“Believe it or not . . . ” Sabrina looked at Daniel and smiled. “ . . . they were Daniel’s choice.”

“It’s nice to know Daniel learned something from me after all these years,” his mother said wistfully.

“I also have to go for a dress fitting, but I think I’ll push that to tomorrow or the day after,” Sabrina added. “Are you coming with me, Holly?”

Holly nodded enthusiastically. “Why do you think I flew in over a week early?”

One of the decisions Daniel and Sabrina had made early on was to keep the ceremony small and intimate. So, other than the bride and groom, the wedding party comprised only two other people: Tim, his best man, and Holly, the maid of honor.

Of course, Daniel’s mother had gone overboard with the guest list. Daniel and Sabrina had agreed to allow her this one indulgence. Over two hundred guests had been invited, the list comprising distant relatives, friends of the family, friends of Daniel, as well as Sabrina’s divorced parents and a few of her friends and relatives from the West Coast.

“I can’t believe the wedding is only ten days away,” Holly said, ripping Daniel from his thoughts. “It seems like yesterday that you two met.”

Daniel groaned mentally. If he didn’t do damage control swiftly, everybody would soon know how he and Sabrina had met. Then the lie they had told his parents would be revealed, and he wasn’t sure how they would take the news. Nor did he think that Sabrina would survive the scrutiny she would suddenly be subjected to. It would devastate her.

“I know.” Sabrina sighed as she reached over and took Daniel’s hand. “I’m excited, but a bit overwhelmed by everything that still needs to be done.”

Daniel squeezed her hand then brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “Don’t worry, baby. Reinforcements are here.” He motioned to Tim and Holly.

Both of them would be a great help with the preparations and take the heat off Sabrina.

Sabrina laughed. “Yes, I’d be lost without my posse,” she teased.

“Well, while the girls are dealing with music and flowers, I thought maybe you and I could discuss the bachelor party,” Tim said, pinning Daniel with a look that he couldn’t avoid.

That was another thing—Daniel didn’t want a bachelor party, at least not a traditional one. For many years he’d been one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, but it was a title he was happy to rid himself of. The idea of celebrating his last night as a single man seemed ironic and unnecessary. He was thrilled to be getting married, to never have to fend off another gold-digging socialite.

But Tim had insisted that there would be a party. Daniel had finally agreed to indulge him, but had made it clear: no strippers and no trips to Las Vegas.

“Actually, can we discuss the party tomorrow?” Daniel said with an apologetic look. “I’m going to have to excuse myself from the wedding planning today.”

“What? Why?” Sabrina’s head snapped in his direction.

He gave her a reassuring smile. “I received an urgent message from work this morning. I have to drive to New York today and deal with it,” he lied.

From the look on Sabrina’s face he could tell that she was not pleased—and rightfully so. He should stay here and pull his weight, taking some of the pressure off her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Sabrina, but I’d much rather deal with this right now than a day or two before the wedding. I’ll make sure they know that after today, I’ll be unreachable.”

“Why can’t you just tell them that now?” Sabrina asked.

Daniel cupped her cheek and caressed her face with his thumb. “Please understand, baby. This is something I have to take care of. I promise you, I’ll be back tonight, and then the four of us can go out and do something.”

Sabrina sighed. “Okay. I guess it won’t matter.” She motioned to Holly and Tim. “At least Holly and Tim can help your mother and me out.”

“Perfect.”

Daniel hated having to leave, but he knew he had to. Because the more he thought about it, the more he knew what he had to do. He wouldn’t stand idly by and let this reporter get away with her lies. He would find out who exactly Claire Heart’s reliable source was, and get a retraction and an apology published. Only then would he feel at ease and know his and Sabrina’s happiness would be assured.

And by the time he and Sabrina got back from their honeymoon, things would have blown over, and everybody would have forgotten about the article. Another scandal would capture people’s attention. And Sabrina would never know.