Page 36 of Paradise & Vodka

"Take a picture. It will last longer," he teased.

I gawked at him through the reflection of the mirror. "I just might."

He turned and came to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Everything go okay with your sister?"

I nodded, my arms going around his neck. "Yeah. We ate, drank, and then got ready." I gestured down my body as though to show him that I did, in fact, get ready for the wedding.

"Are you wearing any panties under this?" Nick fingered the hem of my purple dress that came to my knees.

"Yes."

"Take them off."

I snorted. "Why? Last time you didn't do anything about it."

His blue eyes narrowed. "Is that a challenge?"

I lifted a shoulder. "Maybe."

"Oh, baby." He laughed. "You're playing with fire."

I whispered into his ear in a seductive tone, "I can handle it."

He didn't miss a beat as he responded, "Then take your fucking panties off."

The ceremony was being held on the beach—of course. Rows of white folding chairs were set up on either side of a white runner, and white lilies accented the inside chairs and the arbor where Everleigh and Douglas would say their vows. It was breathtaking, and as Nick escorted me to the front row on the bride's side, I was jealous. I never thought that I would have a beach wedding, but I did want something equally stunning. Maybe something on top of the Eiffel Tower or at the end of a dock at a lake. My sister was getting everything that I'd wanted—except the guy. One day I hoped my dream would come true.

"This is my second wedding this month," Nick stated as we took our seats.

"Really?"

He nodded. "My buddy Brad got married."

"Oh, right. Brad and Cassie." I remembered hearing their story on the way to Fiji. Brad was the last of Nick's friends to settle down.

"Yep."

"Did Cassie make him quit Saddles & Racks?" I knew about the scary stuff that went on in their story, but not how Brad stopped escorting. I was curious—or maybe it was wishful thinking on my part.

"No." Nick shook his head. "He chose to leave the game."

"Wow," I breathed. "He must be really in love then."

"Yeah, and he's not the only one."

"What do you mean?"

"Gabe, Paul, and Vinny all quit after falling in love."

"So, there's hope for you then?" I joked. "Once you fall in love, I mean."

"Nah. I don't plan to ever fall in love. I think each of them had the desire to settle down eventually, but I don't have that yearning."

"Oh." I frowned and then put a fake smile on my face. The more I got to know Nick, the more I was developing some sort of infatuation for him. How could I not? It didn't help that he was myboyfriendfor a week. Maybe if it had only been one night, I wouldn't have a small crush on him. I wasn't sure.

"Plus," Nick continued, "my boss would have my balls if I quit."

"Why's that?"