“No bachelor party?” Cady asked. “That’s unhealthy.”
Everyone laughed.
“Bachelor parties are about cutting loose one last time,” Patton agreed. “Before you’re stuck with the same ol’ ball-and-chain day in, day out.”
Bianca was still laughing. “Thanks, Patton.”
“No offense,” he mumbled. He might not want her to marry his brother, but he had no problem with Bianca. Not yet anyway. He’d wait and see what the background check turned up.
Cady was laughing. A husky, rasping sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He crossed his legs, glancing her way.
“No bachelor party,” Zach confirmed.
Bianca argued. “Please let Patton give you a proper send-off. If for no other reason than people will assume I’m the reason you don’t have one.”
Patton watched the exchange. Not many women would argue for a bachelor party. He had to give her props for that.
“Any parameters?” Cady asked him, her eyes sparkling as she continued. “No exotic dancers? No gambling... That sort of thing? If you’re pulling out all the stops, then I guess I need to do the same for her party.”
“Wait.” Zach leaned forward. “I thought a shower is supposed to be a joint thing, right? With cupcakes and finger sandwiches and...crap.”
Cady laughed. “A bridal shower is. I was talking about her bachelorette party.”
“When did men get sucked into bridal showers?” Patton asked. One more afternoon of enduring small talk, family and forced enthusiasm. He and Cady needed to get to work, soon. Besides, if he didn’t get her alone soon, he feared the consequences. He glanced at her as he said, “Sounds like we need to have a planning session.”
“We do?” she asked.
Cady tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He wanted to stroke her hair and suck on that earlobe. “You’re the maid of honor. I’m the best man,” He said, hoping like hell that would sound like a good reason for the two of them to be spending time together.
She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face. She was beautiful.
He took a long swig off his beer bottle. “Good.” He hoped he’d be able to focus on getting information from Cady—versus getting Cady into bed.
“It’s not like you’re organizing a stakeout,” Zach laughed.
“You know I’m a planner,” Patton bit back. “I don’t do surprises.”
“Cady loves them,” Bianca murmured. “What was I thinking? Trying to get the two of you together?”
“I have no idea.” Cady’s teasing answer was too quick. For reasons he didn’t understand, her words stung.
“I had a dream,” Bianca confessed, smiling at Zach. Zach rolled his eyes.
“A dream dream?” Cady looked impressed. “That sort of dream?”
Zach groaned. “No, no, don’t say it like that. She’s been fixating on the damn thing.”
“You lost me,” Patton interrupted. “Why is Bianca’s dream a good or bad thing?”
“I know it sounds silly but...most of the women in my family are matchmakers,” Bianca started. “It’s their dreams that tell them who is meant for each other.”
“O-okay.” Patton shook his head.
Bianca laughed. “I’ve only had one before... I’m still learning, reading the signs. But I had one that I thought was the two of you. I’d seen your picture.” Bianca glanced at him. “In my dream you were there and Cady was smiling. There was more, but I just knew... You two, as a couple.” She shrugged, clearly upset. “But I must have read it wrong. I mean, obviously it’s silly, right? Right.”
Patton looked at Cady. But Cady was looking at Bianca with true sympathy, her features soft and feminine. Looking at her did something to him...something more than lust.
“I’m sure GG didn’t know how to read her dreams in the beginning either. And just because it wasn’t me and Patton doesn’t mean there’s not some other lucky couple out there—just waiting for you to connect them,” Cady finished. “Who was the other dream about?”