Just Pretend (Love Comes To Town)

“Aren’t you just a catch,” I comment.

He just grins. “Tell me about it.”

A few minutes later, we’re walking into the Comedy Club, which is packed. Paparazzi, caterers, a DJ, some comedians and celebrities, and, of course, our friends and family.

All the Storm brothers and their spouses are delighted to see me, while Mom had the foresight not to bring Peyton. After Peyton tried seducing Nolan one night while claiming to be planning my surprise birthday party, let’s just say that Mom finally agrees that she’s a vile bitch.

Nolan is almost immediately whisked away by some friends, not that I mind. The twins have already saved me some cupcakes.

Josie is holding hers like she’s afraid to eat it. “I’m pretty sure this costs as much as my sink.”

She has a point. The thing is a work of art—flecked with gold, while the wrapper looks to be made of gold lace.

Wynona grabs it and pops it in her mouth. “Probably.”

“You bitch!” Josie grumbles, then turns to me. “Have you told him yet?”

“Shh!” I scold her. “You promised. No mentioning it in public.”

“Please.” Josie rolls her eyes. “The only one in earshot is my future husband.”

“Huh?” I say, eyeing the only person standing near us: a pale man who looks like a modern vampire.

He finally wanders off, looking disappointed for some reason.

Wynona chuckles. “He and Josie have been eye-fucking all night. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Better than how you’ve been giving Emerson a death glare for the past hour,” Josie says smoothly.

An oddly pained expression comes over Wynona’s face.

“Guys?” I say.

“She’s just having a bad day,” Josie says, a little too readily, it seems to me.

Or maybe my judgment is off from all the late nights I’ve had recently, unable to sleep.

How could I with the big news I have for Nolan?

“First though,” Josie says firmly, as though sniffing out my thoughts, “you have to tell us: Did you tell him?”

“Oh, you mean in between our tour of his new center and zooming over here?” I say. “No, shockingly, I didn’t.”

“Told you,” Wynona singsongs as she helps herself to another cupcake. “She’s scared.”

“I am not.” I glare at both of them. “I’m just waiting for the right time.”

“You’ve known for a week,” Josie points out. “At this rate, the right time will be when you’re in the delivery room.”

“No,” I say. “I just didn’t want to tell him when he’s all caught up with last-minute preparations for the center opening and the comedy club reopening party.”

“You’re scared,” the twins singsong evilly.

“If I was before,” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest, “then I’m definitely not now. Nolan basically said that kids in the next year wouldn’t be horrible.”

“And that wasn’t the right time to tell him?” Josie presses.

“No,” I say, glancing over to find the pale man, waiting awkwardly by a chocolate fruit fountain. I shoo away Josie. “Now go. God knows we need you to have a man so we can plan our three couples vacation.”

Josie snorts, although she does head off towards Mr. Vamp. “Glad that my welfare is so important to you two.”

“We love you,” Wynona says, deadpan.

“How’s Horatio doing?” I ask her. “I still feel bad about giving him up.”

“You kidding me?” Wynona says. “The little guy is a new dog. He’s fallen in love with Winston, and he hasn’t shit inside since he arrived here. You did the right thing.”

“Wow,” I say. “Really? I guess so, then.”

The rest of the party Nolan spends with me. We get some pictures taken and try some of the delicious food before Nolan finally pulls me away.

“I thought I’d never get a chance, at this rate,” he says, grinning. “I have another surprise for you.”

I grin. “Oh?”

“Have any plans tonight?” he asks casually.

“Maybe,” I say, just as casually.

“Well, drop them, because I have something to show you.”

He pulls me outside to see, on the top of the Storm comedy club, a freaking helicopter.

“No way,” I say, half laughing.

“You’re right. My bad—that must be Jax’s helicopter.”

I yank his arm. “Nolan, explain!”

He chuckles. “I never mentioned that tropical island I bought you for your birthday?”

“My birthday is next week, but no.”

“The one that already has a villa on it, that we’re going to tonight?”

“This is not funny,” I growl.

“But I’m not joking!” he insists.

“What?!?” I exclaim. “But my stuff…”

Nolan gestures to the helicopter. “Already packed and loaded. Now, you have any other excuses?”

I have to smile. “No?”

“Good.” He takes my hand. “Then let’s go.”

And we do. The helicopter is pure luxury: gold-colored leather and overflowing baskets of fruit inside.

Arriving at the villa is nothing less than a fairy tale. The 60,000-square foot property boasts a gorgeous garden of hedges shaped like dolphins and roses of every color of the rainbow, fountains and high-ceilinged rooms that seem like they belong more in some lifestyle magazine than real life.