Page 31 of Billionaire's Fake Plus One

“You’re not so bad yourself.” He nibbles kisses up and down my neck, and I emit a soft laugh. “Stop that, or we’re not going to make it to the wedding on time,” I warn him.

His arms come around me, left hand sneaking up to squeeze my breast. “Fuck the wedding.”

I arch into his touch, my body already conditioned to respond to him after being intimate several times in as many days. A series of sharp knocks on the door jolts me, and I push away. Lucien glares at the door, looking greatly annoyed, and I giggle.Igiggle? My smile fades when I realize what I’m doing. Oh, sweet baby Jesus. Lucien raises a brow at me in question, but the knock at the door comes again. Sharper this time. He stalks to the front door and yanks it open with a growl. “What is it?”

Zane is standing in the doorway, looking the exact opposite of the happy groom. His hair is scattered like he’s been running his fingers through it. His bow tie is disheveled and hanging limply from his collar. His mouth turns down when he sees us together. “Brittany is missing,” he says without a preamble.

I stare blankly at him, not comprehending his words. “What? What do you mean she’s missing?” Lucien asks impatiently, stepping back so Zane can enter the suite. His right hand disappears into his pocket, pulling a parchment of scented paper out. Lucien snatches the paper from him and quickly scans it, his gaze turning thunderous as he reads whatever is written. I sidle closer to him to peak over his shoulders, and he shifts so I can see it better.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Zane. and

after last night, I’m not sure I want to do it with you.

I wish you nothing but humiliation and embarrassment

as you deal with this fall out.

Fuck you very much, Zane Baldwin.

See you in hell.

Not the bride, Brittany.

“What the hell happened last night?” Lucien growls.

Zane sinks heavily into the armchair. “I mistakenly sent her a message meant for Mom. She was not impressed.”

“And what was the content of the message?”

“She wanted a yacht as a wedding present, which as you know, Lucien, I can’t really afford right now, and–”

Lucien cuts him off. “What do you mean you can’t afford it? Didn’t your trust fund payment roll in this month? I’m aware that Asher sends it to your account every month.”

Zane goes beet red, and he looks sheepish. “It’s all gone,” he mumbles. Lucien curses viciously and takes a threatening step toward him.

“You know what? We’ll get back to that later. Continue telling us why your bride left you.”

Zane swallows hard. “I sent Mom a text to ask if she could fund it or talk to you, but I had a couple drinks and somehow sent it to Brittany instead. She was furious to learn that Mom and the aunts are funding our lifestyle - that I’m worth next to nothing. But I didn’t think she’d just run away.”

I gasp “So, you’re telling me she left you at the altar because she found out you’re broke?”

Zane shrugs helplessly, and Lucien curses again. “I can’t believe you’d even date or propose to her after she put me through the wringer six years ago, Zane. You should have seen this coming!”

“I know, I know. It just seemed different, you know? We seemed different in a way. We just fit,” Zane says, defending himself. They go back and forth some more, but I’m stuck on Lucien’s words about Brittany putting him through the wringer. I suddenly want to know about every single thing that went down between them.Now’s not the time, Willow.

We spend most of the day attending to guests, explaining that the bride had an emergency, and a new wedding date will be communicated to everyone. It’s strenuous trying to discharge over 500 guests, while making sure no one feels unimportant. Lucien buys flight tickets for everyone and tries to smooth things over so Zane won’t be too humiliated. By the time the last guest leaves Half Moon Bay, it is almost seven pm, and I’m beyond exhausted. Lucien takes one look at me and swoops me into his arms, bridal style. I squeal, tossing my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life.

He turns to face Zane, his step-mom, and aunts. “I believe we’re done here. Willow and I are going to turn in.” I press my face into his neck so I don’t see the look on their faces as Lucien carries me out of the huge hall, where the wedding reception was supposed to take place. Exotic white and cream flowers are draped on every surface, with candles flickering all around us as he stares deeply into my eyes. Regardless of the circumstances, this may very well be the most romantic moment of my life.

24

Rachel, what does love feel like exactly? Asking for a friend…

“What happened between you and Brittany?” I ask Lucien as I rest against his chest in the large bath tub, not brave enough to ask the question face to face. His fingers are idly tracing over my collarbone still, and he stiffens behind me. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I rush to add. “It’s just that earlier, you mentioned that she put you through the wringer, and I was curious.”

He’ssilent for a few minutes, then continues tracing my collarbone, and I relax against him. “When Brittany told you about my past with her, and you came to me in the living room, you said you should’ve learned your lesson from watching what happened to your mother trusting a rich man. What did you mean?”

My heart jumpsto my throat, and I go still. Of course, I should’ve expected him to turn the question around on me. I chew my bottom lip nervously. Iwantto tell him, not just because I want him to tell me about him and Brittany, but because he’s really easy to talk to. “Where do I start? It’s a really long story.”

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