Page 37 of The Billionaire's Ride

“Ladies,” my friend says, appearing at my side.

“Collin! What are you doing here?” I ask, greeting him with a grin. Last I checked, he wasn’t in the wedding party.

“Your brother needed a stand-in. One of the groomsmen won’t be back in London until Friday.”

“Brilliant,” I say. Knowing Collin, he’s probably praying the guy’s flight will be canceled so he can take his spot at the nuptials—like an honorary Bonnaire.

The wedding coordinator shuffles the bridesmaids and groomsmen to their respective starting positions. Kent, the best man, stands in front of me while my mate, Collin, stands behind me with my cousin Dash behind him.

‘Ave Maria’ begins to play, and the rehearsal begins. Walking down the aisle, I gaze at the magnificently prodigious cathedral. I’m never getting married. But if I ever do, it won’t be in a gaudy place like this. We perform this song and dance a few times. Not only the procession but the full ceremony. And it’s quite boring.

“Why is this wedding so formal? It doesn’t seem like Mick,” Kent mutters to me.

“Don’t know, but I hope you don’t make me wear coattails at your wedding too,” I reply.

He scoffs. “Don’t have to worry about that, mate. I’m never getting married.” Kent and I share the same marriage aversion but for slightly different reasons. My younger brother is a workaholic like our dad and never wants to put a wife and kids through that. “But I’m not opposed to a little fun at thewedding.” He nods to the bridesmaids, who are all gawking at us. “You in?”

I pat his shoulder. “No, little brother. They’re all yours.”

“That’s a first,” he says.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Maybe another ride request from Kate? I check the message. Just a mate asking if I’ll watch the game at the pub later. I’d much rather play with my American girl. I think I’ll call her when I leave here for a little Sunday fun day.

With a few clicks, I pull up the untouched photos of my little vixen from the shoot, the ones I sent over toLux’sphoto editor this morning. I bite my lip, practically drooling at her in those black, lacy knickers with that bow on the back. My body wakes up thinking back to pulling on that ribbon and tugging the fabric loose. I’ll never be able to look at these photos without thinking about last night. Without thinking about any of it.

“Blimey, who is that?” Collin asks over my shoulder.

“Her name is Kate. She’s a lingerie designer I shot forLuxthis week,” I say, hiding the screen. She’s mine to look at. At least until these are published in a couple of months.

“Let me see that.” Collin snatches the phone from my hand and stares at the screen. “Ah, this is the girl from the tabloids yesterday. You shagging her?”

“Give it back, Collin,” I say, clenching my fist.

“Oh-ho-ho. You fancy her or something?” Collin clutches the phone, smirking.

“What’s going on over there?” Mick calls over. Now everyone is looking.

“Drew has a new girlfriend,” Collin says.

Ken scrunches his face. “Girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend!” One of the bridesmaids adds to the bunch.

I reach for the phone with gritted teeth, but Collin dodges me. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Then why are you being so protective?” He tosses it back to me. Bloody tosser.

“Okay, I think the boys need a break, yeah? Plus, I want the tea on this one.” Davina struts over to the groomsman’s side. Fuck. “So what’s the story? Will there be another Bonnaire wedding soon?”

“Noooo,” Kent says. “Absolutely not. Can you imagine? Drew sayingI do?” He busts out a big belly laugh.

“More likeI’ll do you.” Collin joins in, and now Davina’s having a laugh at me.

“Leave him alone. It’s nobody’s business.” Dash chimes in, coming to my rescue.

“Not if the gossip rags have anything to say about it,” Collin adds because this is how he is. This is how we are. We take the piss. But right now, he’s really starting to get on my wick.

“Do me a favor, Drew, and try to stay out ofCheeri-Ooh!the rest of the week. I don’t want anything salacious tainting the wedding, okay?” Davina says.

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