Page 45 of The Best Man Problem
“Everything okay, man?”
Kenneth opened a door to the bedroom, glancing over his shoulder. “What? Oh, yeah. I just…I just want everything to be perfect for her.” The man sighed. “She deserves the best.”
Lincoln placed a comforting hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “She’s getting the best. She’s getting you. That’s all she cares about, I promise.”
Kenneth shook his head. “You’re wrong. She deserves better than me, but I’m not going to be stupid enough to tell her. I’m a lucky bastard, and I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy for the rest of our lives.”
He smiled. “Even threaten the weather?”
“Mother Nature better keep her precipitation locked up if she knows what’s good for her.”
He laughed, slapping Kenneth on the back as the men entered the room.
“Damn!” He let out a low whistle. “Is this a room or a suite?”
The large room boasted a huge bay window with a cushioned window seat that looked ideal for napping on a lazy Sunday. Two plush-looking high-back chairs sat in one corner, a coffee table in between them, while a dark red chaise longue took up the far wall. He spied an open door that appeared to lead to a private bathroom. The room rocked—except for one thing.
“Dude, is that the only bed?” He pointed to the large king taking up a significant portion of the back wall.
“Yes,” Kenneth answered. “All the other rooms are filled with out-of-town guests. Marie wanted to bunk with her bridesmaids. Something about not sleeping together the night before the wedding being romantic. So you and I are bedmates.” His friend pointed a finger at him. “And don’t get any wild ideas. I’m a promised man. We can share like civilized adults, but no funny business.”
Lincoln smiled. “I’m getting a weird flashback to sophomore year when we went to Key West for Spring Break and stayed in that awful rental.”
Kenneth laughed. “Oh yeah! The one that said it had two beds, but it was one full and a pull-out sofa with no mattress. That sucked.”
They’d shared the tiny bed for the night, scouring the small island until they found a hotel that had two beds with an opening the next morning. It had maxed out their credit cards, but it had been worth it. Two grown men sharing a full bed was not the most comfortable of situations.
“At least this is a king,” he said with a shrug. There’d be much more room.
“And it’s only for tonight. Everyone is leaving after the wedding tomorrow.” A look of pure joy lit up Kenneth’s face. “In twenty-four hours, Marie and I will be on our way to Cancún for our honeymoon.”
His friend’s happiness was infectious, and Lincoln found himself smiling. “I can’t believe you and Marie are finally getting married.”
Kenneth’s jaw tightened, eyes misting over. “There was a time I thought this day might never come. When she was fighting for her—”
Lincoln wrapped an arm around his friend, pulling the guy in for a hug as the words clogged his throat.
“I know, man. But she’s okay now. You guys are going to get married, live happily ever after, and be one of those annoying couples who make everyone jealous with their bliss.”
He could attest to that firsthand.
“My goodness, the love abounds today,” a soft voice spoke from the doorway. “I just left Marie hugging and happy crying with her bridesmaids. Don’t witness too much of it with the menfolk, but it’s great to see.”
Lincoln pulled back to stare at the woman filling the bedroom doorway. The woman who’d been haunting his dreams for far too long, the woman who made him hard with nothing but a simple glance, the woman he hoped to have under him again the second this wedding was over.
“Hey, Lilly.” Kenneth grinned. “Is it time to start the rehearsal?”
“Almost.” She smiled at them both. “We’re just waiting on a few more people, but if you guys want to head up now, that would be great.”
Kenneth gave him a hard slap to the back before heading out of the room.
“Hey.” He walked over to her, cupping her cheek. Her eyes darted to the side, checking for people who weren’t there, before she leaned into his touch.
“Hi. Drive okay?”
“Mm-hmm.” He stroked his thumb along the softness of her skin. Her eyes closed for a brief moment before they snapped open, emerald depths hazy with desire.
“We should get up there.”
