Page 53 of The Bourbon Bride

“Don’t believe everything you see online,” she responds with a smile. “Trusted sources are hard to come by, and people love the appeal of a juicy story, true or not.”

“Wise words, if I ever heard them,” Payton says, an appreciative grin stretching his face. “You picked a smart one, Hayes.”

“She is, but I’d like to think she picked me. However, the jury’s still out on that particular choice.”

Paige laughs and swats my arm. “My picker is perfect, I’ll have you know.”

Payton tips his head in a familiar way that I know means he’s taking her measure and he likes what he sees. I wrap an arm around Paige’s shoulders and pull her against me possessively. She curls into my side and sighs.

“Zander should be here, somewhere. I know he’s looking for the kind of trouble that will take some of the heat off y’all with the press, if you know what I mean.” Payton raises an eyebrow at me. We both know our brother is reckless enough to do just that.

“He better keep his fucking shit together if he knows what’s good for him,” I growl, thinking of the impending roll-out of phase two and the offers we are about to shower on some unsuspecting hoteliers in a bid to create the largest privately held boutique hotel chain in the country. The recent coverage of my own life is just enough below the radar to not affect business deals, but Zander has a habit of making bigger and more noteworthy splashes that haven’t been good for business in the past.

A sobering thought bubbles in my awareness. What if William Fairchild refuses to sellbecauseof my involvement with his daughter and the mess of a marriage bargain he’s made with the Daniels? Is he nearly as calculating as his wife? If that’s the case, I need to work on a plan B, stat.

As if conjured by us speaking about him, Zander appears, a tall brunette tightly encased in a silver dress clinging to him.

“Speak of the devil,” I murmur under my breath.

“I thought that was you,” Paige quips next to me. Payton hears her and chokes out a laugh.

I look down at her and laugh with him. She beams and nuzzles her nose against my neck in a way that has me wanting to turn my back on everything at this party and take her straight home.

“The mysterious woman who’s captured our brother’s frozen heart!” Zander booms, drunker than Cooter Brown already.

“You must be Zander, the baby of the family,” Paige replies, expertly hitting Zander where he’s most self-conscious. She holds out a hand to him and I have visions in my head of diamond rings that would look lovely on her slender fingers.

He opens and closes his mouth, his usually quick retorts mysteriously absent as he appraises Paige. He takes her hand and shakes it firmly, his expression finally landing on respect.

“Paige Fairchild as I live and breathe. Do Mommy and Daddy know you’re here with an old man?” Zander smiles as he ruthlessly digs into our age gap.

“They certainly do, and I’m glad I was able to meet you. It was nice of your mother to let you stay out so late.”

She mimes looking for a watch on her bare wrist.

“It must be so tough to have a curfew while your big brothers get to play all night.”

She’s barely containing her grin and I’m floored at her sarcastic ease around people as ruthless in the boardroom as my brothers.

Payton hoots and slaps Zander on the back as his lip hitches up.

“How’s that burn feel, Zand? Better be careful, she’s feisty.”

Paige turns her attention to the bored brunette next to Zander with a warm smile.

“Hi, I’m Paige. Your dress is beautiful.”

She shows Zander’s arm candy all the respect due to royalty and I’m reminded of her good-to-the-bone nature. She truly is too pure for me, as I had already written off Zander’s date.

“Svetlana,” the arm candy replies with a thick accent as she weakly shakes the tips of Paige’s fingers when she holds out her hand.

I lift an eyebrow at Zander and he shrugs as if to say he’ll take them impressively dull as long as they look a certain way.

“Looks like a good turnout,” Payton observes, glancing around. “People really like the booze. Glad you picked this one up.”

“Payton, Hayes was telling me about your fondness for the water and mentioned you have boats. Where’s your closest docked?” Paige asks, turning the conversation around when it easily could have become a boring business recap.

“So my brother talks about his family, but refuses to share any details about you? Where are your priorities, Hayes?” He jokingly punches my arm, but it’s enough to make me spill bourbon right on Paige’s dress.

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