Page 37 of The Billionaire in Her Bed

“Boys, boys.” Eli moved to one side, leaving David exposed. “No fighting on your wedding day. You’re both pretty.”

Chris put his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo pants. “We’re not fighting, we’re arguing.”

“Which we wouldn’t be doing if someone respected tradition and kept his distance.” David narrowed his eyes at his soon-to-be husband.

“I thought I told you to stay downstairs.” Brooke came up behind Chris and smacked him on the back of the head. “The two grooms aren’t supposed to see each other before the wedding. It’s bad luck.”

“That’s what I said.” David huffed. “Not that anyone listens to me.”

Eli certainly wasn’t listening to him. How could he with Brooke standing there looking like a goddess in a short, figure-hugging black dress and gladiator sandals? A triple strand of pearls hung in the valley between her breasts. A matching bracelet adorned one bare arm, and she wore pearl and what he assumed were diamond studs in her ears. She’d left her hair hanging loose around her shoulders the way he liked it, making him itch to grab a handful and tilt her head to the perfect angle for him to kiss her into next week, wedding be damned.

“You look…” He searched for the right word and came up short, settling for the first thing that popped into his head. “Gorgeous.”

“It’s a gift.” Chris tugged on the cuffs of his jacket and adjusted his cummerbund. “Or a curse.”

“He’s not talking to you, doofus.” David rolled his eyes. “He’s talking to her.”

“Thanks.” Brooke openly ogled Eli. “So do you.”

He’d pulled out all the stops and had Ginny raid the closet at his penthouse. The result—a navy-blue suit he’d paired with a pale-pink dress shirt, burgundy tie, and matching pocket square for a pop of color. Every guy had at least one good outfit in his wardrobe for special occasions, right?

“Come on.” Chris looped Brooke’s arm over his. “Let’s get out of here before my fiancé blows a gasket. Or one of you two heterosexual lovebirds spontaneously combusts from all this pent-up sexual tension.”

“I need you guys on the roof in ten minutes,” Brooke called over her shoulder as he dragged her off. “The guests are almost all here.”

“Don’t worry.” Eli slipped David’s tux jacket off the hanger. “We’ll be there.”

The door closed behind them. Eli held out David’s jacket. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” David put his arms through the sleeves and fastened the top button. “You?”

“You’re the one tying the knot, my friend, not me.” Eli took David’s boutonniere out of box and stuck the pin between his teeth.

David fixed his collar. “From the way you and Brooke practically eye-fucked each other, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re next.”

Eli laid the boutonniere flat against David’s lapel. “Shut up and hold still.”

“Charise says you two go at it like rabbits every night. Really noisy, nympho rabbits.”

Shit.He knew they should have kept the moaning, groaning and oh-my-God-ing to a minimum. Not that either of them seemed to have any self-control when their clothes were off. Or on. “You really want to go there? I’m holding a long, sharp pin inches from your heart. And I’m not afraid to use it.”

David’s teasing smile faded into a thin line, and any trace of humor disappeared from his eyes. “In all seriousness, man, Brooke’s special.”

“I know.” He wouldn’t get any argument on that from Eli.

“We’ve been friends for almost three years. Ever since Chris and I moved into this building. More than friends, actually. She’s like a sister to me.” David hesitated, his next words coming out slow and measured. “I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then don’t you think it’s time to tell her the truth?”

The pin in Eli’s hand slipped, jabbing his index finger and falling to the floor. He jerked back and sucked his injured finger into his mouth. This was it. His day of reckoning. The shit had hit the fan.

He took a deep breath and tried to quell the flood of panic rising inside him, making his chest tighten. “What do you mean?”

“You’re in love with her,” David stated matter-of-factly, like he was discussing the weather. “Or well on your way to it.”

Part of Eli sagged in relief. David didn’t know his real identity, or his reason for being at Candy Court. It was important he tell everyone—especially Brooke—on his own terms, when the time was right. And that time was almost here.