Page 77 of What Doesn't Kill You…

Violet hung her head in disgust as Max peered out from the bedroom. "Guess it's safe to come out now," he said.

"I wouldn't be too sure," Violet replied.

She stashed her gun in the console table beside the front door and then reluctantly opened it. Four smiling faces greeted her. One was apologetic.

"I'm sorry," Katrina whispered as Violet held the door open for her. "They were at my door half an hour ago, demanding we come help you get dressed."

Violet waved them in. She didn't blame Katrina. Her mother was a force all on her own, but when she came with Lian and Jasmine for back up, there was no fighting her will.

"Come in," Violet said ungraciously. "I hope you brought food."

"You should have been up hours ago," her mum said as she hurried into the dining area. "It's only two hours to the ceremony and you haven't even showered." She shook her head in dismay.

Violet locked the door before following them into the bungalow. "Two hours is loads of time. I could have slept for another hour and still be early for the wedding. Why are you here really?"

"To help you with your makeup." Jasmine waved a cosmetics bag under her nose.

"And to do your hair." Her mother brandished a curling iron.

"I'm here for moral support," her gran said sweetly, fooling no one.

"Hey ladies," Max said as he came into the living room. "Good to see you. And might I say that you are all looking beautiful today. Do I sense a theme?"

That's when Violet noticed all four women were dressed in shades of peach. What the hell?

"I thought you brought a lavender dress for the wedding," she said to Katrina.

Her teammate winced. "That was before Mrs. Lee saw the flowers you'd picked for the ceremony, and decided we should all match the wedding color scheme." She mouthed a silent sorry at the end.

Violet narrowed her eyes, letting her know the apology was not enough. "The color theme of the wedding is white. Tell them, Max."

"It's true," he said. "We told the wedding planner."

"And there is a lot of white in it," her mother said. "I'll give you that. But there are distinct accents of peach and pink." She put heavy emphasis on the pink and smiled smugly at Violet. "Very good choices indeed."

"I'm going to puke," Violet muttered.

Her sister's eyes shot to Violet's stomach. "Are you…?" She gasped, looking between Violet and Max with a blinding smile on her stunned face.

Violet had no idea what she was talking about.

Fortunately, Max did. And he was amused.

"Unfortunately, no," he said, smiling at Violet. "I think she's just nervous, and we haven't had breakfast yet."

Rosey Lee's eyes narrowed as she took in Max's appearance and the rumpled bed behind him. "Shouldn't you have spent the night before the wedding with your best man?"

"I could have," Max said, flashing a charming smile. "But Rodrigo refuses to snuggle."

Jasmine laughed like Max was comedy gold, when he really wasn't funny at all.

"Well, get your things together and head over there now," her mother ordered. "Because you can't be here while the bride gets dressed."

"Mum," Violet complained. "He's seen me get dressed before."

Her mother held up a hand. "Not on your wedding day he hasn't." She turned back to Max. "Do I have to tell you again?"

"No, Ma'am," Max said. He shrugged at Violet as he went off to pack.