Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare #1)(2)
Author: Diane Alberts

So why did his touch feel so freaking good?

Maybe she was just that horny. After all, it had been months since she’d gotten any action. Close to a year, if she was being honest with herself. She’d been so wrapped up in her work that she’d neglected life. She’d forgotten how to have fun.

So…she’d made a list of things she wanted to do before the wedding was over. Things she’d read in romance books. Sexy things. She’d even titled it Christine’s Sex To-Dos. Not very creative but it would do. So far it had three items on it: Kiss a stranger. Have sex outside. Make out in the elevator.

Rekindle an old flame was not on her list—and it wouldn’t be, either.

But maybe, just maybe, she should add another thing: Get payback on Tyler.

She could make it sexy to fit in with the rest of the items on her list.

No, that would be too dangerous. He’d already hurt her once, and she wouldn’t be going back for seconds. She played it safe now, thanks in part to him.

Tyler came out with the ice bucket, his green eyes settling on her instantly. The weight of his stare made her want to fidget, but she forced herself to stand still. His brown hair was longer than she remembered, curling slightly at the edges. He had a little bit of scruff going on, and muscles like whoa.

It was obvious that he kept in shape while he was out saving the world. So not fair. He reached out and placed a hand on her upper arm. His fingers on her bare skin sent a shiver straight up her spine. She tilted her chin up. “Stay here while I go get you ice?”

And spend more time walking an unwilling trip down memory lane? No, thank you. She shook her head and looked over her shoulder. The elevator was awfully close. “I don’t need any. I’m fine, I swear.”

“Just wait here for me.” He skimmed his finger over her arm. God, he wasn’t even trying to tempt her, yet he was. So unfair. “I’ll only take a second. I promise I’ll be right back.”

Unlike the last time you left, she added silently.

And then? Blessedly, the anger took hold. Anger she’d thought long buried.

Oh, he thought she would stand there waiting for him, after all this time? He had another think coming. Time to turn the tables. Get payback on Tyler may not be on her actual sex list…but she was metaphorically penciling it in right now. Dangerous or not, she’d make him want her. Then she’d walk away and forget all about Tyler Dresco—and their sloppy past.

She gave him a sweet smile, satisfaction coming over her when he paused, his eyes heating up with…desire, maybe? She reached out and tucked one of his errant curls back in place. His nostrils flared. “Oh, I’ll be waiting, all right.”

His gaze dipped down to her mouth, making her stomach tighten, and then flew back up to hers. “All right then. Good.”

He left, his steps long and even. Even while leaving, he managed to look so damn confident and hot that it drove her insane. So much like a man, as opposed to the boy he’d been when he’d taken her virginity and apologized before running away. He might have changed, but not enough to make her change her mind about him. There was nothing between them except awkward silence and memories.

Time to go back to what they did best: pretending that night in Mexico had never happened. As soon as he rounded the corner…she spun on her heel and headed for the elevator.

It was her turn to run away.

Chapter Two

Close to an hour later, Christine leaned back in her chair and fiddled with her wineglass. She glanced over her shoulder for what had to be the millionth time before looking back at her best friends. The girls were all arguing over some nonsense or another, but Christine was clueless. Normally, she would have been right there with them, fighting over…

What were they talking about, anyway? They could be telling her she was winning the Pulitzer Prize for her upstanding investigative journalist abilities, and she wouldn’t have heard a single word. Her mind was still stuck on Tyler Dresco and all the memories he’d brought back with him in that stinking hallway.

Now all she could think about was Mexico, and all of the intense emotions that went with that vacation. It had been three months after a drunk driver had killed her parents, and she’d been a shell of the girl she’d once been. She hadn’t even wanted to go, but Kady had insisted she should. Insisted she needed to live, and stop crying herself to sleep every night. She had reluctantly agreed, and tried to act as if she were having fun for the sake of her friends.

Tyler had seen through her act.

Regan, New York City headhunter and her Tri Delt sorority sister, leaned close, pulling her out of her thoughts. “You know how you haven’t told anyone else you’re moving to Maine? We’re all together, so now might be a good time.”

Christine sighed. Regan had a point, but it just didn’t seem right to draw attention to herself when it was Kady’s big week, let alone during the bachelorette party. Right before a wedding was not the time to make a huge formal announcement about moving away. It wasn’t even all that important, really.

Maybe she’d tweet about it… Hey… Surprise! Moving to Maine. Come visit me sometime! Wait. Was that more than one hundred and forty characters?

She sighed. “I’ll tell them after the wedding is over, but before we all leave. I don’t want to take attention away from the blushing bride.” Christine smiled at Kady as she animatedly talked to Julie. They all looked so happy, her news could wait. “But enough about me. How are you doing?”

“Great.” She made a show of looking around the bar. “But considering the man candy wandering around here, I’m about to get a whole lot better.” Regan popped a mint in her mouth and asked, “Are you excited to be going back home, living on your own for once?”

Of course her attempt to divert the attention from a topic she didn’t want to discuss failed with Regan. It always did. “Yeah. I went from living at home with my parents and Jake, to college with you girls, to rooming with Kady in San Francisco. Then, when she moved here to be with Colton, I actually came with her, which is crazy, too. Now I’ve got a crap roommate who is anything but my friend, and for the first time in my life, I’m going to be alone.” Christine shrugged. “For once, that doesn’t sound so bad. It’s time for me to try it out. Start over and all that crap.”

“Understandable.” Regan nudged her with her heel. “But if you ever want me to fly up for a good Chunky Monkey binge night, you know I’m your girl. I’ll be the closest one to you once you move.”