Out of Control by Shannon McKenna Page A

made them both nervous, but all they could do was to build up the kid’s muscles, reflexes and self-esteem, and hope to God that his brain would eventually trail along behind.
    Davy sipped his whiskey and let it burn down his throat. “Bridesmaids are bad news,” he reflected. “Beth was a bridesmaid at her cousin’s wedding. It was right after that she got all intense about commitment. Women start tossing back the champagne and thinking about the big M, and whammo, you’re in a world of hurt.”
    â€œYou should think about the big M yourself,” Sean said. “You have to do your duty by the family DNA. You’re not getting any younger.”
    Davy closed his eyes. “Connor’s got it covered. They’re probably procreating already, the way those two go at it.”
    The silence that followed suggested that Sean had the same quiet ambivalence about their brother’s wedding that he had. Not that they weren’t happy for Connor. He was so far gone in love with his bride-to-be, he was practically incapable of coherent speech.
    Which was fine. Great. Extreme, out of control happiness was exactly what they wanted for their brother. But the thought of the wedding left him with a dull pang of loss. Connor was moving into a new phase of life. Leaving his brothers behind. It made him feel vaguely restless and empty, when he thought about it, so he tried hard not to.
    Stupid, yes, and selfish. They loved Erin. She was perfect for Connor. Smart, brave, pretty, sweet. She’d shown her quality in that crazy thing that went down with Novak a few months ago. She’d earned her membership to the McCloud clan a thousand times over.
    No, Erin wasn’t the problem. It was just going to be…different.
    Sean blew out a sharp sigh, like he was shoving away unwelcome feelings, too. “I just had a brilliant idea. Bring Margot. She’ll create a force field to protect you. And she’ll add to the scenery, big-time.”
    â€œForget it,” he growled. “Not happening. Lost cause.”
    â€œHow come?” Sean demanded.
    Davy gritted his teeth. “Drop it, OK?”
    Sean’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, Christ. Don’t tell me, let me guess. You flubbed it, didn’t you? I dropped a golden opportunity in your lap, and you blew it. You chump. No wonder you never get laid.”
    Davy stared at the lights that gleamed on the dark, rippling surface of the lake, declining to rise to the bait. He had nothing to say for himself. He hadn’t shared the results of Margot’s background check with his brother. Her mysterious secrets were none of Sean’s business.
    Of course, by that token, they were none of Davy’s business, either. He brushed that unhelpful thought aside. “Don’t you have someplace to go tonight?” he asked. “Some girl or other?”
    â€œMiles and I might grab an action flick at the viddy store,” Sean said. “I’m experiencing a brief, restful lull from my usual erotic activities. Keeping myself pure until the wedding.”
    â€œIt’s only two more days,” was Davy’s dour observation.
    â€œA fucking eternity,” Sean said. “I want to be charged up for the bridesmaids. Mow me down, ladies. Use me up. Wring me dry.”
    â€œI don’t know about the viddy,” Miles said doubtfully. “I’ve got to get up really early. I have to—”
    â€œBe Cindy Riggs’s personal slave, gofer, tutor, chauffeur, yeah. We know,” Davy cut in.
    Miles rocked back in his chair, his eyes wide and startled behind his round glasses. “No way! We’re just good friends. She didn’t have a ride to her fitting, so I told her—”
    â€œI’ve seen how good a friend she is.” Davy mimicked Cindy’s light, breathy voice. “‘ Miles, do you like my new push-up bra? Miles, would you help me with my zipper? Miles, would you do my