaving his lips before he started to turn and waddle to her. Picking up her baby, she cuddled him to her chest. “We need to discuss this issue we have, mister.”

  His tail whipped against her waist, surely getting cat hair all over her black dress pants, but then he nuzzled her chin, and she didn’t care. Reaching into the bag, she grabbed a treat and ripped it in half before offering it to him. But he turned his head.

  “Mr. Right. Really? Take it.”

  She offered again, but as before, he turned his head, his little muzzle going up in the air as his tail stopped whipping.

  “You can’t have the whole thing. Take it or leave it, buddy.”

  He looked up at her, his eyes getting wider and silently begging her for the rest of the treat. It was pathetic. She knew this, and she knew she shouldn’t give it to him. He was fat! But then he meowed ever so softly, so pitifully, and just like that, she caved. Like a house of cards. When she reached for a full piece of treat, he purred happily before taking the whole thing in his mouth. Placing him on the bed, she felt like a bad cat mom. But he looked so happy lying there, his tail swishing, his eyes bright. He was her baby. She couldn’t deprive him.

  He was going to give her an ulcer.

  Deciding that she was a pushover, she went to work unpacking as Mr. Right snored contentedly. When she was done, she looked at herself in the full-length mirror and wondered if she should change. The tight black dress pants that flared at the bottom went great with her sheer white shirt that draped to her elbows. Her hair wasn’t her idea. It was Libby’s. She had convinced her to get a dark balayage done, and now Mekena’s dark hair faded into a beautiful caramel color. At first, she’d hated it, but now she loved it. It looked amazing all curled around her face with her dark-rimmed glasses. She looked so adult, and more than that, she felt pretty. That didn’t happen a lot. But today, today she felt it.

  Which was really weird.

  Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was close to the time Avery said to meet them at the bar. Everyone was getting together to chat and enjoy some drinks. Not that she’d be drinking, but it would be nice to hang with everyone. She loved Jace’s mom, Autumn, and also enjoyed talking with Claire, Jace’s brother’s wife. Reaching for her jacket, she tucked her phone into her pocket before picking up her clutch off the bed and looking to Mr. Right.

  “I’ll be back later. Your litter box is in the bathroom. Don’t go wild, we aren’t paying for this place.”

  Opening one eye, he let out a long breath and then reclosed it, his tail lying flat against the bed. Mekena rolled her eyes; she swore it was like living with an old man with this guy. Opening the door, she shut it behind her so Mr. Right couldn’t leave—not that she thought he would, but just in case. She glanced at the stuff by the door, and it made her nervous all over again that it was there.

  Was the killer going to break in and kill Mr. Right?

  Maybe she should stay home?

  Maybe she should put it outside?

  She was crazy, that was the only answer. It was probably the person who stayed here before her, and they forgot their stuff. She was being silly, yet she gave the items a wide berth, acting as if they would pop out and bite her, before opening the door, locking it, and heading to the main house where the bar was. The grounds were quiet, the sounds of crickets and other woodland animals the only thing she heard. The lights in the main cabin were bright, glowing out over most of the other cabins except hers since it was so far back in the woods. When she finally reached the door, it opened and Benji was standing in the doorway.

  “Hey, Mekena,” he said and she smiled.

  “Hey. Where ya going?”

  “I’m on kid duty, gotta go check on the babysitter. The girls are in the bar, the guys had to go do something…I forgot what, so I’ll see ya back in there.”

  “Okay, thanks,” she said as he walked past her, heading out into the darkness. Walking down the hall, she entered the bar that was only feet from the back entrance. Inside, it was an all-natural design with the same homey feel as her cabin. Everything was made of wood, and the room had lots of John Wayne memorabilia hanging from the walls. When she saw Avery at a table with Baylor, Claire, and Lucy, she grinned as she headed toward them.

  “Mekena!” Avery gushed, coming to her and hugging her tightly. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

  “I told you I would,” she reminded, rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah, and that doesn’t mean anything,” she teased, and Mekena scoffed as she went around the table, hugging everyone.

  “So glad you could stay on the grounds with us! Do you love your cabin?” Lucy asked as she leaned on the table.

  Mekena did the same, nodding. “Love it. It’s beautiful here.”

  “I agree, I don’t want to leave,” Claire said, resting her cheek on her hand. “Great location.”

  “Thank you. All Benji,” Lucy gushed and everyone smiled.

  “You excited?” Baylor asked.

  When Lucy wiggled a bit, Mekena’s grin grew. “Really excited, which is silly since we are already married and so damn happy, but before it was so quick and really just so Benji could adopt Angie. Now, it’s for us, and I can’t wait.” She took a breath and then rolled her eyes. “Which is silly! I didn’t even want a wedding before I met him.”

  “He’s perfect for you,” Claire said, leaning into her as she beamed. “I love him dearly.”

  “He is great, super great,” she said, her face bright and happy. Lucy deserved a good guy. She hadn’t had it easy from what Avery had told Mekena, but that all changed when Benji came along. He made Lucy beyond happy, and he was the greatest father imaginable to Angie. Lucy turned to her sister-in-law. “So when are you moving to LA?”

  Claire let out a long-suffering breath, and everyone seemed concerned. “They are fighting me about getting out of my contract, so I might be stuck for another year.”

  “Oh, no,” Baylor said, shaking her head. “Can’t you just pay back the remainder of your contract?”

  “They don’t want it. They want me to carry it out and train my replacement, which sucks ’cause we were thinking about maybe getting pregnant soon,” she said, visibly upset, and Lucy wrapped her arm around her.

  “Look at it this way, you guys will be super ready when it’s time to have a baby,” she said, and everyone nodded, even Mekena, who had no clue about any of this stuff. She wanted to travel first. She wanted to see the world before she hunkered down and had a baby. Well, she had to find a guy too.

  That would probably be best.

  “Yeah, you’re right. And you know what that means?” she asked, and Lucy eyed her.

  “What?”

  With a playful grin, she said, “That you and Benji have to have a baby next!”

  Everyone giggled at that while Lucy shrugged. “What if I’m already pregnant?”

  The laughter died. “What?” Avery asked.

  “You’re kidding!” Baylor accused.

  “No way!” Claire said, jumping on the balls of her feet.

  Mekena wasn’t sure what she should say, so she didn’t say anything as Lucy laughed. “No, I’m not pregnant, you big dorks!” she said, and soon napkins started flying at her head. It was sweet, the dynamic and love between the four women. Lucy was the oldest of the Sinclair children. She loved her brothers fiercely, and she accepted each of their spouses with open arms, loved them like sisters. It was nice, and Mekena hoped one day she would have the same thing. They were all very lucky to have each other.

  “The party is here!”

  All of them turned to see Jace coming through the door with Jayden and Jude flanking him. The three brothers favored each other so much, and all were devilishly handsome. Dark hair, green eyes, and bodies that could make