Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

Jake looked stunned. "Are you fucking kidding me? She's gorgeous. And she's an escort."

"I know."

"So what's your problem?" He sounded dumbfounded.

"I don't have a problem." I tried to keep my voice even. "And I don't want any. That's why we're not sleeping together."

"You worried about her getting pregnant?"

"No. Jesus." The thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

"You worried you're not man enough?"

My temples were starting to pound. "Shut up, Jake."

"Or are you worried that you might like her too much?" Jake sounded smug.

Herein lied the problem with spending time with my best friend. He knew me too well. I should have been at my office, where everyone was too afraid to talk to me—and I could fire anyone who tried. "You're making my hangover worse."

"One thing I will tell you—practically the only thing I remember from law school," Jake said.

That got my attention. "What?"

Jake grinned at me. "You have to sleep with her to consummate the marriage. Otherwise, it can be annulled. Or contested. If Serena's trying to prove it's a fraud, that's an angle she could work."

"How would she go about that?" I asked. "How would she ever know?"

"No idea, bro. But you know your sister. She's crazy enough to try it. So you better fuck your wife tonight." He put his hands behind his head, smiling and looking satisfied with himself.

"What?" I snapped. "What are you smiling about?"

"Lucas likes Blake, Lucas like Blake," he chanted then expertly maneuvered out of the way of my fist when I tried to punch him.

"Fuck you," I muttered.

Jake laughed. "Best. Weekend. Ever."

Chapter Thirteen

Blake

"You look gorgeous, honey," Helena said. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "Like an angel."

"Thank you." I faced myself in the mirror as the makeup artist put the final touches on my lipstick. "She's doing a great job with the makeup. That helps."

Both Helena and the makeup artist snorted. "You look gorgeous because you're gorgeous," Christie said, coming to stand next to me.

"That’s the truth," the makeup artist said. "I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful bride."

"Oh, that's nice. You guys are making me feel good, which is helping with my nerves." My nerves were, in fact, getting the better of me. I was excited to put on the dress, but I felt silly about it. What was I really excited about? This wedding would be legal, but it wasn't real. Lucas was going to be my husband on paper, in name only. So why did I have butterflies?

I heard some commotion from the back of the dressing room. "What's going on?" I asked Christie.

She grimaced a little. "I don't think Nikki's feeling too good."

"That's just great." Still, I laughed a little. Nikki always liked to talk tough, so it was amusing that the tequila had finally caught up with her last night. A moment later, she stumbled toward me, adjusting her long, strapless bridesmaid gown.

"Oh, Blakey, you look beautiful." Her eyes shimmered with tears. "I can't wait to see you walk down that aisle."