Page 160 of Dirty Husband

Shepard

Jasmine draws every eye as she steps into the restaurant. It's not just the rock on her ring finger or the jeweled clip in her fancy updo or the gorgeous gauzy dress skimming her tan skin.

Her smile is radiant.

It's brighter than the sun.

And it's for me.

Sure, this isn't a conventional arrangement. But she's happy. She's beaming at the thought of sayingI do.

Ian lifts his glass to toast. "Your bride is too pretty for you."

"You need new material." I don't have a better comeback. He's right. She is gorgeous. And she's my bride. Today, it feels like a triumph. All triumph.

It doesn't matter how we got here. Who pulled which strings.

It only matters that she's mine.

Forever.

In two days, it's official.

My body gets light as my eyes meet hers. Her smile shifts to something softer. Something that promises her body as much as it promises her heart.

Then her father takes her arm and she blushes at her dirty thoughts. Turns to her aunts. Joins them for a drink.

This is a smaller rehearsal dinner. A dozen people.

Her father, her aunts, Nick and Lizzy, Ian.

It almost seems normal, my small display of family.

Fuck. Ian is half of my family. Where have I gone wrong?

I watch Jasmine's aunt Quyen talk her into a gin and tonic. "We have four varieties of Fever Tree."

"I know." He taps his cocktail glass against my bottle of Pellegrino. "You treat me right."

"The best for my best man."

His chuckle is low. "Yes, it's got nothing to do with your issues with your brother."

"He's here, isn't he?"

He gives me that Ian look that meansstop lying to yourself.

"And you're Mr. Family?"

"I have women who call me daddy."

I can't help but laugh. Of course, he does. "Don't let Key overhear that."

"She'll find me even more irresistible?"

"Don't sleep with her."

"What kind of man do you take me for?"