Page 21 of Nothing to the Wedding

“Ah, damnit, I already married her.Stuck now.”

“Roux wants to go to London.”

“To get away from Rourke?Not sure that’s far enough.”

“There’s guys over there she wants to sleep with,” she said, aware he’d know it was part of the couple’s game.“And she thinks it’s unfair you’re having a series of bachelor parties.”

“You party every night, babe.”

“Yeah, but not with strippers,” she teased.

“I’ll come take my clothes off for you any time, Lola Bunny.”

Another laugh, and she lay down again, scooping up the phone to hold it above her face.

“Oh my God, can you imagine?Jane would never make it to the altar, she’d have a heart attack and die right there.”

“Have as many parties as you want, baby.I love it when you party.”

“You love it when I’m happy.”

“I do.”

“Ten days too early for those words.”

“I’m practicing.”

“Doesn’t it feel stupid to have a series of bachelor parties when you’re not even a bachelor anymore?”

“Whose fault is that?”

“Uh, yours.Our marriage wasn’t my idea.”

“You announced it onTalk at Sunset.”

“Our engagement, not our actual wedding.You and Ballard brewed that up on your own.I’m not the only caper brewer.”

“Ever sorry we did it that way?”

Licking her lips, her joy shone through.“I asked Roux that question about her marriage tonight.”

“Shit, I’m glad Rourke did it that way.”

“Because it gives us the opportunity to deflect if anyone finds out about our sneaky nuptials?”

“Because it would be a hostage situation, they’d have like a vow-off or something.”

Exactly what Roux said.

“What if you look so hot in your tux at the altar, I need to have you there and then?”

“Baby, if you don’t make it back here before that day, I’ll be coming up that aisle to you.”

“So many things I could do with that statement… Good luck getting through all those layers of tulle, buddy.”

“Didn’t you have them put in an emergency access?”

Emerg—God, he was hilarious.