Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)

by Lauren Asher

Ana Does yours always tell you to treat yourself to a sweet treat or new outfit when you’ve been mildly inconvenienced?

Laurence This is your daily reminder that I’m not some vampire or werewolf. Ana Except that’s exactly what someone would say to get me off their trail. Laurence Right.

Me Will you do me a favor? Manny For my best friend? Of course.

Manny Please. It’ll be part of my best man speech when you get married because of me.

Manny For the record, my full name is Emanuel, so feel obliged to name your first kid after me.

“Don’t tell me your car got stolen.” She sounds a bit too excited at the idea. “I doubt it,” Julian mutters.

“He’s so annoying,” I say. “I heard that too.”

“Since I realized you’re the best of two bad options.” I place a hand over my heart. “Can I use that quote on an ad?”

Did he get abducted by aliens? If so, how do I convince them to take him back?

“I’m not sure what disappoints me more: you getting drunk enough to think Lorenzo driving you home was a good idea, or you not getting sick inside his car.”

“Well, you didn’t want to believe me when I told you Santa wasn’t real either, so I’m not surprised.”

“So, can we get back to the important subject here?” “Yes,” I add. “Who’s going to explain the Santa thing?”

“Okay, Romeo.” Julian claps a hand around his shoulder and tugs him back. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

Manny You and Lily are a thing?! Manny WTF man. How could you not tell me? I thought we were close. Manny And she calls you BABY? Manny I’m kind of jealous.

Manny See you tomorrow, lover boy.

I would’ve chosen my parents’ older but modest home. But oh, wait, Julian tore it down before I had a chance.

I brush my hand down his chest. “But next time don’t hold back. I promise I can take it.” And that right there is how I helped Lorenzo secure the Smut Club readers’ vote.

“You owe me seventy-five bucks.” “What for?” “Your girlfriend’s flowers aren’t cheap.” “She should’ve charged you double for bothering her.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t know me as Manny, your best friend.” “I prefer to call you Manny, the pain in my ass.” “Well, at least you always have stand-up comedy if the political stuff doesn’t work out.”

“Only if you want me to cancel.” “In that case, stop being lazy and get to it! My soulmate waits for no one.”

“You know,” I say, “we can go shopping this weekend and see what we find.” Manny hoots. “Yes! My mom knows⁠—” “No,” Lorenzo and I both say at the same time, making Manny and Jane laugh.

“Who knows? By the end of it, you two could become the best of friends.” “In that case, I’ll start making our matching friendship bracelets.”

“Did you check for hidden cameras?” “Do you take me for an amateur?”

I start counting my underwear because why did I pack ten pairs for a two-night stay? Did I plan to shit myself multiple times?

When I open my wallet to grab my credit card, I find all of them missing except for a black one with Lorenzo’s name on it.

Lorenzo Why is there only one charge on my card?

I press my hands over Daisy’s ears. “Daddy didn’t mean that, baby. He’s just…overwhelmed.”

“At least it’s not a yapper.”

“You don’t talk about other men while wearing my ring.”

“You’re not joking?” “My heart took a serious beating right now.”

For his own benefit, I’m glad he made it through the two-minute ordeal without throwing up, although he did break a sweat once he started talking about welcoming Lorenzo into his family.

I’m not sure why he is attending church when he’s going to end up in hell,

“I like you.” But not love. “I really do, but not enough to change my mind.”

“Thank God. The oldest one is a real twat. He used to run over my flower beds all the time, so I ended up slashing his tires once.”

In my experience, it can either end with the best results or temporary jail time.

“I’m sure it kills you to admit such a thing.” “I think this whole conversation took five years off my life, yes.”

“Go! Get to it, my evil little protégé!”

He curses in Italian more than once while I push his cute little carry-on luggage around with a smile.

“It’s the first one of our family, so how can I not?”