Page 1 of Her Fiance’s Father

1

KATIE

“I can’t believe you’re getting married before I am.”

“Gee, thanks, Deena.” I snort, making a face back at my friend. She’s twisting a lock of her blond hair around her index finger, something she always does when she has more to say.

I glance at her across an enormous table that’s completely covered with printouts of floral arrangement ideas, place settings, bridesmaid gowns, and countless other things. Who knew planning a wedding was such a major event? But this room I’ve been assigned at Kyle’s house—Kyle’s mansion, has been completely taken over with pamphlets, printouts, samples. It’s like a bridal tornado hit.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she says, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice, but I hear it. I know her too well. “Just…when is someone gonna ask me?”

I can’t believe she’s even remotely upset. Deena has always been more popular with the guys than I have. She’s the girl that’s hot and sexy and everyone wants to be around, and I’m the awkward one that can’t make conversation and needs a crowbar to get out of the house.

“You do realize this is basically a Game of Thrones wedding, right?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “I’m marrying Kyle because our families want us to. Because it will ‘solidify our business interests.’”

Deena shrugs. “Could be worse, though. He is super sexy…”

I scoff, tearing up a printout of the ugliest dresses I’ve ever seen in my life. “I don’t think he even knows my birthday.”

Deena rolls her eyes and nods. “You expect too much out of men.”

“Well, that’s encouraging.” Sighing, I slump back in a chair and chug down half of my iced tea—a black tea with peach. All this planning is driving me insane.

I don’t even know why I’m going along with this. I want to help my dad out, and according to him, marrying Kyle Reed will scale his business up by millions. But deep down, I feel like I’m just giving up. Like I’ve suddenly become a prize mare rather than an adult woman who can make her own decisions.

“My whole life, I’ve always wanted to meet the one,” I muse, more to myself than to Deena. “That guy who makes your heart blossom and your chest hot and your whole body tingle.”

“Wow! What are you, a romance novel writer?”

I sigh again, deeper this time. “But I’m eighteen years old now, and I haven’t even met a guy who makes me feel a tiny bit nervous.”

Deena shakes her head and comes over beside me. “Ignore all that movie fantasy crap. That’s all it is.”

I drop my hands into my lap and tuck my head forward. I love Deena, but it feels like she’s painting the rest of my life black and taking out any possible color there once was.

“You know what will be fun?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Having Kyle take you to pound town.”

I almost choke on my tea. “Pound town? You did not just say that.”

“Katie-babes, I know you’re eighteen and still have yet to let a guy touch your hoo-ha. But it’s fun! Believe me!”

“I believe you,” I reply. “But I want it to be with someone I actually care about. And cares about me.”

“Yeah, and I want a Birkin bag.”

I launch to my feet. My chest is hot, and my whole body feels heavy. “Oh, a decent guy is as rare as a luxury designer bag?”

I glance down at all the wedding planning stuff, and a wave of nausea comes over me. In six days, I’ll be marrying a guy I don’t know and don’t like, and I’m sitting here thinking about the possibility of true love.

Tears begin to well up in my eyes. The last thing I want right now is to let Deena see me cry, so I grab my glass and head for the door.

“I’m gonna get some more tea.”

I’m already starting to cry as I step out the door. I need to be alone for a few minutes. Then I can come back and dive back into the insanity of planning a wedding to a man I apparently shouldn’t even care about.

My heartbeats feel like punches as I descend the stairs. My brain is spinning like a tornado. Finding a thought is nearly impossible.

Is it really that much to ask to meet a guy who actually likes you? And who you actually like?