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“You shouldn’t have.” I gaze down at the princess cut diamond nestled in the box. It’s beautiful. It must have cost a fortune. But I can’t wear it. This is fake.

“But I did.”

He takes the ring out of the box and holds it out to me. Against my better judgment, I let him slip it onto my finger. It’s perfect, and it fits perfectly. How did he manage that? Because he sees you. He knows you.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you. I’ll keep it safe until this is over.”

“I trust you.” He leans over and kisses me on the forehead. “Come on, fiancée.”

He leads me back into the living room, where our friends are in full planning mode.

“So, what kind of dress were you thinking?” Madison asks me a few days later at lunch.

“Are we thinking traditional or nontraditional?” Becca asks, leaning forward.

I fiddle with my fork, pushing around the last of my pasta salad. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

“I need the rest of the details. When Mads called me, she only told me we were going wedding dress shopping,” Aubrey says. Her husband, Brody, is one of the Storm’s assistant coaches and a former player who retired a few seasons back.

I fill them in on everything with the will, including how I’m going to inherit a hotel chain located in Florida.

“And your father wants the hotels?” Madison asks.

“My guess is he will. He owns the second-largest hotel chain in the US. Maybe it’s even the largest at this point. I don’t know. He’s never been one to turn down acquiring more hotels, no matter how he has to get them.”

“Wait.” Madison sets her napkin on the table. “You said you want to screw him over, right?”

“I do.”

She grins. “I know just the person.”

“Oh?” I tilt my head, studying her.

“Does the name Cunningham mean anything to you?”

“Of course. They’ve been a thorn in my father’s side for who knows how long.” The Cunninghams own Cunning Hotels, my father’s biggest competitor. I remember him ranting and raving about how much he hated them.

Madison rubs her hands together. “Well, I happen to know Anders Cunningham, and I’m sure he’d be more than interested in taking the hotels off your hands. That is, if you want to sell them.”

What? I guess it really is a small world. “How?”

“His wife, Caroline, does the marketing for my business. I’ve met them a few times when they’ve come down with her twin brother and his wife. Caroline’s sister-in-law is a huge Storm fan, so I’ve hooked them up multiple times. They’re the sweetest people. You’d never know Anders was a billionaire, nor that he was a CFO. He’s so laid back and down to earth.”

My mouth falls open. “Do you think you could arrange an introduction?”

“Sure can.” Madison grabs her phone and types on it before tucking it back into her purse. “I’ll let you know when I hear back from Caroline.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course. Always happy to help.”

“Now that’s settled. So, we have the cake sorted and catering,” Becca says, retrieving a small notebook from her purse. I can’t help but laugh. “What?” She lifts one shoulder in a half shrug. “I’m trying to keep us organized. You have appointments at a few dress shops. Holt promised me he’d organize the guys’ suits.” She looks around the table. “Flowers. We need flowers and music.”

“I know it’s last minute, but will you all be in the wedding?” I glance around at my friends. “It’s probably ridiculous to have so many bridesmaids, but it’d mean the world to me.”

“We’d be honored,” Hadley says, and the rest of the women agree.

“I’m going to ask Ansley too, when she gets back.” The team left for a five-day road trip this morning. “And my friend Holly.” Holly and I met a few years ago at the team’s family day. Her boyfriend, Jax, works for the Storm’s marketing department. We bonded over our shared love of reality TV. She’s been traveling through Europe with Jax the past few weeks, and we haven’t had a chance to talk.