Page 48 of The Backup Bride Proposal

“Hey,” one of them said, eyeing him close. “Did anyone ever tell you that you look a lot like that movie star Kane August?”

He frowned. “I get that a lot, though my girlfriend thinks I’m prettier than that guy.”

The other woman laughed, and the one who asked the question looked him up and down again, then said, “Tell your girlfriend she’s right.”

They got off on the next floor, and Kane breathed a sigh of relief. That line didn’t always work, but he was relieved it had just now.

He got to the top floor and searched out Finn’s room, then knocked. Jason answered, a glass of something in his hand. “Finally. Come on in, the party’s getting started.”

Finn’s suite was…well, sweet. It had a huge living room with a fireplace, along with a dining room table that right now was loaded with food.

“Figured everyone would want to eat so we could get to drinking,” Owen said. “There’s steak, salmon and all the sides.”

Kane was hungry, so he joined the guys and they dove into the food, talking while they ate.

“It must be fun working with animals all day,” Kane said to Jason.

“It’s like living the dream, man,” Jason said, sliding a piece of steak into his mouth. “Kind of like what you do.”

“Except you’re saving lives. I’m…popcorn entertainment. Not exactly the same thing.”

“Hey, don’t underestimate popcorn entertainment,” Owen said. “It’s vital to our survival.”

Finn raised his glass. “I’ll drink to that. Where would we be without our favorite movies?”

“Hail toGladiator,” Jason said.

“Nuh-uh,” Clay said.“Tombstone.”

“Oh, please,” Owen said. “We all know it’sBatman.”

“Which one?” they all asked, almost in unison.

And then they began to argue the various nuances and merits of whichBatmanwas the best, which took themthrough the rest of the meal and continued as they made their way downstairs to the gaming area.

Kane liked these guys. They were genuine, no bullshit, and they treated him like one of them, which he appreciated more than he could say. It was hard for him to make friends in his business. Some people wanted to be his friend for the potential connections or the perks, but honest friendship because they liked him? Just Kane August the person? Yeah, that didn’t come around all that often. Even some of his friends back home treated him differently these days, and that hurt.

Acting was his job, not who he was. Which was why getting to hang out with an awesome group of men like this charged him up.

They set up shop at the craps tables, one of Kane’s favorite things to do. He got on a winning streak but then bowed out once a crowd started to gather. The last thing he wanted was to call attention to himself, and the ball cap only went so far, so he let Clay take over while he enjoyed himself on the sidelines. They drank, won some, lost some, and Kane had an awesome time.

They all took a break and sat at the bar to chill.

“So,” Jason said. “One more week and it’s your turn, Finn.”

“Yeah. I can’t wait to marry Brenna. Plus, you know it’s gonna be a party.”

“And you know how much we love a party,” Clay said.

“Hell yeah we do.” Jason’s phone lit up so he grabbed it, looked at it and laughed. “Looks like our ladies are having a good time. Check out this pic Erin sent.”

He passed the phone around, everyone grinning. When Clay handed it over to Kane, he smiled.

Brenna was in the middle in a short white dress with herBridesash and a tiara, surrounded by the other women all dressed in black. And there was Mae, looking sexy as hell in a short black dress and silver stiletto heels, showing off her incredible legs. He let out a sigh and handed the phone back to Clay.

“You like her, huh?” Clay asked.

“Yeah.”

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