That sounded likeArcher.Ishook my head slightly just thinking about it.
“I know.Iwas just as shocked as you are,”Ruthiesaid, likely assuming my face was from confusion, but that wasn’t why. “Misterallergic-to-relationships gave relationship advice!”
Cat chuckled a little, but then her face grew serious and she looked straight at me. “ArchertoldVincethat he felt the same about his ex-wife, so he divorced her to protect her.Hetold him it was the biggest regret of his entire life.”
What did she just say?
My mind started to spiral at what she’d said.IknewArcherwished he had done things with the divorce differently, but to say that it was the single biggest regret of his entire life was quite a significant comment.
Nobody said anything, butIfelt everyone’s eyes on me.
“How do you know all this?”Ellieasked.
“Vince told me soIwould understand where he was coming from and thatArcherhad knocked some sense into him,”Catreplied.
I heard them, butIwasn’t looking at them.No, my gaze was on the man responsible for this conversation.Theman who hadn’t had the guts to tell me himself but had no problem telling his friends.
The biggest regret of his life.
If he had just explained to me what had happened,Iwould have understood—or at leastIthinkIwould have.Buthe never told me, never gave me that chance.Nowall of a sudden, he wanted to make things right and just expected me to jump on board as though he hadn’t broken my heart into a million pieces.Iconsidered myself a forgiving person, but a second chance with the man who broke your heart was complicated.
“I see that look on your face,”Tammysaid next to me, startling me out of my thoughts.
I turned to face her and saw her knowing look as she grinned at me.
“Let me give you some advice you didn’t ask for,”Tammysaid loud enough for the whole group to hear, but her eyes were pinned solely on me. “Isaw a talk show once where the guest said that menare like fine wine.Theystart as grapes, and, as women, it’s up to us to stomp the ever-living crap out of them until they turn into something decent enough to have dinner with.”
She winked at me, andIgrinned in return.Laughterrang from all around me as the other women enjoyed her comment.
Okay, all of these women were great, butTammymight be my favorite.
After all of this was over andIwas no longerArcher’sresponsibility,Iwould still come back to this bar to visitTammy.DanandTaliawould love her, too.
12
ARCHER
It was the morning ofJackandRuthie’swedding, andAce’strainer had been over again to do their run around the property.I’dtold her she had to do it early because soon there would be delivery trucks and extra vehicles here to set up for the wedding.
“I’m assuming you’ve vetted everyone coming and going?” she asked.
“Yes.Vince,Axel, andIvetted every single person who will be on the property today,”Iassured her. “Youmight have a backup career in security if you ever want it.”
She just rolled her eyes at my comment, butIwasn’t taking any chances with the hits out onAceand me.
It was a small wedding, and we knew everyone attending.WadewasJack’sbest man, andElliewasRuthie’smatron of honor.Therewere only about thirty other guests, plus the bare minimum staff, most of whom we knew personally.Diegowas ourDJfor the night.Thebartenders were staff from theWateringHole, hand-picked byWadeandTammy.Vince’smom and sister had become self-appointed wedding planners.Theonly “outsiders” were the catering staff, which we had kept to three people total.
However, just to be on the safe side, we had also hired two police officers to man the entrance to our street.DaneandAndrewere also here attending the wedding but would be keeping an eye on all the cameras that covered the perimeter of the property via their phones.
I had just finished showering and getting dressed and was going to takePercyout to do his business whenAcecame down the stairs into the living room.
I froze and stared as she came toward me.Shehad on a long red dress made of silk or satin or something of that nature.Thedress was sleeveless and had aV-cut in the front.Notenough to be indecent, but enough to show just a hint of cleavage.Thesame cleavageIhad once had my hands on, my lips on.Mymouth watered at the sight of her.
“You look stunning,Ace,”Itold her, not once taking my eyes off her.
“Thanks,” she said, a little blush appearing on her cheeks. “Youdon’t look too bad yourself.”
I had on black dress pants and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up a bit.Ihad a red tie on the kitchen counterIplanned to wear, which would complement her dress, thoughIwould be nowhere near as stunning as she was in the color.
