Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(76)

“Ask me to be your best man.”

I laugh, thinking he’s joking, only to stop when he doesn’t join in.

“You’re not joking?”

“My heart took a serious beating right now.”

“Rest assured, if I have a best man, you’ll be my guy.”

“If?” He gawks. “What do you mean if?”

I walk back my answer to not raise suspicion. “We could decide to elope.”

He laughs hard enough to gain some attention from those around us.

“What’s so funny?”

“You’re marrying into the Lake Wisteria royal family. You have no choice but to have a big wedding with all the bells and whistles.”

“Sounds like my dream,” I reply with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

“Don’t worry—I’ll be there every step of the way to help you out. It’s my duty as your best man.”

“I haven’t even asked you yet.”

“Yet? See, I knew I was your only option.”

“Keep annoying me and I’ll ask Julian to spite you.”

He rears back. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“What if I told you his speech tonight is a test run?”

“So let’s say—hypothetically speaking, of course—that Julian was to go missing. Would you mind if I step in to offer my endorsement?”

“Your friendship is the best endorsement of all.”

He wipes at the corner of his dry eye. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me—at least up until you officially ask me to be your best man.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR


Lily


Lorenzo and I spend the night working the room. We rub elbows with influential townspeople, play a few rounds of roulette with members of city council members, and sit through Julian’s endorsement speech. For his own benefit, I’m glad he made it through the two-minute ordeal without throwing up, although he did break a sweat once he started talking about welcoming Lorenzo into his family.

I’m not sure if Julian’s endorsement tonight will have much of an effect, but I hope if it does it’s in a positive direction.

Once Julian says his goodbyes, Lorenzo and I split up so we can target different people like we had planned, which means I don’t get him all to myself until two hours later once the final guests leave the ballroom.

“Have a drink with me?”

I should say no, but the way he stares at my mouth for a beat too long has me nodding along like I don’t already have a steady buzz going.

He steps behind the empty bar. “What can I get you?”

“Another paloma sounds good.”

He pops open a beer for himself before getting to work on my drink. His confidence shines through, and I could’ve mistaken him for a bartender if I didn’t know he was the host of tonight’s party.

“Do you have experience bartending?” I ask.

“Not officially,” he vaguely answers.

“Could’ve fooled me.” I watch him line the rim with salt before he walks around the bar and passes me the glass.

“Tips are encouraged.” He taps his beer against my glass.

I stand on the tips of my toes and press my mouth to his. It’s chaste compared to our earlier kisses, but it still makes my lips tingle, and my fingers itch to touch him.

“How’s that?” Why do I sound breathy from an innocent kiss?

He wets his bottom lip, dragging my attention right toward it. “Better than anything money could buy.”

“Says the millionaire who already has everything he needs.”

“Not everything,” he rasps.

I pop the straw into my mouth and sip, glancing up at him through my lashes like the tipsy little flirt I am.

“Want to go outside?” he asks, his voice gravelly.

I nod, and he leads me toward the same balcony where he proposed a few hours earlier. My heart beats faster at the reminder, only to grow stronger when I think about how we nearly hooked up afterward.

He stares out at the lake. The crescent moon reflects off the dark surface, and the small white caps look like little stars sparkling above.

“Thank you,” he says quietly.

My head whips in his direction, finding him already staring at me. “What for?”

“Everything. I know you have your own reasons for helping me, but regardless, I appreciate it.” He takes a long pull from his bottle without taking his eyes off me.

My body warms at his expression of gratitude, and while it isn’t a long-winded one, it doesn’t make it any less heartfelt.

“Putting my dislike toward the Ludlows aside, I do believe you’re the better candidate. Hands down. No questions asked.”

His brows jump. “Why?”

“You’ve been making a positive impact on this town for two years, in more ways than anyone knows. You care about Lake Wisteria—”

“Only because my mother loved it.”

Lies, but not worth fighting him on right now. “That only supports my third point: You’re incredibly loyal to those you find worthy of it.” My voice catches at the end. I didn’t expect that particular confession to make me emotional, but it seems to expose my own vulnerability.