The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(9)

"That's a shame," Jack said, "but I was thinking of something else. You just need some practice. Remember to work the crowd one person at a time. Pick someone and make eye contact. That's the key. Connect with them." Jack reached over and flipped the lobster over, twisting the tail and separating it from the rest. "Also, it's ok to use your hands."

"When eating lobster or when talking?"

Jack laughed. "Both I guess."

"I'll see what I can do," Charlotte said. "I've never had a whole lobster before. My parents weren't big seafood people." She laughed as she followed Jack's advice and started to take apart the lobster piece by piece. She took a bite and closed her eyes. "This is incredible. Why aren't you eating this too?"

"My parents were big seafood people. A steak makes for a good change of pace now and then." He liked helping Charlotte broaden her horizons a bit, even if it was only by pulling apart her meal. "Are you really that nervous about speaking?"

"Terrified." Charlotte took another bite of lobster and closed her eyes in bliss.

"You know, when I was a kid, I was afraid of the water. My mother was fine with me staying on solid ground, but my father, well, he had a different idea of what to do. We lived by the ocean, but one of my uncles had a pool. One day, when everyone was in the pool and I was standing off by the side, he picked me up and tossed me in the shallow end, and I swam back to the edge."

"That's terrible."

"It wasn't so bad. My mother nearly knocked his head off, but I was fine."

"Why are you telling me this?" Charlotte asked.

"Sometimes, the only way to get over your fear is to jump right in, but maybe you'd feel better swimming in the shallow end. I didn't always see eye to eye with my dad, but I think he had that one right."

Jack cleared his throat and clinked his fork against the champagne flute to get the room's attention. He pushed his chair out and stood up as the room grew quiet. He smiled across the sea of faces as the last bits of conversation died down and he had everyone's full attention.

"It's traditional for the best man and maid of honor to give speeches on the night of the wedding, but I wanted to share a few quick words with you tonight. Logan Harris has been a good friend of mine for my entire adult life. For those of you who don't know, we were roommates in college, and friends ever since, and in all the time I've known him, Logan has never given a damn what another single person has thought. He lives life according to his own rules. I always admired his freedom and his courage. Now, I admire him for finding and embracing love.

"Tomorrow, I'll give the sappy version of this speech, but tonight, I wanted to congratulate Callie on doing the impossible. You've gotten Logan to grow up, and you've helped him become the man we all knew he could be. I think of all the trouble we got in together…" Jack trailed off and looked across the room. "Maybe it would be better if I left that speech for after the two of you get married."

The crowd laughed.

"Logan, you've been a great friend over the years, and I know you'll be a wonderful husband. Callie, you picked a good man. He's loyal and determined, and, don't tell anyone I said this, but he's not so hard on the eyes. Logan and Callie, I'm proud to call myself your friend, and I look forward to witnessing your happiness in the years and decades to come."

As Jack finished his speech, he turned and winked at Charlotte.

"And now for a few words from the maid of honor. Ladies and gentlemen, Charlotte Crowley."

Jack walked over to Charlotte and handed her the microphone. She placed her hand over the microphone and glared at him. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Teaching you how to swim," he said. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Jack sat down next to Charlotte and rested his cheek against his palm as he turned to watch. The room grew quiet as everyone waited for her to stand. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment before pushing herself up.

"Hi, I'm Charlotte," she blurted out. She turned her attention to Callie. "I've been Callie's friend and roommate for the past five years. I didn't prepare anything for tonight, so I'll try to keep this short."

Jack sat back and watched her. Her hand trembled slightly as she held the microphone, and he could hear the hesitation in her voice. He'd been confident that helping Charlotte get her nerves out of her system before the wedding was the right move, but as he waited for her to continue, he wondered if he hadn't made a big mistake in thrusting her into the spotlight. Come on, Charlotte, he thought, I know you can do this.


"Like Jack, I'm just honored to be part of Logan and Callie's celebration of love." Charlotte looked at Jack as if to ask what to say next, then she took a step back, looked around and froze.

She stood there for a while, looking from person to person in the crowd like she was trying to follow Jack's advice. Finally, after a long pause, Charlotte raised her glass. "I know Jack beat me to the punch, but I don't think you can celebrate love enough, so here's to Callie and Logan, may you spend the rest of your lives as happy as you are tonight."

Jack held up his glass to toast with Charlotte, and she turned to glare at him.

"You on the other hand," she whispered, "I'll deal with you later."