Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare #1)(32)
Author: Diane Alberts

Hell no. She would walk down the aisle on her own two feet, thank you very much. “Not happening. I’m not ruining Kady’s wedding because I’m an idiot who couldn’t watch where I was going.”

He slid out of the sleeping bag and stretched his hands high up over his head. His shirt rode up, baring those fabulous abs of his she loved so much, and her fingers twitched with the desire to stroke his skin. To further explore the vee shape of his hip bones that led down to his cock, perhaps with her tongue…

No. She needed to remember that she was done crossing items off with him.

Before it was too late.

“Your ankle is more important than appearances,” he pointed out, eyeing her closely. Could he tell she was keeping her behavior polite, but not personal? “You okay?”

“I’m fine. I just want to walk down the aisle on my own two feet.”

His brow furrowed. “But you could prolong your recovery period by pushing it too fast,” he said, his voice hard. He didn’t look confused anymore. He looked pissed. “Instead of a few days, you’ll be flat on your ass for over a week. How is that a better option than taking it easy?”

“I’m not getting carried down the aisle,” she said, fisting the sleeping bag. It was getting a lot harder to keep her tone even. “And that’s that. It’s not up for discussion.”

“Why do you care so damned much?”

She raised a brow, looking him up and down. “One could ask the same of you.”

He stepped into his shoes, his eyes on her. “Why are you acting like we’re strangers again?”

“I’m not. I’m just talking,” she said, keeping her tone even. “Am I supposed to act as if we’re more than what we are?”

The pain that flashed in his eyes was undeniable. An answering pain slashed through her. Wrong, wrong, wrong. “And what are we, exactly?”

“Do you really want to have that talk in the woods, when I have a hangover?”

He slammed his foot into his second shoe. “You know what? Never mind.”

“Good.” She swallowed past her aching throat. “I’m glad we agree on that, at least.”

“On avoiding that particular conversation? Sure.” He shot her a hard look. “But you’re not walking down the damn aisle. I’ll carry you.”

No way. His romantically carrying her down the aisle in his strong arms was not a good idea. “No. I don’t want to be carried by you—or anyone. Got it?”

“I can’t help but notice that you mentioned me first,” he pointed out, bending over and grabbing her shoes. He shoved them in his bag without even asking her whether or not she could walk, and started gathering more items, including the almost-empty vodka bottle. “That’s quite telling if you ask me. There something you want to tell me, Red? Did I snore and keep you up last night?”

“Uh, no.” She shoved her hair out of her eyes. “I just don’t want your help. I don’t need to be saved by you. I’m not one of your helpless patients.”

He snorted, but didn’t say anything. But his jerky motions said it all. He was pissed off, hurt, and maybe a little bit confused. He’d get over it. It was better this way.

“Did I kick in my sleep?” he asked, yanking in his hair. “I seriously have no f**king clue. I’ve never slept with anyone before.”

“I told you. I’m fine. I just—” She paused, his words sinking in. “Wait. You never slept with anyone before? I was your…your…first?”

“Yeah.” He glanced away. “Did I do it wrong?”

Her heart twisted. “No. You did nothing wrong, Tyler.”

“Could’ve f**king fooled me,” he muttered. Once he finished gathering objects, he stared at her with narrow eyes. “I need to pack the sleeping bag, then we’re heading back.”

She bit down on her lip, her mind still wrapping itself around the fact that she’d been the first woman he’d ever slept with. “Do you even know which way to walk?”

“Yeah.” He bent down and lifted her to her feet, making sure he set her in the grass, away from the sharp rocks and twigs. “Down the mountain, just like we did last night.”

“Well, that leaves about a million options,” she mumbled, smoothing her hair.

She probably looked more zombie than human right now, and her mouth tasted about as wonderful as a week-old sock. She’d never felt more unattractive than she did right now, and of course it had to be with Tyler. If nothing else gave them closure, one look her way and he’d be done with her.

He rolled the sleeping bag up. “Do you have a better suggestion?” he asked, his tone as perfectly even as hers was. Apparently, he’d caught on to her desire to distance herself from him. “I’m open to hearing them, unlike some people in this clearing.”

“No,” she admitted. He picked up the vodka bottle and opened the lid. She eyed him. “Drinking already?”

“I’m tempted to,” he muttered under his breath, his gaze locked on her. He took the lid off and swigged it, swished it around like mouthwash, and spit it out into the grass. “Here. It’ll make your breath taste a little bit better. Just don’t swallow unless you want to.”

She took the bottle and did the same thing he did, shuddering at the taste of vodka at such an early hour. It couldn’t even be five o’clock yet, judging from the barely there dawn. The pink had crept a little bit higher, but the night still owned the sky. Once she gurgled and spit, she handed the bottle back to him and wiped her hand across her mouth.

He was right. She felt a tiny bit less repugnant.

Of course, she probably smelled like a lush, but it was still an improvement. “Thanks,” she said, her eyes averted.

“Yeah. Sure. Anytime.” He shoved the vodka into his bag. “Am I allowed to carry you off camera, or is that not allowed either?”

“Last I checked, you had my shoes in your backpack. Does it matter what I want?” she asked, her brows up. “Or is this one of those pointless questions men like to ask women?”

He hauled her into his arms without another word. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but didn’t rest against his shoulder this time. He shifted her in his arms and tipped his head upward.

“The sunrise is pretty,” he said, his tone still perfectly neutral.

She looked up at the sky, her breath catching in her throat. The pinks were now melded with oranges and reds, and the sky was almost blue. The colors were so vibrant and beautiful and perfect. She’d never have thought she would see a sunrise while cradled in Tyler’s arms. Even in Mexico, she hadn’t gotten to watch the morning arrive with him, because he’d left her.