The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,66

there for two hours!”

“Really?” he asked in what he hoped was believable surprise. “I guess I was too busy having a good time. I like your dad’s family.”

She shook her head, as though trying to clear her confusion. “I like my dad’s family, too, but you have to stick to the plan.”

“What do you want me to do?” he asked, spreading his hands. “I’ve never purposely acted like an asshole before.” She snorted and he gave her a look of surprise. “Are you suggesting I’m a natural asshole?”

“No . . . I don’t know.” She scowled. “But we have to do something, Josh. We have to end this tonight. This is getting bad.”

“I know. You’re right. How about I start drinking a lot? Then I can act like a sloppy drunk, giving you a good reason to break up with me.”

She pursed her lips, deep in thought, before nodding and looking up at him. “Yeah. That’s good. If you just start acting like a jerk now, my family will wonder why you’re like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

“Okay, so I’ll start getting drunk. Let’s get to it.” He took her hand, surprised when she didn’t protest, and led her up the stairs. When they were in the kitchen, he stopped and dropped his hold on her. “But first I need to visit the restroom before I go back outside.” He patted his stomach. “That pulled pork isn’t quite agreeing with me.”

The look she gave him said she didn’t quite trust him, but the request was too reasonable for her to deny.

“You don’t have to wait for me. In fact, it might be safer for me to go upstairs.” He grimaced.

She released a nervous laugh. “Don’t let Dad hear you say that. He loves Gate’s barbeque. He’d call that blasphemy.”

“From all the dogs barking outside your fence, I’d say they like it, too.” The sound seemed almost appropriate given the laid-back vibe of the evening, but he knew it had to be driving Nicole crazy.

A sly grin spread across her face. “Those are the Murphys’ dogs. Mom is furious they got loose. In fact, she called animal control, but apparently they haven’t shown up yet.”

“You really do take a perverse pleasure at your mother’s aggravation.”

She laughed. “I guess that makes me wicked.”

He liked the thought of her doing wicked things, but not the kind she currently had in mind.

“You go on back outside,” Josh said, heading for the stairs. “I’ll be out as soon as I’m fit to be seen in public.” He bounded up the stairs two at a time in his attempt to get away from her. He wasn’t so sure how convincing his gastrointestinal issue was, but he had to talk to Noah. And maybe he could find Bart’s home office while he was upstairs.

He opened the first room on his right, finding what appeared to be Kevin’s room. Eliminating Megan’s and her grandmother’s rooms, that left one possibility. He pushed open the door, relieved to find a desk with a desktop computer and a credenza and printer. Pulling out his phone, he texted his brother. I found Vandemeer’s home office.

Seconds later Noah responded. I found it first. I’m sleeping there, Sherlock. Josh could practically hear his sarcasm.

Sure enough, there was a bag on the loveseat on the wall opposite the desk. Have you checked it yet?

Not thoroughly, but I have all night. As long as you don’t screw this up now.

Josh released a heavy breath. She wants me to break up with her tonight.

Obviously you can’t. Figure something out.

Figure something out. Sure, no problem.

He went back downstairs and grabbed a bottle of beer from the cooler by the back door, taking a long drag from it before he searched for Megan. She was standing with a group of her cousins and aunts. She looked nervous, and he hated the knowledge that he was to blame, but he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Not yet. Now that Noah was here, they could get what they needed to save the business, and he’d break up with her tomorrow night at the rehearsal dinner. He could pretend to get drunk tomorrow night, then put the moves on Blair. He almost choked on his beer at the very thought of it, but it was a good plan. Blair would raise holy hell, and no one would condone Megan marrying him then.

But he couldn’t tell Megan his new plan. He’d drink a lot tonight to pave the way to the big