Page 161 of Bridesmaid for Hire
“It’ll be nice not having an overprotective brother looking over our shoulder every moment,” Stacey says.
“And I think you have me to thank for that.” Haisley chuckles.
“It’s one of the reasons we love you so much.” Sloane holds her drink up. “To Haisley brilliantly sweeping our brother off his feet so he stops bothering us.”
Chuckling, we hold up our drinks and all say, “To Haisley,” together.
BRODY
“If we could raise our glasses, please,” Reginald says as I lift the shot glass of pure gasoline in front of me. Yup, that’s what it smells like.
Not sure taste testing some local moonshine the night before the wedding is a great idea, but here we are.
“I’d like to make a toast to Jude.” Reginald clears his throat, one hand holding up his drink while the other grips the lapel of his suit jacket. “Jude, I know we had our ups and downs, and it took me a moment to realize just how perfect you are for my daughter, but I wholeheartedly trust you in taking care of her heart and making sure she’s never harmed. I’m proud to call you my son-in-law.”
Well damn, what a concise, but beautiful speech.
Especially for the masterful prick that he is.
“To Jude,” we all say.
I glance around the room and watch each guy take a sip of their shot, giving me the go-ahead to do the same. We’re talking amomenton the lips. Not even digesting any of this.
“What are you doing, McFadden?” I hear Reginald say as I start lowering my shot glass.
I stare at him for a second like a deer caught in the headlights. “Uh…I don’t know.”
“Drink up,” Reginald says, waving his hand at me to tip back and guzzle down the gasoline.
“Oh, that’s okay, I thought I’d take it easy and maybe be the DD for you all. You know, make sure you get back to your place safely.” I say this in the hopes that he’ll forget about his wonderful resort staff that help him with everything.
“Nonsense. That’s what the staff is for. Now don’t waste the drinks I provided for you.”
Fucking great.
Of course he’d say that.
Of course he’d single me out.
Of course I have to drink this shit beverage and sprout at least twenty new hairs on my chest.
Beneath his severe gaze, I bring the shot glass back to my lips and part them ever so slightly, letting the moonshine run over my tongue and down my throat.
Mother of hell!
I pull back and cough a few times. “This is a sipper,” I choke out. “Yup, have to take it down slowly.”
And then…to my fucking irritation, I watch Reginald hand off his nearly full shot glass to the hovering waiter, not even bothering to finish it himself.
Care to share why you’re being a dick, Daddy Reggie?
“Ah, let’s bring on the next one,” Reginald says. “This has a hint of pineapple.”
I set the original shot glass down while Reginald looks away and shove it to the side, closer to Hardy. Make it seem like he didn’t finish his drink, not me.
More shot glasses are passed around, and we all hold them up. Together, we bring them to our lips. I watch as all the men gently take a taste. So, I follow suit, but when I lower the glass and catch Reginald staring at me, I internally groan and toss this one back, too.
“Saint Joseph save me,” I say as the liquid burns like fire all the way down my throat. I’m not even fucking religious, and I don’t know who Saint Joseph is, or even if there’s a Saint Joseph who could possibly save me. But either way, if he is a thing, please…please save me, because dear God in heaven. I don’t think I’m going to have tastebuds by the end of this night.
