Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

"They're never on their best behavior as far as I can tell. We need to get them drunk and keep them drunk all weekend so they're at least tolerable. Okay? And don't let the dad hit on you. I don't want to start trouble with his wife."

"What about the senator?" Nikki asked nonchalantly.

"I think he's off-limits too, sweetie. Sorry." I patted her arm. "But we'll still have fun, okay?"

Nikki nodded. "Sure. I'm gonna go hang out by the pool for a while first."

"Okay. Thank you for being here." I gave her a hug.

"Aw, Blakey. I wouldn't miss this for the world. And I promise I'll be on my best behavior." Nikki sashayed off, probably to put on the world's smallest bikini and have margaritas by the pool.

I was still worried about what she was going to wear to dinner.

Lucas finished speaking with the concierge and headed toward me. He looked so handsome, wearing dark-rinsed jeans and a white button-down shirt. My pulse quickened as he approached. Easy, girl, I warned myself. I, too, needed to be on my best behavior this weekend.

He took my hand. "Let's go."

"What about the others? Jake?" I asked.

"They're fine. Jake especially." He hit the button for the top floor of the hotel, and I held my breath as we went up. What we were about to do was sinking in and it was starting to feel surreal. I was getting married to the billionaire next to me tomorrow night. Nothing to worry about. I was just going to be married, for money, in front of one hundred guests, a justice of the peace, and God himself.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked. "You look a little pale."

"I think I need to eat something. Too many cocktails on the plane."

"Right." He whipped out his phone and tapped something furiously into it. The elevator slowed, and he looked up. "This is us." He pulled me through the door as soon as it opened.

As far as I could see, there was only one door on this level. Lucas pressed his thumb against a scanner, and a moment later, the door swung open.

"They have your thumbprint?" I asked, completely baffled.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeah. And whoa," I said, looking around as we walked into the suite. The room was stunning, like nothing I'd ever seen. We entered at the top of a sweeping, curved staircase. The room below was enormous and sumptuous, with a wall of windows several stories high. The marble floors sparkled in the natural light.

Lucas held out his hand to me and grinned, clearly pleased with my reaction. "My lady."

I took his hand and followed his lead down the stately staircase. When we reached the living room below, I noticed several things all at once. A fire roared in the fireplace, with multiple couches tastefully arranged around it; there was an enormous d

ining room with a dark, sleek table that sat twelve; pictures that looked very much like original artwork hung on the walls; and what appeared to be a private pool stretched the length of the outside patio.

I stepped closer to the windows, enthralled by the amazing view of the city, spread out in every direction. "This is our… room?" I could have fit five of my Southie apartments in this place.

"It's our suite." Lucas flopped down on one of the couches and checked his phone. "Hold on a minute. The butler's here. He needs to come in through the servant's entrance." He got up and headed toward the dining room.

"Servant's entrance?" I called after him, utterly agog.

"Yes, set it on the table," I heard him instruct. Suddenly, the man I assumed was our butler came into view along with two waiters. They set the dining room table with candles, water, wine, and plates heaped with food. Then they bowed to Lucas and headed swiftly back to their own entrance, wherever the hell that was.

I pushed my awe to the side as soon as the smell hit me. Yum. I hustled to the table and sat down eagerly, ogling the food. There was miso soup, vegetarian sushi, and pad thai with chicken. "How did you know I loved this sort of food?"

A small smile played on Lucas's lips as he watched me start to eat. "You have good taste. It was a logical assumption."

The soup warmed me, making my whole body relax. "I'm so hungry, I'm being rude. Please, sit and join me." I calmed down as I continued to eat. Vegas had already shocked and awed me, and we'd only just checked in.

"My pleasure." Lucas sat down. "We'll go apply for the marriage license after this. We have to go to the county clerk's office."

"I know." I nodded. "We need to present our identification, and then the clerk can issue the license." I'd done my research. I didn't want to come all this way and have technical difficulties derail our plans.