From This Day Foward: Switched at Marriage Part 4 (10 page)

"Used his own money, too, not company money."

"And he started the sample sales just for us," the buyer whose name I kept getting mixed up said. Courtney? "Just before Christmas so we could all buy fabulous presents for everyone. Our salaries were crap at the time. I got my mom a necklace and sweater worth hundreds for under ten dollars. That was three years ago. She still wears them and brags about the compliments she gets on them."

"And he always comes to happy hour when he can. And buys a round of drinks."

"And sings karaoke like a good sport."

Five heads nodded.

Sarah took charge again. "So? How'd you do it, Kayla? What's your secret?"

Five pairs of eyes stared at me with admiration and the hope that I would impart the secret formula for bedding a billionaire.

I was dizzy from the bouncing conversation. "Get them drunk?" I made a face and shrugged.

The girls all laughed like I was kidding.

"Well, that's easy enough," Sarah said. "Especially here! But it can't be the whole truth. We've tried to ply Justin with booze before and come up empty-handed. Give us the details. Spill your love story!"

I fed them the approved story, trying to make it sound as romantic as possible. Which it wasn't, of course. How do you make the romance of the century out of two college acquaintances meeting up again, getting hammered, and tying the knot?

"Hmmmm…" Sarah pulled her mouth to one side. "The secret seems to be getting sent on business to the Reno fulfillment center. A city where quickie weddings can easily be performed twenty-four seven. And
then
getting them drunk. And wed."

"Exactly," I said, feeling mellow from my lemon drop.

Everyone laughed.

"So now we just have to get Riggins to take one of us to Reno on business. Easy, right? Should we draw straws to see who gets the honor?"

"Yeah, but Riggins isn't an easy mark. He holds his alcohol too well."

"And he likes the expensive stuff. The stuff out of range of our budgets."

"Unless he's buying!"

They nodded in unison, like a dance troupe or a group of Sea Gals. Just then Jus walked in the door next to a tall, immaculately groomed guy with a delicious head of hair, who was wearing the latest, trendiest in men's summer fashion. I knew in an instant I must be looking at Riggins in the flesh. His pictures didn't do him justice. He oozed charisma, if that was possible. Next to him, Jus just looked…young.

When Jus spotted me, his face lit up, transforming him. He waved and came toward us with Riggins in tow.

"Well, aren't
we
lucky?" Sarah whispered. "Here they come." She sighed as she eyed Riggins. "We'll all be hanging with you from now on, Kayla. You're our new bestie."

The men stopped in front of our booth. I was on the end. I slid out and kissed Jus, to mark him as mine as much as for show.

I hadn't realized just quite how well loved and loved to be loved he was. Once he ditched me, he would have no problem finding a new mate among his staff. Maybe I should even pick her out and throw him her direction. Anything to keep him from Ophie. My stomach tightened at the thought. There was that little green monster again. Selfish,
selfish
.

Jus introduced me to Riggins, who was polite and pleasant, but slightly aloof. Maybe he was just hard to get to know. I remembered the girls saying he was less approachable than Jus. But I thought it was more than that. He was evaluating me. Taking my stock as if his stock in Flash depended on it. Which it did. But he couldn't know how much.

Still, I supposed he wasn't wild about Jus marrying on the spur of a drunken moment. With presumably no prenup. To someone who could be a gold-digging woman who ended up with half of Justin's part of the company in a nasty divorce. And accompanying media blitz. When I put it like that, no wonder he was leery.

Riggins didn't know about the ironclad postnup, obviously. And I couldn't reassure him. We'd just have to tiptoe around each other until he grew to trust me. Or maybe until I left in a year with "only" ten million of Justin's pocket change.

The bar quickly filled with Flash employees getting off shift. Riggins, flashing his enigmatic
GQ
smile, ordered a round of drinks for everyone on him. And made an elegant, thoughtful toast to us.

Jus introduced me to more and more staffers until I was completely overwhelmed with names and titles and job descriptions and personal details. The way Jus knew every employee's name was impressive. And so personal. He treated each employee, no matter how new and lowly, as if they mattered to him and were an old friend.

He asked them about their assignments and whether they were happy. He asked about their families and their pets. He remembered intricate details of their lives, as if each one was one of his closest friends. I realized then it wasn't at all surprising he knew, and remembered, so much about my parents and their home. I shouldn't have been either creeped out or flattered. That was just Jus being Jus. And so were the flowers he'd sent ahead. And the champagne.

I was swept away from my merch buyer friends and ended up at a bar-height table near the karaoke stage, sitting between Riggins and Jus. Jus held my hand in one hand and a beer in the other. The bar was noisy and loud. I was trying to hear something Riggins was saying when a chant went up for karaoke to commence.

And then, like two good sports, Riggins and Jus excused themselves to take the stage.

Riggins took the mic. "My buddy Jus and I usually kick the night off with one of our classic duets."

"I don't know if classic quite describes them!" someone heckled.

Riggins ignored it. "But tonight Jus has asked to open the night with a solo. So, Jus, my man, take it away." He slapped Jus on the back and took his seat next to me.

Jus cleared his throat. "This one's for my bride. She hasn't been to one of these before—"

"She's in for a treat," one of the guys called out.

"So go easy on her," Jus said with a grin. "And me. And if you don't like the music selection, don't blame me. It's eighties night tonight." He turned to the DJ. "Maestro?"

And then he broke into a round of "You Make My Dreams Come True" by Hall and Oates, singing just to me. Although the song had come out before I was born, I knew it from the oldies station Mom listened to. And that movie
500 Days of Summer
. Which was the best breakup movie,
ever
. I should know. I'd watched it after every breakup with Eric. Including the last one.

Thinking about my inevitable breakup with Jus, I got a lump in my throat. But this song was from the scene where the hero, Tom, is madly in love with Summer. It was so upbeat, you couldn't help dancing along to it in your seat. At least tap your feet.

Justin jumped around, mimicking the dancing in the movie, badly. But he was still cute. Even though his moves needed work and would scare off the bluebird of happiness before it landed on his finger, like it did on Tom's.

But Justin's voice!
His voice
. Deep and true and beautiful. Toe-curling sexy. Penetrating to the soul. Fun and filled with joy and good humor. His eyes sparkled. His smile was brilliant. He was having the time of his life up there. I didn't know why I should have been so surprised. His speaking voice was to die for. And his humming voice pleasant and on key.

I caught a glimpse of Ophie in the crowd. She was sitting at a table on the perimeter of the stage. She had a look of rapture on her face while Jus sang. I could only imagine how much she roiled inside knowing he was singing to me.

He pointed to me as he sang and danced, if you could call it that, to the table. He took my hand and pulled me onto the stage with him so he could look deep into my eyes as he sang. The crowd of his employees ate it up. There's nothing like seeing the boss make a fool of himself on stage and in love.

I loved dancing. I'd taken years of lessons. So I played along, moving with the song while he sang. Even wrapping myself around him when the lyrics called for it.

His employees loved it, clapping and bouncing to the upbeat song about, well, a girl making a guy's dreams come true. Duh.

When the song ended, Jus pulled me into a kiss. The crowd erupted in applause. Riggins, Wylie, and four other guys came up on stage. And then, in another movie moment, the seven guys broke into an a cappella version of the theme song from the eighties movie
The Breakfast Club
, "Don't You (Forget About Me)," with me at the center like they were all wooing me.

They were wonderful. The moment was perfect. I was breathless and happier than I could have imagined.

The door to the bar opened. A noisy group of guys tumbled in. I looked over at them just as the tall, good-looking jock of the group locked gazes with me.

Eric.

Crap. There went my perfect moment.

T
he story continues
…

If you liked
From This Day Forward
, you’ll want to read
For Richer, For Richest
,
Episode 5 of
Switched at Marriage
, right away!

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From This Day Forward
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S
till can’t get enough
of Kayla and Justin? Curious about Kayla and Justin’s college years? Get the
Rushed Series
and get a peek at what Kayla was like in college.

S
witched at Marriage
, a Romantic Comedy Serial Romance

The Switched at Marriage Series

Part 1—
A Wedding to Remember

Part 2—
The Virgin Billionaire

Part 3—
To Have and To Hold

Part 4—
From This Day Forward

Part 5—
For Richer, For Richest
Coming Soon!

The Rushed Series

These standalone romances can be read in any order. But it’s more fun to read them all!

Book 1—
Rushed
, Zach and Alexis’ story

Book 2—
Crushed
, Dakota and Morgan’s story

Book 3—
Hushed
, Seth and Maddie’s story

The Reckless Series

Ellie and Logan’s love story begins one hot August night. This series should be read in order.

Book 1—
Reckless Longing
—FREE!

Book 2—
Reckless Secrets

Book 3—
Reckless Together

G
ina Robinson's
books have delighted readers and received positive reviews in
Publishers Weekly, Booklist
, and
Romantic Times Book Reviews
.

A voracious reader and fan of all types of romantic stories, she writes romance and women's fiction across a wide variety of subgenres—new adult, contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. Her love stories are infused with a happy blend of romance, adventure, a bit of mystery, and humor. Readers are drawn to the light touch she gives even serious topics and the fast, fun, easy-to-read pace of her books. From college campuses to Seattle to Las Vegas to England, her settings become almost characters of their own, driving the story.

She believes in the power of true love and passion, and that every great romance should have a happily-ever-after. To get an email when Gina releases a new book, sign up to join her VIP list by visiting her website at
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