His laugh echoes around the room.
“It’s not fucking funny,” I sulk.
“Mate, it’s hilarious. I’ve been on the wrong end of that mouth a time or two, I know what it’s like.”
I stare at him with a blank expression. “She’s fucking relentless.”
“So that’s it, then. You met, she chewed you out, and then you ended up on a plane together here?”
“Err… yes and no.”
I laugh as he leans forward and pours himself a new drink. I think he’s going to need it.
10
Danni
“You let him screw you on my sofa?” Biff screeches at me, her eyes wide in shock.
“Maybe. Think of it as karma for fucking my brother while I was asleep in the next room.”
“Hmph.” Lifting her champagne glass, she tips it to her lips. “He’s a really good guy. You should probably give him a break.”
“He tricked me into thinking he was someone else, B. I can’t just forget that.”
“I get it. But it’s hardly the crime of the century. If there’s chemistry there, don’t you think you owe it to yourself to find out if it could be something?”
“He’s not my type.” I wave her off, going for my own much-needed drink.
“Dan,” she says on a sigh. “Sometimes the things we need the most aren’t the things we think we want. Would it be such a hardship to give him the benefit of the doubt and see if it really is something?”
I think of the way his body moved against mine, and my cheeks flush red.
“No, I didn’t think so.”
“It probably doesn’t matter anyway. The second Zach finds out, he’ll probably kill him.”
“That could very well be the case. He’d better not to do it today though, he needs a best man.”
“So yeah… about this shotgun wedding…”
“He proposed on the beach in LA. It was…” She gets this dreamy look in her eyes and a little green monster rears its ugly head inside me. “So romantic.”
“Zach? Romantic?”
“Yeah. I was so shocked. We’d not talked about any kind of future aside from our living arrangements, so I really didn’t see it coming.”
“And this?” I ask, gesturing to the Vegas hotel we’re currently in.
“Neither of us wants a show. I’m not interested in months of my mother giving me stress about the size of the table arrangements and what flowers should be in my bouquet.”
“That’s if she even agreed to you marrying him,” I mutter and watch as she pales. “Don’t tell me that you’re about to marry him and you’ve not even introduced him to your parents.”
“Guilty,” she admits with a wince.
“They’re going to fucking kill you.”
“Meh, what are they really going to do? Take away my trust fund and my flat? I think I’ll cope. We already agreed that I was going to fully move into his place when we got back, and he’s offered me a full-time job.”
“You really want to work full-time as a receptionist forever?” I ask sceptically.
“Receptionist, no. Artist? Yes.”
My chin drops as I put two and two together. “You’re…”
“Zach’s going to train me up. I’m so excited.”
“Your parents really are going to kill you.”
“I know. Isn’t it great?” The smile that spreads across her face is infectious. “Seriously though, I need you to know that I’m not just doing this to piss off my parents. That’s just an added bonus. I really love him, Dan.”
I smile at her as emotion burns the backs of my eyes. “I know you do. You don’t need to tell me. I see it every time you look at each other, every time you talk about him. It’s sickening.”
“Oh, shut it. You’re just jealous.”
“Fucking right I am.”
“So what are you waiting for? Your perfect guy could be inside this hotel right now. You just need to stop giving him grief and give him the chance you told me he keeps begging for.”
“I guess crazier things have happened in Vegas.”
“And if it all goes Pete Tong, it can just be another of those disasters that stays in Vegas and we never have to mention it again, aside from the fact you’re about to become my sister-in-law and the man in question is your brother’s best friend. I’m sure it’ll all be fine.”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter, having finished off my glass. “What were the chances of this happening?”
“Pretty bloody slim, I’d say.”
“More champagne?”
“Yes,” Biff says eagerly as I get up to get us both a refill.
Her eyes burn into my fluffy robe-clad back as I walk away. Her words about crazy things happening in Vegas spin around in my head. Could I throw caution to the wind and just enjoy what he has to offer for the time we’re here before going back to my normal life, sans tattooed bad boy, once we return?
My core aches as I think about the fun we could have if I just let go a little. It would sure help ease the tension he’s caused within me since appearing in that lounge earlier today. Jesus, was that today?
“So, enough about me. Tell me about this wedding.”
“The plan is… pampering, hair and make-up, and then we’re heading to a little chapel off the strip for a service this evening. Then anything from there is up for discussion.”
“Just a little different to the last wedding we attended.”
“Yes, and for very good reason.”
I nod at her, totally understanding both her and Zach’s need to do it this way. I’m just grateful they invited me. I’d have been gutted to miss it, much like our parents are going to be.
“So have you got a dress?”
“I have. I got a dress for you, too.”
“Can I trust you not to have got me a frilly monstrosity?”
“You’ll just have to wait and find out. You like ruffles though, right?”
“Ha, you’re funny. So what do I have to look forward to here? You booked us in for the full works?”
“Only the best for the bride and maid of honour,” Biff says with a smile.
“Awesome.”
“It should give you enough time to decide what to do about Titch.”
“Great,” I mutter.
“Although, that decision might be out of your hands when he sees you in your dress.” She winks, and my stomach drops. What the hell is she expecting me to wear? She must notice my concern. “Trust me, Dan. I know what suits you.”
We don’t leave the spa until not only every inch of our bodies has been scrubbed, polished and waxed to perfection, but our hair and make-up is flawless.
I follow Biff to the lift and stand aside as she hits the number for our floor.
“Right, this is you.” She lifts a key card to unlock the door before slipping it into my robe pocket, seeing as my hands are laden with bags. “And hopefully our dresses should be— ah, right here.” I come to a stop behind her to find a rail with two dress bags hanging in the centre of the living area.
“You booked me into a suite? Bit much, isn’t it?”
“We wanted to treat you,” is all she says, walking over to peek inside her dress bag. “You ready to do this? The guys are meeting us at the chapel in just over an hour.”
“Sounds good.” She takes the two bags before walking towards an open door which I assume goes to the bedroom.
I follow, taking in my lavish surroundings as I go, wondering what I did to deserve all this treatment. With the sun setting, all the lights of the strip in the distance are starting to come to life.
“This place is impressive. Zach must really love you,” I say with a laugh.
“He just booked it. I had no idea until we got here that he’d done all this. I was pretty blown away.”
When I join her in the room, she’s just revealed her dress from the bag. “Biff, that’s gorgeous.” My eyes run over all the ivory lace billowing from the unzipped bag. “Is it short?”
/>
“It is. And,” she says turning to pick up a box, “look at the shoes!” She lifts the lid and reveals the most beautiful pair of multi-coloured sequined Louboutins.
“Whoa,” I say, reaching out for one when she lifts them from the box.
“Right, and that leads me onto your dress.”
Placing the box gently on the bed, she reveals what’s hiding in the other dress bag.
“Err… it’s stunning, but I think they left half of it behind,” I joke, looking over the small scrap of sequin fabric she’s holding up.
“You’re funny. I might have an almost traditional dress, but don’t forget this is a Vegas wedding, baby.”
“Jesus, what has my brother done to you?”
“Now, there’s a bottle of bubbles chilling over there waiting for the top to be popped, and then soon there will be two guys expecting us at the chapel. We wouldn’t want to disappoint either now, would we?”
I groan. Thoughts of Carter already weren’t too far from my mind—I really don’t need the reminder.
“You can’t tell Zach about what happened,” I say, passing her a new glass of champagne.
“You really think you’re going to get through your time here without him noticing?”
I shrug, hoping Zach will be too distracted by his soon-to-be bride to notice what we’re up to. It’s a long shot.
“Just chill out, yeah? Zach will be fine. Tonight is about enjoying ourselves, so put your worries aside and go with the flow.” She lifts her brows, and I hate that I’m making this about me when it should be about her and Zach.
“Yeah. Right…” I take a sip of my drink, the bubbles exploding on my tongue, helping to ignite some excitement within me. I’m about to witness my best friend and brother get married. That needs to be my only focus right now. “Let’s get you in that dress.”
11
Carter
By some miracle, when I leave the hotel dressed in the smart trousers and shirt Zach had previously selected for me, I’m not accessorising it with a black eye or a split lip.
I could see his frustration growing as I explained about discovering Danni that night in Biff’s flat and then not realising that she was his sister until his birthday meal, but I also told him quite frankly that it wasn’t going to stop me. His eyes widened in shock as I expressed my desire to go after her. After knocking back his fresh glass of whiskey, he stood before me and held out his hand.
Pride oozed from his eyes as he wished me good luck in trying to tame his little sister. I could see the tension pulling at his muscles as he did it, but I appreciated that he was trying to be the bigger man about it.
“It could be worse, you know,” I’d said to him once he’d retaken his seat.
“How so? You wanna bang my little sister.” He made a gagging gesture as he said it, making me chuckle.
“It could be Spike after her.”
“Oh fucking hell. There’s not enough whiskey in the world for that situation.”
The two of us stand at the entrance to the chapel Biff had chosen for the ceremony, and my usually relaxed and laidback best friend and boss paces back and forth in front of me.
“Please don’t tell me you’re worried that she’ll bail.”
“She’ll be here,” he states, his confidence in Biff not wavering one bit.
“So what’s with the nerves?”
“I’m getting married, T. I’m allowed to be a little apprehensive.”
“You’re sure about this, aren’t you?” I don’t mean it as a threat, but he stops pacing and is standing right in front of me in a second.
His blue eyes stare down into mine. “Yes, I’m fucking sure. She’s mine. Was from the second D offered her a job.”
“I know, man. I know. I was just saying. Jeez. Chill your tits.”
His eyes bounce between mine for a few seconds before he relaxes a little and stands down. He doesn’t go back to pacing; instead he falls down onto one of the seats and drops his head into his hands.
“What’s taking them so long?”
“I don—” My words falter when I look out of the tinted windows. A cab’s just pulled up, and the pair of legs that’s revealed makes my breath catch.
My mouth waters and I fight to swallow as I wait for the rest of her to appear.
“Holy fuck.”
“What is it?”
“Shit,” I bark, not realising that I said anything aloud. “We… uh… need to go in.”
“Fuck. Are they here?”
“Yeah. Come on, let’s go.”
Regretfully, I turn my back on Danni and usher Zach towards the double doors we were instructed to use when we first arrived and Zach explained what they wanted for the service.
We come to a stop in front of the officiant and wait. Zach alternates between staring at his feet and looking up at the ceiling. I can only imagine how he feels right now, because my nerves are shot and I’m not the one getting married.
After what seems like the longest wait of my life, the doors at the back of the room are pushed open and the music changes.
Zach’s body goes ramrod straight, but he doesn’t look around. I, on the other hand, can’t keep my eyes away.
With their arms linked, Biff and Danni make their way to us. Biff’s got the widest smile on her face. Her joy melts my heart, but I can’t focus on Biff, because without instruction from my brain, my eyes find her. Danniella Abbot. My best friend’s sister and the one woman on the planet I shouldn’t go anywhere near. But it’s pointless even trying to stay away, because I’m drawn to her like no other.
Her dark hair has been styled and pulled away from her face, but a few locks hang down, making my fingers itch to reach out for one. Her eyes pop and her red lips call to me like a moth to a fucking flame.
Then I get down to the dress. I fight a groan because Zach doesn’t need to hear me drowning in lust for his sister at this exact movement, but fuck me, the dress is killer.
It’s a silver, barely-there thing that I’m sure isn’t what most bridesmaids expect to be wearing to their best friend’s wedding, but it looks phenomenal. I also have a feeling that it’s going to look even better on my bedroom floor later tonight, because after getting Zach’s approval—or at least not a point-blank refusal—I intend on doing everything I possibly can to make her mine. To show her just how good we can be if she were just to give us a chance.
It’s not until they’re right beside us that Zach turns. I’m so glad I manage to rip my eyes from Danni to see his reaction to his bride, because it’s priceless, and I’m sure it would bring a tear to the eye of even the coldest arsehole.
“Holy shit,” he mutters, running his eyes over her.
“Fucking hell, put a ring on it before you strip her naked, man. Ow,” I complain when his palm connects with the back of my head.
Standing aside, I allow Biff to take my place beside her soon-to-be husband and step up to Danni.
She tenses the second my shirt-covered arm brushes her bare one.
“Do you have any idea what that dress is doing to me?”
“Nothing, I would hope. I am, however, expecting it to help me pull tonight.”
“I can guaran-fucking-tee that you’re getting lucky tonight, doll.”
For the first time since she walked in, she looks at me. Her breath catches as she does so, and I can’t help but smirk at her. She’s as affected by me as I am by her. Excitement for what this night might hold for us stirs in my stomach, and my cock swells as ideas of being inside her once again fill my head.
She bites her bottom lip, and I’m just about to say something about it being mine to bite on when the officiant begins the service.
I’m forced to sit beside Danni while our best friends say their vows and tie the knot with her scent making my mouth water and knowing I can’t touch her. Her bare thigh almost touches mine, and the temptation to reach out and trail my fingertips up it to discover just how soft her skin is almost becomes too much.
/> “You’re meant to be watching the wedding,” she whispers when there’s a break in proceedings.
“How am I meant to do that when you’re sitting beside me showing this much skin?”
“You’re like teenage boy, you know that?”
“Can’t help myself around you, doll.”
Zach glances over, and I shut my mouth. We’re here for them; I need to be thinking with my head, not my cock right now.
As they each say their vows, Danni sniffles beside me. A smile curls at my lips that she’s such a romantic at heart, even though she tries to appear anything but.
Lifting my arm, I drop it over the back of the bench behind us and wrap it around her shoulders. She tenses, her skin erupting in goosebumps as I brush my thumb over her arm in support.
She glances up at me, but I don’t take my eyes from the couple before us. I don’t need to look at her to know that her eyes are darker and her breaths have increased from my simple touch alone. I feel it.
Sadly, the second the service is over, she’s up out of the seat and hugging both Biff and Zach in congratulations before we make our way back out to reception.
Danni and I both take some photos of the happy couple to remember their big day before we all find ourselves in the back of a cab and heading towards the strip.
Zach and Biff sit opposite Danni and I with huge smiles on their faces, unable to take their hands off each other. As happy as I am for them, I’m equally jealous as fuck, because I’d give my right ball to be able to touch the woman sitting beside me right now, but any attempt I’ve made since she was crying in the chapel has been thwarted. I’m pretty sure she’s not doing it to drive me crazy with need, but that’s the effect she’s having right now. This ‘I can look but not touch’ rule she seems to have set is not something I agreed to.
I’m expecting to head to some fancy arse restaurant for a meal, so when burgers are mentioned for their wedding breakfast, my chin almost hits the floor of the car.
“You for real?” I ask the two of them.
Trick You: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Rebel Ink Book 2) Page 7