Kellen.”
“Jacob isn’t here?” Melanie asked as they crossed under a trellis supporting huge, fragrant yellow roses and stepped onto a large brick patio. Gabe knew that Owen had spent a lot of time fixing up the inside of his little cottage, but he’d done a spectacular job on the outside as well.
“I’m not surprised Jacob bailed,” Gabe said, but in truth he was disappointed. He’d hoped to ask him to be his best man today, but if Jacob couldn’t be bothered to show up for an engagement party, how could Gabe count on him to stand up for him at his wedding?
“Jerk,” Melanie muttered, but she brightened when Kellen reached out to give her a hug.
“You look gorgeous,” he said. “Must be all the happy radiating off of you.”
Gabe slicked the non-existent hair off the side of his head. “I do look good, don’t I?”
Melanie laughed, a sound that would forever bring a smile to Gabe’s face.
“I think he was complimenting me,” Melanie said.
Kellen took a step back. “Wow,” he said, his gaze traveling the length of Melanie’s figure. “You look even more radiant than he does.”
Melanie laughed again and knuckled Kellen in his shoulder—which was bare since the guy seldom wore a shirt.
“Are you and Owen talking again?” Gabe asked.
Kellen lowered his gaze, the smile disappearing from his bronze-toned face. “No. He’s been spending most of his time with his brother, which he should. I just wish he’d lean on me a little. He looks like he’s about to fall over dead.”
“Chad’s home?”
Kellen nodded. “He refused to stay in the hospital, so Owen brought him home to take care of him. I don’t think he knew what he was in for.”
Curiosity seeped through Gabe’s veins. He wanted to know everything that had happened to Chad, how severe his injuries were. Were they talking Owen changing Chad’s adult diapers and feeding him with a spoon or driving him to appointments or what? Gabe didn’t ask, though. It didn’t seem his place.
“I saw Tex harassing you,” Kellen said. “Did he ask you if you were the father of Lindsey’s baby?”
“Good guess.”
“And did you tell him?”
“Yeah. It isn’t mine, so why wouldn’t I?” Gabe shrugged, but again he was struck by curiosity. “Did you tell him your results?” That was a little less nosy than tell me, tell me, tell me, Kellen. Is the baby yours? Huh, is it?
Kellen took a draw off his beer and then brightened as a certain redhead crossed the patio in his direction. “No, I didn’t tell him. It’s none of his business.”
But was it the business of a close personal friend and former band member? Gabe and Melanie both stared at Kellen in anticipation, but he wrapped an arm around Dawn and kissed her neck. “Isn’t she stunning?” he asked no one in particular.
Dawn kissed him gently. “Owen’s in the kitchen,” she whispered. “Take that salad from Melanie and bring it inside. It’ll give you an excuse to talk to him.”
“It won’t work,” Kellen said, but he held his hands out to accept the dish Melanie was still hauling around in her free hand. “But I’ll try.”
Dawn watched Kellen walk away, a look of concern on her pretty face. Was that look because Kellen had fucked up his most treasured friendship or because he was about to become a father?
“So how have you been?” Melanie asked, reaching out to give Dawn’s wrist a friendly squeeze.
“Busy. Kellen and I just got back from Venice.”
“Venice!” Melanie glanced quickly at Gabe and then back to Dawn.
“I’m working on a musical score with some Hollywood bigshots, and I thought it might cheer Kellen up to get away for a couple of weeks. Of course, Owen is using his absence as more ammunition against him. Poor guy. I was going to take him with me to Milan as well, but maybe he should stay here and try to smooth things over with Owen instead.”
“Milan!” Melanie said, glancing at Gabe again and then back to Dawn. “How romantic. You should take Kellen for sure. Owen will get over it.”
“I’m not so sure,” Dawn said. “Owen’s pissed off and jealous at the same time. Makes for a rather unreasonable individual.”
“Have you ever been to Europe?” Gabe asked Melanie.
She shook her head. “I’ve never been farther than Texas. Well, Idaho once, for a convention, but I don’t think that counts as being a world traveler.” Both she and Dawn chuckled.
“Do you want to go?”
Melanie’s breath caught, and the sparkle in her eyes made him glad that he’d been smart enough to ask. “Oh, Gabe, that would be so wonderful.”
Gabe grinned. “I happen to have some time off. We should go. Assuming I can manage to drag you away from the business.”
“Let’s go for our honeymoon,” Melanie said.
“Congratulations, by the way. I’m not sure if I told you that,” Dawn said. “I’m sincerely happy for you both.”
“Aw, thanks,” Melanie said. The women shared a quick hug. “So tell me all about Venice and Milan, and where else have you been? Rome? Italy must be amazing. I want to see everything.”
“Do go to Prague,” Dawn said. “It’s my favorite European city.”
“Prague, really? What’s so great about Prague?”
Feeling rather third-wheelish as the ladies twittered on and on about travel destinations, Gabe excused himself to say hi to his family. He was glad that Adam’s father had wandered off to find someone else to annoy.
“I see your tattoos are showing again,” Mom said before she placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him.
Gabe rolled his eyes at his sister, who sniggered. Leslie was back to being the best daughter ever since she’d listened to their mom and accepted the position in Houston—a far better opportunity—instead of the one in Austin. Gabe had a feeling, however, that it wouldn’t be long before Leslie ended up as his mother’s colleague at Seton.
“Where’s your lovely bride?” Dad asked, leaning heavily on his cane as he glanced around Gabe’s body only to find emptiness behind him.
“Talking with Little Miss Worldly Dawn O’Reilly about where to go on our honeymoon.”
“Please say you’re going to Bali and that you’re taking your favorite sister,” Leslie said.
“Not a chance,” Gabe said, kissing her smooth cheek. “Jennifer is too busy to go on vacation with us.”
Leslie pinched his arm. Hard.
“Besides,” Gabe said, “she wants to go to Europe, not to Bali.”
“Can you afford that, son?” Dad asked, a worried crease in his brow. “With the tour being canceled and all those lawsuits against the band springing up, I wouldn’t want you to short yourself trying to impress your lady.”
Gabe had tried not to think about the lawsuits. His band’s business affairs had been structured separately from his individual money, so no one could touch his personal funds. He hoped. He’d still take a hit—a huge one—on future royalties, but the money he had already banked should be safe.
“I’m okay financially,” he said. He hadn’t told his parents about his new business venture. Wasn’t sure how to broach the subject, actually. What would he say? Yo, Mom and Dad, I’m making millions inventing and selling Bangin’ Toys, high-end sexual aids. Don’t worry about me. At least not financially. Morally? Well, that was a different matter entirely.
A few minutes later, Melanie joined them. She hugged his parents and Leslie. Stars were dancing in her eyes, her head no doubt full of all the sights they’d see in Europe.
“My parents should be here soon,” she said. “They got hung up in some road construction in Oklahoma this morning and are running late. I can’t wait for them to meet you all. They’ll be excited to find you don’t all have Mohawks and tattoos on your scalps.”
His family members stared at her with wide eyes. His dad blinked first and turned his gaze to Gabe.
“Are your future in-laws having a difficult time accept
ing your poor sense of style?” he asked.
Gabe snorted and wrapped an arm around Melanie’s waist to draw her against his side. Even though the July heat was sweltering hot, he wanted her close.