Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

"Fine."

"Hi, honey," my mother said a little too brightly.

"Everything okay?"

"Of course! Your sister and I are just having a nice visit." I could hear the forced cheerfulness in her voice, the way she always sounded when Chelsea came around.

"Okay. I'm leaving town today, so I just wanted to check in. Don't say anything to Chelsea, okay? I'll call you soon."

"Love you, honey," my mom said.

Just as she was hanging up, I heard my sister in the background. "Don't tell Chelsea what?" Then the line went dead.

Perfect. Just fucking perfect.

I went and checked my bags one last time. I had some amazing lingerie that Elena had purchased just for this assignment. It was all neatly packed in the side of my suitcase, just in case. Lucas had been very clear that we weren't going to be needing it. As much as I respected his new vow of celibacy, I'd seen the way he'd looked at me. There was a real heat between us, a kind I'd never felt before.

So I decided to pack the lingerie, just in case he changed his mind. I hoped he did. Not only because I wanted to explore that fine body of his, but because I wanted to get him out of my system. I didn't need to be crushed out on my emotionally unavailable billionaire fake fiancé. He seemed like the perfect guy, but I knew the truth: there was no such thing, at least not for me.

The sooner I slept with him, the sooner the version of him I was currently building up in my head would come crashing back to earth. Then we'd both be better off.

Especially me.

Still, I wondered briefly what it would be like for Lucas to hold me. To wake up in his arms, in his bed, every day for a year. I ran my hands over my favorite black lace teddy one final time.

Then I zipped the suitcase shut, fluffed my hair, and mentally prepared myself for my impending nuptials in Vegas.

LUCAS

"Don't we have to wait in line?" Blake asked, looking curiously around the airport.

"We're flying private."

She just blinked at me. "You own a plane?"

I nodded. "And a helicopter."

"Why do you own a helicopter?" She seemed clearly baffled.

I shrugged.

"You don't know?"

I shrugged again. "I fly it sometimes."

"Lucas Ford, no you do not. All you do is work." Blake crossed her arms over her chest and looked at me skeptically. "When have you flown it?" It didn't sound like a question. It sounded like a taunt.

"Twice."

She raised an eyebrow.

"To my house in Maine."

"And the second time?" she asked.

I coughed. "I flew it back."

"I want you to take me out in it," she said immediately.