“Are you telling me that all of these people are Bhathian’s coworkers?” Nick’s eyes were peeled wide.

Jackson brushed his long bangs back. “He invited their families as well. Here, have another drink.” He handed the guy another shot glass.

Up until now Operation Nick, which he’d been nominated in charge of, had gone smoothly. The excuse he’d used for picking Nick up was that the reception was being held in a remote location that was not yet programmed into the various navigation systems. A weak excuse, but Nick accepted it without raising a brow.

The next step was to get the guy too drunk to notice Annani’s glow.

Nick was well on his way to getting totally blasted. Hopefully, he’d pass out before the ceremony.

“I still don’t understand why he didn’t ask either of us to be his groomsman. That’s a shitty thing to do.” Nick downed the glass Jackson had given him and accepted the next one.

“I told you. He asked his old buddies from the army to be his groomsmen. They are like his brothers.”

“He could have asked us too. What’re two more, right?”

“Wrong. The guy couldn’t have an army of groomsmen.”

Nick swayed on his feet. “I need to sit down, man.”

“Sure. Let me help you to a chair.” Jackson grabbed the bottle of whiskey he’d been pouring from into Nick’s glass, and took the guy’s elbow.

He led him to the farthest table, one that was set up with benches instead of chairs. Perhaps he’d get lucky, and Nick would take a nap on the bench. That hadn’t been the original plan, but Jackson was sick of babysitting the guy.

Tessa was one of Eva’s bridesmaids, so he wasn’t missing any time with her before the ceremony, but the moment it was over, he wanted his girl back.

If he could only fob the guy off on someone else…

Ruth.

Why hadn’t he thought about it sooner? She could keep an eye on Nick. Come to think of it, now was the perfect opportunity to give Nick a push in the right direction.

Nick slumped on the bench, bracing his elbows on the table. “My head is spinning.”

Taking pity on the guy, Jackson paused with the bottle mid-air and put it back instead of refilling Nick’s glass, then sat on the bench next to him.

“What’s the story with you and Ruth?”

Nick blushed, but then it could have been the alcohol. “She is cute. I like her. Nice body too. That bikini she had on the beach, talk about hot.”

“She likes you too.”

“I know.”

“So why the hell aren’t the two of you all over each other? What are you waiting for? A wedding?”

Nick blushed again. “She's shy. I’m afraid to spook her.”

“Did you kiss her?”

Nick shook his head.

Oh, man. The situation was worse than he’d thought.

“Did you ever kiss any girl?”

Nick waved a hand. “Of course I have. What do you think, that I’m some fucking virgin?”

“Yes.”

Letting out a puff of breath, Nick let his head drop. “What gave me away?”

“Nothing too obvious.” Jackson didn’t want the guy’s ego to crumble. As long as he thought only Jackson suspected, he could hang on to at least some of it.

“So the others don’t know?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What about Ruth?”

Jackson chuckled. “Ruth is too busy being embarrassed by her own shadow to notice anything.”

“That’s a relief.” Nick lifted his glass. “I need more.”

“I think you’ve had enough.” Now that Jackson had a new plan in mind, he didn’t want Nick to pass out. Not just yet.

Nick kept the glass up. “Just one more, please?”

“Okay. Half.”

After pouring, Jackson grabbed the bottle. “Stay here. I’m going to find Ruth.”

“Why?”

“So she can keep an eye on you.”

“Why is she here? Ruth doesn't work with Bhathian.”

Apparently Nick’s brain was still working despite all the alcohol he’d consumed.

“She’s a distant relative.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Now you do.”

Jackson found Ruth at the appetizer table, rearranging the bite-size servings on the platters.

“Hi, Ruth. I didn't know you’d volunteered to help out with the food serving.”

“I didn’t. Not officially. But the trays were messy.”

Right. A good excuse not to mingle.

“I need you to keep an eye on Nick. The ceremony is about to start, and it would be best if he didn’t notice Annani’s otherness.”

“What do you want me to do? I can’t put a blindfold on him. Besides, you’re going to thrall him after the wedding anyway.”

“That’s the plan, but I’m hedging my bets. What if he is too smart to be thralled? Some humans are immune.”

“That’s a possibility. But I still don’t know what I can do to distract him. It’s not like I’m a great storyteller who can keep his attention away from a glowing goddess.”

Jackson smirked. She’d walked right into his trap. “You could distract him with a kiss.”

Ruth blushed and shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not the type who takes the initiative.”

Jackson lifted a brow. “Do you want me to ask another female to do it?”

“No!” Ruth seemed startled by her own vehemence. “I mean, I’ll do it.”

“I thought so. Come on, I’ll show you where he is. I’ve gotten him quite drunk, so your job is going to be easy. I just hope he doesn’t pass out before we get there.”

“If he does, I won’t have to kiss him.”

“That would be a shame. Don’t you think it’s about time one of you took the first step?”

Ruth hung her head, her long hair obscuring her face. “I’d prefer for him to initiate it.”

Jackson took her elbow. “Nick is very young, and he lacks confidence. He needs your help.”

She looked up at him. “You think so? He seems so confident to me.”

“It’s nothing but a lot of bluster. Nick likes to talk a big talk, but on the inside, he is a scared boy who is not sure that you like him as much as he likes you. You’re the older woman, Ruth, the experienced one. It’s up to you to move this forward. If you’re interested, that is.” Not that after her vehement no, there was any doubt.

“I have a daughter, but I’m not as experienced as you might think.”

Jackson had figured as much. “Whatever little experience you have, I’m sure it’s more than Nick has.”

Ruth stopped. “Do you think he is… you know… not at all experienced?”

Jackson shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like guys share things like that.”

It was a little white lie, but he wasn’t about to betray Nick’s trust. He’d given Ruth enough hints.

As they got to where he’d left Nick, Jackson was afraid they were too late. The guy had his head on the table.

“Hey, buddy, look who I found!” he said loudly.

Nick lifted his head and smiled. “Hi, Ruthie,” he slurred.

She chuckled. “Hi, Nicki.” To Jackson, she said, “He is quite drunk.”

“Indeed.” He patted her shoulder. “Good luck, Ruthie. Keep him busy.”