Chapter 24 Spencer Nash

All Systems Go

Three Days After the Wedding

The day was relaxing, just as the bride intended, and now we're heading toward Grayson's house for the rehearsal this evening. When I RSVP'd to this wedding, I had no idea I'd be attending with my wife .

And I certainly never thought my wife would be Grace .

I'm used to seeing Grace Newman in jeans, sneakers, and a sweater as she runs around the vineyard.

But this is Grace Nash, a sophisticated woman in a black cocktail dress and heels that make her legs look fine.

Damn fine.

The urge to kiss her again is strong this evening, and I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to keep myself together when I can't stop looking at her.

I know this was just her big plan to get revenge on Amelia. This isn't a genuine marriage. And somehow, my drunk ass agreed to it.

But the more time I spend with her, the more compatible I feel like we are. And the more I lean into that, the more I can see this switching from an arrangement into something more.

What the fuck is there to lose by giving it a try ?

She needs me for a year.

So what if we spend that year as a truly married couple and conclude that we actually like it? What if it doesn't have to end in a year?

That's a whole lot of what-ifs for someone who enjoys being firmly planted in reality, and all that does is tell me that if she can make me think these thoughts, she's someone different.

Someone who might be worth exploring.

I reach over and take her hand in mine. It's pure instinct, and she glances up at me, those brown eyes landing sweetly on my blue ones. "You ready for this?" I ask.

She nods. "The more time I spend with your family, the less I feel like they hate me."

"Not a single one of them hates you," I say softly. "How could they?"

Her cheeks turn a little pink at the compliment, though she doesn't answer.

We pull up in front of Grayson's mansion. The happy couple decided to keep things simple and do this thing at their home because of his celebrity status. They're hopeful that means there won't be helicopters circling while they exchange vows, but the guest list is a virtual who's who of Vegas superstars—and apparently MFB, who's set to arrive toward the conclusion of the rehearsal.

We walk into the house and find a wedding wonderland, though most of the fresh flowers won't be delivered until morning. It's been transformed from the house I've visited many times into a beautiful wedding venue fit for my brother and his bride.

"Oh, good, you're here," Ava says to me, a flurry of activity in a navy dress with swinging hair as she rushes over to give me a quick hug. She hugs Grace next before she turns back to me. "We need you standing at the back row outside. Grace, you can sit with Jolene, okay?"

Grace nods, and I may have neglected to mention to her that I'm an usher at this shindig along with Asher. We head out to the backyard that's now covered in white—the turf is covered in white rugs, and a white aisle runner runs toward an altar with a floral arch under which Ava and Grayson will be married tomorrow.

Lincoln walks by once I take my place, and I nod at him. "What do I call you now? Officiant? Minister? Preacher? Asshole?"

He laughs and punches me in the arm. " Sir would be fine."

"Good luck with that."

He heads toward the altar since he's officiating, and I stand with Asher while Ava leads Grace toward Mom.

I can't help but watch as she walks away. Somehow, she fits into the picture in a way I never really expected. Better than Amelia ever would have, that's for damn sure.

We go through the motions of the rehearsal with some event planner Ava nailed down, and my phone buzzes in my pocket toward the end of the practice run.

Adam: We're out front. Where do you want us to set up?

I guess I hadn't really thought that through. "Excuse me," I say to Asher, and then I head toward the driveway and find the five members of MFB: Dax, the lead singer; Brody, the drummer; Will, the keyboardist; Gage, the bassist; and Adam, the lead guitarist. Two other guys hang toward the back, and I assume they're the roadies who will assist with setting this thing up, and a woman stands beside Dax. I think she's his wife and the band's manager.

"Holy shit," I breathe. "Thank you so, so much for being here."

"Thanks for the season suite," Adam says, reaching out to shake my hand as I come to a stop in front of him.

I chuckle. "Hope your schedule isn't too booked so you can make it to some games."

"We'll be there," Dax says.

"Come on in," I say. They follow me inside, and Dax surveys the area.

"Maybe in the yard?" he suggests.

I nod. "There's a huge side yard so you can set up undetected. The rehearsal is almost over, so you can get set up while everyone comes inside for dinner. How long will it take?"

"Thirty minutes or so," he says .

"Perfect. I'll keep everyone in here. You can use the side gate to get back there, and I'll bring some plates out so you can eat, too."

They all nod in agreement, and they head out front to start dragging their gear around to the side of the house.

Meanwhile, the rehearsal portion of the night ends, and everyone else comes in for dinner. Grayson gives me a strange look as he walks by me, and I grab his arm and pull him aside.

"All systems go for that surprise I told you about."

His brows rise. "They're here?"

I nod. "Setting up in your side yard now."

"Ava!" he yells without turning away from me. She moves to his side. "Come with me."

They head outside, presumably to meet the band, and Grace walks tentatively over toward me. "What's going on?"

I lean in toward her. "The band is here," I murmur quietly toward her ear since I'm trying to keep a secret, but I guess it comes out more intimate than I intend for it to since she shivers a little.

"Oh my God, are you serious?" she whisper-yells at me.

"Serious as a—"

"W2," she finishes for me. "Can I meet them?"

I chuckle. "They're around the side of the house in the yard."

She tugs on my hand. "Come introduce me."

I nod, and I glance around. Everyone is busy talking and getting drinks as they find seats so the servers waiting in the kitchen can start delivering the plates of food. "Help me bring plates out to them."

"Deal."

We tell the servers we need seven plates for some extra guests, and they set four on one tray and three on another with silverware. We take them outside, and I find Ava gushing over her favorite band, My Favorite Band. It's just fun to say.

Grace's hands are shaking, and I spot a table and set one tray on it before I take the tray from her hands. She follows me toward the band, where we find four of them setting up and the fifth talking with Ava.

"What songs do you want to hear?" Dax asks her .

"Oh my God, all of them!" Ava squeals. "For sure ‘What Did We Just Do.' That's my all-time favorite. And ‘Love out of Nowhere.' Basically everything on No Room for Regrets ."

I chuckle as she names their most popular album.

Dax nods. "We have time for six songs before our roadies need to clean up, so we'll do a mash-up. But we might be able to hang out awhile afterward."

"You're the best!" Ava's still squealing when we walk up behind her.

"I'd like to introduce you to Grace," I say, nodding at the woman standing beside me. "Grace, this is Dax."

"Is this your wife?" Dax asks.

"Of three whole days, yes," I admit.

He chuckles and leans in toward Grace. "Adam confessed the real reason Spencer asked us to show up."

She giggles as her cheeks turn pink. "I'm such a huge fan!" She tosses her arms around his neck.

"And you're married now," I say dryly.

"And so am I," Dax admits.

Dax and I both laugh, but Grace looks, well, starstruck. Like she's in a complete daze.

It's comical, actually.

"Let me introduce you to the rest of the guys," Dax says to Grace, and he slings an arm around her shoulders and takes her to their small stage so she can meet everyone.

I hang back with Grayson.

"This is great, man. I can't believe you made it happen," he says.

"I wanted you to know how truly sorry I am for what happened." I give him my words in my most genuine tone.

"I know you are. And this more than makes up for it."

"You sure?" I ask.

"Don't question it, man," he says, slugging me in the arm.

I decide to take his advice on that.

We head inside to eat after I physically pull Grace away from the band so they have time to finish setting up, and by the time we're done eating, I get a text from Adam letting me know they're ready .

"We have one final surprise," Grayson says to the friends and family gathered here after I give him the green light. "Can you all join us out in the yard?"

I text Adam to let him know we're on our way out, and the forty-or-so guests inside make their way outside to the sound of MFB's opening song, one of their biggest hits.

A good chunk of Grayson's guests scream and yell as they make their way toward the band, and they sound fucking incredible as they play on a makeshift stage, the sound of their music filling the air around us.

I glance over at Ava, and she's singing along with every word.

So is Grace.

Warmth fills my chest that I was able to make this happen.

My arm slides around Grace, and she glances up at me, her big, brown eyes full of happiness, and I get this feeling of hope.

Hope that someday I can be the one making her eyes look that happy.