Free The Barefoot Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romance (A Last Play Companion) by Taylor Hart Page A

him a sharp look. “Hey, just ’cause we’re not chicks doesn’t mean we don’t worry.”
    Cooper shook his head, not wanting to talk about Nadia.
    “Listen, if you want this woman, go get this woman. Right? I mean, maybe you should look at it as research for your next book— Trap That Woman .” He said it as if he were announcing it on an infomercial, and Cooper laughed.
    “Trap what woman?” Sterling’s cool voice surprised Cooper.
    He twisted around. “Man, I didn’t even see you coming.”
    Sterling smiled, dressed in his tux. His movie star smile stayed fixed in place as he nodded at people walking past.
    “Good turn out.” Hunter nodded.
    “Your wife’s paintings are already sold, and that’s after I doubled the price on them.”
    Hunter grunted. “Of course they are.” He glanced between Cooper and Hunter. “She’s that good.”
    Cooper smiled at his friend’s obvious love for his wife. It’d been an amazing transformation to see Hunter fall in love.
    Sterling nudged Cooper. “How’s the new group?”
    Cooper smiled and then nodded, thinking it was mildly funny and kind of pathetic his billionaire friends always kept tabs on the single women coming and going out of Jackson. “Good.”
    Hunter nudged Sterling. “He likes one of them, but she has a boyfriend.”
    Sterling lifted his eyebrows. “Really?”
    Cooper rolled his eyes, not wanting to get into it again.
    But Hunter didn’t let up. “Boyfriends don’t mean much.”
    Sterling put an arm around Cooper and winked. “I agree. Boyfriend’s not here.”
    Cooper nodded. “Maybe.”
    Sterling laughed and pulled his arm back. “Plus, if you don’t act fast and I like her, I move quickly.”
    Hunter’s fist clenched, and his eyes flashed with annoyance. “Yeah, watch your back.”
    Sterling’s laughter rippled through the air.
    Cooper laughed too, thinking of how angry Hunter had gotten when Sterling kept asking Summer out. Honestly, Cooper didn’t know if Sterling asked her out to tick Hunter off or because he liked her, but either way, it got a reaction out of Hunter every time.
    Hunter cocked an eyebrow and took a swig of wine. “Watch out Cooper. He’s not lying. He’ll try to take your woman when you’re not looking.”

Chapter 7
    T he next morning London got up, taking extra care with her appearance. She actually ironed her white shirt and put on flashy jewelry she’d brought for the socials. She told herself taking extra care with her appearance had nothing to do with Cooper Harrison.
    Sure, she would be attending another one of his classes today. One on “The Art of Manifesting.” But she wasn’t attending it to see him. No, she was attending it to keep furthering her research.
    It’d touched her yesterday—the things he’d revealed. She couldn’t quit thinking about him the rest of the day. Not to mention how it felt to be near him, smell the Irish Spring of him. To have his hands in her hair and his lips against hers. The feel of his light stubble against her cheek.
    Exhaling a long breath, she put her hand to her stomach and tried to get a handle on herself. She’d never…felt like this so quickly for someone.
    Yes, she’d liked Dillon. Had a crush on him before he’d even asked her out. But this…the lyrics to ‘ Let it Go ’ flashed through her mind and she shook her head.
    No. No. No.
    That was not real.
    Fairytale kind of love did not exist.
    She sat on the hotel bed and pulled her computer to her, pulling up the article she’d written last night. The one that revealed all the things about him she would never reveal. The one that Marcia would want. The one that would get her the bonus and promotion.
    It’d come out of her like water being freed from a dam…freely, without remorse, demanding it topple out onto the page.
    It was a beautiful article…but the most beautiful part of it was the pain in it. The sacrifice he’d given to do the right thing for Nadia.
    It tortured her. As much as