Page 3 of The Never Bride

"There's the lucky groom."

I look up from my computer with a frown to see my two younger brothers stride into my office. My grandfather must have shared the news of my upcoming wedding with these two. My scowl deepens at the thought of the arranged marriage.

"Ouch, who pissed in your cereal this morning?" Tate must feel brave today; he knows exactly what to say to push my buttons.

"Nothing. Everything is fine." I gaze back to my computer, searching the social media sites for a glimpse of Shae. Instead, all I find are picture after picture of Lydia on the arm of a different guy in each one.

The few times I thought about getting married, I never considered I would have to fight for my wife's attention. Even Lydia's own father warned her to settle down and stop running around with all those male models.

"What do we have here?" Tate steps behind me before I can close my laptop. "Damn, is that your future bride? She's hot." Tate teases.

I turn to my other brother, Drew, gauging his reaction to Lydia, waiting for him to start teasing me like Tate is doing. I know it'sall in fun. We tease each other mercilessly, but this is something I don't want to joke about. This is my life, my future.

When my eyes land on Drew I don't see the same amused glimmer in his eyes as I see in Tate's at my current situation. In fact, Drew looks more like he's seen a ghost. His normally tan skin is now pale, and he is still staring at my closed laptop.

"Who was that woman?" Drew spits out between clenched teeth.

"Like Tate said, that woman is my future bride. Her name is Lydia Simpson."

"I have to go." Drew storms out of my office.

"Ok, that was weird. What do you think has gotten into him?" Tate nods at Drew's retreating back, then takes a seat across from me.

I love my brothers. I really do, but I don't have time to dissect what's going on in my youngest brother's brain right now.

"Who knows? He usually keeps his private life to himself." I shrug. "Tate, I need your help."

I came up with a plan last night to keep my grandfather distracted while I figure a way out of this mess.

"Sure, anything, as long as you make me to be your Best Man. I already have the perfect bachelor party picked out." He smirks, causing me to cringe.

Tate has always been a little on the wild side. I've never seen him back down from a dare. His tombstone will read'Challenge Accepted.'

"I need you to keep Grandfather busy for the next three weeks. I need you to stick to him like glue. Tell him you want to learn everything you can from him."

That should be easy. Grandfather loves teaching all of his grandkids about business. Even though our grandfather is retired, he still maintains his office and his assistant in the company, not quite ready to give it up completely.

"Does that little shrew still work for him?" Tate's eyes flare with anger.

Shrew? He can't mean Grandfather's assistant Charlotte, can he? There's no way. Charlotte is sweet and kind to everyone. There is no way he means Charlotte. He must be thinking of a previous assistant.

"Charlotte is his assistant."

"Nope, sorry, Nile, I can't help you with that." He stands, buttoning his suit coat. "I guess Drew will have to be your best man. His bachelor party won't be as epic as the one I was going to throw. Good luck with that."

"Tate. I don't ask for much. This is really important to me, and I need your help." I hide a smirk. I guess Grandfather isn't the only Hanson who can spread it on thick.

I can see the war conflicting in Tate's eyes, "Charlotte is one small woman; how bad can it really be to spend time with our grandfather and have a beautiful woman right outside the door?" I take a step closer to Tate.

Tate's eyes narrow at me. That might have been a little too much. I'll need to dial it down a little bit. Damn, I don't know how grandfather does it.

"Fine. I'll do it. I'll keep Grandfather busy for the next three weeks, but remember, when it's time to return the favor, you'll do it, no questions asked." He emphasizes his words by poking me in the chest with his finger before taking a seat back in the chair he recently vacated. "Tell me more about this whole arranged marriage thing grandfather cooked up."

I sit back down in my own chair, wondering how much I should share with Tate. I'm the oldest grandchild, and I've always been expected to do the right thing. Be a good role model for the rest of my siblings and cousins. Well, except for the times I was younger, when I tried to get them in trouble with my wild schemes. But that was a lifetime ago. Now I'm boring. Always doing everything by the book. Maybe it's time to change that. Here goes nothing.

"I met my future bride yesterday. The only problem is it was actually her sister, Shae."

"I don't understand. How did you confuse the two?"

---