“We’re talking about your brother.”
Mason nodded. “Ah, yes. The Sheriff.”
“You think he would ever leave Half Moon Key?” Lila asked.
“No.” The answer didn’t just come from Mason. Danielle had also responded. Though instead of being a short word, the way Danielle said it was full of bitterness and something else that Lila had never heard in her best friend’s tone.
“You’re a mysterious woman, Danielle Wixx,” she sighed.
“You’ve got no idea,” Danielle responded before walking away. Cohen spotted them from across the room and began to saunter toward them. “And there’s my cue to leave. Bye, you two. Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Don’t go just yet,” Mason said. “We need to ask you something.”
“What’s happening here?” Cohen asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I was just leaving,” Danielle mumbled.
“What, without eating your dinner?” Mason pointed to her plate.
Unfortunately, most of her fries were gone. Cohen didn’t even pretend to be apologetic.
“Apparently,” Danielle said to Cohen, “the happy couple wants a word. If you could just give us a minute …”
“Actually,” Lila started. She gave Danielle an apologetic look and shrugged. “We need to talk tobothof you. You’re my best friend, Danielle. You’re like the sister I always wanted.”
“And you, my surly Sheriff, are my one and only brother. You’ve just gotta be my best man.”
“Oh. Wait. Oh. No.” Danielle shook her head from side to side with such force that her purse slid off her arm. Cohen immediately reached out and slid the strap back on Danielle’s bare shoulder.
The pair’s eyes met, and Lila had to keep her mouth closed to keep from making a very rude comment about thewaythey were looking at each other. It wasn’t hatred burning between them but something else entirely. Something that could probably be even more powerful if they took their heads out of their asses.
“Yup,” Mason announced. “Cohen here will be the best man, and you, Danielle, will be the maid of honor. You should know you are the only wedding party we need. That means there will be lots of time for all of us to be together.”
“Right,” Lila agreed. “We’re not doing the whole bachelor and bachelorette party thing, but we do want to do a little thing. The four of us.”
“Kind of like a double date,” Mason pointed out. He was grinning at his brother, but Cohen was glaring daggers back at him.
“We do expect you to be on your best behavior for us.Both of you,” Lila added, looking right at Danielle. “This is going to be in preparation for the best and happiest day of our lives. We need you.”
Danielle’s lips were set in a hard line. “Whatever you need, Lila. You know I’ll be there for you.”
“Yeah. What Miss Wixx said,” Cohen agreed.
“Holy shit!” Mason roared. “Did you two just agree on something for the first time ever?”
“Mason,” Lila warned with a giggle. Though, she was right there with her fiancé. Mason was right. It was the first time Cohen and Danielle did agree on anything. Maybe this plan was going to work after all.
Lila shot Mason a grin and a wink. “We’re basically going to be around each other for a very long time. It’s gonna be great for you two to be spending time together. You’ll be our kids’ aunt and uncle.”
“Only I’ll be related by blood,” Cohen pointed out. “So. You know. Not quite the same.”
“And that is my cue to leave,” Danielle announced, turning on her heel.
Cohen grabbed Danielle’s arm gently and pulled her back toward him. “Don’t you think we should stick around a little bit? Given that now we know we’re on the wedding party and the future bride and groom might need us?”
Anger and something else flashed in Danielle’s eyes. She looked down to where his hand was clamped on her bare arm. “Release me, Sheriff Pierce.”
“Cohen,” he said, low and insisting.