The Billionaire's Best Friend(70)

“Not yet. You’re still far too dressed.” He pulled at the front of her strapless bra before reaching between her breasts to unhook it. He didn’t deserve this gorgeous woman, but she was his, and he’d do anything for her. “Much better, but still not done.” He ran a hand down her side to her hip. When her breathing changed and her nipples popped, he smiled. Then he hooked a finger under the waistband of her panties and pulled them down as well. “Perfect.”

Lauren shook her head and took a step back when he reached for her again. “I don’t think so, Major Callahan.” Then she again reached for the button on his shorts. As she worked on them, he pulled his shirt off and added it to the growing pile in the hallway.

“In a rush are you?” she gave him a seductive smile, and he almost lowered them both the floor right there in the hall. She ran a hand down his erection, her hand scorching his skin even through the cotton between them.

When he groaned, she smiled and then finally pulled down the final barrier between them.

“Now, that’s—”

Nate kissed her again as he picked her up and joined their bodies fully before they made it through the doorway.



His body sated, he dropped a kiss on her head. In response, she snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. How had he managed the past fifteen years without her? Just the past few days had been hell. Not that any of it that mattered anymore. The wedding was back on and nothing short of a natural disaster was going to change that. A smile that spread throughout his body took shape on his face. Life didn’t get much better than this.





Chapter 16



In just two weeks they got everything done, thanks to Callie and her connections. Even with Callie’s help, it had not been easy. Still, here she was dressed in the wedding gown of her dreams. Outside family and close friends waited on the South lawn of Callie and Dylan’s estate in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Lauren’s fingernails dug into her palms, while behind her the hairstylist secured her veil. Already, the woman had admonished her for fidgeting. She didn’t want another scolding. Yet it took all her concentration to keep her legs still. Every inch of her quivered with happy excitement. How could she not? After what felt like a lifetime, she and Nate were going to say their vows to each other. She’d thought about this moment since the day in middle school when she’d opened her locker and found a note from him asking her to the movies. Before that day, they had been the best of friends. After that day everything changed. Back then she never would’ve imagined all the detours their relationship would take, yet somehow, even then, she’d seen them at this point, committing to spend their lives together.

The hairstylist slipped one last pin into her hair and stepped away, leaving Lauren to admire her reflection in the mirror.

“I’m so happy for you. If anyone deserves this, you two do.” Callie walked up alongside her. Dressed in a floor-length lilac gown with a full skirt, no one would ever guess she was pregnant.

“I can’t believe we managed to pull it all together. I never could’ve done it without you.” The amount of work Callie put into the preparations overwhelmed her. Every day for the past two weeks the two of them had worked on some aspect of the wedding.

“I still don’t know how you two did it,” Mallory, Matt’s wife and one of her bridesmaids, said from across the room.

Callie waved off the comment in true Callie manner. “Are you still going to look at houses in Virginia next week?”

“We both know that when Nate decides he wants something he doesn’t fail. The sooner I start looking, the better. Charlie offered to help me.”

The corners of Callie’s mouth turned downward. “It’s going to stink having you that far away.”

Her heart grew heavy with the reminder of her pending move, but the memory of waking up with Nate beside her the morning before sprang up and once again filled her with joy. “Think road trip, chickie.”

Lauren turned at the sound of the bedroom door opening behind them. “Everyone is ready,” Kelly said, returning from downstairs. Dressed in the same gown as Callie, Kelly looked fantastic. Unless someone knew, no one would ever guess she’d had a baby a few months earlier.

Lauren fought the urge to throw her arms over her head and dance around as if she’d just discovered a winning lottery ticket. She managed to physically control herself but her insides were another story altogether.” Let’s get this show on the road, ladies.” She didn’t wait around for a response. Instead, she headed downstairs to the foyer where her father waited.