“Please tell me you said no!” Bryce gaped in horror.

“I pretended to be extremely dense and not get the hint. If she wants to return, she can pay like everyone else. We’re booked up months in advance these days anyway; all those UK bookings are coming towards the end of this year and into next year, when we have vacancies. It’s not really like we’d lose out if she hadn’t done her little bit of promotion, and there’s no direct evidence that’s what caused the uptick anyway.” Luke smirked before finishing his wine and getting to his feet. “If looks could kill, you’d be looking for a new general manager by now, Jace. More wine?”

“What the hell.” Jace held out his empty glass. “Hit me up.”

“Bryce?”

“I’ve probably had enough.” He smiled apologetically. “Please don’t force any more down me. I’m really gonna need my wits about me tomorrow.”

Luke’s smile was wry. “Stick here with us, then. We might be the ‘less fun’ corner, but at least nobody will make you do shots over here.”

“Are you calling me old and boring?” Jace objected.

“Well, I didn’t use those words specifically,” Luke attempted to backtrack, but Jace cut him off with laughter.

“It’s perfectly fine. Hey, I’m so boring I retired from being a New York playboy billionaire!”

“Retired you may be, but you’re definitely not boring,” Bryce put in. “Believe me, I’m more than happy to hang out with you guys.” He toasted Jace with his glass, and Luke, returning with a fresh bottle, topped it up in passing.

“Sip on that. We’ll wrap it up in an hour or so anyway, Jace can kick everyone out.”

“I’m totally useless as a bouncer,” Jace protested, making both of them laugh. Bryce relaxed back into his chair, feeling a lot more comfortable now. Luke and Jace were his bosses, yes, but they were also both incredibly approachable and friendly. He could definitely see why Nessa, easily the best judge of character he knew, had fallen for Jace.

“So,” Jace said now, “I’ve never learned to dive and Luke tells me it’s the only way to see some of the best bits of the Reef. How about some private lessons?”

“Any time you like,” Bryce said. “After the wedding, of course!”

“I’ll be knocking on your day bright and early the day after tomorrow, then?” Jace teased.

“I wouldn’t advise it, to be honest. It might be only a fake wedding, but Lucy and I have planned some real days off, starting with a lie-in the day after. Knocking on my door early will mean you get to face an irate Lucy, and I wouldn’t recommend that. Not unless you’d like your balls rearranged, anyway.”

Jace roared with laughter and leaned over to tap his glass against Bryce’s. “To feisty women,” he said, still laughing. “May they never change.”

“Amen to that!” Bryce agreed.