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“Keaton!” Vanessa hugged him on sight. With her tall and willowy frame and pale blonde hair, her smile beamed so perfectly and white it looked photoshopped, even in person.
Ben had the debonair and handsome, charming way about him that made you think he should be acting in spy movies. They made a gorgeously sweet couple. No wonder they won, although my fan club had a certain percentage of comments about these two being way too perfect. Many believed they had to have skeletons in the closet, and flaws that they were very good at hiding.
I plastered a grin on my face as introductions were made.
“This is Sophie,” Keaton said, pulling me closer and kissing the back of my hand. “My girlfriend.”
Girlfriend… my stomach performed a somersault.
“So nice to meet you,” Vanessa said with a gleam in her eye. She seemed so authentic. I really wanted to believe she and Ben had found true love.
“You two look amazing together,” Ben added warmly. A part of me wanted to uncover cracks underneath all of their sparkle. But something at the open bar caught my eye—product placement number one.
“Keaton, look. Here it is. Happy Couple Ale by H.C. Hops, a little surprise placement that I arranged for you,” I proudly announced.
“I didn’t expect to see this here.” Keaton smiled from ear to ear. Suddenly, a guy with a camera nearby zoomed in as Keaton held up the can to admire it. He handed it to Ben, who performed as if on cue.
“We have a lot to celebrate this weekend. Here’s to my bride, of course, but also to Keaton and his great tasting brews. Nice work, my friend.”
“We’re so proud of you, Keaton,” Vanessa admired.
“Thanks. The new branding looks great, doesn’t it? Sophie designed it.”
My breath caught. That was never part of the plan. This was his big weekend to shine, not mine. My accolades would come after, when my job was done. When he’d hopefully write me a glowing referral letter, and I’d have clients lining up ready to work with me.
But part of me thrilled at the recognition. The way he said it, like I was someone who mattered.
The guys clinked cans and drank, and then I caught the eye of Melanie, giving her a nod. I’m sure she appreciated howmuch Richard Buchanan paid to sponsor this entire weekend in the name of Keaton’s craft beer business.
“You must be so excited about your big wedding day,” I exclaimed to Vanessa.
“I am. The biggest day of my life, even bigger than the day I became a Dallas Cheerleader,” her Texas accent drawled, thick and lovely. Her beauty radiated, as one would expect of any Cowboys cheerleader. What else could I say? She lived in a completely different world than me.
I only had to keep up appearances another minute before Melanie insisted they had to move on to greet others for the cameras. Then another couple joined us.
“Hey, you big idiot,” a guy said, clapping Keaton on the back.
I recognized Anthony, Keaton’s best friend from the show. I remembered him clearly. Always the life of the party.
If there’d been no Keaton on the show, I’d probably have crushed on bad boy Anthony.
His date, Cassandra, hung back a step, giving Keaton a slow, sultry once-over that made me suspicious.
“You clean up nice,” she purred, stepping forward and leaning into him a little too close, holding onto him in a hug a little too long.
Keaton chuckled, clearly used to her antics, and tossed back some flirtatious comment I didn’t catch because I was too busy grinding my teeth.
Anthony didn’t seem to notice—or didn’t care.
“You must be Sophie,” he said, turning to me. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All lies,” I said smoothly.
Anthony laughed. Cassandra didn’t and tossed her hair, glancing away.I smiled sweetly anyway.
Before I could decide whether to trip her with my heel, another familiar voice cut through the crowd.
“Well, well, well.”