“All the way to the altar in...” Brooke stepped outside to prop open the door with her foot.
“Reno,” Nichole blurted. “At the Hearts Forever Chapel.”
“What about flowers?” Brooke asked.
“Mia has a bouquet for Nichole.” Josie locked the door. “But what did you carry last night?”
“I had Chase’s hand to hold. That was enough.” The chocolate clumped together in her stomach. “Besides, the chapel provided a lovely rose bouquet.”
“That you brought home to preserve.” Josie pointed through the boutique window at the display on her wall. The one showcasing a collection of preserved bouquets in resin paperweights and heart frames, handcrafted by a local artist.
“Of course.” The lies backed up in Nichole’s throat, quickly working to outnumber the chocolates she’d consumed. “That’s what all good brides do.”
“Good brides tell their friends they’re getting married,” Brooke challenged. “Ask their friends to serve as witnesses.”
“It all happened so fast.” Nichole clenched her phone and adjusted her shawl. “A conversation. A kiss. A wedding.”
Brooke brushed her fingers across the back of Nichole’s hand. “Where’s your ring?”
“Did you miss the part about it happening fast?” Nichole searched the crosswalk for potholes. For more stumbling opportunities. The only fracture was in her rationale for a fake marriage. “There wasn’t time to even pick one out.”
“Maybe he’ll surprise you with one.” A sigh wove into Josie’s voice as if she bought into the make-believe romance.
Not likely. Chase had already been surprised enough after her outburst last night.
Three blocks later, Brooke hurried through the park gates and hollered to Mia. “I confirmed it. It’s her.”
Mia lowered her camera, cheered and pointed at the cathedral. “I’ll get the details later. Take Nichole up to the top of the cathedral stairs.”
“Confirmed what?” Nichole hiked up the dress and lengthened her steps on the wide staircase.
“That you were the one in the photograph on the internet.” Brooke matched her pace. “I showed the picture to Mia on my way to the boutique.”
“What photograph?” No one at the table had taken any pictures. But the staff could have. Consequences. Nichole had to accept those. Make her choices work in her favor, not against her.
“The one of you sitting on Chase Jacobs’s lap.” Delight filled Brooke’s voice. “I couldn’t believe the headline and then I saw that hot kiss you two shared.”
Everything scrambled inside Nichole’s brain like a multiple car pileup on the fog-covered interstate. Logic became lost.
“That kiss was...” Surprising. Nice. More than nice. Nichole stopped at the top of the stairs. It was a kiss shared between a couple. Or even a bride and groom. Nichole declared a chocolate hiatus.
“The press only called you Chase Jacobs’s new wife.” Brooke helped Josie pin a cathedral-length veil in Nichole’s hair.
“What?” Nichole could’ve denied it was her this whole time.
“It’s not the clearest picture.” Brooke picked up her phone and tapped on the screen. Josie peered over her shoulder.
Nichole shook her head and grabbed her own phone. She typed a text to Chase in all capital letters: CHECK THE NEWS. NOW. She hit Send. She glanced at her friends. “How did you know it was me?”
“We helped you pick that outfit.” Brooke high-fived Josie, rambling about everything being meant to be.
Nothing but potential disaster felt meant to be to Nichole. She had to come clean to her friends. To Fund Infusion. Find another way to help Chase.
Nichole’s phone lit up, signaling a text. She read Chase’s recent reply: What about the news?
Do you check the news?
Not until after my workout, breakfast and physical therapy. Maybe after lunch. Sometimes not at all.
Now his replies came in real time as if she’d finally garnered his full attention. Nichole typed: Why not?
It’s depressing.
Make an exception. Then text me back.
“Now you get to kiss Chase whenever you want.” Brooke lifted her eyebrows up and down.
Did Nichole want to kiss Chase again? Maybe. That sugar rush spiked through her blood. Yes. She did. But one kiss led to another and another. Then hearts cartwheeled around chests, and emotions like stardust were sprinkled over the clouds. And she’d start to believe she walked on those clouds. But hearts broke, and those pieces had to fall to the ground sometime. “I have to concentrate on closing my business deal.”
“What’s more fun than mixing business and pleasure?” Brooke helped Josie drape the long veil down the staircase.
But Brooke was in love with Dan Sawyer—the soul-consuming, forever kind of love. Josie and Brooke had misinterpreted Chase and Nichole’s kiss. The fallout from being so in love was misreading other situations. The lovestruck saw love in everything, even a spur-of-the-moment kiss. Besides, Nichole had added a dose of deception too. And that was never a good thing.
Nichole glared at her phone and Chase’s response:
You can’t boss me around. We’re not really married.
She replied. Once again in all caps:
THAT’S NOT WHAT THE PRESS CLAIMS.
“Nichole, you’re beautiful.” Mia hurried toward Nichole. The smile on her face matched the delight in her voice. She handed Nichole a tall bouquet of calla lilies in white and deep purple. “It’s as if Josie created this gown specifically for you.”
Josie touched the tip of a lily. “It’s better than I could’ve imagined.”
“You’re like a real bride, Nichole.” Brooke sighed into her hands. “How does it feel?”
Head-spinning. Dizzying. Nauseating. “Thrilling,” she said. She’d disappoint her friends soon. But not now. “Let’s get started.”
“Give me a minute to get my equipment set, then put your phone away.” Mia skipped down the stairs. Josie and Brooke moved to the side.
Nichole checked her phone and curled her toes in her boots. Chase had watched the news. He’d sent six texts with different versions of call me. The last one:
Why aren’t you calling me?
Nichole grinned.
You’re too bossy.
This is serious.
Yes. And you need to fix it.
Call me. Please.
Can’t right now. I’m in a photo shoot.
What? Never mind. Where are you?
Nichole sent Chase the address, clutched the bouquet and tossed her phone to Brooke.
One round of photographs finished, Nichole waited on the cathedral steps for Josie. She’d gone inside to ask if they could use the
