From the second my eyes pop open the morning of James and Sharlo’s wedding, I’m both giddy from the hot and heavy make-out sessions at Leona’s that went well into the early hours of morning, and puzzled by my last-minute willingness to accommodate Braden’s lifestyle. By the light of day I know it’s the right thing to do, even if I’m all at once choked with panic as I shuffle barefooted into the kitchen of my pathetically small apartment.

What excuse would I give Sharlo and Evelyn for up and leaving them? Who’d take care of my apartment while I was gone? Hadn’t I just promised myself that I’d visit Mom more often? How could I possibly stay away knowing it won’t be long until my sister-in-law gives birth to my first niece? And wouldn’t it kill me to go without hearing Franklin’s little coos and giggles almost every damn day? What about Sunday-Funday at Sophia and Nolan’s?

Connor’s chuckles behind me nearly give me heart failure. Stumbling into the kitchen in only a pair of sweatpants, he ruffles his couch-lain hair. “Someone’s ready to get the party started a little early.”

I freeze, drawing my eyes downward. I’m standing in my pajamas by the open fridge, holding a bottle of wine to my lips. Shit. When did I grab this? With a casual shrug, I set the bottle back inside the fridge and shut the door. “Just checking to see if it’s old…you know, in case it needs to be thrown out.”

From his deep laugh, I’m pretty sure he isn’t taking the bait. “Everything go alright with Braden last night? I figured I’d catch him stumbling out this morning.”

Me too, buddy. We toyed with the idea before parting ways, but in the end I decided it’d be easier to pretend there’s nothing going on between us at the wedding and reception if we stopped going at it like a couple of horny teenagers. Plus with him around, I can’t think clearly enough to reflect on my decision. But Braden’s kisses had me so worked-up that sleep wasn’t an option until I pulled my battery-operated boyfriend out from retirement.

“Everything’s great,” I answer, automatically opening the fridge door and retrieving the wine. I take a long swig, hoping to find courage at the bottom of the bottle for what I have to say next. Then I remember my impressionable son’s watching, and stick the bottle back in its place. I’m acting like a total lunatic. “After this weekend I’m considering spending time with him out in Cali.”

“Really? That’s awesome!” He grabs an apple from the counter and takes a big chomp that echoes in the small space. “You breaking the news to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Ev today?”

“No, and please don’t say anything to another living soul. It’s Shar’s special day and I don’t want it ruined by our family drama. If I decide to go with him, I know we’ll have to tell them eventually, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of it unless I know our relationship is headed down the right path.”

He holds one hand up. “Not my news to tell. But you should probably have a talk with Allen. He was texting me in the middle of the night, saying some shitty stuff about Braden. Looks like it’s going to take him a little longer to adjust.”

Grumbling to myself, I cross the worn linoleum to kiss him on the cheek. “Thanks for being so understanding, Con. You’ve grown up to be quite the respectable young man. One day you’re going to make some young woman very happy.”

“Young or old,” he taunts, grinning. “Now that I know you’re okay with big age differences, can you introduce me to some of your single friends?”

Smacking his strong bicep, I leave the kitchen mumbling, “Smartass.”

* * *

Though I’d like to think Evelyn was the most beautiful bride to ever grace a wedding, I’m speechless once Sharlo’s mother zips the pale champagne, satin sheath with Alençon lace detail onto her daughter’s slim frame. Colorful sunlight from the unusually warm January afternoon streams in through the Sunday school room’s stain-glass windows, highlighting Sharlo’s petite features with a luminescence that gives her the appearance of an honest-to-goodness angel. All she’s missing is a set of wings. Hair swept into a loose knot with a complex braid looping across one side of her head, makeup tasteful yet striking, six foot train swirling around her new Jimmy Choo’s, she’s unbelievably gorgeous.

James is going to shit.

“Oh, Shar!” Evelyn cries, slapping her hands over her mouth. She’s easily the most beautiful of all the bridesmaids in the matching dusty purple satin, curve-hugging column dresses that sits off our shoulders. With her big round belly and the added pinch of pink to her already glowing cheeks, it’s hard not to smile every time I look her way.

“No more crying!” I warn her with a wagging finger. “There isn’t time to touch up your makeup. Again.”

“You’re gorgeous,” Angelina says to Sharlo, the corners of her mouth lifting with a small smile. The oldest Kendall sibling seems to be fighting off sleep as she crosses her arms over her stomach, blinking in slow, heavy movements. Strong cheekbones, striking eyes, she’s so beautiful that I pray we can talk her into gracing the Milan runway in our Rocker Chique line one day. But she’s been acting strange ever since she flew in a few days ago, like she’s always drifting out of conversations. I don’t know her enough to make judgments, so I make a mental note to ask Evelyn about her later in private.

Bottom lip held between her teeth, Sofia studies Sharlo carefully. “Are you sure you don’t want to see James before the ceremony? He’s going to totally lose it…in front of everyone. We could arrange for the two of you to meet in private.”

“Your brother can handle himself, I assure you,” Shar answers with a confident wink. “But simply because you’re about to become my sister doesn’t mean I won’t kick your arse if you stand up there with crocodile tears and turn me into a blubbering idiot. That goes for all of you.”

A surge of jealousy comes at me, hard and fast when I realize that I want to be one of the Kendall sisters.

All at once the room becomes small and my breaths slow. I’m a total traitor, standing among Braden’s sisters while conspiring behind their backs to start a relationship with their youngest brother. But I can’t tell them now, right? I mean, it’s Sharlo’s wedding. What if they were to come after me with torches and spiked heels in hand? The stamped “sisters” necklace on a delicate gold chain gifted to each of us by Sharlo a few hours ago becomes as tight as a noose even though it’s inches from my throat.

“Katie?” Evelyn’s fingers wrap around my elbow. “Whoa, you okay?”

Not even close. With the weight of all three Kendalls’ eyes on me, the floor spins and the bobby pins keeping my curly side-knot in place feel exceptionally tight against my scalp. Also, my dress may have shrunk two sizes. “I think I might need some water.”

“Come on, I’ll take you,” Evelyn says, slipping her arm around my back.

As we pass through the turn of the nineteenth century, musty-smelling building to the galley kitchen where we had sandwiches for lunch earlier, my chest pinches with building anxiety. I’m the worst sister-in-law to hide such a monumental secret. I wouldn’t blame her if—

“You and Braden out late drinking or what?” she blurts.

OhGodOhGodOhGod!

Blanching, I blink once. Twice. “Come again?”

With a knowing smile, she leaves me and starts for the fridge. “I got him to fess up about you guys last night. The way you’ve been acting, I had my suspicions.”

Icy fear trickling down my limbs, I squeak out, “Does Charlie know?”

“We each had our own theories after he discovered you with a visitor in Vegas, but I don’t think he suspects you were with Braden and I certainly haven’t said anything. I figure that’s between you and your brother.” She fishes a bottle of water out and hands it to me before setting her hands on her hips. “What’s going on, Katie? You really think this thing between you guys is serious?”

I crack the seal on the bottle and twist it open to take a long drink. As the cool liquid travels down to my stomach, I carefully consider an answer that will keep her as calm as she already appears.

“It’s still pretty new,” I decide, blowing out a long sigh. “I have some pretty complex feelings for him, but we’re at such different places in our lives that I don’t know how it could possibly work long-term.”

She lifts one eyebrow. “He told me he loves you.”

“Am I crazy for believing him? Do you think he really even knows what that means?” I grip her arm tightly. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. It was just kind of weird, you know? I’ve always been attracted to him, but at first it kind of made me feel like a creepy old woman. I tried to fight it off as long as I could—I swear to you I did—but he was so direct and insistent that I eventually gave in. Then he begged me to stay in Cali a little longer and I couldn’t say no. God, Ev, he’s so damn young. But the stuff he says and does…he keeps trying to prove he’s not a kid and I want to believe him, I really do, but he’s just starting out in life and he’s your baby brother, for shit’s sake!”

“Okay, you have to breathe,” she says with a little giggle, firmly grasping both my arms. “You’re freaking me out.”

“Am I going crazy? Is that was this is? Or do you think it’s a midlife crisis? Shit, I suppose I’m approaching middle age, depending on how long I’ll be around.”

“Would you stop? I personally don’t think it’s either one. Like I told Brae, we can’t control who we fall in love with. I definitely wouldn’t have pictured you two falling for each other, but now that I’ve had time to process it, I can see how it happened. You both have a no-nonsense approach on life and a good sense of humor, plus you’ve always been good about knocking him off his pedestal and putting him in his place.”

“But the age gap—”

“Screw the age gap. What does it really matter? If JLo and Madonna can pull that shit off, you can too. You’re not even that old!”

My shoulders roll forward as I sigh. “He wants kids.”

Her perfectly sculpted eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. “How do you feel about that?”

“At first it scared the hell out of me, but after spending time with Franklin and being around you and Charlie, I realized raising a baby with a man I loved would be a whole different experience. It still freaks me out to think I’d be close to sixty by the time our kid graduated high school. That seems a little old, right?”

With a smile spreading across her lips, she shrugs. “Age is just a number. It’s what’s in your heart that counts.”

I drop my head back to stare at the intricately carved ceiling. I never expected Evelyn to be so supportive, but it makes me feel incredibly guilty that I didn’t say something sooner. Dropping my chin back down, I match her smile.

“I might fly back to California with him on Monday to give this thing a fair shot. He applied to colleges in New York to be with me, but I know how much he and Jazz love it out there, so I won’t let him. I haven’t really decided yet, so I was going to wait to tell you and Shar before they leave for their honeymoon tomorrow night. I figured I could run my part of the business from my laptop and see how it goes.”

Evelyn’s hands cover her face.

“Oh shit!” I cry out. “You’re not okay with this. I’m sorry, Ev. I don’t have to go—”

Removing her hands, she beams at me brightly. “I’m trying my hardest not to jump up and down because I know it’ll mess up my hair and freak the baby out. She was restless all morning and finally seems to have found a comfortable spot.”

“So you’re good with this?” I ask, hands clenched together.

“Definitely good, but trying to be cautious. I’m all for team ‘Kaden’, I just hope neither one of you gets hurt because I don’t want family gatherings to get awkward.”

“I promise I’ll be careful if you promise not to say Kaden again,” I say, pulling her in for a hug. “I love you, Ev. I couldn’t ask for a better sister-in-law.”

“I love you too and I always will, whether or not you become my sister-in-law on two sides.”

“Too soon for that kind of talk,” I warn. “And if I’m being honest, a little too weird to think about. Makes it seem like Braden’s already my relative.”

At least one of the Kendalls is on board with the idea of me and their youngest brother. But maybe it’s not Braden’s siblings I have to worry about.

* * *

As fate would have it, Braden and I are paired to walk down the aisle together. The sight of him in a dark gray 3-piece Italian suit has me so wet that I worry a spot will soak through my dress by the time we reach the front of the chapel. Though he’s good about keeping his hands to himself, before he lets me go, he whispers under his breath that I’m the most beautiful sight he’s ever seen. After that, the ceremony seems exceptionally long. Doesn’t help that Braden’s lips tilt with a knowing little smirk every time he catches me staring. Cocky prick.

Truthfully there isn’t a man standing across from me who doesn’t rock the hell out of the black Jacquard vest and black silk tie, most importantly James who dabs at his eyes every single time he meets Sharlo’s gaze. But not a single one of them—not even my famous rockstar brother who can legitimately claim the title of Sexiest Man Alive—holds a candle to the man I’m dying to kiss whenever his dark brown eyes lock with mine.

The push and pull of my emotions surrounding this relationship with Braden are almost too much to handle without imploding. Even if I were to decide it’s best to walk away, I don’t know how I’d ever forget him and everything he’s made me feel. I mean there’s desire, then there’s an invisible pull toward someone’s soul that can’t be explained or denied, and most certainly can’t be stopped.

Who am I kidding by pretending there’s any other option other than giving this thing a real shot? I want more than anything to go back with him to play with Jazz on the beach and hang with veterans in the hospital. I want him to make love to me in the middle of the day and lay in his arms at night. I want him to tease me relentlessly and flash me that cocky ass grin as often as possible.

I want him.

Once my mind has been set, my lips freeze with a permanent smile. But knowing I’ll kick myself if I don’t pay rapt attention and forever have this day etched into my memory, I focus on the last half of the ceremony as best I can.

Everything about their wedding is like something right out of a fairytale. The beautiful chapel filled with intricate stained glass windows, oversized white bouquets of fresh flowers running along the burgundy carpeted aisle and filling the space behind the minister, grand peaked ceilings several stories high—the grandeur of it all makes our massive wedding party seem oddly small. And James looks at Sharlo like she’s the only girl in the world, jumping at every opportunity to touch her, whether holding her hand or brushing his fingers over the small of her back. If I didn’t love them so damn much it’d be nauseating.

I’m not sure there’s ever been more of a striking couple as the two of them, maybe aside from Belle and her fierce beast. Hulking James isn’t too far of a stretch as a tortured prince, though he’s not nearly as grumpy as the fairytale, and he’s definitely less anguished since Sharlo came into his life. He’s still the big protector of their family, however, and likely the one that’ll be hardest to convince I’m not with his little brother strictly for the amazing sex. If it literally comes down to a plea along those lines, I should probably leave out the “amazing” part.

Somehow I end up holding little Franklin as his mommy and daddy are sealing their marriage with a steamy kiss. I swear my ovaries do a little dance with the chubby tyke’s smell and angel soft skin as he wiggles in my arms. With the world’s tiniest faux hawk and a black suit made to compliment his daddy’s, he’s the cutest baby in the world. When I look into his eyes, he blows bubbles at me and laughs joyously.

A small pang of hope blossoms inside me. Could I actually do the baby thing all over again, as long as it’s with the right person? Would it be fair to the kid to have an older mom? Would I be able to keep up both physically and mentally?

Of course I’m unable to stop myself from glancing Braden’s way as these thoughts are coming to me full steam. Our gazes lock. An optimistic smile spreads across his lips and he dips his chin. My stomach flutters. There’s no doubt we would have gorgeous children together.

Once it’s time to leave the chapel, I’m part elated, part terrified by my resolve. As I try to hand Franklin off to his beautiful momma, he twists away from her in my arms, knocking my bouquet to the floor near Braden’s feet. James wrangles his son from my arms before they head down the aisle. The rest of the wedding party files out behind them until Angelina and I are the last bridesmaids standing.

When it’s Braden and my turn, he hands my bouquet back, brushing his fingers over my knuckles in the process. Those brown eyes land on me and I nearly moan aloud. With any luck, we’ll finally get a few minutes alone so I can show him just how much I appreciate the way he fills out that suit.

Next thing I know, I’m floating toward the back of the church at his side, feeling the happiest I’ve ever been. Every single set of eyes in the pews burn gaping holes through us. Or maybe it’s all in my head. Does everyone suspect something, or am I simply being paranoid?

Then I catch Allen’s scowl from the second row, and stumble over my heels. Once again Braden’s there to catch me before I land on my face. “Breathe, beautiful,” he whispers, wrapping one thick arm around my waist. “I won’t let you fall.”

But he’s wrong…oh so very wrong. I’ve already fallen for him.