Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Charlie recovered quickly, arching one eyebrow. “You’re late. We had to go ahead without you.” Then she smiled at the officiant. “Now that our family have arrived, you may proceed,” she said in a prim, authoritative voice as if she were a British princess.
The officiant was so nervous at being surrounded by so many Elvises and poodle skirts that he fumbled through the usual lines as though he couldn’t get to the final one fast enough. “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” came out almost as one word.
Tony Collins called out, “Kiss the bride, dammit.”
In a theatrical gesture that made the ladies titter, Sebastian bent Charlie backward over his arm and planted a kiss on her that was fast becoming steamy until Francine piped up, “Get a room, you two.”
The entire group burst into applause. Troy noted that even Fernsby applauded, though he’d had nothing to do with matchmaking that couple.
The thought made Troy tremble. He prayed Fernsby wouldn’t look at him.
As the party moved outside to the chapel’s fake lawn, Troy sidled up to Gabby, who wore a pink skirt patterned with party poodles.
“When we connected with the Mavericks,” he said in a low voice, “I didn’t know our family was also going to catch the virus.”
Gabby fluffed her blond ponytail high on her head. “What virus?”
Troy jutted his chin at their lovestruck siblings, Dane, Ava, and Clay. “The true love bug.”
Tipping her head down, she studied him through her eyelashes. “Are you saying you’re not on board with true love?”
He shrugged. “I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong. But you should be the next one, not me.”
Gabby laughed her pretty laugh. Troy adored his sisters. “You do realize now you’ve said that, you’ve jinxed yourself. You’ll definitely be next.”
A waiter carrying flutes of champagne mysteriously appeared—who’d arranged that, he had no idea—and Troy grabbed a glass, downing it in one gulp. “Since we’re in Vegas, are you ready to put money on that?”
Gabby’s grin could rival that of an evil wizard. “A million bucks says you fall in love before I do.”
He’d never been one to back down on a family wager. “Loser donates a million to a charity of the winner’s choice.”
Troy held out his hand, and they shook on it.
Little did she know he had a secret weapon—the contact info for a very exclusive matchmaker who had a one hundred percent success rate. Troy’s friend had recently used the woman and was now blissfully wed.
This would be the easiest, fastest million he’d ever made. Gabby wouldn’t know what hit her when he set the billionaire matchmaker on her.
With ears like a fox, Fernsby heard every word of the wager.
He had no trouble discerning Troy’s thoughts. The dear young man thought this would be an easy win.
He had another thing coming.
Fernsby raised Lord Rexford to whisper in the mini dachshund’s ear, “I know exactly who it’s going to be. But let them have their little wager.”
When they both finally saw him, he pointed two fingers from his eyes to Troy’s. When Gabrielle grinned, he repeated the gesture at her.
I’m watching you, his fingers said. And I have plans.
To his delight, they both turned pale.
Oh yes, he had plans. For both of them. And his plans always worked out.
Of course they did. Because he was Fernsby.