Maverick Holiday Magic. Teresa Southwick

How’s everything going?”

      “Don’t worry, your daughter is fine.”

      “Am I that transparent?” he asked.

      “Yes, and good for you being a concerned father. She is so excited. And safe,” she added.

      “Okay.” He held out his arm. “Then I will show you to your seat.”

      She smiled and put her hand into the bend of his elbow. “Thanks.”

      He led her up the aisle on the right and indicated she should sit in the front row. “Here you go.”

      There was surprise in her eyes. “But this is for your family.”

      “Wren needs to see you. In case she’s nervous.”

      “Right. She might be a little shy with so many people watching her. Okay, then, if you think it’s all right.”

      When she sat and demurely rearranged that silky skirt to cover her legs, Hunter sighed with disappointment. That’s when he knew for sure he was going to hell for having inappropriate, sexy thoughts about the nanny.

      He made one more trip to the rear of the room and received instructions to take his seat. His brothers and their wives were in place and it didn’t bum him out that the chair beside Merry was empty. When he claimed it, things started to happen. Finn walked in accompanied by Max, who was his best man. He’d chosen his father for the job in the spirit of a new understanding between them. And because he didn’t want to choose one of his brothers over another. The minister took his place and then the music started. Everyone stood and looked at the back of the room to get the first glimpse of the bride.

      Wren was the first one down the aisle and expertly sprinkled rose petals from the basket she carried onto the white runner. She was followed by a bridesmaid in a dress the same color as the coral bow on his daughter’s dress. Then he saw the bride, beautiful in a full-skirted satin dress with lacy sleeves. A veil covered her face and she was accompanied by her father, Oscar Ellington.

      Hunter looked at his father and brother and saw tension on their faces. He didn’t have to guess what they were thinking. His brothers looked the same way and he figured they were all wondering the same thing he was. Would there be fireworks between the bride’s father and the groom’s? At the rehearsal dinner last night the two men had avoided each other but they were face to face now.

      “What’s wrong?” Merry asked. “Your father suddenly looks like his shoes are too tight.”

      So she’d noticed, too. He leaned over and whispered, “Years ago he was working on a business deal with Avery’s father. It went bad and Oscar is still holding a grudge.”

      Her eyes widened. “Surely he wouldn’t do anything to spoil his daughter’s wedding.”

      “We’re about to find out.”

      Father and daughter stopped in front of the minister, who said, “If anyone knows why this man and this woman should not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

      Hunter didn’t miss the warning look Avery gave her father and without a word he lifted her veil and kissed her cheek, then gave his daughter’s hand to her groom. It seemed as if there was a collective release of tension in the room and the vows went off without a hitch. Beside him Merry pulled a tissue from her small beaded purse and dabbed at her eyes.

      When the ceremony was over, there were family pictures while guests moved into the room next door for the reception. Hunter was at the head table with the rest of his family for dinner and wedding toasts. Again Oscar stood and was the center of attention as well as a source of apprehension. The older man hesitated before speaking, long enough to make the Crawfords wonder if the revenge tirade was coming now.

      It didn’t. The man was simply gathering his emotions, and he held up a glass of champagne as he wished his daughter every happiness. Hunter couldn’t imagine giving away his little girl to the son of a sworn enemy, but to his credit, Ellington did just that. Merry had been right about him not spoiling Avery’s special day.

      His gaze kept straying to Merry and he was impressed by her ability to chat with people at her table even as she continuously watched Wren. After dinner, when music and dancing started, keeping his daughter under surveillance became even more of a challenge. He was relieved that another pair of eyes was dedicated to that mission. Still, he picked out a discreet place to stand and watch over her.

      As if living up to her name, she was flitting and flying all over the room. Right now she was dancing with the bride and groom. The three were laughing one minute and talking seriously the next. Even from this far away he could see his daughter’s interest in the conversation and wondered what it was about.

      A wave of melancholy washed over him as he thought how much his daughter looked like her mother. Wren was so wonderful and it made him sad that Lara wasn’t here to see. And he blamed himself for that.

      The dance floor was crowded but he spotted his family—Logan with Sarah, Xander and Lily, Knox holding his Genevieve. They all looked really happy. He was glad for them, but envy brought back the melancholy and with it some anger.

      “Daddy?”

      “Hey, kiddo.” He’d been so lost in thought she’d sneaked up on him. “Are you having fun?”

      “Yes.” She clapped her hands together. “This is the best wedding ever.”

      That was a matter of opinion. He couldn’t wait for it to be over. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

      “I really am.” She looked up at him, concern on her little face. “Are you?”

      “Sure,” he lied. A falsehood was okay when it was about not spoiling your child’s experience, right? “This is fun.”

      “You don’t like it,” she accused.

      “No?” Since when did she get so observant. “I really do. Like you said, best wedding ever.”

      “Then why do you look so mad and sad at the same time?” she asked.

      Damn. He’d been so sure his feelings didn’t show. “Do I?”

      “Yes. And you’re all by yourself. It’s dark over here.”

      He glanced around the room, at the tables with their flameless candles and the flowers everywhere. There was a three-tiered cake garnished with roses on a separate table. Hanging over the dance area was a crystal chandelier that bathed the guests in a magical glow. The venue was bright and festive but he had instinctively gravitated to the darkest shadows in the room. It didn’t take a shrink to tell him he was instinctively hiding from this celebration of love because it was a reminder of everything he’d lost.

      “I like watching everyone dance and this is the best place to do that.” He hoped that would satisfy her.

      “Then why do you still look sad?”

      So much for her letting this go. “I’m fine, honey. I haven’t seen you dance with Gramps yet.”

      “I know. He’s asking all the ladies to dance.”

      Hunter easily spotted his silver-haired father waltzing with an attractive brunette. “Yeah. He does that.”

      “So does Uncle Wilder.”

      “Yeah.” His brother was living up to his name, as usual.

      “I have an idea.” Wren met his gaze and hers was full of earnestness.

      “I know what you’re going to say.” He grinned at her. “And I should have thought of it myself. You and I should have a dance.”

      “No.”

      “What?”

      “You should ask Merry to dance. That would cheer you up.”

      While trying to figure out how