Blackwell fed his horse the last bit of apple as the stable hands came toward him.

He patted his horse and joined Remington near the door of the stable.

They walked in companionable silence toward Woodbridge Hall. Blackwell hadn’t wanted to talk about Remy’s upcoming wedding or his own as he was happy to marry but his friend might not be—he’d heard Remy’s stories of a certain girl who’d treated him wrong. Not once had Remington called Cassidy by name. Blackwell, raised in Colorado, had never met the Bright sisters, who had been raised, like Remington, in California. He and Remington had become fast friends as young adults in Avce.

They followed the path from the stables toward his home, when suddenly the boom of music echoed in the air and the windows seemed to pulse from the living area. He slowed down and watched the front door warily.

Remington stopped. “What’s going on?”

His gaze narrowed—ten years ago, his pal might have organized a party to celebrate the last night of being single. “I’ve no idea. Did you put together a bachelor party?”

“No.” Remington walked a little faster toward the house and Blackwell followed with a sense of urgency. “With my grandmother dying, I didn’t think it appropriate.”

They ran up the front steps and Blackwell reached for the door that also pulsed from music inside. “Well, let’s find out what the ruckus is—I can’t imagine anybody else putting something together—nobody knows.”

Young, naked women frolicked all over the living room. From a quick count, he saw 50, but doubled his estimate when the door to the ballroom opened.

His entire body grew hot and it wasn’t from his lower parts. Donna would never believe him if she came home to the stench of floral perfume.

Remington patted him on the back and whistled. “This looks more like an orgy than a bachelor party.”

Right. He reached for his phone that wasn’t in his back pocket—he’d left it in his room for the ride. He crossed his arms and stared at the long stairwell that had naked women on every step. “Where is security? None of these people should be here and they need to go before Donna comes home.”

Remington took his phone from his back pocket but instead of offering it to Blackwell, he turned around and smiled with the phone in the air. “She won’t like all these naked women.”

Blackwell blinked as three sirens joined the picture that his friend snapped of himself. He scoffed. “Are you taking a selfie?”

“Cassidy isn’t going to care what I do or who I do it with.” He shrugged, and handed his phone to Blackwell showing only the key pad.

Before he met Donna, part of his anger had been because he’d have to marry a stranger and live his life with someone who didn’t care. His heart warmed that his life was different now in a good way. “If you say so. I couldn’t live like that. Donna is going to be angry—rightfully so.”

A car cut its engine out front and he turned toward the front door.

Donna.

Blackwell’s body tightened.

As if on cue, five different women came over and caressed him. He practically jumped out of his skin as he shouted, “Get off me. Now.”

The door opened and Donna stared at him. He saw the pit of blackness that grew inside her gaze, the shine of love in her eyes dimmed. She held the door but it opened wider and his mother and Donna’s friend, Beth, joined her.

“Blackwell?” Donna asked as both women stood like sentinels beside her.

His marriage was over before it began. The tension in his spine felt like he’d break in two. “Donna! I don’t know what’s happening. We just came back from riding.”

Remington took his phone from Blackwell. “I’ll vouch for your fiancé. We were both shocked when we walked through the door.”

Martina Oberlin, Dowager Duchess of Oakley, shook her head and stared at all of the women. “Where are the lights and security?”

Good question. He walked over and turned on the lights but he felt his face was still flushed. “Mother, I swear…”

His mother took her phone from her pocketbook and met his gaze as she raised her voice. “I’m calling the police. If any woman is still here within five minutes, they will be arrested.” Her no-nonsense tone used to make him and his friends quake as children; it now had the same effect on the ladies as they rushed past him. Donna was in danger of being run over and he stepped in front of her to block her from the chaos. “Hold on.”

She reached out and held onto his hips. The smell of various perfumes made his nose twitch. As the door closed, he sneezed.

“Bless you.” Donna let go of him, then walked around and looked up at him. “I was almost trampled in the mess.”

Beth stood next to his mother near the side. Both of the older women seemed fine, though his mother said, “The police are coming. I want to know who is responsible for this.”

If there was anyone left in the house, they’d have minutes, but he heard cars racing away down the long drive and out the open gate. He had a good guess who had set him up.

Donna reached up and brushed his clenched jaw. “Blackwell, are you okay?”

He stared into her warm gaze and his heart beat at a calmer pace—she wasn’t angry. “You believe I had nothing to do with these women being here?”

She let out a sigh and patted his cheek again. “Yes. Even if Cassidy hadn’t warned me, I would believe you.”

Remington asked, “My Cassidy?”

He’d forgotten his friend was still there.

Donna huffed out her chest and turned toward Remington. “She said Chelsea was angry and intended to do something.”

Remy winked mischievously. “Well, I have to get back to my grandmother, but I’ll thank my future sister-in-law for that two minute bachelor party.”

Donna stepped in Remington’s way. “Treat Cassidy kindly, Lord Sky. She really is one of the nicest people I’ve met here.”

He bowed his head. “She is nice. We can agree on that. She’s also too smart for someone like me, but for now, I have to go. See you both tomorrow.”

Blackwell walked him toward the front door. As a goodbye, he said, “Thanks, Remy.”

The second the door clicked closed again, Donna unbuttoned her black suit jacket. “Did you have a nice time riding?”

This time he sniffed and realized he still smelled of horses. He’d need to shower as Donna looked great. His entire body calmed from her nearness. “Yes. It was good to get fresh air. Did you find a wedding dress?”

“It’s going to be delivered.” She smiled at him.

He turned toward their guests. “Mother, thank you for clearing the house.”

She laughed and took Beth’s arm. “It’s good to raise the voice of authority. Beth, would you like to continue our shopping exercise for this wedding we are hosting tomorrow?”

Blackwell placed his hand on Donna’s lower back. “Wait, Beth. Did you like the house?”

“It’s awfully big for me.” Beth clutched her pocketbook.

“It’s staffed so you won’t have to clean.” Her lips tightened. He turned toward Donna and said, “One day my son or daughter might use the house, as it’s entailed, but for now it’s yours.”

Donna stepped forward and hugged her friend, “Please stay, Beth. I’m hoping you can help me modernize the library system here. I was asked to be on a committee, but we work better as a team.”

Beth nodded and hugged her back. “I don’t want to leave you, so we can work something out. For now, Martina and I have some shopping to do.”

Both older women left, fast friends. He walked them to the door and closed it behind them.

Donna unbuttoned the back of her white shirt so she could slip it off and walked to the steps. “Blackwell, let’s go upstairs.”

He spoke to his staff to search the house and ensure no other woman was here, except Donna. Once he was done, she was halfway up the stairs. He called out, “I posted the bans before we went riding.”

“So that’s a no, you can’t join me?” She turned around.

He gazed up the flight and saw her long legs. He remembered how soft her skin was when he touched her and walked up the first step. “Donna, I’m coming, but I need a shower first.”

She waited for him, and slipped her hand in his. “So long as I check for naked women in there before you hop in.”

They made it to the top step where he kissed her cheek. “Fair enough. I love you.”

“Good because I love you too.” Her smile burned itself into his mind. He was happy. She was the love of his life. Somehow, he’d found her and now he’d get to keep her forever.

His life was good.