Hitched (Hitched #1)

On cue, the helicopter arrives and lands on the helipad.

"I can't believe you managed this on such short notice," David says, pulling himself into the helicopter.

It takes a few trips, but we eventually get everyone to the race tracks where sleek cars in reds, yellows, blues and blacks wait to be driven.

The guys are given instructions and assigned to their cars, which they drive with gleeful speed around the racetracks.

After they finish a few laps, all of them laughing and slapping each other's backs, I pull David aside. "I have one other surprise for you."

I nod my head to Tate who ducks away and comes back with someone else. As they get closer, David raises his hands to his face in shock. "No, you didn't. Fuck! Is that really Michael Schwartz?"

"It is!" It took some doing, but it turns out Schwartz is just as big of a fan of David as David is of him and was thrilled to meet the magician. I lean over to David. "I promised him VIP tickets to your next show. I hope that can be arranged?"

He hugs me with exuberance. "Of course. You can have anything. I'm in your debt forever." He kisses my forehead then reaches his hand out to the famous racecar driver. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Same to you," Michael says with a smile. "Care to go a few laps with me?"

I'm worried David's going to pass out from excitement, but they do a few laps at speeds that make me nauseous, and Schwartz flies back with us for the rest of the party.

Tate high fives me as we climb into the helicopter after them. "Good job, sis. You made the impossible happen."

Back at the party, we serve the drinks (this time with alcohol) and more food as the dancers begin their intro dances. We worked hard to create a new routine with them that included a bit of magic tricks, and some escapes from handcuffs on the pole.

David seems to enjoy himself during the bulk of the show and claps the loudest when the dancers do their handcuff trick.

As the men get lap dances or refills on their drinks, David comes over to me. "This is incredible. You've made this night more spectacular than anything I could have imagined."

"I'm so glad. It's been my dream to do a party like this, so thanks for taking a chance on our little company."

"Not little for long. I just called Richard Morgan and told him he has to use you for his bachelor party in two months."

My mouth falls open. "The Richard Morgan. Movie star Richard Morgan? Most eligible bachelor for like—ever—until recently, Richard Morgan?"

David laughs. "The one and only. He's on board. Expect a call from his assistant sometime next week. Kacie, Hitched is about to blow up. I hope you're ready for some serious expansion."

This time I hug him and kiss his cheek. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"

He throws a friendly arm over my shoulder as we watch the dancers do their next routine. "You're a pretty incredible woman, Kacie. What's your story? You married? In love? Kids?"

My face drops, and I surprise myself by telling him the raw truth, not the professional whitewashed answer I'd normally fall back on. "In love? Yes. Married? Not entirely. It's complicated, but the short story is, I had the perfect man, and I gave him up out of fear. Now I'm trying to figure out a way to tell him how I feel and get him back."

David smiles the smile of someone who has an idea that's either very brilliant or very dangerous. "I might be able to help with that."





Chapter 36


The Magic Trick


I've been waiting two weeks for tonight. Two long, painful, busy, emotionally loopy weeks. Two weeks during which time our business has literally exploded. We're now in the process of hiring a whole new team to handle all the celebrity parties, thanks to David. Two weeks I had to resist my urge to knock on Sebastian's door.

Instead, I talked his mom into helping me with the plan David and I created.

Lure him to David's show under the guise that his mom got two amazing tickets and wouldn't he please be her date? Of course he said yes. Not only is he a huge fan, but he would do it just to spend time with her.

The plan worked. They are both in the audience right now.

I am backstage and blind folded. David doesn't want his secrets revealed, and I'm part of one of his big magic tricks. So I'm waiting. Listening to the show, to the crowd’s applause, to the performance David is so skilled at giving. I wait in the dark, hoping—praying—that I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life. Hoping that I don't make a fool out of myself and get my heart broken to pieces in front of hundreds of people. Hoping I don't ruin David's show.

Someone touches my arm. "Your part's almost here. You doing okay?"

I nod, sitting in a chair, my formal red gown tight around my chest. Is that why it's hard to breathe? Or is it just nerves? I inhale. And wait.

And then I hear him pick Sebastian from the crowd. "Sir, come up on stage and introduce yourself."

Sebastian's voice makes me melt. "I'm Sebastian Donovan."

"And what do you do for a living?"