Page 11 of Face Off
His expression remained carefully neutral, but Cade had known me too long for either of us to pretend the word slipped out accidentally.
“I’ll walk with her,” I said. “We’ll smile for pictures, welcome guests, give toasts, organize whatever Bliss needs organized, and make sure the weekend stays about you two.”
“There’s a private welcome dinner Wednesday night, then the family and wedding-party competitions Thursday before the barbecue hosted by the Bennetts that evening. Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are Friday, the ceremony is Saturday, and brunch is Sunday morning.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Daniel Bennett isn’t manning the grill, right?”
Cade laughed. “Fuck no. The barbecue is a Bennett family tradition, but Bliss hired people who understand food safety. She wanted Wednesday night to be a smaller meet-and-greet before the entire family arrives. Thursday will become loud the second the Bennetts meet the Mercers, and after that, the wedding takes over.”
“I read the schedule.”
“You called it a hostage itinerary.”
“It has color coding.”
“Charm made it.”
That explained why I had read every page instead of deleting the attachment after the third mention of strategic bonding.
“I figured,” I said.
“You and Charm will help greet the VIP guests arriving Thursday. We trust Aura, but Easton is a wild card, and we need people who won’t disappear the second Lyon and the rest of the Bennett guys start cutting up.”
“Who qualifies as a VIP at a wedding where half the guest list owns private aircraft?”
“The Kimball Falls Fire Department, for one. My aunts and uncles from my dad’s side, all three athletes Bliss represents, several of Dad’s business partners, some of our parents’ closest friends, a few guys from my team and the coaching staff, Coach Little, the Clarkes, the Harlens, and more members of the Bennett family than I knew existed.”
Hearing the Harlens named among them shifted the sadness inside me and gave something older and meaner room to rise.
“The Harlens?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they’ve been part of Bliss’s life since she was twelve. The Bennett, Clarke and Harlen families have almost fifteen years of history. Whatever Lance did to you and Charm doesn’t erase his relationship with Daniel or the rest of Bliss’s family.”
“I know how long they’ve known each other.”
“I’m explaining why he’s included.”
“I understand why Crystal might be worthy of an invitation.”
“Lance is Charm’s father.”
“Biology is doing impressive work inside that sentence.”
Cade’s jaw tightened. “I’m not defending him.”
“You’re getting close.”
“I’m making sure you know he’ll be involved throughout the weekend. He and Crystal have one of the largest suites, they’re seated with Bliss’s family during the rehearsal dinner, and they’ll be included in some of the formal photographs.”
Formal photographs shouldn’t have sounded like a threat. With Lance, they did. “Will he inspect everyone’s bloodline before dinner or wait until after?”
“Ryan.”
“I said I understand.”
