Okay, I admit it. I’m taking full fucking advantage of the situation.

Who wouldn’t?

The prettiest girl I’ve ever seen was about to drown in the river. I jumped in and rescued her, and now I just need to make sure she’s fine.

I mean, falling into the canal in Venice can have long-term consequences. Not to mention I put my own safety in jeopardy.

Millions of bugs are probably attached to me right now, waiting to plan their next move and to attack any vulnerability they find in me.

But I won’t give them a chance. No fucking way.

I’m fighting fit, and as soon as I’ve got this exquisite creature in my arms sorted out, I’ll head straight to my room and take the longest fucking shower to wash every last bit of scum off me.

With any luck, she’ll give me her number and invite me for a thank you drink at the bar. Once we’ve had our first drink, who knows where the night will end. I can feel movement in my wet trousers already.

“You’re Dante?” her gorgeous eyes are boring into me. It’s as if she’s trying to look right into my soul.

I nod.

At the same time, I keep rubbing her back with one hand, while the other is strategically placed around her waist. A little compensation for the effort of risking my own life.

“The Dante?” her eyes seem to grow even larger as she asks the question.

Naturally, the question throws me. What does she mean the Dante? How many are there?

“Sorry,” she mumbles before I get a chance to say anything. “I’m Nicole, and this is my best friend, Allison. We’re here.”

Now it’s my fucking turn to interrupt.

“Ryan’s bride? Ryan McCready’s bride?”

The second she nods, I let go of her. I can’t be touching Ryan’s bride.

Man, oh man. What are the chances? I take a step back and look at her a little closer.

Ryan’s never shown me a picture of his bride-to-be. As I take in her beauty, I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. This is one hot chick my best friend had caught himself.

With her t-shirt dripping wet, it leaves nothing to the imagination as far as those delicious tits of hers are concerned. Similarly, her skirt is soaked and clinging to her hips and ass.

I take a deep breath.

She’s off limits, I remind myself and clear my throat.

“Sorry,” I say, though I’m not exactly sure what I’m apologizing for. I didn’t do anything. I simply fished her out of the canal and rubbed her dry a little. Ryan wouldn’t mind, would he?

I furrow my brow.

Why is Ryan not here? Where is the prick, anyway? If he were here, none of this would’ve happened.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” Nicole says and gives me this beautiful smile.

Like the gravitational pull of a black hole, the smile sucks me right in. I feel my insides melt and my brain is about to go on vacation and leave my dick in charge.

Get a grip, I remind myself and tear my eyes away from the most exposed parts of her body.

“Anytime,” I reply, and I mean it. I’d walk through fire to rescue this damsel in distress. In fact, how am I going to rescue her from fucking marrying Ryan?

What’d he do to catch her, anyway? Was a love potion involved? It’s the only rational explanation I can think of. There can’t be any other explanation as to why a woman of Nicole’s beauty, poise and elegance would fall for Ryan.

“You staying here?” The question is stupid, and I kick myself mentally for asking it. Ryan fucking told me they were staying here, which is why I’m here.

“We are,” replies Nicole. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to think the question strange.

“Have you checked in yet?”

Nicole shakes her head.

“Shall we?” I ask and offer her my arm.

There’s a slight hesitation.

“I’ll send someone from the hotel to collect your things.”

Although there are a couple of other people ahead of us, an efficient looking man waves us over to another part of the long check-in counter.

“Posso auiturati?”

Nicole just stares and seems totally lost for words. Her friend, Allison, just giggles. Obviously, they don’t know any Italian.

“Si, grazie. I hope you can help us,” I reply and pull out my wallet. “I’ve got a reservation in my name and these ladies are also checking in.” As I’m speaking, I’m pulling out my credit card and driver’s license.

Extensive travel on my part means I’m familiar with the identification requirements, and I hand over the requisite documents before I’m asked.

Nicole rummages around her handbag.

I put my hand over hers. Partly to stop her, and partly a fucking excuse to touch her again.

“Don’t worry, Nicole. I’ll look after it.”

There go her eyes again. A cocktail of emotions travel through them. I can tell she’s not sure about this.

“It’s the job of the best man to help the bride and the maid-of-honor check in and pay for anything associated with the wedding. Scout’s honor,” I finish, holding up my right hand and putting my left one over my heart.

This brings the smile back to Nicole’s face, which makes me happy. Whatever I’m about to spend in dollars, or euros, will be worth it.

“If you’re sure,” mumbles Nicole, and I nod vigorously before giving her a wink.

“Ryan wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You have room number 24, and the lovely Segnorinas are right next door in number 23,” the friendly Italian man behind the counter hands me two sets of key.

I can’t believe my luck. I’ve got the room right next door.

Of course I know nothing is going to happen; she’s the bride of my best friend, after all. But it will be handy to keep an eye on the girls.

“You should probably go get out of those clothes and wash all those nasty bugs off you. The canals aren’t exactly known for their bathing quality water.”

Nicole looks down at herself and tucks a loose strand of her long hair behind her ear.

“I guess so,” she sounds uncertain.

In fact, she oozes insecurity, and I have to exercise my self-control to make sure I don’t just wrap my arms around her to comfort her. Where the fuck was this fiancé of hers to look after her?

We take the elevator together and get out on the first floor.

Nicole opens the door to their room and hovers on the threshold.

“By the way, the canal isn’t the only thing in Venice filled with nasties. Around this time of year, crime is on the increase with all the tourists in town. If you want to go anywhere, I’ll be your guide and protector.”

I can tell Nicole’s mulling over the words. The dedicated bride that she is, she seems to be struggling with something.

“Only until Ryan gets here, and then he can be your knight in shining armor.”

And just as I’d hoped, this brings another radiant smile to her face.

“Deal,” she says, and I allow myself to bathe in that soft voice of hers.

Before I can say anything else, my mobile buzzes. I pull it out of my pocket and frown.

It seems to be a facetime call.

According to the display, it’s coming from the city of Rome. Nicole gives me a wave, and I press the green answer button as she shuts the door.

As soon as the image becomes clear, I nearly scream and drop the phone.

Filling up the screen is a backside. And not just any backside, it’s Ryan’s.

Now he moves to the side a little and I catch a glimpse of a black-haired woman. There’s grunting, heavy breathing ,and the whispering of someone’s name.

“Ryan, fuck me, please, fuck me…harder…Ryan…”

I don’t want to nor need to see or hear more. I quickly press the red end call button.

With fumbling fingers, I open my own room and rush inside. Then I go to the bathroom sink, and lean over it.

For some reason, I feel like throwing up.

What the fuck was that about?

I suppose it at least explains Ryan’s absence from Venice.

It takes me a while to process the significance of what I’d just been forced to fucking witness.

Asshole Ryan is in Rome, fucking some woman while his bride-to-be is in Venice.

Bride-to-be has no idea.

What does that mean for me, the best man? Do I tell her, or keep the intel to myself?

I take a deep breath, and get out of my wet clothes.

As the warm water of the shower assaults my body, I keep asking myself one very important question.

How do I look after Nicole and make sure she finds out what Ryan is up to?