“It is kind of weird that she’s set on having a traditional wedding,” Owen admitted. “Doesn’t she hate everyone in this town?”
“Not everyone, just most of them.” Nate chuckled. “But it’s a small wedding, only people we want there are going to be there.”
“Did you guys figure out what to do about the media?” Owen was still wondering how Charlotte planned on getting married without the press finding out. She was a big deal, his future sister-in-law, and he knew that in New York, she never went anywhere without bodyguards.
“The press doesn’t even know she’s engaged,” Nate replied, “and I think most of them will assume she’ll be in New York next weekend since she’s doing the benefit show on Friday. We planned it that way on purpose.”
Owen had thought it weird that Charlotte was performing the night before the wedding, but now he realized it was a smart move. No one would expect Charlotte to play a concert on Friday night, then take a late flight to Colorado to get married the next morning.
“Oh, and by the way, we figured out the aisle stuff,” Nate added. “Austin will walk down with Charlotte’s friend Georgia, Jake’s with Lexie, and you’re with Maddie.”
He clenched his teeth. Of course Nate had paired him with Maddie. From the amused gleam in his brother’s eyes, Owen had to wonder if his brother knew just how much Maddie’s transformation had affected him.
Too much, that was for sure. For the past two days, he’d forced himself to view Maddie the way he always did—as a dependable friend and assistant—but it was getting harder and harder to ignore the rush of desire that flooded his body each time he saw her. Last night he’d laid in bed for hours, agonizing about Maddie’s long legs and silky hair and pouty lips. It made him wonder why he’d never noticed how pretty she was. Did baggy jeans, T-shirts and a makeup-free complexion really hide a woman’s true beauty? Or had he just been too stupid to notice her hotness?
And now that he did notice it, he was going absolutely crazy. He’d never been tempted to sleep with Maddie.
Now it was all he wanted to do.
“She came by last night to pick up the bridesmaid dress they got in Denver,” Nate spoke up. His lips twitched a little. “Charlie told me she and Lex gave Maddie a makeover, but damn. She looked really fucking good. Do you know who she’s bringing to the wedding?”
His shoulders stiffened. “Probably Wyatt Killington,” he muttered under his breath.
But Nate had heard him. “Wyatt? Really? I didn’t know they were dating.”
“They have a date tonight,” Owen said darkly.
He figured Nate would side with him here, declare that a player like Wyatt was completely unsuitable for a woman like Maddie, but to his shock, his brother nodded in satisfaction. “Good for her. It’s about time she went out and had some fun. You work her too hard.”
“It’s Wyatt Killington,” he snapped. “That guy is nothing but trouble.”
“Yet you employ him and pay him full benefits,” Nate replied with a grin. “How bad can he be?”
“He might work for me, but I’d never date him,” Owen grumbled.
“Uh-oh…”
His eyes narrowed. “Uh-oh what?”
“Sounds like the jealousy fairy just flew into town,” Nate said, solemn-faced.
“The jealousy fairy? Did you make that up all on your own?”
“Yep, and don’t deny it. You’re totally jealous that Maddie’s going out with Wyatt.”
“I am not.” He knew he sounded like a petulant ten-year-old, but he couldn’t help it. The thought of Maddie becoming Wyatt Killington’s latest belt notch made him want to punch something.
And his disapproval had nothing to do with the fact that he couldn’t seem to control his newfound desire for her. Maddie was simply too good for a guy like Wyatt. She was nice and funny and way smarter than that loser, and she was only going to end up hurt. Wyatt had a reputation for sleeping with women and dumping them when he got tired of them. Owen didn’t want that happening to Maddie. He knew she didn’t have much experience with men, and she tended to be too na?ve when it came to relationships. She was obviously being na?ve now, if she actually thought Wyatt was a suitable candidate for a date.
She definitely needed someone to step in and reroute the stupidity train she’d hopped on. Someone who could yank on the brakes and say, Bad idea, Wilson.
And it looked like that someone was going to have to be him.
“You want me to do what?” Maddie exclaimed in disbelief. She gaped at Owen, who was leaning in the doorway of his office, his strong arms crossed over his broad chest, the expression on his face revealing that this wasn’t up for discussion.
“Alphabetize the file cabinets,” he repeated.