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I can’t stop thinking about our almost kiss earlier. For years, I’ve wanted to do that. And for years, like a coward, I’ve never made the move. If Harley were any other woman, I would have had her in my bed already. But she’s more than sex. She’s the only woman I see in my future. Maybe I’m going about this the wrong way. My old tricks work on other women, but Harley won’t fall for them.
“I chose my bridesmaids,” Harley says to break the long, awkward silence. She leans back against the plush leather bench, looking at me for the first time since we left the catering hall. “Who are your groomsmen?”
“Stefan is my best man.”
She gives me a mischievous grin. “Callie will be happy about that.”
“I already told Callie to back off.”
Harley folds her arms over her chest, pushing up her breasts in the process. My eyes fall to her rack, which earns me a sigh in response.
“Callie’s determined to hook up with as many groomsmen as possible,” she says, laughing. “She has dibs on the best man.”
“Not gonna happen,” I challenge. “Stefan’s told her no for years.”
“Yeah, but that won’t stop Callie. One day, Stefan will give in.”
“He thinks of her like a sister.”
“Who else did you ask?”
“Parker, and he’s bringing Jess.”
Apart from Harley, Parker Price is one of my oldest friends. We attended MIT together, lived in the same Hacker Hostel as our friend Dylan Banks, and after graduation, I recruited him to work for us. He’s the Vice President of System Architecture at Queen Takes King and the best engineer I know.
“I haven’t seen Jess in years,” Harley says with a smile.
“Since you guys took art classes together, right?”
She nods with a grim expression on her face. “Did Jess end up sticking with it?”
“Yeah. But after the accident, she hasn’t been the same. I tell Parker all the time that Jess can have a job anytime she wants one. She’s almost as talented as you. But she likes working at City Comics. I hate when people waste their potential.”
She sighs. “Tell me about it. I know what that’s like.” A beat passes before she says, “So, I guess that means Dylan is in our wedding party, too?”
I nod in answer.
I have known Dylan Banks for years. We were close in college, and now he lives in Malibu with his best friend and co-founder of Date Crashers. We considered partnering on a video game, but my dad wasn’t too thrilled about an online dating version of The Sims.
“And Reid said yes.”
Harley’s eyebrows rise. “You asked Reid Grayson to be in our wedding?”
I roll my shoulders. “What’s wrong with Reid?”
“Nothing, it’s just… doesn’t his family own Market House?”
“So.”
“All of my friends work for Market House,” she points out. “Didn’t you think that would be a little bit weird for the girls to hang out with their boss while they’re on vacation?”
“No. This is Reid we’re talking about. He’ll be too busy getting drunk and hitting on women to care about Callie and the girls.”
“Okay.” She sighs. “I hope so.”
“I know so.”
“Who are you pairing with Willow?”
“Alec. She’ll like him.”
“When Willow sees his ink, she’ll beg him for another tattoo.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Willow doesn’t have any tattoos.”
She chuckles. “None that you can see.”
I met Alec Hartwell at one of Harley’s art competitions in high school. She placed second with her original design that later inspired some of the graphics in Ashborn. Alec placed first, and Harley still hasn’t forgotten the loss. She took it badly at first, but years later, we all became friends. Harley figured if she couldn’t beat him, then maybe she could learn from him.
Harley gives me a satisfied smile. “Tell Stefan to schedule a tux fitting for your groomsmen. My girls already took it upon themselves to assign each other jobs.”
“What kind of jobs?”
“Lola knows a local designer who agreed to make the gown from my sketches. She’s also working on the bridesmaid dresses. Callie delegated most of the responsibilities, but at least she’ll help us maintain our image in the press. Amelia’s planning our honeymoon. She insisted we go somewhere off the island for a few days, and Jules is…” She looks away as her voice trails off.
“What about Jules?”
Harley digs her teeth into her bottom lip. “Umm… she’s supposed to find lingerie for me to wear.”
I grin like an idiot. “I can’t wait to see it.”
She rolls her eyes. “You wish.”
“We’ll see about that,” I challenge.
Harley snorts. “If by some miracle you manage to get me out of my dress, you’re getting nothing but granny panties.”
I shake my head, laughing. “I don’t care what panties you wear as long as I get to take them off.”
“Nate… you’re so…”
“Dirty,” I finish for her.
Harley glares at me. “Yes,” she whispers, our mouths so close I can feel her breath on my lips.
