Page 11 of Because You Loved Me

They’d tried once or twice over the years to see whether they could be more, and every time, it ended up in laughter or that one time, a very awkward morning after.

“Noa.” He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through it. “Talk to me.”

She took a deep breath and then another. After a moment, she was able to swallow back the panic that grew more profound as the nuptials approached.

“It’s not you,” she said after a moment. “You know that.”

He nodded.

“I’ve never wanted to get married. Not to anyone.” Out of nowhere, her thoughts flashed to earlier in the hotel kitchen and Asher trying to convince her that even if it was only cake, there were some good things when it came to weddings.

That cakewasgood. Or maybe it had been the man feeding it to her?

Either way, she shouldnotbe thinking of a strange man the night before her wedding.

“I know this whole thing isn’t our scene,” Ryan said. “You know I’ve never seen myself tying the knot either. That’s why this works.”

It was true. Ryan enjoyed the Playboy lifestyle far too much to settle down. Although he had promised to be more subtle about it after they were married.

“Maybe we shouldn’t?—”

Ryan shifted on the couch, grabbing her hand and moving closer. “Rememberwhywe’re doing it, Noa. You should have seen the way our fathers were laughing and smiling out on the slopes today. I haven’t seen them like that in…” He didn’t need to finish the sentence. They both knew exactly how long it had been.

“Our moms, too. The games were ridiculous, but they were both so happy.” She nodded as she spoke. Ryan was right. They’d agreed to get married for one reason only. For their families. There had been too many tears and way too much heartbreak since the accident that took their older siblings almost two years earlier. They deserved to be happy again, and if that meant the two of them tying the knot, why not? There were a lot worse things Noa could think of than spending the rest of her life with her best friend.

“It’ll be worth it.” Ryan kissed her cheek. “Besides, it won’t besobad being married to me. I’ve been told I’m pretty good between the sheets and as my wife?—”

“Enough.” He was trying to make her laugh, and it worked. She shoved him away gently. “You don’t think it’s weird that we agreed to see other people once we’re married?”

“I think it’s fantastic.”

“Of course you do,” she groaned.

“Hey.” Ryan turned serious. “I meant it when I said it. If it means that much to you, I won’t see other people, Noa. You and me. That’s it.”

Her eyes widened. “But…we…”

“We could try harder.”

Ryan had never lied to her before, and she believed him now. But was that what she really wanted? To be married to her best friend in a passionless marriage?

Noa looked away and shook her head. There were too many unanswered questions.

“Look.” He grabbed her hand, and she looked in his eyes once more. “Think about it. Tonight is the stag and doe party. Let’s go have some fun.”

Reluctantly, Noa nodded. Ryan was right. They just needed to go out and blow off some steam. Her doubts, or whatever they were, would be gone in the morning.

“That’s the spirit.” Ryan tugged her to her feet and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “And hey, we’re not married yet. If you want to go and have a littlefuntonight, you know I’m cool with it.”

Noa groaned.

This situation was way too screwed up.

* * *

“We’re obviously going to need an extension.” Asher stood from his seat at the front of the wood-paneled office they all still thought of as their father’s. Steven Lawson, who had been Michael Carlson’s assistant of many years, and William Evans, his lawyer, had just finished reading out the latest stipulation of the will.

To no one’s surprise, this one had in fact been intended for Asher.

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