Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare #1)(9)
Author: Diane Alberts

It should have counted as a win…and yet she hadn’t been able to resist poking the bear after she’d fled the scene. She’d gotten his number from Kady, and she’d taunted him. Insinuated he’d been lackluster at best. She’d gotten nothing in return.

Had she won that battle? Hell if she knew.

She’d done some more reading research this morning, a romance book where the heroine seduced the hero for revenge, and according to the book, she’d done the old bait-and-switch properly. And if she couldn’t count on Seducing the Hot Enemy for tips, she was screwed with a capital S.

He should have been desperate for her. Needing her. Not ignoring her.

Maybe she’d done it wrong. Oh well. She had to move on. Keep working on her sex list and forget all about him. If she passed him in the hallway, she would smile politely and keep on walking. No more kissing. No more desire.

No more Tyler.

If only she could stop thinking about him.

She jammed another set of flowers into another identical vase and Julie cleared her throat. “Is there something you’d like to talk about?”

“What?” Christine stuck another set of flowers into the next vase. “No. Why?”

Julie eyed her and straightened the flowers Christine had just finished arranging. “You’re upset about something and taking it out on the poor flowers. If you need to talk, I’m good at listening. You don’t have to beat up pretty flowers to prove it to me.”

“I don’t need to talk.” Christine sighed and filled another vase, setting them in place more gently this time. Earlier, she’d come in to find Julie and Mister Danger himself, Reed, in a very compromising situation. Like, a hand-up-the-skirt type of situation. “If anything, I’d like to talk about safety and ladders. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Julie flushed and fidgeted with the green stems even though they were already centered. “Hush now, professional subject changer.”

Christine smiled and whistled under her breath. Julie’s hot cheeks confirmed her suspicions. Something was going on between her and Reed. Good. It was about time Julie let loose and had some fun. Maybe Christine should ask her for a few pointers on seduction. She obviously had it going on. “Come on. Help a girl out. Who kissed who first? And, oooh, is he a good kisser?”

“Christine Forsythe, I’m ashamed of you!” Julie huffed. “Why, I wouldn’t know, would I?”

Christine laughed. “Oh, I bet you would.” It wasn’t often Julie let go enough to want someone, and it was obvious right now she wanted him, so Christine had to do a tiny bit of ribbing. That is what best friends were for. “Maybe I should go find out for myself. Think he’ll show me?”

“More than likely,” Julie said a bit stiffly. She adjusted the flowers for the third time. “But what about Tyler? I saw him follow you out last night, and when he came back in he was as agitated as a grasshopper in molasses.”

“I have no idea why he would be upset,” Christine said quickly, focusing on the flowers in front of her. “I had nothing to do with it.”

“I didn’t say he was upset,” Julie said, her eyes wide. “Or imply that you caused it.”

Christine snorted, but didn’t say anything else. She’d already said too much.

She had to hand it to Julie, she gave back as good as she got. That’s what Christine loved most about her. Well, that and her utter dedication to making others happy. She was just the sweetest girl around, which is what made her and Mister Danger work. If those two ended up in bed together, Julie would forget all about saying please and thank you.

Although…Christine suspected Julie might thank the good Lord after Reed finished with her.

Julie stood up straight and smoothed her skirt. “But really, he’s not my ty—”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Julie shook her head. “How do you know? I didn’t even finish what I was going to say.”

“You were going to say he’s not your type.” Christine grinned when Julie glowered at her. “I know. But you should be chasing after him anyway. Trust me on this. He’ll rock your world.”

Julie snorted. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Christine.”

“I don’t think so.” Christine smiled. “But we’ll see.”

“Yes, we will.”

No sooner had Julie finished talking than the door opened, and the first of the guests trickled in. She rushed off to make sure they found their seats, and Christine plopped down at the bar. It was going to be a heck of a long night, from the looks of it. After ordering a watermelon martini, she leaned on the bar and pulled out her phone. She had about one hundred emails already, and it was day one of her vacation.

Three of them were from Jake. He wanted to know when her plane would be coming in, so he could pick her up. She still couldn’t believe it had been so long since their parents were killed. She’d been so young, but Jake had been even younger. When they’d died, a nice family had taken him in during his final year of high school, and she’d stayed in college. The only reason she hadn’t rushed home to take care of him, despite their closeness in age, had been the fact that he’d been so well cared for. But man, she’d missed him.

It would be good to be back home with him again.

Someone sat beside her, so she smiled politely and looked up. Well, crap. It was Tyler. She had to act all cool and calm now, when she was anything but. She dropped the smile. “Oh. It’s you. Hey.”

Tyler cocked a brow. “Hello to you, too. Nice to see you being so friendly.”

“You wanted more from me?” She stared at her phone, trying to act as if her every nerve weren’t attuned to him right now. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m done walking down memory lane with you. It’s not on my list.”

He chuckled, relaxed and at ease. “I know, you mentioned that last night. But tell me more about this list.”

“Nah, I don’t think so. It’s need-to-know, and you don’t need to know.” She opened another email. She had no idea what it said. “Why are you here, talking to me of all people? Let me guess. You’re feeling sorry for kissing me, and you’re here to apologize again.”

“Fuck no.” He leaned in closer, his thigh brushing hers. “I didn’t do anything worth apologizing for, Red.”

“I don’t know about that.” She fluttered her lashes at him. “I mean, maybe you pictured me naked while we were kissing. You’d have to drop on your knees and pray for my forgiveness if you did.”