Finally, Julianna breathed a sigh of relief, seeing her daughter sink to the floor with phone in hand, thankful her daughter hadn’t pressed about the meaning of ‘sugar daddy’.
“Can you watch the kids as I get out of this thing? It’s beautiful, but I’m starting to get a little too hot.”
“Of course!”
Julianna made her way back into the dressing room. And I picked up Jude, cradling him in my arms. I was amused at Caley as she swayed this way and that staring at the screen, trying to beat the game.
If I was going to be honest with myself, then I had to admit that I was at least somewhat attracted to Richard. Julianna was right. He had everything that a woman like me would want in a man, and not just because he had money. There was something about the way he carried himself that always caught my attention.
I knew better, though.
He lived alone in a mansion big enough for a family of eight or more. I’d seen him with his arm around the occasional woman, who almost always had fake breasts and an I.Q. in the double digits. Yet whenever the two of us spoke, there was an obvious connection.
I shook my head, bringing myself back to reality. I was a strong, independent woman who knew better than to mess around with men like Richard Truman.
Even if he was hot as hell.
2
Richard
Ipulled my 1969 Aston Martin up to the tuxedo rental studio and parked. I was having a hard time believing that two days from now, my baby brother would be getting married. I could remember when Jake and Julianna first started dating. He kept brushing it off as just a fling, but my intuition had kicked in early.
My brother had found his soul mate.
As I waited for Jake to show up, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my social media newsfeeds. There were no news headlines that caught my attention, though. All I could think about was Jake's bachelor party tomorrow night.
"You're always running ahead of schedule.”
I looked up to see Jake smiling down on me.
"My man," I said, getting out of my car.
He pulled me in for a hug before we made our way into the shop.
"We're here to pick up our tuxedoes,” he said to the saleswoman behind the desk.
She did her best to flirt with him as he gave our names, but Jake couldn't have been less interested.
"Speaking of other women," I said when she walked away. "I have a bone to pick with you."
Jake rolled his eyes at me. "I told you, man. I don't want any strippers."
I leaned against the desk and looked him dead in the face, trying my best to convince him otherwise. "Look, I know it's going to be a combined bachelor-bachelorette party. But Julianna never has to know they are coming. When they show up, you can act surprised and blame it all on me.”
I pulled out my phone, but he interrupted me before I could even show him some pictures of strippers that I had in mind.
"It has nothing to do with Julianna," Jake said. "I'm not about that life anymore, Richard."
I smirked while putting my phone away. "That's right. You gave all of that up for Julianna." He shot me a dissatisfied look, but I held my hands up. "I'm just kidding. You know that I'm happy for you."
"How about you? Are you happy?"
I tilted my head at Jake, unsure as to what he meant. "Sure. I mean, I'll be happier once we get these tuxedoes and grab a bite to eat."
He laughed and shook his head. "You know that's not what I meant. Are you honestly looking forward to my wedding? Even though you don't have a date?"
Here we go.
