Page 45 of One Hot Rumor

Siobhan and I carpool with Reese, Arden, and Bennett Montague, my mate and employee. I haven't seen Ben in a while, but I don't get the chance to catch up with him during the car ride. Siobhan is sandwiched between us in the backseat, but I don't talk to her either. Reese insists on chatting to us the entire time, despite the fact he's driving.

I learn everything I didn't need to know about Reese and Arden's adventures in the advertising world. She's a freelance fact-checker, but Reese's wife goes with him on every business trip and for his extended stays at the New York headquarters of Bonsoir Beauty Inc., where he works for Arden's grandmother. She's a billionaire, naturally, like Evan MacTaggart. Several MacTaggarts, as well as Chance and Dane Dixon, are millionaires or possibly multimillionaires. So is Richard.

Am I the only person I know who isn't rolling in money?

Siobhan and I separate from the others once we've climbed out of the car. We hold hands as we enter the reception venue. It's a park with a gazebo and lots of tables set up around that. Someone has created an L-shaped table in the gazebo by taking a shorter one and pushing it widthwise up against a longer table. The bride and groom have the shorter table to themselves. I'm sitting closest to Richard while Rika sits closest to Maddie. I can still talk to my brother despite the table between us. Siobhan is right beside me, wearing a lovely modern frock. It's blue, and the dress molds to her torso and hips before flaring out into a skirt that flounces around her calves when she walks.

Maybe I'm biased—all right, I am one hundred percent biased—but I think she's the most beautiful woman here. The most beautiful woman, full stop.

We do the speeches bollocks, and yes, I spice up my speech with a bit of innuendo, but only because I know Rick doesn't mind. He's used to me after forty years. More than that, actually, considering we've been together since the womb. I do, of course, conclude my speech with a saccharine statement about how perfect he and Maddie are for each other. It might not be all saccharine rubbish, though. I do believe Rick and Maddie belong together. I've never seen two people better suited for each other, or two people who are more in love.

Rick and Maddie cut the cake but don't stuff it into each other's mouths. They feed each other with all the grace of true Victorians while a band plays old songs from the forties and fifties. I guess the Victorian theme doesn't extend to the music.

During dinner, Siobhan leans close to whisper in my ear. "You look so good in that suit. I'm already wet for you."

"You can't want to have sex at my brother's wedding."

"Are you saying Nick Hunter, the man who let me give him a blow job in my office, is afraid to get it on at a family event?"

"There are children here. Maybe we should wait until we get back to Mum and Dad's house." What am I saying? I've never turned down the chance to shag a woman anytime, anywhere. So I press my mouth to her. "Forget what I just said. After the bride and groom have their first dance, I am going to fuck you wherever you want."

"Good." She eats another bite of her food before asking, "What's with the Victorian outfits you guys are wearing? I wanted to ask somebody about that, but there wasn't time before the ceremony. Too much prep going on."

I'm about to explain when Rick stands up and announces, "It's time for our first dance as husband and wife."

He leads Maddie out to the open, grassy area where a temporary dance floor has been created with polished wood planks. Once the bride and groom have danced for a minute or so, other couples begin to join them. I lead Siobhan over there so we can share a dance, but then we both wind up dancing with other people—for too long. I want to hold my date in my arms, not chat to Arden and Rika and several Scots lasses.

Finally, I seize control of Siobhan. That means I grab her hand the second the music stops because I know it will start up again any second and some other bloke will sweep her away. I guide her off the dance floor and back into the gazebo. Rick and Maddie are there, alone, feeding each other wedding cake.

They're sitting at the long table, so Siobhan and I take seats opposite them.

"Siobhan has a burning question for you," I tell Richard. "She wants to know what's with all the Victorian rubbish."

"It's not rubbish, Nick," Richard says.

"Just tell her the story."

He turns to Siobhan. "When Maddie and I first met, we were invited to stay on a private island belonging to Sir Dexter Armstrong-Hill, the Nobel Prize-winning author. He insisted we arrive in Victorian dress because Dex loves to have fun with his guests." My brother gazes adoringly at his bride. "The time we spent on the island changed our lives. That's why we wanted to dress this way for the wedding."

I shake my head. "Honestly, Rick, you told the story better the first time I heard it."

Siobhan elbows me in the side. "Don't harass him. That was a great story, Richard. Very romantic."

My brother raises his brows at me. "Should we book this venue for you while we're here? You need to schedule it at least two months in advance."

"Book the venue for what?" I ask.

He grins. "Your wedding, of course."

"That's not funny, Rick. Siobhan and I have only known each other for a month."

"I needed slightly less than two weeks to realize I love Maddie."

"Yes, but I'm sure you thought about it for weeks before you told her, and you didn't sleep with her until after that. I'm the one who rushes into things, like having sex with a woman a few days after we've met, before I've even taken her on a real date."

Richard and Maddie glance at each other, sharing a strange look. Maddie bites her lip.

My brother shrugs. "Should we…"