Page 1 of Pucking My Off-Limits Billionaire Boss
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Lucy
It'smybestfriend’swedding, but you'd never know it by the way Jake freaking Rogers is stealing the spotlight.
I lean against the polished bar at the Cedarwood Hotel, champagne flute in hand, watching the spectacle unfold. The reception hall is abuzz with laughter, clinking glasses, and the vibrant beats of a DJ spinning contemporary hits. The atmosphere is electric, with a lively crowd moving to the rhythm of Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now," a song that's got everyone on the dance floor, showcasing their best moves.
Lights twinkle like stars caught in the grand chandeliers, casting a warm glow over the happy chaos. It's the kind of shindig that makes you believe in fairy tales, if only for a night.
And Jake Rogers, Cedarwood's golden boy, is right in the thick of it. He's surrounded by a cluster of admirers, his easy smile and confident stance drawing them in like moths to a flame. I take a sip of my champagne, the bubbles tickling my nose, as I watch him regale the crowd with tales of his impending return to hockey with the Los Angeles Lancers.
Max, his best friend and the groom, is egging him on, adding his own exaggerated flourishes to the story. The two of them are a double act; Max's loud guffaws are the perfect counterpoint to Jake's sly wit.
As I take another sip, I can't help but roll my eyes. Jake always had a way of commanding attention. It's like he has his own gravitational pull, and right now, he's the center of the universe. But hey, it's his sister's wedding; he's entitled to a little limelight, I guess.
I'm about to take another sip when Hailey Rogers, the bride herself, waddles over to me. Six months pregnant and absolutely radiant, she flops into the chair beside me with a sigh of relief. "Luce, what’s up with the wallflower routine? Not like you at all," she chides, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I shrug, a small smile playing on my lips. "Someone's gotta witness the madness, right? Plus, you know me, I'm just here for the free booze and the chance to see you in that gorgeous dress."
Hailey laughs, her hand resting on her pronounced belly. "Well, you're missing out. Jake's on fire tonight. Did you hear about his new contract with the Lancers? He's moving to freakingLA. Can you believe it?”
I nod, glancing back at Jake. He's now animatedly describing a play, his hands moving through the air as if he's back on the ice. "Yeah, I heard. Good for him.”
Hailey gives me that look, the one that only a best friend can muster. It's a piercing, all-seeing gaze that cuts right through the facade, probing for what's really bubbling underneath.
"You'renotjust here for the free booze, are you?" Hailey asks, her voice soft but probing. "Is this about your big move? Opening the second location of Mocha Memoirs must be nerve-wracking."
I let out a wry chuckle, shaking my head slightly. "Man, you’ve always had a way of seeing right through me, huh?"
She laughs, a warm, melodic sound that fills the space between us. "That's what best friends are for, Luce. So, spill it. What's really going on?"
I sigh, picking at the label of my empty beer bottle. "I'm excited, I really am. It's just... I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. With the new store opening, there's so much riding on it. It's like every decision is make-or-break. And then, seeing everyone here, moving forward in their lives... it's a lot."
Hailey's expression softens. "Lucy, you're about to do something incredible. You've always been the one to take on challenges head-on. Don't let the pressure dim your shine."
I smile, comforted by her words. "You're right. I need to focus on my own journey, not get caught up in everything else. It's just a big step, you know?"
"Of course, I do," Hailey says, squeezing my hand. "But if anyone can make it in Seattle, it's you. You're going to be amazing."
Chiding myself internally for being so glum on Hailey's big day, I give her a sheepish smile. "Sorry for being a bit of a downer at your wedding. Anything I can do to make up for it?"
"See? That's the spirit!" Hailey beams at me, her eyes crinkling in amusement. "Actually, yes, there is something. How about you go over there and make nice with Jake? And while you're at it, maybe take him down a peg for hogging all the attention.” She follows up her words with a sly wink.
I grin, a spark of mischief lighting up my eyes. "Taking down your full-of-himself brother down a notch? Now that's something I can do. Consider it my wedding gift to you."
We hug, then I take a deep breath, bolstered by Hailey's encouragement, and make my way through the crowd towards Jake.
There he is, Jake Rogers, in all his infuriatingly handsome glory. He's standing there, the epitome of charm, with his normally shaggy dark hair slicked back just enough to add a hint of roguish sophistication for the wedding. It suits him, giving him an air of James Dean cool that's impossible to ignore.
He turns, and I catch a glimpse of his sparkling blue eyes, alive with that mischievous twinkle that I've known since we were kids. They're the kind of eyes that don't just look at you; they see right through you, leaving a trail of fluttering hearts in their wake.
As he laughs at something Max has just said, those infamous dimples make their appearance, etching deep into his cheeks. They lend him a boyish charm that's in stark contrast to the powerful, athlete's body he carries so effortlessly, a body that's no doubt the result of countless hours on the ice. It's all hidden now beneath the sharp lines of his tuxedo, but the broad shoulders and the way the fabric clings to him leave little to the imagination.
And that smile. That damn smile that's disarmingly sincere and just a tad too cocky. It's a smile that could sell a fortune in toothpaste. It's the kind of smile that you remember, the kind that sneaks into your thoughts at the most inopportune times.
Pain in the butt he is, I have to admit—he looks good. Not that I'd ever tell him that. He doesn't need any more ammunition for that ego. But as I make my way over to him, weaving through the sea of guests, I can't help but acknowledge the simple truth: Jake Rogers has always looked good. And standing here now, all dressed up and beaming with confidence, he doesn't just look good.
He looks like every dream I've told myself I don't have.
