Chapter 43

Terron approached with two crisp receipts pressed between his fingers. “Ava wants you to have these,” he announced, voice low over the hum of conversation. “She says she’d rather you pay before she settles up—barbecue and beer.”

Hunt stepped forward next, offering two more slips of paper. “From my wife,” he said, tapping the first receipt. “That one covers organizing this shindig and some other design stuff.” He slid the second across. “And this is for the wine and fruit—my treat.”

Nate Moretti grinned as he handed over a fifth receipt. “And don’t forget the cakes,” he said proudly, his thumbs-up betraying how pleased he was with those decadent layers of sponge and buttercream.

Thomas stood motionless, eyes widening as the receipts piled up in his hands. He looked like a man who’d just discovered he’d stepped off a cliff. Riley, leaning casually against the buffet table, let out a snort of pure delight. “Ah, this is epic,” he laughed, the amusement in his voice cut