Page 27 of Best Man
He prodded a finger into her shoulder. “Tell me. I won’t tell anybody.”
At last, she murmured, “Well, Iwouldlike a second opinion. Promise you won’t tell anybody?”
“I promise.”
“Okay, first of all, have you ever heard of sky lanterns?”
Niko shook his head. “No. What are those?”
“They’re flying lanterns made out of tissue paper. Add a little flame and they fly off when you let them go, like a miniature hot air balloon.”
Niko didn’t know what she meant, so she pulled her phone from her back pocket and showed him a picture. “Ah, yes! I’ve seen those before.”
“Piper and I used to make these all the time when we were kids. We’d each make a wish before we let our lantern go. We had so much fun making them and watching them fly away into the night.” She paused. “So, basically, I thought it’d be a nice way to tie our childhood into the wedding if I made one for her and Jax. They could make a wish and let one go together.”
Niko grinned. “That’s very sweet. She will love it, I’m sure.”
“Right? ButthenI started thinking, why make just one? It’d be cool to make a lantern for everybody at the wedding to set off once it gets dark. That way, everybody gets to make a wish, and we can have a whole friggin’fleetof lanterns flying off into the sky!”
Niko’s eyes widened and his mouth hung open in awe, as he imagined a hundred points of light in the night sky. “Nowyou are talking,” he growled.
“Wouldn’t that be so cool?!” She looked so happy he liked her idea, and her blue eyes lit with her smile. But then she bit her lip and tempered her excitement. “On the other hand—and here’s where I needed a second opinion—I’m worried it’stoobig a surprise to spring on the bride on her wedding day. What if she hates it? I don’t want to hijack her wedding with some lame stunt and ruin the night.”
“Lame stunt? Ruin the night?” Niko scoffed. “Please! You must do this. She will love it. Don’t you see? It’s an experience you shared as little girls. Now she can share it with her husband and everyone else who came to celebrate. It’s the perfect wedding gift from her sister.”
Touched, Paulina’s sweet smile spread. “Thank you.” But then she quickly doused her smile. “Unfortunately, as much as we both like that idea, there’s just not enough time left before tomorrow to get it done. There’s no way I can make as many lanterns as I want to make, so I’ll probably just make the one lantern for her and Jax and call it good.”
Niko’s brow furrowed. “What? No, no. One lantern would be okay. But think how you could impress everybody with so many more.”
She chuckled. “You would say that, wouldn’t you? I heard you flew everyone up here in a private jet.”
“I always go big, Paulina,” he said with a wink. “And I’m telling you, we need to go big with this idea.”
She giggled. “Wait, ‘we’?”
“Yes! I told you, I want to help.”
“Are you serious?” she asked skeptically. “Youreallywant to help me make lanterns all night?”
He knew spending alone time with Paulina probablywasn’t the best idea, considering what he’d just promised Jax. Then again, this idea of hers was a surprise, so Jax didn’t need to know about it. And Niko only wanted to help Paulina make it happen. Or at least, that’s what he told himself.
“Yes, really!” he insisted.
“I don’t know,” she said. He could tell she was looking for more excuses to not do the idea. “Aren’t you staying at the hotel, though?”
“So what?”
“Well, how would you get to the farm?”
“I can borrow Big Rig’s truck.” Sure, Jax would want to knowwhyhe wanted to borrow his truck, but he could just say he was working on a wedding surprise. Which was the truth.
“Remember, we’re doing ladies’ night,” she warned. “Which means I probably won’t be able to sneak away until after midnight at the earliest. And you’re probably tired after traveling—”
“I’ll be awake.” He whipped out his phone. “What’s your number?”
She let out a disbelieving chuckle. “You know, Niko, when I asked for a second opinion, I think I almost wanted you to talk me out of this idea.”
“I can tell. But it’s a really good idea, and I want to help.” He thrust his phone into her hands. “Now give me your number.”
