Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy

“Where’s Riley?” he asks, glancing around.

I nod toward the yard below, where Riley and Tate are on the sand engaged in an animated conversation about sailing. Riley’s aunt Liz stands a few feet away, checking her phone.

“He told me he has a crush on a girl in his biology class,” I whisper to Evan, nodding at his surrogate baby brother.

“Oh, Becky? Yeah, I know all about her.”

“Becky? No, he said her name was Addison.” My jaw drops. “Oh my God. He’s turning into a little player.”

Evan grins proudly. “Good. Let him play the field a bit. He’s too young to settle down.”

I sigh, about to offer a comeback, when a flash of movement catches my peripheral vision. I turn toward it and suck in a breath.

“What the hell,” I hiss at Evan.

He’s still all smiles. “Harrison!” he calls to the khaki-and-polo-clad deputy who approaches the deck from the side of the Hartley house. “Glad you could make it!”

He invited Harrison? And he’s actually calling him by his proper name instead of some passive-aggressive taunt?

“Evan,” I growl softly. “What have you done?”

“Chill, baby,” he whispers back. “Just think of me as the love fairy. Spreading all the love around.”

What in the actual fuck. I’ve barely registered the absurdity of the remark before Evan is gone, sauntering down the steps toward the new arrival. I find my footing and hurry after him, prepared to do damage control. Just how much of it will be required? Undetermined.

I reach them in time to witness Evan clap Harrison on the shoulder and say, “Been wanting to introduce you two for ages.”

You two?

I blink in surprise as my crazy fiancé ushers Harrison over to Riley’s aunt and starts making introductions. Harrison and Aunt Liz? That’s just … genius, I realize. As my initial surprise wanes, it occurs to me that this might be the greatest matchmaking scheme in history. I’m almost disappointed I didn’t think of it first.

“Liz is, like, the best nurse ever,” Evan is raving. “At least that’s what I hear in all my nursing circles.”

I choke down a laugh and add to the pitch. “Harrison once carried a gator down from a roof with his bare hands,” I inform Liz.

Evan’s brows raise. “Seriously? Dude. I need to hear this story—”

“Another time,” I chirp, latching a hand onto his arm. “We need to finish bringing the food out first. ’Scuse us.”

With that, we leave a slightly dazed Harrison and an amused-looking Liz to their own devices.

“Damn, Mr. Love Fairy,” I murmur as we return to the kitchen. “That was some good thinking. They’re the perfect match.”

Evan nods vigorously. “Right?”

I’m grabbing the last of the condiments from the fridge when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” he says before darting off.

I set down the ketchup and mustard bottles, then wipe my hands and go to see who’s at the door.

Standing in the doorway is Shelley Hartley. I haven’t seen Evan’s mother in … I don’t know how many years. She looks good, though. Like she’s taking care of herself. Her hair is no longer dyed blonde, but her natural dark brown. Her skin looks healthy, and her jeans and tank top actually cover all the important bits.

Last time I asked Evan about her, he’d said he wasn’t quite ready to spring her on me. Until now, it seems.

“I baked a pie.” She holds up a tin wrapped in foil. Then her smile falters. “Okay, that’s a lie. I bought it at the grocery store and rewrapped it. But it’s a start, right?”

Evan is clearly trying not to laugh. “That’s great, Mom.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek and invites her in. “We appreciate it.”

Cooper’s standing in the living room as she enters. He offers to take the pie from her. While he doesn’t entirely manage a smile or a kiss for his mother, he gives her a nod. “Thank you,” he says brusquely. “That was thoughtful.”

By the relief on her face, it’s more than Shelley hoped for.

“Mom. You remember Genevieve.” Evan coaxes me forward.

“Of course I do. And oh my goodness, you’ve gotten so gorgeous.” She pulls me into a tight hug. “Evan told me about the engagement. I’m so happy for you two,” she gushes, holding me out with her hands on my arms. She glances at her son with an oddly smug smile. “See, baby? Didn’t I tell you? My love predictions always come true.” She turns back to me. “I always liked you two together. Even when you were little. I said, he’s going to marry that girl someday, if he knows what’s good for him.”

I get a tad choked up. “That’s really sweet.”

“Man, your kids,” she exclaims, eyes huge. “Such beautiful kids you two are gonna have. I can’t even.”

Shelley is already planning playdates with her grandkids before we’ve even set a date for the wedding. Not that we’re stalling, but with the grand opening at The Beacon coming up, scheduling is a nightmare.

Anyway, I think my dad is still in denial about the whole thing. A little upset that I asked Evan to marry me without talking to him first—and a lot scared that his only daughter isn’t five years old anymore. Bad enough he’s losing Craig to college next week. Billy and Jay insist he’ll work his way through the grief process in time for the wedding. Well, that’s if Evan survives the ritual hazing Shane and Kellan have promised to execute until he cracks or goes into hiding. But I have faith Evan can hold his own. One way or another, we’re mashing these families together, and consequences be damned. Kicking and screaming if need be.