Page 239 of Damsel in Disguise

Then at me.

Then at Alistair.

Adrian raises an eyebrow at my completely innocent expression, then at the signed marriage certificate, before looking back at me with a level of suspicion usually reserved for unexploded bombs. “We’ll talk about this later.”

I give a soft, reassuring nod once more before flipping my hair back over my shoulders. “Learned from the best.”

“You absolutely learned that from the worst—Asher, I mean,” Adrian sighs. “Now c’mon, you could’ve come to me if you needed a lesson that badly.”

“I require legal representation,” Asher says, pointing accusingly at both of us. “I’m being slandered by my own family.”

“You taught her corporate espionage.”

“I was bonding with my baby sister.”

“You taught her how to forge signatures.”

“That was educational.”

“You helped her steal my car.”

“That was to teach her to drive.”

“No, that was grand theft auto committed by two emotionally underdeveloped idiots who somehow convinced themselves it’s counted as sibling bonding.”

For the first time since I’ve known him, Alistair actually laughs out loud.

All three of us stop talking. I don’t think any of us has ever heard him laugh like this before. Quite unexpectedly.

His laughter dies beneath the weight of our collective staring. “What?”

Asher blinks once. “I’ve spent months telling people your smiling face is unsettling,” a pause. “Congratulations. Somehow your laugh is even creepier.”

Adrian snorts while I lose the battle against my own laughter.

And for one perfect moment, all four of us laugh together.

As the laughter subsides, I lean backward and pout.

“You know,” I whisper, “we still have to plan a wedding.”

His eyes close briefly. “I suspected as much.”

“I want flowers.”

“Acceptable.”

“And music,” I announce with absolute excitement. “I refuse to get married unless Ariana Grande performs live for me. I’m willing to negotiate on world peace before I negotiate on that.”

“Figured that much.”

“I knew she was a lesbian,” Asher mutters beneath his breath.

A dull thud follows immediately with a grunt.

Judging by the way he folds slightly at the waist, I know Adrian has just elbowed him in the ribs.

“You survived several assassination attempts and underground wars so far,” Adrian says with perfect corporate politeness. “Don’t make me add death by younger brother to your résumé.”