Chapter Four

The setting sun painted the sky in vibrant shades of pinks and purples and oranges and reds. Waves crashed against the sand and palm trees swayed as a light breeze drifted off the ocean. It was the perfect backdrop as Kendall and Dorian and Dante and Taylor recited their vows. The joint wedding was informal, with a group of family and friends perched on folding chairs draped in white. The area was roped off with an array of fairy lights and tiki torches decorated with flowers. The couples stood under a trellis covered with white netting and more florae.

Taylor’s parents walked her down the aisle first, followed by both Kendall and Dorian’s moms escorting Kendall. Taylor’s adopted daughter Gracie served as her mom’s maid of honor and Dorian’s sister Daphne had been called into action when Olivia had to back out as Kendall’s maid of honor. Daphne beamed with pride. Kai Costa stood with his dad and Alex took his place beside Dorian.

The wedding was romantic and beautiful. Both brides wore sleeveless white dresses. Taylor’s was long with a small train. Kendall’s was shorter with a skirt made of lace. The grooms, both former Navy SEALs, wore their dress whites. Alex’s Hawaiian print shirt and khaki linen pants were straight from the Tommy Bahama catalogue. They all wore leis.

The service drew to a close as the sun continued to set over the water. Soft music played in the background and the scent of flowers carried on the breeze. It was a perfect day…almost perfect.

When all four had said “I do”, the minister pronounced them husband and wife. Dante kissed Taylor, Dorian kissed Kendall and the crowd cheered their approval. Both brides beamed in happiness. Their grooms smiled with pride.

The reception was held a few steps away beneath a huge, open-sided tent that had been erected in the sand. Banquet tables overflowed with an authentic Hawaiian Luau feast featuring all kinds of exotic dishes and fruits. A pig roasted slowly on a spit dug into the ground. A group of musicians played island music and women dressed in grass skirts swayed to the beat. The tent was filled with laughter and dancing.

Arms wrapped around him and he glanced over his shoulder to see light brown hair that belonged to his younger sister. His family and Dorian’s had been friends for years. His parents had been invited but his dad was recovering from knee replacement surgery and unable to fly. Allie had talked their parents into letting her come along with her best friend Daphne, Dorian’s sister. His overprotective mother let him know it was because he was here that she allowed her to make the long flight without them.

“Hey, Allie.”

“Just wanted to give my big brother a hug. Bye!” She disappeared as quickly as she appeared. She rushed over to Daphne and their friend Lauren Dianetti. Lauren’s dad, former NFL quarterback, Matt Dianetti, was an old friend of Luke’s and one of COBRA Securities first cases. Lauren had forever won the loyalty of the entire COBRA Securities family when she saved Logan’s young daughter Isabella from a kidnapper, getting shot in the process.

The three teens were huddled together giggling and sneaking glances at a shirtless young man playing with his dog on the beach. As long as they just looked, he was fine. His sister was beautiful and it was probably a good thing she lived in a different city. Otherwise, he’d have to beat the crap out of any guy who even looked at her.

Alex filled a plate and requested a Longboard Lager from the bartender. He was developing a fondness for the locally brewed beer. He’d imbibed quite a few the night he found out Olivia wouldn’t be coming for the wedding. He turned to find a seat and almost crashed into Kai Costa.

“I’m really thirsty. Can I have a drink?” Kai reached for the bottle.

“Sure.”

“I can?” Kai’s eyes were hopeful.

Alex handed the bottle to him and jerked it away at the last moment to take a swig. “In twelve years.”

Kai scrunched up his face and growled at him. “You’re a big meanie. Save me a spot.” The kid skipped off to fill a plate.

Alex took a seat at one of the picnic tables lining the side of the tent. It truly was beautiful here. The lap of the surf. The soft breeze. Maybe it was a good thing Olivia couldn’t attend. He was getting sucked in to the romantic atmosphere. He’d probably have done something really stupid like declared his undying love. Or dropping to one knee and proposing.

A plate appeared at his side, followed by a glass filled with orange liquid and a sprig of pineapple and cherries. “It’s so beautiful here,” Kaitlyn Colton sighed as she eased down beside him. Dan plopped down across from her. Alex raised a brow at the amount of food on Dan’s plate. The guy could really put it away. It was a good thing he was marrying a chef.

Kai skidded over and dropped a plate on the table. “Be right back,” he said, sprinting off to fill another.

“I’m sorry Olivia couldn’t make it,” Dan said in a rare show of sincerity. “I know you were looking forward to seeing her.”

Alex shrugged with feigned indifference. “Probably for the best since we live so far apart.”

“So what happened between you two?” Kait asked.

Alex glanced at Dan who shook his head. “Didn’t say a word, bud.”

One night when he was feeling particularly melancholy, he’d blurted out the entire story to Dan, who tried to encourage Alex to at least call her, but he’d resisted. He was totally over Jennifer, but he didn’t think his heart could take another blow if Olivia rejected him.

Kait pointed her plastic fork at Dan. “You have secrets you’re keeping from me? We’re getting married. We’re supposed to tell each other everything.”

“Honey, it’s not a secret, it’s the confidence of a friend.”

She scrunched her nose, clearly not happy that her husband-to-be wasn’t sharing gossip. Alex decided to let his buddy off the hook. “We met when she flew to Chicago to be with Kendall after her friends were killed. There was a spark there.” Understatement. Try out-of-control four-alarm inferno. “But she lives in New York and I live in Indiana.” No way was he telling her about the passionate encounter in the back of his city-issued sedan.

“So? If you really care about her, what’s wrong with trying a long distance relationship? With social media these days, you could text or Skype all the time.”

Kai returned carrying two more plates, saving him from having to answer Kait. If Olivia had given him any sign that she wanted to explore their relationship further, he’d have tried. But he was once bitten, twice shy.

“Kid, there is no way you can eat all that food,” Dan said.

Kai looked down at his plates. “I wanted to try everything. Though I know it won’t be as good as anything Kait cooks.” He smiled sweetly at her.

Great. The kid was nine years old and he was a better flirt than Alex.

Kait predictably fawned all over him and Dan just shook his head fondly.

Once they finished eating, it was time for the couples to cut the cakes. He gave a quick toast to Dorian, Kai gave an adorable one laced with jokes for his dad, and then chairs were set up so the grooms could remove their brides’ garters. No way he wanted to be part of the whole spectacle but Dan forced him forward against his protests. Dante tossed Taylor’s over his head and it landed on Luke without him reaching for it. Luke looked annoyed. When it was Dorian’s turn, he eyeballed the crowd, pretended to turn around but snapped the garter like a slingshot right into Alex’s face. He caught the strip of lace before it hit the ground and glared at his friend. The crowd cheered.

Taylor tossed her bouquet first and Daphne leaped up and caught it. Dorian shook his head, grabbed it out of his little sister’s hand and handed it back to Taylor to try again. “You’re too young,” he insisted, ignoring her protests as he tugged her away. Taylor’s next toss sent it sailing into the hands of Kayla Hepburn, one of the COBRA Securities agents. She jumped up and down in glee. Kendall tossed her flowers and they sailed right into Kait’s hands. Kait waved the bouquet like a championship trophy.

After the couples danced together as husband and wife the first time, others soon joined in. His sister Allie pulled him out on the sand. “Aren’t you glad Mom made you learn how to dance?”

“Sure, just so I could dance with my annoying little sister.”

Allie wrinkled her nose at him. “So, I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier, but I’m really sorry Olivia couldn’t make it. She asks about you all the time, you know.” Alex stopped abruptly. Allie tripped and he steadied her before piercing her with a narrowed gaze. “And you know this how?”

She smiled. “Because we email and Skype all the time.”

Alex’s mouth dropped open. “You keep in touch with her?”

“Yep. At least two, sometimes three times a week. We’ve become good friends. I can tell her things I can’t tell Mom and Dad.”

Okay, Alex had fallen into a rabbit hole. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I figured you’d come around and realize how amazing she is.”

His gaze narrowed further. “I already know that.”

“Then why haven’t you done anything about it?”

Great. Getting the third degree from a teenager. “It’s complicated.”

“Do you love her?”

“Allie, I barely know her,” he sputtered.

“Then get to know her.”

“Look, I’m not comfortable discuss—”

“I look up to you, Alex. You’re my hero. So act like one and go get her.”