No Strings Attached

When one of the cousins heard the little tattletale gearing up to spill the beans, he sprinted over and whisked him away. A playful smack landed on the boy's behind. "You little traitor! If you sing, all our hard work's for nothing."

Orin, with a deadpan seriousness, retorted, "I wasn't going to snitch. I just wanted to tell Uncle lan that Aunt Clara's looking exceptionally stunning today."

Unable to hide his pride, lan curved his lips into a smug grin. "My bride's the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world."

Basking in the limelight, Edwin, in his crisp suit, approached. A mischievous smile played on his face. "Go on, strut your stuff. But you'll be crying later. I've got four lipstick marks here. Guess which one's Clara's, and you can go up. You get it wrong, and you're giving us a dance."

Chase was the first to raise his hand. "Dancing's a piece of cake. I'm a regular at the clubs. This won't faze me."

Roger, slightly annoyed, punched him lightly. "Cut the crap. Eddie's family now, you think this is just some ordinary dance?"

"What, you want me to strip and dance?"

The room erupted into laughter at his remark.

do we." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

way, I'm not even married yet.

with Edwin's lipstick marks and scrutinized it. "This one's Sasha's. She's got those full lips. The other

Roger stepped forward, pointing at the third mark, "That's my wife's. Two left, you can't possibly guess wrong

similar, but something felt

eyes widened, "You sure? I thought

Clara's lips are smooth.

confidence, Edwin snickered, "So sure, yet so wrong. This one is

chant in unison, "Down! Down!

goofed up, Orin piped up.

leaped to his feet, pointing at Edwin's

glared at Anders. "Keep your kid in

like it is, unlike you, settling scores