Read Online Put a Ring On It by Beth Kendrick - Free Book Online Page A

a soda.
    She held his gaze for a long moment. “You’re insane. And drunk.”
    â€œSo are you,” he pointed out. “You said you wanted to do something I’ve never done with any other woman.”
    She maintained eye contact, trying to assess how serious he was.
    He looked pretty serious.
    â€œYou’re bluffing,” she said.
    He didn’t blink. “Try me.”
    â€œYou don’t even know my middle name.” She furrowed her brow as she considered the logistics. “And it’s Friday night. Even if we did agree to get married, there’s no possible way. All the courthouses are closed.”
    He pulled out his smartphone with an air of determination. “Prepare to watch an indolent rich guy get to work.”

chapter 6

    â€œA re you
sure
this is safe?” Brighton asked for the third time as she checked her seat belt and crossed her ankles.
    â€œYes.” Jake settled into his expansive leather seat. “Calm down. You said you were game, remember?”
    â€œBut small aircraft have a terrible safety record.” Brighton had to speak up to be heard over the hum of the engine.
    â€œYeah, Gulfstream is famous for cutting corners.” Jake shook his head. “It’s a miracle I’m still alive.”
    â€œYou mock me, but I speak the truth.” Brighton ticked off the facts on her fingers. “Statistically, private planes are at much higher risk for loss of control, mechanical failure, collision with terrain . . .” She clutched the sumptuous padded armrest. “Aren’t you looking forward to being married to a woman who memorizes aircraft safety statistics?”
    â€œWe’re not married yet,” he reminded her. “If you want to talkstats, I’d say there’s a ninety-five percent chance you’ll lose your nerve before this deal is actually done.”
    â€œNo way,” she swore.
    â€œWe’ll see.”
    â€œI’ve never been on a private jet before.” Brighton surveyed the gray leather upholstery, the polished walnut wall panels, the luxurious cashmere throws, the flat-screen TV. “This is crazy. Who the hell are you that you have your own jet?”
    â€œIt’s not mine,” Jake said. “Technically, it belongs to my company.”
    â€œIndolent Rich Guy, Inc.? Seriously, how did you get all this?”
    He merely smiled in response and nodded at the bottle of red wine on the table. “You should try that. It’s great.”
    â€œI can’t. Not if we’re actually going to go through with this.” She tightened her seat belt one more time for good measure. “You have to be sober to get married in Vegas. All those Hollywood movies about drunken weddings are factually inaccurate.” She tapped her phone screen. “So says Google.”
    â€œWhat?” He sat up straighter. “What the hell is the point of going to Vegas to get married in the middle of the night
sober
?”
    â€œI’m just guessing, but maybe they don’t want people making terrible choices with random strangers because of too much champagne.”
    He considered this, then shrugged. “It’ll be fine. Keep drinking if you want.”
    She shook her head. “But—”
    â€œEven if there’s a sobriety checkpoint at the altar, I know a guy.”
    â€œYou know a guy?”
    He pulled out his wallet. “Benjamin Franklin.”
    â€œSeriously?” She rolled her eyes. “You think you can buy your way around the rules?”
    Again with that heart-melting smile. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
    â€œWell . . .” Brighton held out her glass for some wine. “I guess if I’m going to be irresponsible, I might as well do it right.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit.” He took a sip from her glass, then passed it back to her.
    â€œSo . . . one of the drive-through