Page 134 of The Worst Best Man

“I’m not letting anyone banish me from anything.”

“Good. Get your ass on the train.”

“Pru—”

“Aiden’s worried about you. He thinks he’s ruined your life. I’m giving you the opportunity to prove to him that you’ve got a stronger spine than that.”

“Do they teach manipulation as a Gen-Ed course in private school?” Frankie asked.

“I will eat a roll if you come to lunch.”

“Ugh. Sold.”

So, Frankie reluctantly threw on that beautiful red dress, slapped on some makeup, and strutted down Fifth Avenue with Pru. There were a handful of photographers shouting questions, but Frankie iced them out behind her oversized sunglasses.

And damn if it didn’t feel good. Good enough that she ordered two pieces of apple pie to go.

“I eat one multigrain roll, and you’re going to pound a thousand calories worth of pie?” Pru asked, eyeing the tasty little to go boxes.

“They’re not for me,” Frankie laughed. “I’m dropping them off for Aiden and his admin at the office.”

Pru shot her a smug look.

“What?” Frankie demanded.

“You liiiiiike him,” she sang.

“You’re so junior high,” Frankie sighed. “I thought we’d already established the fact that I like him.”

“Allow me my gloating time,” Pru insisted. “I knew you two would be great for each other, didn’t I?”

Frankie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Youmayhave mentioned something along those lines.”

“I can’t wait to be your matron of honor,” Pru said. “I’ve already got a proposal from a party planner for your bridal shower.”

“We’re dating and having sex,notgetting married,” Frankie insisted. The idea of a bridal shower like Pru’s, with bitchy women whispering about how much they hated each other and useless, overpriced gifts like platinum ice cream spoons, gave her the heebie jeebies.

“We’ll see about that,” Pru mused, rising and sliding into her coat.

Frankie ignored her friend and buttoned her coat. They were halfway to the door when she stopped short. Pru ran into her back. “Hey,” her friend muttered.

Frankie pointed at what had caught her attention. Tucked into a quiet corner in front of the window were Elliot Kilbourn and Margeaux the Dragon Lady.

Elliot had Margeaux’s face cupped in his hand and was moving in for what promised to be an NC-17 kiss.

“Gross,” Pru hissed. “Go before they see us!”

They hurried out of the restaurant, eyes straight ahead. And didn’t stop until they were halfway down the block.

“Well there’s a match made in heaven,” Frankie said dryly.

“You said it, sister,” Pru agreed. “An evil wench and her henchman. We should give them a couple name. Elgeaux? Margel?”

Frankie shuddered and clutched the apple pie to her chest. Nothing good could come from a union like that.

Chapter Fifty-One

Aiden rested his hand on Frankie’s bare thigh in the darkened back of the limo. She’d chosen a short dark purple number with a tempting halter neck that made his fingers itch to untie it. All that stood between him and Frankie’s naked, begging body was two hours at his mother’s fundraiser and a short speech. There was also the ride home from Long Island to Manhattan, but with a privacy screen and condoms stocked in the small compartment under the bar, that wasn’t necessarily a hindrance.