“You’ve been spending a lot of time in Houston,” Mo says from the dressing room. “And according to your brother, your clinicals have already ended, which can only mean one thing… Adley Allen, are you hiding something from us? A man, perhaps?” she sings, stepping out from behind the curtain.
Her words don’t even process in my brain because all I can concentrate on is the gorgeous white dress my soon-to-be sister-in-law is wearing.
“Mo,” I breathe, standing up, Tess and Claire close behind me. “You look stunning.”
“Really?” she asks, biting her lip. “You don’t think it’s too…”
“Sexy?” Claire offers.
“Yeah, that.”
I shake my head. “Rhett is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you. And have I mentioned that he’s the luckiest man in the entire world?”
“Hey.” Claire pouts. “I’m dating your brother too.”
Laughing, I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Trevor and Rhett are both the luckiest men in the world. Now if we can only find women for Cooper and Beau.”
Mo, Claire, and I turn toward Tess. Her eyes widen. She throws her hands up and takes a giant step back. “Oh, no. Don’t look at me.”
“Why not? You’d be a perfect addition to our family,” I say.
“She’s right.” Mo nods. “You and Coop would make a great couple. And you’re already friends, so it’s a win-win.”
“Absolutely not.”
Mo shrugs. “Fine. Beau it is. Hey…” She snaps her fingers and looks at me. “I’ve got the perfect idea. I can pair her and Beau up at the wedding.”
“No,” Tess protests. “I don’t need you to set me up. I’m more than capable of getting my own date.”
“I love it,” I say, ignoring Tess.
Claire nods. “They’ll have to walk down the aisle together—”
“And sit together at the reception,” I add.
Mo’s eyes widen with excitement. “And we can have one of those awkward couple dances that everyone hates, and they’ll have to dance together to some sappy love song.”
“Yes!” I hold up my hand, and she delivers an enthusiastic high five, but when I turn around, Tess looks anything but excited. “What?”
“I’m not going to date your brother.”
“I said that once too,” Claire says. “Didn’t work out so well for me.”
“Yeah, well, I have more self-control than you.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Claire hums. “You say that now. Wait until you’re trapped in a tiny bathroom with his humongous erection pressed against your hip. I bet you won’t have self-control then.”
“Well, I won’t have to worry about that because Beau and I will never be trapped in a tiny bathroom together.” Tess takes a breath and continues. “And why are we talking about me when Mo is standing here in the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen?”
I point a finger at Tess. “This discussion isn’t over, but you’re totally right.” I turn toward Mo. “I don’t care how many dresses you’ve picked out to try on today, this is my favorite.”
Mo takes a shuddery breath and steps in front of the mirror. With her eyes locked on the dress, she runs her hands over the lace bodice and down the A-line tulle skirt. “But you haven’t even seen the others.”
“Then go try them on, but I’m telling you now, this is the dress you’re going to choose. It’s delicate and elegant, just like the woman wearing it.”
“I don’t know that anyone’s ever used the word delicate to describe me.”
Mo is the owner and operator of a local no-kill shelter. Animal Haven is her life, and on any given day you can find her in a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, and her favorite pair of Ariats.