Protecting her, my ass! I know how much pleasure he took in denying me what I needed to know. “You did it while wearing a shit-eating grin. You loved seeing me grovel.”

“I won’t say I didn’t enjoy it. I wanted Laurelyn, and you came between us. I couldn’t see then that you were the one for her, but I realize that now. It was always you. I never had a chance.”

I’m not interested in discussing how much he wanted to fuck my wife. That much I already know. I’m more interested in what his intentions are when it comes to Chloe. He stands to gain a lot professionally by being associated with this family. Or he could just be a bastard looking to give me a jab since he was unsuccessful at closing the deal with my wife. “What about my sister? You going out with her to piss me off or do you see her as an opportunity to further yourself?”

“I like Chloe a lot and our relationship has nothing to do with you or your family.”

“Just how did this relationship come about?” I ask.

“I’m in Sydney with my internship, so Addie introduced us a few weeks ago and we hit it off. I asked her out and we’ve practically been inseparable since.” A mental picture of an inseparable Ben and Chloe isn’t something I need in my head. “I have my own business connections. I grew up in a family of winemakers just as you did, so I stand to gain nothing in that aspect by having a relationship with Chloe.”

I still don’t like this fucker. “I’m not gonna bullshit you. I do not care for you at all—and I really don’t like you being with my sister—but she’s old enough to make her own decisions. If she chooses you, then that’s her mistake, but I’ve got my eyes on you. You fuck with my sister—or my wife—and you’re mine.”

“I have no intentions of doing either, but you need to get used to the idea of me being around. I don’t plan on going anywhere as long as Chloe wants me here.”

Fucking perfect. I’ll need to thank Addison for this shit later.

The party wasn’t a total bust. L met three of my mates—Trevor, Ellis, and Wade—which made her extremely happy. I guess she feels like that’s an area she knows nothing about since she hasn’t met them before. But there are reasons. They’ve been thick as thieves this year. I’m not sure I want to know what they’ve been up to because it can’t be good. And I’m sure I’d have been part of whatever they have going on if I hadn’t been so wrapped up in finding Laurelyn, but I have my priorities in order. They have theirs too: T and A—tits and ass.

All three were checking out my wife right in front of me, but Ellis was shameless in his adoration of her breasts. They looked awesome in the dress she was wearing but I still ended up telling them all to fuck off. Doesn’t matter who it is, no one looks at my wife like that. Assholes.

They cackled, thought it was fucking hilarious. I can’t believe I was once just like those dicks, but that was all before Laurelyn. She can’t imagine all the ways she’s changed me.

I’m driving us back to the apartment we keep in Sydney. I’d prefer to be home with L at Avalon for my birthday, but I wouldn’t dare go against Margaret McLachlan’s plans when it comes to an annual birthday celebration. She loves tradition, even demands it.

L didn’t seem to mind and I think it’s because she enjoys her new place in this family. It’s quite different than what she had growing up. She enjoys being surrounded by those who love her, and boy, is my family crazy about her, especially Mum. There was something different between them tonight and I don’t know what. Whatever it is, I’ve never seen Mum like this with Emma, or even Chloe.

“You’re not okay with Ben and Chloe.”

“No, I’m definitely not but what can I do? She’s not a child. I have to remind myself often that she’s the same age as you.” Laurelyn and Chloe are different kinds of twenty-three-year-olds. L was forced to grow up fast so she’s always felt more mature to me. As much as I love Chloe, she’s been spoiled by all of us, including me, so it’s difficult to think of her as an adult.

“Ben isn’t a bad guy. Take me out of the equation and you wouldn’t have had a problem with him. The two of you have a lot in common. I could see you being friends.”

Maybe, but L is in the equation. “I don’t know if I could ever be friends with him. He knew you were mine and still went after you.”

“But he didn’t get me and he never will because I’m yours and that isn’t going to change.” She reaches for my hand. “He was very sincere in his apology to me and I truly believe he likes Chloe for the right reasons. Please try to tolerate him for her sake—she really likes him.”

I better not regret this. “I’ll give him a chance, but his ass is mine if he does anything to hurt my sister.”

“I’ll gladly turn you loose on him, McLachlan.” L reaches for her phone. “Nothing from Addison. She and Chloe have been hanging out a lot since the wedding, but I’m puzzled about the reason she didn’t tell me about them.”

I’m not puzzled. “She didn’t want you to tell me so I could ruin it before it got started.”

“Maybe. She’d expect you to go apeshit crazy, so maybe that’s it. But she’s been weird lately—sort of like she’s checked out on me the last couple of weeks.”

Addison’s never been great at being there for L so I’m not sure why she’s surprised by this. “Ask her to breakfast when we get back to Wagga. Take her to Fusion and you can coerce the truth out of her with their Belgian waffles. They’re magnificent.”

“Speaking of breakfast, I’m going out to eat with your mum and the girls in the morning before we go back.”

“That sounds good.”

“What will you do while I’m gone?”

“Sleep in.”

She looks at me skeptically. “You don’t sleep in.”

“I do once a year because I need my rest after my wife gives me birthday sex all night long.” Her laugh tells me she must think that’s pretty funny. “Don’t tell me you find that humorous because I’m wrong.”

“You’re not entirely wrong but there’s more to it than that.”

“Partially wrong?”

“I refuse to answer that. You’ll find out in two minutes when we’re inside and you open your gift from me.” Nice. I bet she’s going to wear some sexy lingerie.