Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

"Are you sure you're up for this?" I asked skeptically. She looked beautiful as always, but she also looked a little pale.

Nikki straightened her shoulders. "I'm fine, and I wouldn't miss this for the world. Now just excuse me while I go throw up."

"Amateur," I called as she hustled to the bathroom.

"I heard that!" Nikki slammed the door behind her.

The makeup artist put a tiny bit of lip gloss onto my lips. "I think you're ready," she said kindly.

I nodded and stood up a little shakily. "As ready as I'll ever be."

More people were seated in the pews than I was expecting. I stood at the end of the aisle, just out of sight, and felt myself sway a little.

"Easy, girl," Jake said softly, coming up beside me. He linked his arm through mine. "I've got you. It's my job to walk you down the aisle. But first, Lucas wanted me to give you a couple of things." He motioned to the wedding planner. "I need Blake for a minute. In private."

"She needs to be coming down the aisle in five minutes," the wedding planner said, adjusting her headset. "But you can use the antechamber until then so you can have a little privacy."

Crisply efficient, she led us to a small room and closed the door behind us. I turned to Jake in a panic. "Is he having second thoughts?"

Jake let out a bark of laughter. "You should be so lucky. He just wanted to give you a few things before the ceremony." Jake took out a box and opened it; inside were five different items. He pulled out the first one, a beautiful gold bangle. "This is something old," he explained as he slipped the bracelet onto my wrist. "It was Lucas's mother's."

Next, he pulled out a bobby pin. "Can you put this in your hair?" he asked hopefully. "This is your something new, but I have no idea what to do with it."

I smiled and took it from him, securing it into my hair.

"Here's your something borrowed." Jake smiled as he handed me a shiny penny. "It's my lucky penny. Lucas borrowed it from me to give to you."

I took the lucky penny, air-kissed it, and tucked it safely inside my bra.

"I won't tell Lucas I saw you do that," Jake said, chuckling. "And here's the last thing. Your something blue." He handed me a lacy blue gart

er, looking sheepish, and shrugged. "Lucas is more traditional than you might think."

I beamed at him. "He knows I'm superstitious." I slid the garter up on my thigh, carefully navigating my beaded dress.

"Yeah, he did mention that." Jake held out his arm for me. "You think you're ready for this?"

"There are a lot of people out there," I said nervously. I fingered the bracelet that Lucas had sent to me. "But I feel better about it now."

Jake gave me a quick look. "I'm only gonna say this to you once because Lucas would punch me. But he is definitely into you."

I felt myself blush a little. "That's sweet, Jake, but you don't know the whole story about us—"

"I do," Jake said, interrupting me. "Why else would I be trying to convince you that he likes you right before you marry him?"

I shrugged. My nerves really started to thrum.

"Just give him a chance. That's all I'm asking."

I nodded solemnly. "I can do that." I wasn't sure if I was lying to Jake or lying to myself with that answer.

But as we started down the aisle, I had a feeling I was about to find out.

LUCAS

It was just me and the bridesmaids waiting up front. I nodded solemnly at several of the guests: my cousin James and his wife, Audrey; Shirley, my assistant, and her husband; and several other relatives that I hadn't seen in a very long time.

Serena's ex-husband, Robert, was there, as was our trust administrator. I'd invited them both out of spite. Serena had looked as though she were about to pass out when she saw Robert, but he only looked tense and a little sad. I reminded myself to speak to him after the ceremony and thank him for coming. We used to be friends, and I hadn't seen him in a long time.