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CHAPTER ONE

Blake

“To another Bennett wedding,” I exclaiainstthe packed venue Our sister Alice got uests are in attendance Weddings are big affairs in our family

“Look at thehs, a dreamy expression on her face

“You’re daydrea, aren’t you? I bet you already knohere you want to do it”

“Don’t be silly I know the theer to her right teroom”

Chuckling, I lace an arood to have her back She’s been working at a museum in Rome for the past few years, and for a while, I feared she’d move there permanently “I’m sure a certain member of our family will happily lend you a hand”

Sules her eyebrows By certain, I mean our oldest sister, Pippa She’s quite the successful s in total, and six arespecies in my family Su musketeers

“Let’s go , and I’ve yet to greet many members of our very extended family, and close friends The dance floor is already full, but given the sheer nuuests, that still leaves plenty of candidates to rope into a conversation

“You’re right Divide and conquer?”

“Yeah”

Suht to one of our cousins, but I stop by the kids’ playground corner first The best part of having ot a whole bunch of nieces and nephews to spoil At the rate everyone’s shooting out babies, the group is going to reach double digits soon As far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier Not to toot my own horn, but I have reasonable evidence that I’m everyone’s favorite uncle

Because of their different ages, things tend to get out of hand e group theroup is large—ht their kids too We’ve hired sitters for the event, but I want to get a feel for the situation, see if there’s a war brewing So far, it seems not

“Uncle Blake, I want more sweets,” says my four-year-old niece Mia

Her identical twin, Elena, drops the doll she was holding at the word “sweets” “Me too”

They press their hands together as if in prayer, looking up ateyes Now, I know for a fact that Pippa doesn’t allow her daughters to eat sweets this late in the evening, but eh I never can tell these angels no This weakness is probably why I’m their favorite uncle

“Right away, girls”

I cross the enoretting more crowded by the minute At the sweets cart, I run into one of my favorite people: Clara Abernathy I o, around the ti She’s not just a close friend of Pippa’s, but e affectionately call an adopted Bennett ina red wraparound dress, she hovers in front of the cart, inspecting the offerings

“Fancy seeing you here, Clara” I grab a plate, trying to guess what Mia and Elena would like

“You know ravitating to it The hazelnut cake is to die for, by the way”

“Wouldn’t be my first choice”

“Excellent More forher plate with cake, then turns her attention to a plate in the center containing one lonely cupcake “Please tell ht you for it”

I’ht et between a woman and her sweets unless you’re prepared to suffer the consequences