“You’re married, Raphaël.Married,” Alex says.
“Rub it in, will you?”
“That’s what we’re here to do,” he says. “All night long.”
West joins us, the boat safe and secure. “Cigars, booze, poker, pool and bets. All things you’ll regret in the morning.”
“Regret builds character,” Alex says. “Or so people tell me.”
“It also empties bank accounts when people gamble as much as you do,” James says. He looks past me, and his expression stills. He hasn’t changed much in the years I’ve known him. Cold, calculating, and aristocratic. Even if he hates it when we remind him that he’s technically a duke. “Ah. And this is the new wife?”
I follow his line of sight.
Paige is standing at the end of the dock in a white dress with her blonde hair spread out around her.She looks like an angel, I think,come down to judge us all.
But then she takes a step forward, and she becomes human again, flesh and blood. “I am,” she says. “Hi, everyone. Are you Rafe’s friends? Nora just told me about you.”
“All terrible things, I hope.” Alex extends a hand. “I’m Alex. I’m Rafe’s best friend, but don’t tell the others.”
I roll my eyes. “Jesus Christ.”
“I’m Paige.” She shakes James’s hand, too, and he gives her his name. Paige smiles at us all. “The way I understand it, our bachelor and bachelorette parties are both at the villa tonight.”
Alex’s eyebrows shoot high. “They are?”
“Separate parts of the property,” I say. “We don’t want anything photographed.”
“Of course not,” James says. His eyes are still on Paige, like she’s a mystery to unravel.
“A few guests are coming by boat too. Sylvie is coming,” Paige tells me. “And Leelyn.”
It shouldn’t surprise me. She’s charmed the people we’ve met here in record time. And isn’t that what I wanted?Look how in love we are.
“Good,” I say.
“Can’t wait to get to know you more,” Alex tells her, and lifts up a liquor case full of his family’s whiskey. “We’ll head inside and start setting up.” He heads up the dock. They’ve all been here enough to know their way around blindfolded. West gives me a look before he and James leave too.
They see too much.
“Bachelor party?” Paige asks. She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not sure you know how to have fun.”
“You just haven’t seen it, Wilde. There’s a difference.”
“Let me guess. You’re going to smoke cigars and listen to Bach.”
That makes me chuckle. “Oh, you really know nothing.”
Her eyes flash. She hates it when her barbs don’t land. “The wedding will fill up the house, you know. Guest bedrooms all taken, especially tomorrow, when more family arrives.”
“I know,” she says. “Karim already told me that you and I are sharing a bedroom tomorrow.”
The idea shouldn’t appeal to me. Shouldn’t be anything but a nuisance. But instead I’m thinking of her in my bed, her hair spread over my pillow and the need that I can barely manage as it is.
“There are too many people and extra staff around,” I say.
“I know. We can’t afford anyone talking.” She sweeps her hair over, down along one side of her neck. She looks perfectly unbothered.
Which means she’s not. I’ve learned that by now.
