Prologue

Kellan Rhodes exitedthe sleek black SUV, heat waves rising off the East Texas tarmac. Nearby, the Shelby's private jet sat ready and waiting for them. He turned to his best friend, Emma, and grinned, offering a hand to help her from the seat. "Ready for Tahiti, Mrs. Rhodes?"

His new wife snorted as she grasped his hand. She exited and rose to her full height, glaring at him. A hint of a smile hid under her ire. "You want to die before we make it there?"

Emma keeping her last name had been a sticking point with Kellan's parents, argued over for months, and it had almost derailed the whole thing at one point. She had stood firm, with Kellan in total agreement at her side. What did he care what her last name was? Emma had ultimately won, but Kellan couldn't help but get in the playful jab here and there.

"Second day and you're already plotting to kill me to get your hands on my millions?" he asked with a grin. Emma's family was loaded with a capital L. Not that his family was destitute—far from it—but he'd been the one forced to sign a pre-nup, which he'd done willingly. Money hadn't been the reason for their marriage.

"We might both expire if we don't get inside from this heat," she said, fanning her pink cheeks with one perfectly manicured hand. "I drank way too much last night to handle this."

They crossed from the vehicle to the jet, moving in lockstep beside one another. "I still can't believe we did it," Emma said. "We got married, Kel."

Kellan chuckled before urging her up the boarding stairs first. "After you." He still didn't believe it, either. The past months had been a whirlwind. It hadn't yet sunk in that he was someone's husband.

The cabin, it was much cooler, fortunately. Ice cold, in fact. Most of the chill came from the woman awaiting them inside.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes," the steward said, a wide grin between her glossy, blood-red lips.

"Again, Mandy?" Emma grated through a clenched-tooth smile.

The corner of the woman's mouth hitched. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Shelby. My apologies."

Emma gripped the pretty steward's elbow, moving in closer. "You can make it up to me later."

Amanda pulled her arm away before she pasted on another ten-kilowatt smile without a sign she was madder than a hornet's nest. "If you'd both like to get comfortable, I can bring you refreshments. Champagne in celebration, perhaps?"

The two women glared between one another, and Kellan was suddenly the third wheel.

"Love-ly,"Emma replied through clenched teeth.

Amanda nodded before disappearing behind a heavy curtain, Emma's gaze trailing her.

"She's still pissed," Emma said, eyeing Kellan.

"No shit," Kellan murmured. He collapsed into the nearest chair and spun it halfway to eye his new wife. "Can you blame her?"

Emma struck a pose. "I've heard enough crap already." She sighed and dropped into the chair beside him. "How long is this flight again?"

"Eight hours, give or take," Kellan replied.

Emma hid a yawn behind her hand. "There's a bedroom in back. If you'd like to take a nap."

And give you a chance to butter up your girlfriend, hmm?"I just might take you up on that."

She smiled at him. "After all that heteronormativity, I need to let my inner lesbian out for a stroll." Her head swung in his direction. "I do hope I can calm her down."

"Who? Amanda or your inner lesbian?" Kellan asked drolly.

"Stop it…" Emma rapped him on the shoulder. "Be thankful you don't have a pissed off beau pouting about yesterday."

"Never have," Kellan murmured. "Likely never will."

"Don't say that!"

Amanda reappeared, a tray with two bubbling flutes balanced on one hand. She lowered both glasses to the tray table in front of them, adding a small charcuterie board she clutched in the other hand. "In case you're peckish. We have a light meal prepared for this afternoon, as well as a dinner entrée, unless you'd prefer to eat with your husband at your destination. I'm sure the restaurants at the resort are far superior." Amanda brushed a hand down her flat stomach. "We have plenty of refreshments available, too. You just have to ask."

"Yummy,"Emma murmured seductively, gripping the stem of her glass. She took a sip and eyed Amanda from over the rim.

Kellan grabbed his flute and drained it in one swig.

"Another, Mr. Rhodes?"

"You know my name, Amanda," Kellan quipped.

Amanda pursed her lips, an irate diatribe swirling in the angry sparkle of her eyes. "I was reminded yesterday where my true place was. Sir."

Emma sighed, shaking her head.

Kellan rose to his feet, unwilling to argue. "I think I'll take a nap. It was a long night."

"Of course," Amanda replied, stepping back, out of his way.

He backed away, half expecting her to plunge a knife into his spine if he didn't keep an eye on her. He ambled to the back of the jet, casting one long glance before entering the small bedroom behind the door there. From what he spied, his wife was turning on the charm. Amanda leaned close, as if she was already falling under Emma's spell.

His wife.

He scoffed inwardly, turning the handle and escaping into the bedroom alone. Once the door clicked, he was able to breathe easier. He adored Emma, but the reality of what they'd done weighed on him.

Kellan had known he was gay since he was sixteen, sooner if he was truly honest with himself, but he'd hidden it for a decade. Hidden was a stretch, though, given the rumors swirling about his sexuality most of his adult life. The first couple of tabloid stories had been easy to wiggle his way out of. The last? Video of him coming out of an airport bathroom stall with another man had been harder to explain. The Senator, aka Dad, had torn him a new one, sure Kellan had ruined his re-election plans.

Emma's parents had found her in bed one morning with another woman and threatened to disown her. As the sole heiress to a global chain of luxury retail stores and the Shelby family fortune, Emma had a lot to lose. So, she'd acquiesced to her parents' demands: get married, settle down, and have kids. When she learned he'd found himself in similar trouble, their plot had been hatched.

Stay married for five years in order to quiet the rumors, shut their families up, and then move on with their lives as two childless, divorced best friends. The best friends part was already true. He and Emma had grown up together. Even attended private school together. Well, she was at the neighboring girls' school right up the road where he'd seen her almost daily.

An all-boy's campus was where he'd gotten his first raging hard-on for another guy—a teacher who looked like he'd stepped off the pages of GQ. He'd been the first of many.

Kellan slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the pack of Tums. After chewing a couple, he tossed the roll on the narrow nightstand, kicked off his shoes, and slid across the surface of the bed.

What the hell have I done?

They had no business being married.

He closed his eyes and attempted to quiet the roaring of his mind, but it was difficult, considering. Just before he finally started to drift off, he heard what had to be Amanda moaning from the other side of the door.

Chuckling, he soon faded into the abyss.