“I don’t want to know this.”
I chuckle again and then take a deep, cleansing breath. “So, I overreacted.”
“Probably. What’s up with women? Why can’t y’all just fuck like rabbits and then get on with your day? Why do you have to sketch out a three-year plan and talk it to death? Just enjoy the sex, for Christ sakes.”
“People should pay you for this advice,” I say dryly. “Speaking of sex, are you seeing anyone?”
“I’m seeing a few someones,” he replies with a smile in his voice. “I don’t have sex hang-ups.”
“You’re gross. Tell me you’re being careful.”
“I buy condoms by the case.”
“Ew.”
“You asked, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nine
~Dominic~
“Good morning, Mr. Salvatore.”
I glance up from my computer as Celeste walks briskly into my office. “Good morning.”
“I just saw Alecia,” she begins, and opens her iPad to go over notes with me, as is our usual morning routine. “She was just leaving.”
My heart stills. “Leaving?”
“She said she has some business that requires her attention, so she asked me to pass the message on to you.”
“Fine.” I nod, as the rest of me sighs in relief. Business. Yes, it’s just like my Alecia to run off at a moment’s notice if her business needs her. I love her work ethic, her passion for her job.
Yet, it’s interesting that while she loves the planning, she’s as cynical as they come when it comes to love.
I wonder if I can change her mind in that area.
I begin rattling off duties for Celeste to see to during the day. “Mick, the head of security, will be here tomorrow morning, and every day thereafter until the wedding.”
“Yes, I have that on the schedule,” Celeste replies with a nod. “Do you want me to have lunch brought in for your brothers today?”
“My brothers?” I ask with a raised brow.
“Yes, all of them are here.”
I blink at Celeste in confusion. “All of them?”
“Whether related by blood or marriage, they’re here. The backyard is a huge mass of testosterone. Can you bring them by more often?”
I laugh as I stand and shake my head at my assistant. “They’re all completely in love with their women, you know.”
“I don’t have to touch them to appreciate them. I’m sure their women would understand.”
“Would Clay understand?” I ask, referring to her husband of more than a dozen years.
“Clay doesn’t have to know.” She smiles and follows me out of my office. “So, lunch?”
“Yes, have sandwiches brought in from that café I like in Olympia. I’ll be in the backyard.”
“Lucky bastard,” I hear her mutter, and can’t help the smile that comes to my lips. I’m secure enough in my masculinity to admit that the Montgomery side of my family is a handsome one. I don’t see any of them as my eyes scan the reception area, but I can hear raised voices coming from the ceremony site in the vines.
“Why do you smell like me?” Isaac asks Matt, the second eldest brother, with a scowl.
“I had to use your body wash when I caught a shower at the office before we came here,” Matt replies calmly, with more than a little mirth in his trademark Montgomery blue eyes.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Isaac yells, as the rest of the brothers laugh. “You can’t use my body wash!”
“It’s soap, dude,” Caleb says with a shake of the head. Caleb is only a year older than me.
“I have to burn the fucking body wash now,” Isaac mutters.
I stand back and take them all in. Not only are all four of my brothers here, both Luke and Mark Williams are here, along with Leo Nash and Nate McKenna as well.
The whole fucking family.
Mark is measuring boards and Isaac is manning a saw. I frown as I realize they’re all in jeans, holding tools, hammering boards.
Even McKenna.
“Are we having a party that I wasn’t aware of?” I ask as I approach.
“Oh, good, you’re here.” Will grins and shakes my hand, then claps my shoulder. “We’re making the arbor.”
“We are?” I glance toward Isaac. “Don’t you have a crew for this?”
“We decided this would be more meaningful,” Luke replies with a smile. “We’re making the arbor, and Will is going to take it home after the wedding and put it in their garden.”
“It’s something from the brothers,” Leo adds with a grimace. “I tried to talk them into just letting me write a song, but Will has his pansy ass set on something pretty for the garden.”