Free Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Roadside Assistance (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Casey Hagen Page B

bitches and whatever you say goes.”
    “I knew I loved you the minute I laid eyes on you,” Edie said with a wink and smile.
    The small talk flowed as they snacked on fresh fruit and croissants washed down with mimosas. Jack had never liked Champagne, but mimosas grew on her. Annette and Corrine chattered on about the baby. Edie shouted out name suggestions, despite the fact that Corrine had already revealed the two choices for names. Francine glared, but kept her mouth shut.
    She let out a bit of a giggle and set her glass down. She absolutely did not giggle. Or she can’t remember ever having giggled. Not even after getting wasted on tequila with her brother and his friends.
    “These are dangerous. Here, Corrine, take this away from me and don’t let me have another,” Jack said.
    Corrine laughed and stowed the glass. “I’ve got you covered, Jack. Here, have some fruit.”
    Jack giggled again.
    “On second thought, have another croissant. Maybe it will soak up the alcohol.”
    “If I have another croissant, I’ll need another drink.”
    “Orange juice it is.”
    By the time they pulled into Eden, Annette’s spa of choice, the buzz had started to clear. Stepping through the double doors, Jack leaned over and whispered into Corrine’s ear, “Is this going to hurt?”
    “Don’t be silly. It’s going to be fun.” Corrine said.
    A half hour later, they all sat in their individual chairs with their feet soaking in bubbling warm water. Light filtered through lace curtains, setting the cream-colored room aglow. Staff members in sage scrubs with Eden embroidered across the pocket attended to their every need with soft voices and friendly smiles.
    More mimosas made their way into the room. She took one and resolved to sip slowly. She could fall asleep right there. Her own fault. Sneaking out of her room had been stupid. She should have sent Lathan on his way. Instead, she’d found a leather couch, the only kind of couch he owned, and she tossed and turned on the thing for the rest of the night. The minute she heard movement upstairs, she peeked into her room to see he had left.
    He had every opportunity to give her hell for it over coffee, but didn’t. She appreciated that. Since agreeing to marry him, her life had propelled to a hundred-mile-per-hour joyride. Sure it was exciting, but the risks made her heart trip in her chest.
    “So, Jack, tell me, what kind of dress would you prefer for the wedding?” Annette asked as she flipped through a copy of Vogue.
    She stifled a moan when her attendant, Raj, lifted her foot and began massaging the arch. “I don’t know, I hadn’t really thought about it. What will Lathan be wearing?”
    “I guess that depends on your dress, but probably a black tux. Tails seem like a bit much for Lathan. Liam, he could have pulled off tails,” Annette said as she continued to flip through the magazine.
    “Why do you do that?” Jack asked. Okay, she should have kept her mouth shut, but those damn mimosas, the soothing foot soak, and Raj’s magic hands conspired to give her loose lips.
    You could practically hear a pin drop in the room as all eyes locked on her.
    “Do what?” Annette asked.
    She’d gone and done it now, but now that the words had slipped out Jack didn’t want to let it go. “Why do you constantly compare Lathan and Liam? What’s worse is you make little comments that always imply that you find Lathan lacking.”
    The magazine fell to Annette’s lap. “I don’t do that!”
    “Hell yes, you do!” Edie said. “That poor Lathan has been practically tearing his hair out trying to live up to Liam’s ghost. He even let you rope him into that stupid marriage clause.”
    “That was for his own good,” Annette protested.
    “That was so you guys could determine the course of his life because you didn’t approve of the course he was on. Jack, here, is the only one who had the nerve to call you on it.”
    Annette turned to Jack, a look of sheer horror in