Page 16 of Her Fake Island Wedding

“Clearly you’re a fine example of practising what you preach,” Bryce said, since Lucy appeared to have swallowed her tongue.

“Of course. I’m glad Lucy waited longer than I did, but child-bearing years don’t last forever. Nessa, darling, would you make me another one of those? It was absolutely marvellous.”

“Coming right up.” Nessa had given up any pretence of not eavesdropping after wiping Lucy’s beer-snort off the bar. She made Justine’s cocktail and delivered it with a flourish before quite blatantly hanging around to listen in.

Justine’s eye was caught by light reflecting off something hanging around Nessa’s neck. “I say, is that real?” She squinted at the diamond glittering blue fire from the ring on a thin gold chain.

“My engagement ring?” Nessa lifted her hand to lightly touch the ring. “Yes. I don’t wear it working behind the bar, though. Too many glasses to scratch.”

“Obviously your fiancé values you highly,” Justine assessed the ring with an experienced eye, before glancing back down at Lucy’s simpler, though still high-value, ring and wrinkling her nose slightly.

“I chose this,” Lucy jumped to Bryce’s defence. “I wanted something Icanwear at work.”

“Also, competing with Nessa’s fiancé is a losing proposition,” Bryce added, amused by Justine’s attempted put-down. “She’s marrying a billionaire, after all.”

It was Justine’s turn to choke on her drink. Nessa laughed out loud.

“Nessa’s engaged to Jace Hunter. He owns the island,” Lucy explained.

“And yes, I could give up working at the bar if I wanted, but I enjoy it,” Nessa said when Justine gave her an incredulous look. “Jace is a very private person, but I like human contact. A few shifts a week here suits me fine.”

“Well.” Justine recovered her composure. “I’m sure you know your own mind. Congratulations,” she added as an afterthought. “When’syourwedding?”

Nessa shrugged. “When we get around to it. No rush.” Her grin was absolutely wicked. “I’m a few years younger than Lucy, so I’ve got a couple extra child-bearing years up my sleeve.”

“And to think, I thought you were my friend,” Lucy said dryly, making Nessa laugh again.

---