“I’m so happy for you.”
Mick grinned and put his arm around her. “Thank you. I’m a lucky guy.”
“You are. Take good care of her. She’s special.”
He squeezed Jenna’s arm. “I know.”
The day turned out glorious. Cold, but bright and sunny. A perfect day, without a cloud or raindrop in the sky.
The bride and groom were happy, Jenna’s parents were beaming with joy, and that’s all she could ask for.
And the bridesmaid dresses didn’t suck—thank you, Tara—so Jenna would survive the day.
She’d given up on finding a date for the wedding after that disastrous episode with Joe. The poor guy. She’d felt awful about it. No more dating for her. Not until she found someone who knocked her socks off.
Correction. Someone who didn’t play sports who knocked her socks off.
That might be a tall order, but she knew he was out there somewhere. And right now she just didn’t care. She had enough to deal with today, and a man wasn’t even on her radar.
Okay, one man was.
Tyler.
She’d noticed him sitting in one of the pews at the church when she walked down the aisle, couldn’t help but catch sight of his dark hair as he stood and watched her, his gaze riveted to hers.
Butterflies. Giant butterflies in her stomach when she looked at him.
She’d quickly looked away, focusing on the altar instead. Today was about Mick and Tara, not her conflicted feelings about Tyler Anderson.
The wedding had been smooth and beautiful and had gone off without a hitch, allaying Tara’s last-minute jitters.
Now if she could get some food and a drink, this day would be perfect.
They piled into the limos and made their way to the reception hall. The guests were already gathered there, so the wedding party was introduced, then the bride and groom to thunderous applause.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Riley. Jenna still couldn’t get used to that, but she already loved Tara like a sister, and Tara’s son Nathan like a blood nephew. It didn’t matter that Mick wasn’t Nathan’s real father. He was family to the Rileys and always would be, from now until forever.
Nathan looked so handsome in his tux. Nearly seventeen, he was going to be one serious lady-killer someday. He definitely fit in with all the Riley men. Both her brothers looked gorgeous as did her dad. Jenna couldn’t help but grin. She was going to have to order a lot of pictures from the photographer.
As the bride and groom took to the floor to have their first dance, Jenna’s ridiculous waterworks started up again.
Good Lord, was she a basket case today or what?
“I see you’re full of tears today, too.”
Her mother wrapped her arm around her. Jenna leaned against her and laughed.
“I can’t seem to help myself. They’re so happy, Mom.”
“I know. And they deserve it. I’ve never seen two people more in love.”
Jenna could only nod as Mick led Tara around the floor. Tara was breathtaking in her cream and pale pink strapless ball gown, a true vision with her blonde hair pulled up, diamond drops in her ears and across her throat—a wedding gift from Mick.
“She looks like freakin’ Cinderella.”
Her mother laughed. “She’s stunning. And so are you.”
“Thanks, Mom. But no comparison. This is Tara’s day.”
“You’re gorgeous, Jenna. The ruby red dresses Tara chose bring out the blue in your eyes and make your hair stand out. And what they do for Maggie and Elizabeth’s hair—I’m telling you, she chose the best dress for all of you.”
“She did.”
It was the bridal party’s turn to dance, so Gavin danced with Maggie as best man and maid of honor, Liz danced with Mick’s cousin Cole, and Jenna got to dance with Nathan.
“You look all grown up.”
Nathan grinned. “I kinda feel that way. And sometimes I still feel like a kid.”
She laughed. “Enjoy the feeling-like-a-kid moments. They’ll be gone before you know it.”
“I know. I’ll be off to college soon. Only one more year of high school after this.”
“I’m not sure we’ll let you leave us yet.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be ready to go.”
“Oh, trust me. You’ll be ready. Too much of the Rileys can be suffocating. You’ll have your bags packed and sneaking out the door in the dark of night so we can’t tie you to us.”
He squeezed her hand. “I like having you all for family, Jenna.”
“We all like you, too, Nathan. A whole lot.”
He turned her so they were facing Mick and Tara. “My mom and dad look happy.”
“They are. And they will be. Forever.”
She felt him relax.
The night flowed smoothly. She ate, finally, so she was content. Everyone danced, and she wandered around to greet the guests.
“Hello, gorgeous.”
She was picked up and whirled around. When she was set down, she whirled around with a glare. She rolled her eyes when she saw her cousin’s smug grin.
“Cole. Don’t you know it’s impolite to annoy the crap out of a lady?”
“First, you’re not a lady, you’re my cousin. And second, annoying the crap out of women is what I do.”
Her cousin Cole was and always had been a big pain in her ass, second only to her brothers in that department. A jock just like Mick and Gavin, Cole played in the NFL and was one of the best wide receivers currently playing for Green Bay. And he had the giant ego to go with his giant talent. But she loved Cole nearly as much as she loved her brothers, despite all the years he’d spent tormenting her when she was a kid.
Her uncle and her dad must have been a hell of a duo when they were kids, because they sure passed it on to their sons.
“Shouldn’t you be off doing shots with the guys?”
“On my best behavior tonight. I promised my mother and Aunt Kathleen.”
“And when have you ever kept a promise?”
“Never. But since they’re both here with their eagle eyes, I don’t have much of a choice.”
“Aren’t you just a boy scout?”
“Yeah, until about midnight when I ditch this shindig and head to a club. I’ve got some babes waiting for me.”
“And the media will be right behind you, waiting for you to get into a fistfight or some new scandal that’ll make headlines. The new bad boy of football.”