Like he said, this was a business transaction. Okay, we had insane chemistry, but we’d agreed we wouldn’t act on it so things didn’t get complicated. I needed to remember that before my own emotions got in the way. I had a company to take over and run so I could live up to my name.
“Tanner, what are you doing here?” Noah asked when he decided to untangle himself from me and look around. He gave me a panicked look.
“Your best man needs his own best man,” Jax said. “Plus, you also need two witnesses, and for credibility, you may not want one of them to be Elvis.”
“Besides, I have to make sure this guy isn’t going to come back married to some stranger,” Tanner added.
Noah turned to me, running his hand over my chest, resting on my peck. “We’re going to have the best time, right, babe?” That was way over the top, even for him.
I shot him a pointed look. “Tanner knows. When Jax suggested bringing Tanner, he told him. I thought you’d like having another friend around.”
He looked a little disappointed. “Shame. I was so ready to practice my I’m-so-in-love-I-had-to-marry-this-guy-yesterday face.”
Tanner shook his head. “You guys are insane, but your secret is safe with me. For what it’s worth, I think it’s a good idea if it helps you both. And those kids deserve the best. Jax told me about volunteering with Star Finders. I’m not sure I can be alive on Saturday mornings after a busy night at the bar, but maybe I can support in other ways.”
Noah pulled Tanner into a tight hug. “Thank you.”
“Damn. All this time working on my flirting game and all I had to do to get some action was be nice to kids.”
The flight attendant approached us. “Mr. Van Stern, if you’re ready to board, we’re scheduled to depart in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you. Shall we?”
Jax and Tanner followed the flight attendant. Noah hung back a little. He took my hand and laced our fingers together.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“Are you having cold feet, fiancé?”
“Nope. Feet are toasty warm.”
When we boarded the plane, Jax and Tanner had already claimed their seats facing each other toward the front.
“I’m going to take my fiancé to the back so we can make out during take-off. We’ll be back in a bit.”
Both guys rolled their eyes at Noah.
When he’d suggested we tell Jax the truth because we might need someone to vouch for us in the future, I was reticent. Themore people involved in a lie the easier that lie could be found out.
Then I gave Jax permission to tell Tanner.
Both guys were close to Noah, and they’d have our backs. It also helped that neither seemed to take him too seriously.
Noah took the window seat and buckled up. “Look at me. A month ago, I had never flown premium economy. Now I’m on a private jet. Knowing you certainly has its perks.” He turned to face me. “You know the night you were drunk? After you asked me to marry you, you said you’d even make me happy. I’m pretty happy.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, almost reaching out to hold his hand but stopping myself. Noah was openly affectionate, and I didn’t mind when he got close, but I had to keep some distance to remind myself why I was going along with this crazy plan.
“Guess who bagged an invite to the mayor’s ball,” I said.
Noah perked up. “No way.”
I nodded. “They must have issued the invite before my father passed away, so when I received it in the office, I called them and changed the names. I know my mom doesn’t want to attend any functions for a while.”
“Did you say we were getting married?”
“Yes.”
He leaned his head on the headrest. “Wow, someone out there already knows me as Mr. Van Stern.”
