Summer Fling: Compass Girls, Book 3 by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon

years, she’d been the one constant in his life. The problem was their relationship had evolved so slowly—from acquaintances to neighbors to best friends—he’d failed to consider there could be something more there. Somewhere over the past two weeks, one thing had become completely apparent to him. The untamed woman did appear to be his type.
    Daniel took Liam’s silence as further resistance. “Fine. You’ve made it perfectly clear Jade’s not your type. I’ll stop giving you shit about it.”
    Liam tipped his hat in unspoken thanks, glad to be let off the hook. He wasn’t about to tell Daniel about the kiss. Or the skinny-dip that took a rather provocative turn—thank God no one noticed that. Or the fact he’d held Jade all night in the tent, savoring the way her sweet body fit against his.
    “You still coming to dinner tonight? Big wedding powwow, remember?”
    Liam nodded. Daniel had asked him to stand next to him as best man. Part of him thought Daniel had issued the invitation simply so he’d have backup whenever the wedding ideas got out of hand. So far he and Daniel had managed to talk the bride and her cousins out of boogying down the aisle. Apparently, Seth and Sam had done some sort of crazy two-step as they’d approached the altar to say their I do’s and the Compass girls thought a repeat performance would be fun. Daniel had firmly put his foot down, insisting he was not about to make a fool of himself on his wedding day. Liam had supported him because he sure as hell didn’t intend to dance either.
    “I’ll be there, but I’m telling you now, I don’t think there’s any way you’re going to convince those girls to let you out of writing your own vows.”
    Daniel blew out a long breath. “I know. Sienna mentioned it again this morning. I’m in trouble with that one. I mean, I love Sienna, but I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to say all that mushy-gushy stuff women love in front of everybody. I’m going to come off like a babbling idiot and I’m pretty sure I’ll spend the next few years of my life taking shit from the ranch hands for sounding like such a sap.”
    Liam slapped him on the back and gave him a wicked grin. “Not just the hands, Daniel.”
    “Asshole.”
    Liam laughed. “I have faith in you, partner. Tell you what, we’ll work on it together next weekend over a bottle of Jack. I’m sure we can figure out a way for you to say something sweet without sounding like a complete tool. What do you think?”
    Daniel grinned, taking off his hat and beating the dust out of it against his jeans. It was another scorcher, the sun shining down on them mercilessly. “Sounds good. I better get back or Seth will send a posse to track me down. He gave me hell when I said I needed to return those straps to you. Said it was a lame excuse for escaping. Informed me I’d better not dawdle too long or he’d make me drive Jody and Sienna to town to pick out the design for the wedding bouquets this afternoon.” Daniel feigned a shudder. “They’ve already been to the florist twice and both times they were there over four hours. What the hell can you do in a flower shop for eight hours?”
    “I have no idea. Of course, I’m not sure I could tell you the difference between a daisy and a dandelion. Celia took care of all that stuff on her own when we were planning our wedding.”
    Daniel’s brow creased. “I hope all these plans aren’t bringing up bad memories for you.”
    Liam appreciated Daniel’s concern. A few years ago, he probably would have struggled with the preparations, but the passage of time had eased that pain, taking it from the sharp, bullet-to-the-chest agony he’d experienced shortly after her death to a dull ache that only crept in occasionally. “I’m fine, Daniel.”
    As always, Daniel found a way to alleviate the heaviness of the moment with humor. “You know, I still think fate will throw a woman in your lap soon enough and when it does, you’ll