The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(3)

Vi laughed and grabbed one of the drinks. "Who said I was going to share?" She took a long sip. "Fine, I guess you can help me hand them out." She slid two drinks over to Charlotte. "See to it that the bride doesn't go thirsty."

"Somehow, I don't think I'll have to worry about that," Charlotte said. She reached into her purse and tipped the bartender before carrying the drinks back to Callie. She would never admit it, but Charlotte envied Callie's life. She quite literally had it all. She was super successful at her company, Haven Communications, fixing the problems of DC's political elite, and she was about to marry a man who would love her for the rest of her life. Plus, she was beautiful. Charlotte handed Callie her drink. "Did you know that almost every guy in this bar is looking at you?" she said.

"Come on, that's not true," Callie said. Charlotte could tell Callie liked the attention. For years, Charlotte had lived vicariously through Callie's tales of daring escapades, political intrigue and even wilder dates.

"All of Logan's friends are," Charlotte said. She looked across the room at the crowd of guys joking around with Callie's fiancé,her attention drawn to one in particular. He was tall and handsome with a light tan and a navy suit that brought out the lighter blue in his eyes. There was something wholesome in the way he looked, something calming in the warm glow of his gaze.

"That's only because I'm dressed in bright pink, and I think you'll notice that one of them hasn't taken his eyes off of you since we came through the door."

"Pretty sure you're mistaken. Guys like him do not look at girls like me."

"You've just never noticed, because you're always too busy reading," Callie teased.

"Someday, I'll find someone who appreciates that," Charlotte said.

"How do you know Jack Coburn isn't that guy?" Callie's eyes lit up, and Charlotte could all but see her mind racing. "Wait, what if he is that guy? Can he be that guy?"

"Where do I sign?" Charlotte joked.

"He's single," Callie added. "He's also Logan's best man."

"I wasn't protesting. I was just telling you that there's no chance he'd want to date me."

Callie clapped her hands together. Her voice rose in excitement as she said, "Oh, this is so perfect. Why didn't I think of this earlier? Amy! Amy! Over here!" she called over to her sister. "Come here! Now!"

"What's going on?" Charlotte asked.

"Don't get mad," Callie said. She turned to Amy, her sister and business partner at Haven Communications. "I think now might be the time to solve our Coburn conundrum."

"Yeah?" Amy looked across the room at Jack Coburn, then took a step back and looked Charlotte over. "You know, this isn't the worst idea."

"What are you two talking about?" Charlotte asked.

"We need you to marry Jack Coburn," Callie and Amy said in unison.

"Him?" Charlotte asked in disbelief. She looked at him again, meeting his glance and looking away just as quickly. Her heart raced, and she felt short of breath. "Why?"

Callie shrugged and tried to hide her excitement. "Why not?" I think you'd make a cute couple. You're hot. He's hot. It makes total sense."

Charlotte reached into her purse, pulled out a book, and started to read from a page. "Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" Charlotte said. "That's love, Callie. That's what I'm looking for."

"That's Wuthering Heights," Callie said. "Stop looking for love in old books and find some right in front of you."

"You're not asking me to fall in love. You're asking me to marry a complete stranger."

"He needs a wife. You need a job. You'll totally hit it off with him. He's smart and funny, like really smart, and really funny. And sweet, did I mention he's sweet? If I weren't marrying Logan, I'd have a crush on Jack. Ok, I might have a little bit of one anyway."

Charlotte looked at her friend. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"She's completely serious," Amy said. "Jack's running for Senate next fall, and he has a bit of a reputation problem. We took him on as a client a few months ago, and he needs a wife."

"What happened to smart and sweet and funny?" Charlotte asked.

"He had a string of high-profile relationships that didn't really work out. You know how the press loves a good breakup. Well, he's had five of them."

Charlotte looked at Jack again. He barely looked thirty years old. "How is that even possible?" she asked. "He doesn't even look old enough to be in Congress."

"He's a Coburn," Callie said.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Charlotte asked.

"You've been reading too much Bront?. Your head's stuck in the 19th century," Callie replied. "The Coburns, they're a political dynasty. In Jack's extended family there have been three senators, two congressmen, a governor and one vice president. They're the most influential political family since the Kennedys. Jack's been famous since he was a kid. He was in the spotlight years before he ran for office, and he's been Washington DC's most eligible bachelor ever since."