Fake Boyfriend - Miley Maine Page 0,49

around at a rapid speed, and now she’d gotten her camera set up on a tripod near the altar so she could get photos of the bridesmaids walking down the aisle.

I loved watching her move. I loved watching her work. She was so focused, so absolutely centered on what she was doing, because she loved her job, and she wanted to deliver the absolute best product to the bride. It didn’t matter to her that her cousin was a total jerk. Loren was committed, and I had to admire that in any profession.

Plus she was sexy as hell as she flitted around in her shimmery champagne-colored dress. It hugged her curves and she stretched and bent and twisted to get the right angles for each shot.

I had to tear my eyes away from her to keep looking at the rest of the group. Even now during the wedding ceremony, the groom caught my eye. He’d joined the minister on the stage, and something about him was shady as hell.

His bride was walking down the aisle, which was supposed to make even the toughest man just a little emotional. But he’d look at her, smile, and then glance down at his wrist. He wasn’t holding a phone, so he had to be looking down at a smartwatch. Was he that big of an idiot that he didn’t realize anyone would see what he was doing? And that it would be recorded forever with photos and videos? Maybe he was just enough of a prick that he didn’t care.

I couldn’t see his eyes, but his body language was off. He was giving every sign that he was waiting for something, and it wasn’t his bride.

When she joined him at the altar, he did paste a smile on his face, but it was a weird one. The ceremony dragged on, and everything went off without a hitch, and finally they were pronounced husband and wife.

Everyone got up and headed to the reception area, which was also outdoors. There was a dance floor, surrounded by tables and chairs, a small band playing hit songs, and tables loaded down with food, all covered by a huge white tent.

Before Loren could get caught up in the madness of snapping photos of the bride dancing with the flower girl, I caught her by the arm. “Look at me,” I said to her. I knew if I didn’t make eye contact with her, she might easily brush aside what I was about to say.

“Do you need something? I’m working.”

“Something’s wrong with the fiance. I guess he’s the husband now. Douglas.”

“What?” She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You know what I do for a living. And I can’t give you one ounce of proof that would hold up in court. But I’m telling you that something is off with Douglas, and I want you to be aware of that.”

“Off like what?” she asked.

“He’s uneasy,” I said. “He’s nervous.”

“Lots of people get nervous at their weddings.”

“This goes beyond normal nerves.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose. There was only so much I could say. I’d seen people nervous over drug shipments they were about to order, assassinations they were about to attempt, and bombs they were about to plant. Douglas reminded me far more of those guys than your average antsy groom.

Loren sighed. “Listen, I get how he comes across. He was born with a silver spoon up his ass, and he’s obnoxious. But he’s been really good to my cousin, and to my family. After I told him about my photography, and how kids in inner city Atlanta often don't get to participate in the arts, he even set up a charity that would fund camps for the arts, right in their own neighborhoods.”

Plenty of criminals were notorious about funding charities, for all kinds of reasons. “That’s great. But that doesn’t change anything.”

“No one else could put up with my cousin,” she said. “You saw how she is.”

“I did. But that also doesn’t change anything.”

“What do you want me to do about it?” she asked.

I touched her cheek. “I want you to be careful.” I leaned in and whispered in her ear. “As your fake boyfriend, and the guy who’s fucking you, I want you to be very careful.”

She ducked her head and stepped back. “You’re a mess, Jackson. But I like it.”

“Just promise me.”

She nodded. “I promise.”

I didn’t have a reason to interfere any more than that. Not yet. So her promise was going to have to