Fastening the cuffs of my button down while heading downstairs, I glance up and let a grin spread across my face.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Derek Jackson, one of my oldest friends drawls. We’d met at college so many years before and no matter the distance we’ve always stayed close friends, which is why he’s here today. No one else would do as best man.

Laughing, I hug him and realize just how much I’ve missed having him around. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“No way in hell would I miss your wedding.” He chuckles.

“He left in the middle of a business deal,” Tanner, his son, my godson adds. “Never known him to that before.”

“Garrett’s like a brother,” Derek says, wrapping an arm around his son. “Garrett, you haven’t seen Tanner in while.”

“No, I haven’t.” I step forward and exchange a quick hug with the young man. “You’ve sure grown up.”

Tanner laughs. “That’s what happens when you have a ranch to work.”

As Tanner smiles, I try and remember his age. Twenty-six, I think—only a year younger than Charlotte.

Wondering about how wise what I’m about to do is, I say to Derek, “Give me a minute.” And then to Tanner, “I have someone that I’d like you to meet.”

Surprise shows on his face but we’re both distracted by a female voice, “Garrett,” she calls from over my shoulder. I turn and face the woman that I was about to look for.

“Charlotte,” I take her arm. “I’d like you to meet my godson, Tanner Jackson.” I glance at Tanner and notice the interest in his eyes before he replaces it with a blank expression. “Tanner, this is Sirena’s sister, Charlotte McKenzie.”

They exchange greetings before Tanner looks around. “If you’ll excuse me.” He walks away leaving disappointment on Charlotte’s face.

She shakes her head. “I was coming to tell you to be in place in ten minutes.”

“Okay,” I mumble, distracted.

Once she’s disappeared, I turn back to Derek. “Is everything alright with Tanner?”

Derek frowns and watches his son as he steps outside. “He’s engaged.”

“Hell! I should have asked if he was single first before introducing him to Charlotte.”

“Between you and me, he isn’t acting like a man in love, and that bothers me.”

“You think there’s something else going on?”

“I’m not sure, but if you were to see them together, you’d know exactly what I’m talking about . . . It’s a sore subject with him.”

“That doesn’t sound promising.”

“No it doesn’t . . . Anyway, I think you’re supposed to be somewhere right about now.”

“I am. I’ll introduce you around later,” I say leading him outside.

“I’ll introduce myself around.” He laughs. “You have a bride to be with.”

I grin. “You’re going to hang around though, right?”

“That’s the plan.” With a hand to my arm, he pulls me to a stop. “The photographer is waving at you.”

Photographs are taken and eventually the photographer gets the hint that I’m impatient and stands back.

Sighing heavily, I turn back and watch as my brother and his wife are shown to their seats. As much as I’d wanted to exclude them today, in the end it wasn’t something I could do. We have only just been getting back on track until Jenny became vocal with her thoughts on Sirena. But nevertheless, my brother has been warned to keep Jenny well away from Sirena, and me, so hopefully it will be smooth sailing.

“Sorry we’re late,” Rachel, I think it was, says dashing past with her sister, Paige, and cousin Ryan.

Ryan I do know because he’s the assistant manager at Kenza, the nightclub that his father, Ruben, started many years before. Once a year they hold a homeless dinner around thanksgiving, which I’ve donated to for the past four years.

Their cousin, Alexander, follows with a furious look on his face, but smiles in passing. It doesn’t meet his eyes as he quickly takes his seat beside his sister, Olivia. She gives him a look before a frown mars her brow. He shakes her off.

“I think I’ve met the guy in the dark grey suit before. Can’t place him though,” Derek mumbles to himself.

“That’s Alexander McKenzie. He’s the man behind Nirvana,” I supply the information, jogging his memory.

“He’s young.”

“But knows what he’s doing. They all do at McKenzies.”

“Hmm.” He mutters. “I think you’re being summoned again.

I glance over and see Michael McKenzie trying to get my attention, while he helps an elderly man into a chair. “I think that’s Sirena’s grandfather.”

Elias McKenzie is sitting with Michael, and looking at them both together it’s obvious that they’re father and son. Even though Elias is wrinkled with age, he’s still a handsome man, and the old devil knows it.

“You better take good care of my granddaughter,” he says in greeting. “She’s headstrong that one, but has a heart bigger than Texas.”

“You have my word,” I shake his offered hand, “that she’ll be treated like a princess.”

Michael smirks, his eyes full of mirth. “I do believe that she’s about to have everything she’s ever wanted.” He’s thoughtful, and then adds, “My daughter has always gone after what she wants without thinking of the consequences. She’s needed to have the few bumps in the road so that she can finally get it right for once.”

I’m lost for words listening to my future father-in-law, and only manage a choked, “Thank you,” before Derek snags my attention.