Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
He pushed his hands into his pockets and looked at me from under his eyelashes, giving me a sexy, slightly dirty grin—like maybe I’d given him a little more than a kiss. “I’ll leave you to get changed.”
Just as he was leaving, he turned back to me. “Next time you want to kiss me, Parker, there’s no need for a borderline anxiety attack. You just need to ask.”
Fourteen
Tristan
I was about to head into my engagement party, holding my fiancée’s hand. On the list of things I thought I’d never do, this would make the top three.
We reached the top of the stairs and I squeezed Parker’s hand as if to say, are you ready? But she didn’t respond. Instead she seemed transfixed by the people rushing in opposite directions below us. I was pretty sure she was going to bolt for the loo in three . . . two . . .
“You look beautiful,” I whispered, hoping to put a halt to the thoughts I could practically see racing through her mind. We were already a few minutes late to our own party. But there was no doubt what I said was true.
“You look fantastic,” she said. “But then again, you knew that already.”
“I did?” Living with Parker, even for only a week and a half, meant I’d gotten to know her probably better than any other woman I’d ever been in a real relationship with. The more time we spent together, the more I liked her. Not only was she a fabulous cook, she was honest and driven to make things better for people.
She rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. You always look fantastic.”
“You always say the nicest things to me.” If I was going to get married for real, Parker Frazer would make a really great fiancée. I always felt better when she was around.
I squeezed her hand. “Don’t let go. Together we’ve got this.”
She nodded like she wanted to believe me but wasn’t sure.
Tonight would be easier for me. My friends were here but they all knew what was really going on. Okay, I had to deal with my mother—my father was away on business and couldn’t rearrange, which was an undisguised blessing. My mother was just happy as long as I was happy. All the pressure was on us to convince Parker’s family and friends that we were in love.
“Parker!” Lauren shot out of nowhere to meet us at the bottom of the stairs. “You look gorgeous. Your guests have started to arrive. Quickly, out into the garden.”
“I think we need a glass of champagne, Lauren. Do you know where we’ll find one?” Two shots clearly hadn’t been enough.
“Yes, yes. This way.”
We stepped out onto the patio and the smattering of people on the lawn all turned in our direction. A waiter to our left held a tray of champagne. Without dropping Parker’s hand, I handed her one glass and then took one for myself. “Remember, this is for twenty-five million pounds,” I said under my breath.
She nodded. “Yeah. And the lucky thing is you’re a nice guy, so it’s not that difficult to pretend.”
“Nice guy?”
She didn’t hear me because someone enveloped her in a hug. “I’m so happy for you,” the woman said. “I never thought I’d see the day when you got married. Especially before me.”
I could tell the smile Parker wore wasn’t genuine. “Katie, this is Tristan. Tristan, Katie is my oldest friend from school.”
“Parker was always the groom to my bride when we were playing with her mum’s veil. She never wanted to be the bride.”
“It was a hard job trying to convince her,” I said. “But I won her over in the end.”
Katie’s grin was wide and genuine for her friend and she urged me on. “Tell me how you two met. This is quite the fairytale whirlwind.”
“I won a date with her at a charity auction,” I said. “I saw her earlier in the evening and I thought she was beautiful, but she disappeared like Cinderella before I had the chance to win her over and convince her to come out with me. When she appeared on stage and people were bidding to take her out—well, I just knew I had to give fate a little helping hand.”
“Swoon,” Katie said. “That’s a story to tell your grandchildren.”
“Happy memories,” Parker said almost convincingly.
“I’m just so incredibly delighted for you,” Katie said. “After everything that’s happened, I’m glad you have someone who deserves you. Let’s double date. Can you do dinner soon? Tristan, you’re going to love my husband, Nick.”
“Sounds good,” I said. Luckily, Lauren interrupted us before Katie had us cracking open our diaries on the spot.
“Katie, my love, I have to have the happy couple circulate. You don’t mind, do you?” Before getting a response, Lauren dragged me by the arm across the lawn to meet more people I didn’t know and would likely never see again. During the following hour, we must have hugged seventy-five thousand strangers.