Never Marry Your Brother's Best Friend (Never Say Never, #1)

He’s right and he knows it. I want him here, and so does Luna. “Well, you don’t have to be so fucking smug about it.”


“Man, don’t get it twisted. I’m begrudgingly and barely going along with this. For Luna’s sake, not yours. This shitshow is gonna blow up, and I want to be right here to catch her when it does. I love you, but you’re gonna land on your feet. She’s built different than we are.” He glances toward my bedroom door, and though I’ve been hyper-aware of it all day and know it hasn’t opened, I look too.

“I’m not going to hurt her,” I vow solemnly.

He shakes his head, his lips pressed together into a tight line. He seems to be considering whether to say what he’s thinking. With a heavy sigh, he sadly tells me, “I believe that you believe that. I really do, or I’d have her as far away from you and this mess as I could get her. But in the end? You will. It’s inevitable.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” His words were harsh, so mine are spat out in anger.

“As she’s reminded me, I can’t do anything about it. She’s different than we are, but she’s stronger than she thinks, and if I told her no, she’d have my balls in a vice. I’m hoping she keeps that energy in dealing with you.”

He holds a cupped palm out but then makes a fist and twists. Involuntarily, I flinch and cover myself.

That’s when the doorbell rings.

Saved by the bell! “That should be the Justice of the Peace I booked.”

“How much did you have to pay for a house call?”

I raise my brows, confiding, “Not as much as I paid to make sure he understood that this is a very private situation.” Zack chuckles, and I divulge, “I’m pretty sure he thinks Luna’s pregnant.”

There’s a follow-up knock at the door. “Guess he’s impatient.” I straighten my tie as I open the door, already saying, “Thank you for—”

Except it’s not the Justice of the Peace. It’s my sister.

“Kayla! What are you doing here?” I demand sharply. She can’t be here. No one in my family can know about this.

As usual, Kayla gives zero fucks and walks on in. “You’ve been avoiding me, so I’m ambushing you to find out what the hell’s going on.”

“Nothing’s going on.”

She ignores me completely and focuses on Zack, pointing at me like I’m not even in the room. “Do you believe him when he lies that badly?”

Zack smirks and shakes his head. “He’s a shit liar if you know him.”

“Right?” she agrees, sounding like she’s pitying me for being so bad at lying. Which I’m not.

I don’t have time for them to be talking shit about me. I’ve got to get her out of here. “Kayla, Zack and I are meeting for work and you’re interrupting.”

Kayla rolls her eyes. Or I assume she does, but I can only see the back of her head. But it seems like something she’d do and Zack is fighting back a laugh.

“Hey, Carter . . . if y’all are having a meeting, what’s with the roses?” She grins victoriously as she Vanna Whites the arrangement on the mantel.

Zack loses his battle and laughs. “She’s got you there.”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Which is when the bedroom door opens and Samantha peeks out. “If we don’t get this show on the road, Luna might hyperventilate. Again.”

Samantha and Kayla lock eyes.

“Are you the JP?” Samantha asks.

Kayla smells blood in the water. “The what?”

I’ve got to slow this runaway train, and that starts with getting Kayla out of here. Taking her elbow in mine, I lead her to the door. “Time to go.”

I open the door, intending to throw her out. Gently, of course. But there’s an old man standing there with his hand poised to knock.

“Oh! Mr. Harrington! Lovely day for a wedding, isn’t it?” he says.

“No!” I shout, trying to cover Kayla’s ears, but the cat’s outta the bag.

“Wedding?” she echoes.

“Well, shit,” I huff in resignation. “Come on in, Judge Warren. You too, Kayla.”

Judge Warren removes his hat as he comes in, dipping his chin to Kayla. “Ma’am.”

“I knew it!” Kayla crows in delight. “That whole dinner thing was so weird. Were you testing Mom and Dad or something?”

“Testing? Huh?” I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I do know how to play host. “Zack, can you—” I jerk my head toward Judge Warren, handing him over to Zack to deal with while I handle Kayla, who’s got so many questions, they’re basically buzzing around her in speech bubbles.

Samantha cracks the door again, and I hold up a finger, telling her one minute. “Kayla, focus,” I demand, pointing at my eyes with V-ed fingers. Quietly and quickly, I explain it all to her—the fake marriage, the Cartwright deal, Dad forcing a dinner against my wishes, which forced my hand into bringing Luna as my fake wife and trusting that the family would go along. And last, that Luna and I are getting married for real to seal the deal with Elena.

“You’re tripling down on a losing bet. You know that, right?”

“It’s fine. And perfectly logical, given the circumstances.” It is, or at least it makes sense to me. Anything for the deal—that’s how I live my life.

“We’re doing this now or not at all,” Samantha says, coming out of the bedroom. She continues speaking, but I don’t hear a word of it because Luna is peeking out from behind Samantha.

I gasp as she comes fully into view. “You’re beautiful, Luna,” I whisper.

My comment is one hundred percent heartfelt. She’s beautiful. Her dress is white and flowy, glancing over her curves to puddle on the floor, the bodice highlights her full cleavage, and there are delicate strappy things that drape over her upper arms, giving the whole look a vintage feel. Her hair is pulled back to the nape of her neck, and behind her glasses, her eyes are made up with liner and lashes that give her a doe-eyed look.

“You like it?” She’s blushing, the pink flush a tantalizing addition to the white dress that Luna is swishing back and forth anxiously. “I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of time.”

“It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” I take her hands in mine, needing to touch her.

“Save it for the vows,” Judge Warren suggests with a glint of happiness in his eyes. For all his years and experience with weddings, I think he’s still a romantic at heart. Plus, he doesn’t know this is fake.

“Good idea,” I say agreeably. “Right over here,” I say, leading Luna to the fireplace.

In front of the flowers, she smiles as she inhales deeply. “Pretty, and they smell good too. Dare I say, you’ve got a sentimental bone in your body? Roses for a wedding,” Luna teases.

“Keep it up and you’ll have a sentimental bone in your body.”