The Worst Best Man(43)

Still, Frankie watched her closely for signs of migraines or minor freak-outs. And while she watched Pru, Aiden watched her.

She avoided him. But it wasn’t easy. There was the group photography. The bridal party dance. And she couldn’t completely ignore him now that he was giving a toast.

He rose from the chair on Chip’s right, the microphone in his hand. The long bridal party table was swagged in ivory cloth and tens of thousands of dollars of cream-colored flowers. Strands of silver and gold crystals dripped from the table top down to the floor. Frankie half expected Gatsby himself to stroll out with a goblet of champagne.

And Aiden Kilbourn in a bespoke tux looked as if he belonged here.

He didn’t need to quiet the crowd. When Aiden spoke, everyone listened.

Frankie tried not to look at him, but it was like telling an elementary school student not to look directly into the sun during an eclipse. It just made her want to look more.

“Chip and I met on the polo field several years ago when my rather aggressive pony tried to take a bite out of his shoulder,” Aiden began warmly. “He was quite nice about it as Chip is about everything. I, on the other hand, am more like my pony.”

The crowd chuckled, and Frankie rolled her eyes.

“Despite that, we became friends. I thought my influence would harden him. Make him more aggressive to better suit me. However, it didn’t work out quite that way. Despite my best efforts, Chip remained kind-hearted, friendly. And I found myself softening a bit. Chip reminded me that there is more to life than conquering the world. There’s living and loving to be done. And he and Pruitt are a shining example of exactly that.”

Chip grinned up at Aiden.

Stupid eloquent bastard. He wasn’t even reading from notes.

“Now, I’m not saying you and Pruitt have changed my mind about marriage. But you do make love look appealing. I’ve never had someone in my corner the way Pruitt is in yours. Well, except for you, Chip, and you’re already taken.”

The crowd laughed eagerly.

“I’m honored to be in both your corners today. And for the first time in my life, I worry that I just might be missing out.”

Every woman on the terrace swooned. It was an audible sigh, like a flock of birds taking flight at once.

“To Chip and Pruitt. I wish you all the happiness that comes with living and loving,” Aiden said, raising his glass of champagne.

“To Chip and Pruitt,” the guests echoed.

That sexy rat bastard. No one would have guessed that just a few hours ago the man had allowed his so-called best friend to be used as bait. Aiden came to her, the microphone in hand. He leaned down and in, his lips brushing her ear.

“Quit glaring at me, sweetheart. You’ll spoil the pictures.”

He handed over the mic, winked, and returned to his seat.

Frankie cursed him. Her pulse rate was running at jack hammer speeds. One brush of his lips against her ear lobe, and she was ready to take his pants off under the table and grip his cock with both hands.

How was she supposed to give a speech when her nether-region was throbbing like volcano about to erupt? The man was leaking pheromones, nature’s roofies.

Grateful for the cover of the table and the long gown, Frankie rose and stood with her legs crossed tight. She cleared her throat and focused on Pru’s pretty face.

“I have two loud, obnoxious brothers at home. My whole childhood was spent wishing for a sister. Someone to even the odds. Someone who didn’t leave the toilet seat up.”

The crowd chuckled. See? She could be funny, too.

“I didn’t get my wish until I moved into my dorm freshman year. I walk into my new room, carting all of the freshman necessities like cheese curls and a straightening iron with my brothers bickering about who was carrying more stuff. And there she was,” Frankie smiled down at Pru who was already crying.

“My sister. She told my brothers to quit whining and to go order us a pizza. A good one, not one crapped up with onions and anchovies, if I recall. We were there for each other through mid-terms and finals, and boys and late nights, and hangovers, and more boys. Pru taught me to ski. I taught her to flip the bird to cabs in the crosswalk.”

Pru laughed and wiped her eyes.

“But for me, the absolute best thing about our relationship,” she paused to shoot a look at Aiden, “is being here today and seeing you two so happy. When you love someone, when you really care about them, nothing is more important to you than seeing them happy. And seeing you and Chip here today, I couldn’t be happier or more proud. You found your way back to each other, earned it. And together you’ll face the future as a team. I love you two. Salute.”

“Salute,” the crowd echoed and the air rang with the clinking of the finest crystal Barbados had to offer.





Chapter Twenty-Three


He caught her on the dance floor. Frankie was sharing a dance and laughing with Chip when Aiden appeared with Pru in his arms.

“Care to trade partners?” Aiden offered.

“Get your hands off my wife, Kilbourn,” Chip teased, reaching for Pru and reeling her in.

“There ye be, my pirate husband!”

Frankie started to step away, but Aiden held out his hand to her, daring her to take it. Fine. She could deal with a dance. One dance. It didn’t mean she’d end up naked with him doing magical things to her body.