Falling for the Groomsman Read online

  Christine shifted in her seat. Regan didn’t know about her and Tyler. No one did. It was their dirty little secret. So what was Regan hinting at? Christine smiled. “It was fine. Why wouldn’t it be? We barely know each other.”

  That much was true. They just knew what each other looked like naked, is all.

  “You tell me,” Regan said, watching Christine too closely. “Every time someone mentions him, you tend to zone out and pretend he’s not real. Now that you’ve seen him, you’re acting like a space cadet. Something’s going on.”

  “My distraction has nothing to do with him.” Christine forced a smile. “I’m just tired.”

  “I know a good remedy for tired,” Regan said, using air quotes around the word “tired.” “Want me to share it?”

  “Does it involve a hot man and a bed?” Christine asked, biting down on the corner of her lower lip to keep from laughing, since she knew it almost certainly did. “Because that’s totally on my list.”

  “Ah, yes. The sexy list of ‘things to do while unemployed.’”

  “I’m not unemployed,” Christine whispered, peeking at Kady. “I just didn’t start my new job yet. Thanks for the help, by the way.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Regan said, waving away the fact that she’d helped Christine get her new job. “Back to the fun stuff…let’s talk about the party train you have planned. It’s about time you started living life instead of reading about it.” Regan leaned closer, her expensive perfume wafting over. “But as far as my earlier remedy goes? The bed’s optional.”

  Christine laughed. “I’ll make a side note on my list.”

  Julie came back in the room leading a wide-eyed woman by the arm who looked a lot like Colt, Kady’s soon-to-be husband. She had to be his little sister, Sophie. She carried herself with the same determined manner, and squared her jaw in the exact same way Colt did when he was dead set on winning an argument. But Christine saw the way her eyes flitted about the room and recognized the signs all too easily.

  Sophie was nervous as hell.

  “Hello, I’m Christine,” she said, smiling and reaching out to squeeze the other woman’s hand. “Your brother told me so much about you.”

  Sophie smiled shyly. “Don’t believe everything you hear from him.”

  “Honey? I’m a journalist. I fact-check everything,” Christine said with a wink.

  Kady looked past Christine toward the entrance, let out a little squeal, and took off. If she was excited, it meant the men were here. If the men were here…

  Tyler was behind her.

  Had he been angry when he returned and found her gone? Or had he been relieved not to have to act all compassionate toward a woman he would rather not deal with?

  Lifting her glass, she chugged the rest of her champagne. She wouldn’t turn around and check him out. She wouldn’t take a look at all the things she’d been remembering since she crashed into him, like how huge his biceps had felt. Or how soft his hair had been. Or how her stomach had tightened when her breasts had brushed his chest and—

  Argh. She was doing it again. Thinking about him.

  Time to stop. Maybe she should cross something off her sex list tonight. Find a stranger to make out with. That shouldn’t be too hard…but it wouldn’t happen if Tyler was in the same room. She’d be too busy trying not to look at him.

  Regan leaned forward in her seat. “All right, tell me about these groomsmen so I can decide which lucky one gets to see me naked.”

  Christine stiffened. Not Tyler. Not Tyler.

  Just because she didn’t want him and he didn’t want her didn’t mean she wanted him with someone else. Yeah, super logical. But it didn’t matter if the logic didn’t make sense. She didn’t want to watch him hanging all over someone else, like, ever.

  He could become a priest or something. That wasn’t asking too much.

  When it came to men, Regan was everything that Christine wasn’t. Confident. Assertive. Fearless. Christine had no problem asserting herself professionally, or channeling confidence and bravery when necessary to get the story, because when it came to the job, she always knew what she was doing.

  Personally? Yeah. Not so much. But hey, at least she was aware of her faults. She also spent way too much time playing Flappy Bird, loved all things Kardashian, and thought man had never actually walked on the moon. Oh, and she drooled when she was drunk, too. Apparently, she could add selfishly not wanting to see Tyler happy with anyone else, even though she didn’t want him, to that list.

  She could live with that.

  “So, who wants to bag a groomsman with me?” Regan asked. “Don’t leave me in this alone.”

  “I’m in,” Julie blurted. Christine shot her a surprised look. Of all people, she hadn’t expected Julie to jump in on the idea. Julie prided herself on being the quintessential Southern lady—not the type for a one-night stand. “We’re on vacation, right? I want to be seen naked, too.”

  So did Christine. But it wouldn’t be with a groomsman, thank you very much.

  As Julie and Regan sparred back and forth about the best man to pick, Christine tightened her fists in her lap, opening and closing them reflexively. She wouldn’t look. She would not look. Not until she was good and ready.

  She scratched her head and without even realizing her intention…she did one of those “not looking” things where you peek over your shoulder nonchalantly as if you’re just curious about your surroundings and not looking for someone.

  And she, of freaking course, looked straight at Tyler.

  When she glanced back, her gaze latched onto Tyler’s within seconds. Oh my God, had he been watching her? As soon as their eyes locked, he winked at her. Hot damn, he looked good. Way too good. He wore the same suit he’d had on earlier, but if anything he looked even hotter. More irresistible than ever.

  Same brown hair. Same green eyes. Same devastating effect on her senses.

  She turned around, her pulse leaping at the eye contact. Holy crap. She was so screwed…and not in the literal sense. Why had she looked? More importantly, why had she glanced away like a scared little rabbit when she had? She wasn’t supposed to be nervous.

  Bold. Confident. Free.

  That was her.

  She peeked over her shoulder again. He still watched her with a heat level in his eyes that made her toes curl in her red stilettos and her breath whoosh out of her lungs. This time, she didn’t back down. She held his gaze for so long she couldn’t believe her heart didn’t jump out of her chest like in those cartoons.

  And this time? He broke the gaze first.

  But the way he’d looked at her? Oh my God. It made her want.

  “Looks like Julie’s made her pick.” Regan said while filling up her glass. “You sure about that one? He is tall, troubled, and dangerously sexy. Not your usual type.” She paused. “Although maybe he’s exactly what you need.”

  Forcing her attention back to the girls, Christine ignored the urge to look at him again. Tyler’s name had come into play again as a potential target. This was ridiculous. What was even more ridiculous? She wanted to publicly claim Tyler just so no one else would. “I agree. He’s definitely the one you should pick, Julie. So that’s settled, right? I vote for a topic change.”

  Regan and Julie exchanged glances. “No. It’s not settled,” Julie said as her gaze moved over the men. She lingered on a smiling black-haired man with an athletic build. “That one. Logan. Best man, so he’s obviously trustworthy. I’ll take him.” Colton’s sister, Sophie, choked on her sip of champagne. Julie reached over and patted her on the back. “All right, darlin’?”

  “Never better.”

  Regan nodded. “Driven, successful, total package. I can see why you’d want to go there. Wish I’d called dibs first, actually.”

  “You guys aren’t really picking out conquests, right?” Christine asked, her mind still locked on the idea of claiming Tyler. “Can’t we just have a fun, relaxing girls’ weekend?”

  “If
you had the equipment, I’d consider it.” Regan waggled her eyebrows as she sipped her drink, then took in the men one more time. “All right, I’m staying away from Mister Danger.”

  Christine easily located the groomsman Regan commented on. He glowered off into the distance, looking as approachable as an angry rattlesnake.

  “Julie’s got her sights set on the best man.”

  Ah, yes, the one who looked as if he belonged on a yacht or something else equally expensive.

  “That leaves me with Kady’s big bro. I’ve always found him to be the sweet, strong, silent type.”

  No. Just…no. “I don’t think he’s sweet at all,” Christine blurted out.

  Crap.

  “In that case, I’m definitely going with Tyler,” Regan said, her eyes on Christine. “I think he’s got a certain je ne sais quoi. Sophie? You getting in on this?”

  Sophie’s reply was lost on Christine. As was the rest of the conversation.

  Regan was going after Tyler, and Christine had no doubt in her mind she could succeed without a whole lot of effort. She’d bet her last dollar that with Regan, Tyler wouldn’t apologize afterward. He wouldn’t regret a darn thing. But would Regan actually go after him? She had always been uncannily adept at reading between the lines, and right now Christine was screaming to stay away from him…

  Between the lines, of course.

  She shoved her chair back from the table with shaking hands. She wobbled on her feet, trying to keep her balance. The last thing she needed right now was to fall face-first onto the floor. “I-I need some air. I can’t breathe in here.”

  Regan reached out and grabbed her elbow. “How much did you drink?”

  “Apparently not enough.” Christine offered her a smile. “But I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  “You know I was just messing—”

  “I know,” Christine said, stumbling away and beelining for the door. Wait. Was Regan saying she knew about Christine and Tyler? But she couldn’t. “W-We’ll talk later.”

  Regan let her go, but she watched her with a furrowed brow. Even though Christine knew she was worried, she couldn’t take the time to reassure her right now. She needed to get out, escape Tyler’s overwhelming presence, and start using her spicy romance novel tricks—such as going down on a guy in public—on someone who didn’t make her heart involuntarily stop and her toes curl.

  Chapter Three

  Tyler ran a hand through his hair and rocked back on his heels, trying his damned best to ignore Christine. The fact that he could feel her eyes on him was not a good sign of how this week was going to go. Not that it came as much of a surprise. He’d spent the last eight years trying to drown himself in his work and in saving the world, one bloody surgery at a time.

  It was kind of his thing, taking care of people. He was good at it, too.

  But seeing her was hauling his ass back to the time he went down to Mexico with his sister and her friends. Back to the time when he’d taken advantage of the shy but fiery redhead, then ran from her afterward. That? Not so fucking good of him.

  She’d been gorgeous, lonely, and grief-stricken. He’d wanted to help her. Heal her. If he’d known she was untouched, he never would have touched her. He shouldn’t have in the first place, but the whole virgin thing had just been the icing on top of the huge portion of guilt cake he’d been served.

  The girls had been eighteen, and in their first year of college. That in and of itself was asking for trouble. He’d been fresh out of med school about to embark on a crazy adventure with Doctors Without Borders. The vacation had been a great chance to get some downtime before his departure, keep an eye on the girls, and spend some time with his sister before he left.

  But when Christine had slipped away from the group on the last night, he’d followed her to make sure she was okay. He’d found her alone, sobbing and struggling to open her hotel door, and he hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t thought. He’d just pulled her into his arms to comfort her. Though his intention had been to offer her a shoulder and dry her tears—maybe say something witty to bring out the smile he’d come to treasure so damn much—she’d looked up at him with those wide blue eyes and he’d…just fucking broken.

  He didn’t have another word for it, even if that one didn’t make any sense.

  The second he’d wrapped his arms around her, something inside him shifted. As if he needed to kiss her to make her feel better. As if kissing her would make him feel better. It had been obvious and frightening. The second their mouths met, her soft lips trembling under his, everything felt right. Perfect.

  And now, here they were. Should he say something to her? Break the silence? But what was he supposed to say? Sorry for popping your cherry and not talking to you for eight years. But, hey, can I buy you a drink? Somehow, that didn’t seem sufficient for the hatred she must feel for him by now.

  Unable to resist, he looked her way again. Her deep-red hair shone in the dim candlelight, making her stand out among the roomful of blondes and brunettes. He couldn’t see her eyes, but he knew they would be as blue as the sky on a summer day.

  When she smiled…ah, when she smiled, an adorable dimple popped out to play. She only had one—not two. He knew she hated it. He’d once told her he thought it was adorable. Still did.

  An elbow slammed into his ribs, and Kady hugged him tight. “You’re here!”

  “Of course I’m here,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, her voice muffled by his chest. “Maybe a little bit. You’re always in some crazy country or another.”

  He sighed and let go of her. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world and you know it.”

  “Yeah, well, you are a hotshot chief now.”

  Kady, of course, referred to his promotion at work in Portland, Oregon. He’d been named the newest chief of Emergency Medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital. He’d come back to the States just a month or so ago, and would be staying for at least a year before he’d take a leave of absence to return overseas.

  He knew that sooner rather than later, he would get that itch to travel again. He was like an adrenaline junkie, and his rush of choice was helping people who couldn’t otherwise get help in dangerous places. It would only be a matter of time before that was his life again.

  “Hey. Pay attention to me.” She poked him in the ribs. “You look like you’re miles away…again.”

  He smiled down at his little sister. Her brown hair was smooth and shiny, and she looked so damn happy. It was a little crazy that it was his childhood friend who’d made her feel that way, but whatever. “Sorry, it didn’t tell me I should pay attention to you on my itinerary. It just said ‘bridesmaids to gather for drinks in the Osprey Lounge.’”

  “Oh, stop teasing. I know how you like to be in control all the time—admit it. You love it,” Kady said, hugging him tightly and laughing. “Julie went above and beyond.”

  “I noticed,” he said drily. “Is there really a scavenger hunt?”

  “Yep! This is going to be the most epic wedding ever, and I expect you to show up at every single event, no matter how big of a title you have in front of your name now.” She beamed at Colt, who’d been standing by her side silently throughout the whole conversation. “I’m so happy we’re all here together.”

  “Congrats on the job, by the way,” Colt said, nodding his head. “That’s a big jump.”

  “Thank you.” He shook Colt’s hand, trying not to glower at him. Because he was happy for them. He really was. But he was still wrapping his head around the fact that his old buddy was about to become his future brother-in-law…and seeing his little sister naked on a daily basis. It was fucking weird. “But the real congrats go to you for marrying my sister.”

  “Of course,” Colt agreed, his warm eyes on Kady. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  Kady and Colt shared one of those wordless exchanges that couples could do. He’d like to think he would
find the same kind of happiness, one day. If he ever got to the point where his career didn’t own him body and soul.

  As if on their own accord, his eyes strayed to where Christine sat. She shoved back from the table and stood up unsteadily. When she wobbled, looking as if she might tumble, he stepped forward—which was a stupid move. He was too far away to catch her, anyway. What had he expected to do? Grow extend-o-arms to save the girl? He’d already tried to be her savior in Mexico, and look how lovely that turned out.

  When she righted herself and headed for the door, everything inside him shouted to follow her. But their last encounter had been a huge failure. He’d rehearsed a whole fucking speech in his head when he’d walked down the hall to get ice, and she had run away. Hell, he deserved it. Once upon a time he’d run from her, too. Karma was a bitch.

  He forced his attention back to his sister. Kady wobbled on her feet. This time, he was close enough to catch the girl. He steadied his sister, holding her in his arms, and shot her a disproving glance. “Jesus. How much did you girls drink before we got here?”

  She snorted. “Enough to laugh at the look you’re giving me.”

  “Don’t worry, Tyler. She’s not your responsibility anymore.” Colt held his arms open. “I’ll take her off your hands.”

  She wasn’t his to protect anymore, and that was something he’d have to get used to. Kady was right when she said he liked being in control. He liked knowing all was well with those he cared about. But he would have to back off. He released her, and she moved into Colt’s arms. Colt hugged her close, his whole body relaxing the second she touched him.

  That was what love looked like.

  Tyler met the future groom’s eyes. “Are you going to make sure she doesn’t get this wasted on your honeymoon?”

  Colt rolled his eyes. “Please. If anything, I’ll be helping her get wasted. She’ll be my wife, not my little sister.”

  Tyler cocked his brow, unable to resist a little bit of teasing. “Maybe I should come along, just in case, and make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. You know, like in Mexico.”