Chapter 80

Although it wouldn’t take him more than twenty minutes to teach the little candy-ass some manners.

“Come, Rebecca, bella.” Rush took her arm. “We don’t want to hold up the receiving line. We’ll see you later at the hall.” Rush had mentioned that normally, his parents would have preferred to host the reception at the Brookside Country Club, but the parents of the bride had selected the catering hall instead. In spite of how exclusive Anderson-Cumming was, Rush had had no doubt his mother sneered in private over the Adams’s choice of venue.

“You’d better believe it, squirt. Save a dance for me, Becks.”

“I despise that nickname.” She smiled coldly at him. “And I only dance with the men I come with.”

Emmett opened his mouth, then shut it when he realized all five men were staring at him stonily. He might think he could cow his brother, but the other four were unknown quantities.

“I’lldance with you.” Jan fluttered her lashes once again.

“I’ll look forward to it.” But Emmett’s gaze went back to Rebecca. He totally ignored his fiancée, who stood at his side looking extremely unhappy.

“Little candy-ass,” Jack growled as they walked away from the receiving line, and Tom couldn’t help a small laugh. After all these years, he was rubbing off on his lover. “If he doesn’t put his eyes back in his head, I’m going to tear them out and shove them up his—”

“Thank you, Da—Digger.” Rebecca patted his arm. “I’m sorry, Rush, but I don’t like your brother. He gives me the willies.”

“No apology is necessary, Becca. I don’t like him much myself.” But he sighed.

Jack drove them to the catering hall, Rush leaning over the front seat and giving him directions. Even though the air conditioning in the Hummer was cranking out, Tom could see the sweat at Rush’s temples.

* * * *

The surprisingly large room had an enormous space for dancing, a place to the side for a live band, and enough room to comfortably place at least seventy-five tables, with ten guests to a table. Tom noted there didn’t seem to be an empty seat.

They found their table. “How come it’s so far from the bride and groom?” Thaddeus was displeased at the insult to his boyfriend.

“That would be Mother’s doing. She really doesn’t trust me not to embarrass the family, and so she’d want me as far from their friends as she can safely put me without having them question her. You all agreeing to come with me made it easy for her. She’ll just tell anyone who asks that there wasn’t room for us all at a closer table.” He looked resigned. “And she’ll tell them even if they don’t ask.”

The cocktail hour began, and while one tuxedo-clad waiter took their drinks order, others offered them so many different hors d’ oeuvres that Tom lost track.

“Barbecued shrimp with rosemary biscuits, sir?” A pretty waitress also dressed in a tuxedo extended the platter to him.

“No, thank you.”

“They’re very good.”

“I’m sure they are, but I’m saving room for dinner.” It wasn’t solely the dietary restrictions of his religion that kept Tom from eating crustaceans—he’d never cared for them—but he wasn’t going to tell her that. After all, who in the South had ever heard of a Jewish mobster?

“A very wise decision, sir. It’s going to be fabulous.” She smiled and moved to another table, to be replaced by another young lady.

“Prosciutto wrapped figs and blue cheese, sir?”

Once again, Tom had to refuse, but he was interested to note that Rush helped himself to some of everything, and encouraged Thaddeus to sample the various delicacies as well. Once again he thought how cute they were together.

“It’s a good thing Rebecca is sitting between them,” he said to Jack, “or the game would be up.”

Rush heard him and looked over at him, stricken. “I’m so sorry. You all’re trying to help, and I’m…”

Rebecca squeezed his arm. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not! You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, Becca, and—”

“And that’s exactly what everyone will think. Don’t worry so much, Rush.”

“It’s just that I hate having to pretend.”

Thaddeus whispered something they couldn’t hear, causing Rush to blush and Rebecca to give an unladylike yelp of laughter. She reached for her napkin and covered her mouth.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes were brimming with merriment. “They’re so much fun. I love having them for brothers.”

“I’m not your brother, Becca, but thank you.” Rush looked around, missing the look on Thaddeus’s face. “By the way, where’s Jan?”

“She said something about going to the ladies’ room.”

“And you didn’t go with her?” Thaddeus teased.