“You don’t know plastic surgeons the way I do!” Ted gestures at his assistant. “Joey, give her my most private number.”
“Yes, sir.” Joey hands me a card. “His direct number. Only three people in the world have it.”
“You’re such a liar,” Sebastian says.
I take the card with murmured thanks and do my best to pretend I’m not affected by Sebastian’s crappy mood. If he’s going to be this upset around his father, why did he invite him?
“If Sebastian had told me earlier, I would’ve redone my mansion and had you get married there. It’s an impressive place, and Joey here can turn anything into a perfect venue instantly.”
Joey beams.
“Welcome to the family, my beauty. You’re just…” Ted puts his hands over his chest again. “You inspire me to be a better man. I’m already getting ideas for my next movie. It’s going to be amazing.”
I smile a little. He’s chaotic and all over the place, but he seems well-meaning. Not much of a filter, either, but then, he’s a highly successful movie producer, so maybe that’s to be expected.
Most important, I like it that he doesn’t try to play power games or demand something from me. His offer to pay for plastic surgery—if I ever feel the need—is a bit off the wall, but endearing in an odd way. Roderick never offered anything to me. It was sweet of Ted to say he’d have opened up his mansion for our wedding if he’d had more notice. And I adore how he referred to himself as Papa Ted.
Jason reappears. “Really sorry about that.”
Ted turns to him. “Who’s this?”
“The judge who’s going to marry us,” I say. “Everything okay, Jason?”
“Yes. It was just some…” Jason gestures dismissively. “Anyway, it’s been taken care of.” He looks around. “Do we have everyone?”
“Looks like it.” Sebastian couldn’t sound more pained if he were being flayed alive.
Jason gives him an odd look, then smiles at me. “Okay then! Let’s get started.”
Chapter 11
Sebastian
This ceremony was a mistake.
I was in a better state of mind when I landed in San Francisco and made my way to the city hall. The wedding bands Lucienne sent to my office after lunch sat in my pocket. Her taste is flawless, assuming she selected them herself. The matching platinum bands are set off with three brilliant-cut diamonds of exceptional clarity. The bezel setting makes the rings perfect for everyday jewelry, discreet and classy. In addition, hers won’t compete with her engagement ring for attention.
A good sensibility is an absolute must in our line of business. Nothing’s sadder than ruining good stones and metal because somebody has the discernment of a three-year-old. Worse yet is when a customer pays good money for some hideous item.
So based on that, I presumed Lucienne—no, no, no, I’ll be damned if I call her Lucienne like a stranger when that ex-boyfriend of hers isLucie-ingher like they still have something going on—Lucewouldn’t be as awful as Dad, even though everything out there suggests she’s the female version of Ted Lasker. Dad’s taste in jewelry runs gaudy and gaudier.
My cautiously optimistic mood was still intact when I reached the balcony and saw her standing there with her aloof, expressionless mask on. It made me think for a moment.
Wasn’t she getting exactly what she wanted by forcing me into marriage? Or was she annoyed that she’d been deprived of her first choice?
Would she have dropped the mask if it were Preston she was marrying? The notion of her pining over my worthless half-brother was annoying, but I wanted to know what she’d look like without the mask. I tried to imagine it…
Then suddenly, she smiled. I always thought she had a pretty smile, but this was nothing like what I’d seen before. It changed her entire countenance. All her defenses came down, and her eyes sparkled more brilliantly than our finest diamonds. She revealed a vulnerable side, glowing like the full moon in a midnight sky.
It pinned me to the spot, and I stared, unable to breathe. My heart knocked against my chest.
Her smile grew wider, and I started to move toward her. She spread her arms—and I picked up the pace. But then, eyes closed in bliss, she hugged this asshole likehewas her damn fiancé.
What the fuck?
The aching euphoria was shattered, replaced instantly by hot ire pouring through my veins. Even when they broke the hug, the jerk kept his hands on her arms.
And she didn’t shake him off.When she noticed me, she gave me a smile, but it was nothing like the one she gave the other guy. It was the smooth, practiced one she hands out from behind her wall.
