Chapter 2

▪️ Emily ▪️

         “To Olivia and Liam. May they have a long and happy life together.” Emily raised her glass in a toast, then kissed Olivia's cheek. “I love you.”

     “I love you too,” she said. “And thank you so much for this and everything else.”

                   “Anything for you.”

          Liam gave Emily a hug. They’d met in business school, and though he was the antithesis of Emily—Liam was friendly, charming, and likable—they’d meshed, and after graduation turned their friendship into a partnership and started their own marketing firm. 

       They poured everything they had into it, and now it was one of the hottest, trendiest companies in New York City, priding themselves on spotting styles and fledgling companies before they became popular, and employing innovative, creative people who weren’t afraid to think outside the norm.

              “Take care of her, or I’ll beat your ass.”

        “Yeah, yeah, ma'am.” Liam, who was big and brawny, snorted. But he had a heart of gold, and though he’d been a bit of a player in school, he and Olivia had fallen for each other the first time they met. Always the overprotective big sister, Jude had told her that twenty-one was too early for her to be so serious with someone, even if it was with her sort of best friend. Once they’d graduated and started their business, Olivia and Liam approached Emily and told her in no uncertain terms that they were planning to get married when they could afford to, and that Emily needed to calm the fuck down.

            If only I knew how to do that. Emily thought.

          “Trust me, Emily. She means everything to me.”

          A lump swelled in Emily's throat. “I know. It’s just going to be strange for me not to have to worry about her, but that’ll be your problem now.”

      “One I gladly accept. You know the only reason we waited so long was to be able to stand on our own and not accept help from my parents.”

                 “I had no doubt you’d get there.”

         Ace stood up and tapped his glass. “Quiet, everyone. I have something to say.”

          At the sound of Ace's voice, Emily drained his glass of champagne; then, realizing that was what had gotten her in trouble in the first place, grimaced and grabbed the water pitcher. She hadn’t dared meet Ace's eyes since she’d stepped into the room.

         “Liam, I love you. You’ve always supported me even when I didn’t follow the path you thought I should.”

                         “Which you never did.”

       Emily snorted to herself. Liam had bemoaned the fact that Ace had graduated college and then had taken off to become a bartender in a high-end resort in Fiji. He came home sporadically, always tanned and filled with stories of clubbing and drunken nightlife exploits. 

  

             Emily had only seen him a few times in the intervening years. Ace was too distracting. Too beautiful and tempting.

       And Emily knew it wasn’t right for her to have a crush on her best friend’s younger brother.

           “But while I was away,” Ace continued, “I did some thinking, and you must’ve rubbed off on me more than I thought because I’ve decided it’s time to stay put for a while. Now that you’ve got the beautiful Olivia as your wife, I expect babies soon. I’m ready to be an uncle.”

       “Let us be married for a day before you get me pregnant, Ace,” Olivia joked as he took his seat and finished off his flute of champagne.

           “Won’t be me doing the deed. I’m more than happy to keep hanging out with your sister.”

          Emily winced and chugged her water as Olivia and Liam both turned to him with shocked expressions.

           “With Emily? But…” Olivia pressed her lips together, and Olivia knew what she’d been about to say.

                              You hate each other.

          “Oh, I think Jude and I buried the hatchet.”

       “You did?” Olivia cocked her head, then turned to Emily and peered into her eyes. “Emily?”

         A terrifying moment from the night before hit her: Ace thrusting into Emily's writhing body, pinning her hands over her head, ravaging her mouth.

     Oh, something was buried, all right. Ace's dick inside her.

       “I don’t know what he’s talking about. Ace and I don’t hang out. I don’t sleep until noon and party at clubs. I have a business to run.”

     Ace leaned past Liam and Olivia to point at her. “Well, Mrs. Two shoe. Just so you know, I got my business degree online while working in Fiji. So I’m qualified. Maybe you guys can help a brother out.” He widened those honey-gold, twinkling eyes at her. “Or a brother-in-law.”

           Emily, once again in control, cut into her eggs . “We’re at my sister’s wedding breakfast. I’m not here to discuss business.”

          Ace smirked. “And here I thought that’s all you thought about. Although after last night, I’m not so sure.”

       Emily's face grew hot, and she shoved a forkful of eggs and salmon into her mouth as quickly as she could. 

       “What happened last night?” Olivia asked her in a low voice when Ace and Liam were busy talking to some relatives. “Last I saw, you were pounding down the drink.”

            That’s not all I was pounding, Emily thought.