Mister Stand-In: A Hero Club Novel

by C. M. Albert

  I snorted. “What’s he even successful for, anyway? All he does is glom onto rich people and pretend to fit in.”

  Willa opened the stall and glared at me. Oh, shit. I knew that look.

  “Wow. You did not just say that, Pres. You sound worse than the Highrise Heiress Squad. Don’t be petty. That’s not who you are,” she said. “Zip me up, will you?”

  I pulled the zipper up her thin, brown back. “You’re right. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

  “Not what. Who,” she teased, flashing her money-making, mega-watt grin. “Well? How do I look?”

  Truth? She looked like the runway model she was. “Willa, you could wear a paper bag and still be the prettiest girl in the room.”

  It was true. Her skin was dark brown and flawless. Her hair was in long braids this month, piled artfully on top of her head in a way that made others take notice the moment she walked into the room. Tonight, she had on a bright maize-colored wrap dress with a plunging neckline, and she was a lot fuller in the chest department than I was. Her naturally full lips were glossed but not colored, and her black, winged eyeliner was on point, drawing attention to her nearly black, seductive eyes—the ones she’d learned to “smize” with by the time she’d turned ten. I was twenty-five, and still had no clue how to do that.

  I hugged Willa. “You’re gonna upstage my stepmom if you’re not careful.”

  “As if anyone could upstage the Queen,” she said, laughing. “Come on, let’s get to the party! I didn’t come all this way to talk in a bathroom.”

  We held hands, and I walked into the dinner party laughing at a story Willa was relaying about a recent photoshoot where all she wore was bubbles covering her whole body. The greenscreen was a wreck and soap was everywhere. She kept trying to keep a neutral expression, all while bubbles were being blown en masse straight into her face. I couldn’t even imagine.

  The laughter died on my lips, though, when I saw Dex Truitt standing at the bar with none other than Carter Wright. I didn’t want to go anywhere near him again, but he was the only thing between me and a drink—which I needed badly.

  Willa pulled me closer to her as we headed toward the bar. “Holy shit. Is that him?”

  “Shh,” I snapped, which only set her into a bigger fit of giggles.

  “And what are you two beautiful ladies finding so amusing tonight?” Dex asked as we approached.

  “Oh, you know, just commenting on how funny it is when the people you knew as kids don’t turn out anything like how you imagined they would as adults.” I shrugged. “May I?” I asked, looking directly at Carter. “I’m thirsty.”

  That cocky grin again. “Some things are better with age, I hear,” he said, lifting his glass in salute.

  I traced his Adam’s apple with my eyes as he swallowed, then looked back up at his wet lips. I really, really wish I hadn’t. He may have changed over the past twelve years, but one thing didn’t: how my body reacted to that sweet, sinful mouth of his.

  “I’ll stick to what I know,” I said, which was met with an infuriating chuckle from Carter.

  I’d done foolish things when I was a kid to get his attention. The Presley today wasn’t so proud of those things. And she certainly wouldn’t make a fool of herself repeating them.

  “On second thought,” I said dryly, “I’ll have what you’re having.”

  Dex laughed, watching our exchange. “Oh boy.”

  Carter shot him a look, then turned his attention back to me. “This drink is for big boys, sugar. Think maybe you should stick to—what? Let me guess. A white wine spritzer?”

  My blood boiled, and I wanted to smack the smug look off his face. “I’m hardly a little girl anymore, sugar,” I huffed, pushing between him and Dex to get to the bar. “I can hold my own.”

  “I bet you can,” he murmured into his drink. I turned to ask Willa if she wanted the same drink, but I noticed she’d grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and was deep in conversation with Bianca.

  “What’s the chip on your shoulder about these days, Wright?” I asked, thanking the bartender for my honey-colored drink. “Upset that Lauren didn’t choose you?”

  His eyes grew dark as they pinned me over his glass, and I knew I’d crossed a line. I took a small sip and nearly gagged. It was strong and raged down my throat, threatening to tear it raw. I blinked back the shock but refused to let my eyes water as they held his gaze.

  “Nah, just upset that you didn’t change at all, princess. Still the same little pigtailed brat, I see.”

  He reached out and tugged my ponytail. Instead of anger, my body betrayed me. A flurry of lust tingled all the way from my scalp straight down to my thighs. More accurately, to what was between my thighs. Damn him!

  Amusement filled his eyes, gorgeous little crinkles forming at the edges as they drank me in. I said nothing as I pulled my head away, smoothing my long ponytail over my shoulder while trying to gain control of my breathing.

  “Well, well, well,” he said low, moving closer to me. He leaned down and whispered into my ear, “Maybe I was lusting after the wrong Kincaid all these years.”

  I didn’t have time to retaliate before he sauntered off.

  And me?

  I was left at the bar with a drink that would lay me flat on the ground if I finished it. A pulse that was racing in confusion at my body’s knee-jerk reaction to his quick tug of my hair. And a pair of panties that I would most certainly find wet when I got home.

  And damn if it wasn’t Carter’s arrogant smile that I would scratch my itch too.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Carter

  “I’M SORRY, LAUREN, but the answer is still no.” It was hard to look into her warm brown eyes and turn her down. But there was zero chance of me doing what she was asking of me. I’d been hired to do a job, and it was over. Now I was going home.

  “Why not, Carter? Everyone will be there. You know it’s the social event of the month,” she said truthfully. “You could make a lot of new contacts. Besides, it would mean a lot to me.”

  I took a deep breath and sighed into my glass, finishing off my last drink for the night. It had gotten later than I’d intended, and I noticed that Dex and Bianca had already slipped out for the night. If I had a wife like Bianca, I’d have left ages ago, too.

  “Why?” I bucked my hips off the wall I was leaning on and pulled on my jacket. The driver I’d called would be here any minute and I had a long elevator ride down.

  “It kind of feels like old times seeing you again, Carter. I know I’m about to get married, and I love Richard with all my heart, but I still miss John some days. I miss the life we had. Those were what we call the ‘good old days.’ Ones I never imagined would go away,” she said, her eyes growing moist. “I was so young, and so crazy in love. Raising a new daughter. Traveling with my perfect, little family. The Grove was like a home away from home, and your father was always good to us, Carter. You remind me a lot of him, you know,” she said tenderly. “It would feel like having John here, if you came tomorrow. Like having a piece of my past as I step into my future.”

  I groaned. How could I say no to that? “I don’t know, Lauren. Don’t you have the table assignments all set and everything? Wouldn’t it be hard to throw in a last-minute addition?”

  “Don’t you worry about that,” she said, her grin spreading. She knew she’d won. “I have a special seat just for you.”

  Oh great. I didn’t like the sound of that.

  “I’m happy to pay you, Carter. If that’s what this is about.”

  I ran my hand over my face, then checked my watch. “That’s not it, Lauren. I just—”

  What excuse could I really give? She was right. It would be an amazing opportunity to rub elbows with some of my past clients, and hopefully meet some future ones too. But it was hard enough to fake-walk Lauren down the ai
sle tonight. How hard would it be to watch her walk arm in arm with Richard tomorrow?

  It was dumb. I knew I was being a pussy about the whole thing. The memory I had of Lauren as a kid was not the same Lauren who was standing here as an adult, asking me a small favor as an old family friend. Christ, I was selfish.

  I thought about my home and how long it had been since I’d been back to see my dad. Maybe we were both feeling nostalgic. “Okay. I’ll be there. I’d be honored, actually.”

  “Here,” she said, grinning as she pressed a black- and gold-foiled envelope in my hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She leaned in to hug me and left a small air kiss by my ear. I closed my eyes in agony as I smelled her musky, floral scent mixed with her natural pheromones after mingling all evening. “I just wanted to thank you, Carter,” she breathed quietly. I could feel her breath brush the air near my ear. “It was nice having a familiar face with me tonight, so I didn’t have to face the humiliation of being at my wedding rehearsal alone. I hope we can stay friends.”

  And with that knife wedged deep in my heart, I nodded, untangling myself and making my way to the closest elevators.

  The door was almost shut when a shimmer of black flashed between the small opening, and a ding! paused the doors, forcing them back open. Presley’s eyes grew wide when she saw me standing there, but her friend grabbed her hand and pulled her in.

  “Hey,” the woman beside Presley said. She reached out a hand to me. “I’m Willa, Presley’s best friend.”

  “Carter Wright,” I said, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “That was a nice thing you did for Lauren tonight,” she said, glancing between me and little Miss Moneybags, who was trying her best to look anywhere but at me as she jabbed the down button.

  “Thanks. Lauren’s an old family friend.” I reached across the elevator and tugged Presley’s ponytail again. “This one, too.”

  My hand was smacked away, and if steam could actually blow out of someone’s ears, it would’ve been shooting from Presley’s at the moment. I tried, unsuccessfully, to hold back my laughter.

  “Oh?” Willa asked innocently. “How do you all know one another?”

  Presley shot her friend daggers, then folded her arms across her chest. That only made things worse, because it pressed her small, firm breasts together, and I got to see what her cleavage would look like outside of the racy tuxedo jacket. I cocked a brow at her and made sure my gaze dragged downward.

  “Ugh!” she huffed, yanking her jacket back into place. “Men are such pigs.”

  “Oink.”

  Willa burst out laughing. “Wow, you must know each other well. How come I’ve never heard of Mr. Wright before, Pres?”

  “Because he wasn’t worth mentioning. And I’d honestly forgotten about him years ago, until he crashed my stepmom’s wedding rehearsal tonight.”

  “Ouch,” I said, playfully covering my heart. “And for the record, I was invited.”

  She glanced at the floor numbers as they descended and bit the corner of her lip. Why did I suddenly have the urge to run my tongue over that spot, all hot and slow?

  “For the record, I was invited back for the wedding tomorrow, too.”

  “What? Why?” she said, her eyes narrowing as they found mine.

  “Must be because I’m great company,” I said, holding the door open for Willa when we reached the lobby. Willa walked through and winked at me. “See you tomorrow, Carter.”

  Presley tried to sail past me, but I stepped a little to the side so our bodies would brush on her way out. I don’t know why I did it. Other than to see that cute, fiery reaction again. I got exactly what I was bargaining for.

  She paused in the doorway, one foot in and one foot out. The rise and fall of her chest told me she was reacting to our close contact. I couldn’t help but notice the shimmery powder she’d brushed between her breasts now that we were this close.

  “Did Lauren pay you for tomorrow, too?”

  I stared down at her long and hard, willing her to have the nerve to meet my gaze. When she finally did, there was so much in those green eyes that I didn’t understand.

  “Yep, still a brat,” I said. “See you tomorrow, princess.”

  At least I had the pleasure of watching her walk away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Presley

  WHY DID SHE have to invite him? I asked myself this about a hundred times already. The day was flying by too fast. We’d been whisked by limo to the Excelsior with a flurry of mimosas, only to be ushered into the bridal lounge, where a hair and makeup team awaited us. The photographer and Mattie were with us nearly every moment, so it was hard for me to pin Lauren down and find out what in the hell she’d been thinking. It’s not like we were really friends with the man. I hadn’t seen him in over a decade, and to my knowledge, Lauren hadn’t either.

  But I never got the chance to ask her, and it was her special day. I didn’t want to ruin it. Before the ceremony, I pulled her aside for something unrelated. Things hadn’t always been easy with Lauren, and I sure gave her a run for her money when I was a teenager. But she’d seen me through some hard times and was now the only “mother” I could really remember.

  “What is it, sweetie?” she asked as I hung back. Mattie shooed everyone else out to get in their procession lineup.

  “You look beautiful, Lauren,” I said truthfully.

  “Thank you, Presley. I know this may be hard on you—”

  “It’s not. I promise. I know you loved my dad. I wish he were still with us, but he’s not. You deserve happiness again.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mattie waved from the door for me to hurry up, but I held up a finger to say hold on. I turned back to Lauren and held out a piece of blue material.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s a piece of dad’s tie. The one he wore at your wedding. He told me that if you were to ever remarry, he wanted me to give it to you as a blessing. Something blue.”

  Lauren’s eyes watered, but she blinked the tears away fast, looking up toward the ceiling. “Can’t cry. I cannot cry.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad, Lauren. But I promised him I would give it to you. I know he would approve of Richard. Despite what others may think, I know you love him.”

  Lauren nodded, biting her lip.

  “I’ll see you out there?”

  She threw her arms around me and gave me a warm, gentle squeeze. “Your dad would be proud of the woman you’ve become, Presley. It means everything to have you stand up with me for my wedding.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  It wasn’t until I was in line standing next to a stranger with a receding hairline that it hit me. After this, she would be Lauren Brash. And another part of my dad’s memory would be erased.

  The soft, melodic sound of a harp let us know it was time. That and Mattie, who was barking out in a hushed stage voice to us, “Go. You’re up next. Walk slow! Go, go, go.”

  The man I was paired with smiled down at me. “Ready?”

  I nodded, forgetting his name. I’m sure someone told me it at some point. All I knew was it was a brother of Richard’s. Luckily, he was married with about eight kids. No weird wedding mishaps to worry about here.

  As we walked slowly down the aisle, I noticed there were far more seats filled than last night. There were easily over two hundred people in attendance. Yet, somehow, Lauren and Mattie managed to make it feel intimate. Maybe it was the potted trees that surrounded us, or the walls of climbing flowers. Jumbo-sized pots overflowed with cascades of purple aubrieta. And the candles. They cast a warm, intimate glow over the crowd. I couldn’t help but smile.

  When I got to the front, the mystery balding guy gently released my arm so I could stand beside Sylvia. We were all in mulberry-colored, one-shoulder dresses. T
he waists were high, and the asymmetrical chiffon material flowed effortless over the diverse body types of Lauren’s six bridesmaids. The strappy, silver, high-heeled sandals were open-toed, and our freshly painted toes matched our dresses perfectly. Mattie hadn’t missed a single detail.

  When the “Wedding March” started, the room grew quiet. Everyone rose from their seats and turned toward the bride. That is, everyone except Carter. His eyes were on me, and they were even darker and harder to read from this distance. I glanced away, keeping my focus on Lauren. She looked like Aphrodite floating on her wave of sea foam as she sailed down the aisle, radiant on Richard’s arm.

  When they got to the front, she handed me her bouquet as Mattie had instructed last night. Dex greeted the crowd, but his words faded as I looked down, seeing that Lauren had tucked the piece of dad’s blue tie into the handle of her bridal bouquet. I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry.

  The ceremony was over before I knew it, loud applause erupting all around me as people whistled and clapped. I looked over and saw Richard dipping Lauren backward into a deep and thorough kiss. I looked away, and unfortunately right into the eyes of the last person I wanted to see.

  Carter stood there stoically, his arms clasped in front of him. He looked hotter than sin in a monochrome suit and shirt of the same matching midnight blue. His dark hair was gelled back, and for reasons I didn’t want to admit, I ached to kiss those smug lips of his. I licked my lips without even realizing it, unable to look away. I only moved when Sylvia nudged me with her elbow, letting me know it was my turn to head out.

  The next few hours went by in a blur as we freshened up, took endless pictures, and headed into the reception area. The sky above was an inky black, and they’d opened the glass roof for the evening. Heaters were staged around the garden, so no one felt the chill on this cold September evening. Guests mingled at a makeshift bar before they opened the dining hall for a full sit-down dinner. Willa was off somewhere, supposedly getting us drinks. But she was a beautiful woman and often got waylaid by well-intentioned men. I shivered, wrapping a light shawl around my shoulders as I huddled next to one of the tall heaters.