Hayden took his list and put his hand out to his bride-to-be. “How about a dance first?” A slow song poured out of the speakers and her heart sighed watching Vanessa melt under Hayden’s adoring gaze.
She scooted out of the booth to let Vanessa leave and bumped right into Luke’s chest. He stepped to the left. She mirrored his move. A nervous giggle slipped free of her tight smile. Now he was making her nervous?
Shit
.
They stood toe-to-toe, her concentration on the neon beer sign on the wall across the room as Vanessa slid out. Then Erin. Sela moved back into the booth and scooted along the vinyl seat. Luke sidled right in beside her. She turned, hoping to strike up some wedding talk with one of the other girls, but the booth was empty.
Everyone had deserted her.
Except Luke.
She ran her sweaty palms down her black pants. She really wanted to know what she’d done wrong in this life to have the one measly wish she’d asked for so completely backfire.
“What you’ve done for my sister tonight has been really great. She’s lucky to have you.”
Crapity, crap, crap. He was not allowed to talk nice to her. “You don’t need to thank me. Don’t you want to join Shane at the bar or something?”
“Bars really aren’t my scene.”
Sela picked up the beer pitcher and filled her cup. “Could have fooled me. You looked rather happy with the belly thing going on a few minutes ago.” She took a sip.
Luke picked up one of the squirt guns, laughed, and put it back down. “You watching me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I had my eye on Hayden.”
Sort of
.
“I was strictly the pourer, Sela. Making sure the other guys had fun.” He picked up the party favor bag. “Wish I’d known about the paraphernalia. What’s in here?”
She grabbed the bag and held it out of reach. “Girl stuff.”
“I love girl stuff. Show me.” He reached across her and damn if his arm wasn’t long enough to wrench it free from her hand.
“Luke Watters, do not look in that bag.” She twisted and brought her leg up so that her knee touched his thigh.
His eyes darkened. “What if I do? Seems to me the best man and maid of honor shouldn’t hide things from each other.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why do you even care what’s inside?” She stretched for it, but his arm span was like an Olympic athlete’s.
“I’m curious what’s made your cheeks so red. Your brother told me you have a dirty mind and I didn’t believe him.”
“He—”
Kagan stopped at the table. “Hey, how’s it going with the drinks? You good?” She cast a friendly smile at Luke like she knew him, and Sela remembered Shane telling her he’d met Luke for a beer the other night.
“Can I get a shot of tequila, Kagan?” Sela said.
“Make it two.” Luke held up the peace sign.
Sela felt anything but peaceful. “Shane did not say that to you.” There was no way he’d talk about her to Luke. There was no reason. Unless Luke brought her up?
Her insides did a pleasant churn at the idea, which really aggravated her. She could not trust Luke. She could not completely forgive him yet.
He’d ruined her for the rest of high school. No guy had wanted to kiss Corpse Lips. If only zombies had been as popular then as they were now.
“He did. So show me, Miss Sullivan, what do you consider dirty?”
…
Luke handed Sela the bag. He didn’t want to upset her, only ruffle her feathers. She looked damn adorable when she was ruffled.
She hesitated before taking it, and his admiration for her shot up. She wanted to win this situation, not have him basically surrender. He remembered that, even as a teenager, she had fought her own battles and hated any sort of interference or concession.
“Thank you,” she whispered, putting the bag in her lap.
His gaze moved up her torso. The top two buttons of her white cardigan were undone and he could just make out a pink bra underneath. Paired with black pants that fit her to perfection, she was every guy’s night-time fantasy. Every man in the Crown & Anchor had checked her out when they walked in. Luke’s hands had fisted. He’d wanted to punch something. Or someone.
“You know I could very easily grab that bag there?” Luke nodded across the booth.
“Fine. You want to see what’s in the bag? I’ll show you what’s in the bag.” She dumped the contents on the table. “These?” She picked up the handcuffs and looked him straight in the eyes. “These I’d like to use on you right now.”
Aww, hell. The fire in her eyes matched the fire burning inside him, and he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and take her somewhere she could use them and anything else she wanted. Especially the edible finger paints.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m all yours.”
Their gazes locked and for a long beat Luke wondered where
her
mind was at.
Then at the exact same time, their eyes narrowed and they cracked up. “You remember?” she whispered.
“You arresting me when we were kids? Yeah.”
“I’m the sheriff,” Sela’s eight-year-old self had said. “And you’re under arrest.”
“What are you charging me with?” ten-year-old Luke always asked.
“Stealing.” She would reach for his wrists.
“I’m all yours.”
She had handcuffed him and led him to “jail,” where he’d sat on the swing in the yard and watched her march over to her brother. He’d smiled. He and Shane had let her play with them and be the sheriff because she was sad that his sisters had been invited to a birthday party and she hadn’t.
“Has anyone ever told you your eyes turn the warmest shade of bronze when you laugh?” he asked her now.
“Wh-What? No.” She blinked double time and twisted away.
The waitress, the same girl from the other night when he’d met Shane for a drink, dropped off their shots. “Let me know if I can get you two anything else. Looks like Vanessa is scoring a pair of boxer shorts.” She nodded toward the dance floor before hurrying away.
“No way. That was fast,” Sela said.
Sure enough, some guy was waving his Jockey’s in the air above his head and pointing to his cheek with his other hand. Vanessa gave him a quick peck and the boxers were hers. The crowd on the dance floor erupted in cheers and applause.
“You should be out there,” he said.
“Yeah.”
“But?”
“But this isn’t really my scene, either.” She watched his sister with love and admiration and a piece of his heart was forever captured.
Vanessa and Sela had more than your ordinary friendship and he was eternally grateful to Sela for that.
“So what is?” he asked.
Her brows crinkled.
“Your scene?” Despite knowing he should stay as far away from her as possible given the inappropriate thoughts in his head, he couldn’t stop the pull to get to know her better. To find out what made her tick. What she wanted out of life.
“Ready?” she asked, ignoring his question and sliding over one of the shots. She put the items back into the gift bag and then reached for her own glass.
He put his hand on hers. An instant rush of warmth spread up his arm and fanned out to every inch of his being, leaving no spot unmarked. She tipped her head and locked those incredible gold depths on him. Did she feel the same unnerving response? He’d touched many women and no one had ever had this effect on him.
“I don’t want the drink,” he said.
She gulped. Her eyelids fluttered closed. The tiny space between their bodies crackled with temptation.
“Dude,” Shane said, slapping his hands on the table. “You don’t need to keep my sister company. Get your ass out here. There’s this girl who not only ties cherry stems with her teeth but—”
“Got it,” Luke shouted, realizing the music and conversations in the bar had gotten louder. He also slipped his hand off Sela’s. “I’ll be over in a minute. Sela was just about to tell me something.”
Shane saluted them and left.
“You’re my brother’s best friend,” she said, tucking her hands under her legs.
“I know.”
“You’re also the guy who…” She paused and shook her head. “You’re also my best friend’s brother, and I think you should go join the others now. I don’t need you babysitting me.”
Luke heard the hesitation in her voice and damn if he didn’t want to call her on it. But she was right. Shane would see red if he got involved with her. Especially given he was only in town for a short time. And how would Vanessa feel if he told her he was attracted to her best friend? Did the same rules they’d made as teenagers apply now that they were adults?
“Answer my question and I’ll go.” He inched toward the edge of the booth to give her some breathing room.
“You first.” She raised her chin in defiance. Damn, she turned him on.
“Answer my own question?”
She shrugged. “You started it.”
“Okay. On a Saturday night I like to stay in. Order Chinese and watch a movie.”
She ran her finger along the rim of her shot glass. “You’ve just completely blown the image I have of you.”
“You’ve got an image of me?”
“Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I think the beer and tequila are starting to take effect. I just meant that with your career, you seem like someone who doesn’t like to sit still for very long.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But everyone needs some downtime.” He stared at her profile and raked his hand through his hair. “Your turn.”
She let out a sigh. “I like to write. And that’s all I’m saying so you can just keep moving that way.” She shooed him toward leaving the booth. “And make sure Hayden has a good time.”
“You still like to have the last word. Okay, Ms. Writer, I’ll go mingle. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do while I’m gone.” He stood.
“
Pfftt
. Don’t give me a second thought,” she half shouted.
“I won’t,” he lied.
“Good.” She looked somewhere over his shoulder and her lips stretched into a smile that made his legs weak.
He turned to see who had drawn her attention, but in the sea of bodies he couldn’t be sure. Dammit. He had to get over this infatuation with her. There was too much at stake if he didn’t.
Chapter Six
“Who knew I’d make money tonight, too,” Vanessa shouted over the thumping dance music. Her headpiece was matted to her sweaty hair, her cheeks were flushed, and Sela had never seen her smile so much.
Hayden danced over and twirled her. “It’s my turn,” he said, picking up her arm and biting off the rest of the candy on her bracelet.
Vanessa had made twenty bucks with Sela’s Suck-For-a-Buck game. For one dollar, willing males got to remove the candy from her bracelet—with their teeth. Hayden had been a trooper, enduring the attention to Vanessa’s wrist.
He kissed his way up her arm and then planted one on her mouth. Sela moved away but kept dancing. Across the room she caught sight of Luke and Shane talking with Kagan and another pretty girl Sela didn’t know.
“Want a partner?” a man asked.
She turned. It was the quieter of the two guys who had bought them the pitcher of beer. His eyes were friendly, his dance moves nice. “Sure.”
“I’m Troy.”
“Sela.”
He stepped a little closer. “It’s nice to meet you, Sela.”
They danced and made small talk. She tried to keep her eyes on him, but every few seconds her gaze darted to Luke. The same girl still had him engrossed in conversation.
“You thirsty?” Troy asked after a couple of minutes.
“I am.” She followed him off the dance floor and to the bar. Milt gave his crooked, grouchy half smile before he turned a sharp eye on Troy.
“What can I get you?” Milt asked.
“I’ll have a tequila sunrise,” Sela said, winking at Milt. He knew exactly what she drank and she appreciated that he played along.
Troy put a twenty on the counter. “I’ll have whatever you’ve got on tap.”
Milt nodded and Sela spun around so she could lean against the bar and watch the busy pub. Vanessa and Hayden were still dancing. Erin and Troy’s friend were dancing. The other bridesmaids had found dance partners, too.
“You know,” Troy said, “we went to high school together.”
Her stomach sank. “We did?”
“I was a year behind you, so we didn’t know each other, but I knew who you were.” He grabbed their drinks and handed Sela hers.
Corpse Lips
came flooding back. Her knees almost buckled. The reason people knew her in high school was because of the reputation Luke had given her. She downed her drink and asked Milt for another.
“Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say. She hated that something that happened so long ago could still pierce her heart and make her hands shake.
“We were in anatomy together.”
She tapped her foot. “Really? I loved that class. What are you doing now?” Desperate to veer the conversation away from high school, she hoped he liked to talk about his occupation.
“I just moved back from Boulder. I’m a paramedic.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Wow. I’m in the medical field, too. I work as an RN.” She looked a little closer at him. He was cute. Friendly. She wished she felt even a hint of attraction to him.
“I know; Erin told me. You’re at Cascade General?”
She nodded. Milt put down her drink refill, and she took a sip through the tiny straw.
Troy’s arm brushed hers. “I’ll keep an eye out for you if I’m there.”
“I’d like that. In fact, if you give me your cell phone I’ll program my number in.” It was time she took the initiative in her nonexistent love life. “I hope you’ll call me sometime.”
“Babe, there you are.”
Sela sputtered in her drink as Luke wormed his way between her and Troy right as Troy was about to hand her his phone. “The wedding party needs you,” Luke added.
She opened her mouth to tell him where to shove it but nothing came out.
Babe?
Was he drunk? She pushed him aside and looked at Troy. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I guess I’m needed.”
“No problem,” Troy said, glancing at Luke, and Sela could see he thought Luke was more than just a meddlesome pain. “I’ll catch you later.”
“What are you doing?” she rasped once Troy had walked away.
“Didn’t Shane ever tell you never to give your phone number to a guy in a bar?”
“How did you…?” She let out a breath. “Shane taught me a lot of things.” She turned fully and faced him. “Like how to knee a guy who’s bothering me.”
Luke moved closer. Her breath hitched, but she stood her ground.
“Come on. Dance with me?” he said, his voice soft and apologetic. He put out his hand.
She hesitated for a split second, then took it. “I thought you barged in on my conversation because of something wedding-related.”
The crowd parted for them as if Luke were some kind of god. She maybe ogled his very nice backside.
They reached the center of the dance floor in time for a slow song. Luke put one hand on the small of her back and gently clasped her hand with the other, arms up, in a traditional dance pose.
“I did,” he said.
She hated that the way he moved aroused every nerve ending and quickened every beat of her heart. No matter how much her mind yelled he was still a jock-ass, when he held her like this, when their bodies were only a hairbreadth away, every ugly thought inside her melted away. His gentle yet firm hold and ardent gaze spoke of devotion and safekeeping, and she wondered if he realized what he might be capable of.
“What is it?” She looked around for Vanessa and saw her back at the table with Erin and the other girls. She immediately tried to break free of Luke, but he pressed her closer. Their breaths mingled.
“My sister is fine.” He spun her so she’d have to crane her neck to see Vanessa.
“This had better be good.”
His eyes narrowed. “Or what?”
“Or I may never talk to you again.”
“I can think of several things we could do besides talk.”
“Luke. Stop. You cannot say things like that to me.” She pulled away, but her feet only took one slow step back at a time.
He ran a hand across his forehead. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He inched closer. “But my interruption
was
wedding-related. I wanted to dance with the beautiful maid of honor.”
Her legs shook. If she were hearing his tone right and reading his expression right, that was an honest
I’m interested in you
compliment. She turned in search of Vanessa. Or Shane. Was anyone watching them? If she and Luke kept up this careless tap dance, she feared she’d do something to irrevocably hurt her friendship with Vanessa.
“Moves Like Jagger” came over the speakers and before she or Luke could say anything more, the wedding party piled onto the dance floor.
Thank you, Maroon 5.
For several beats she danced with Vanessa and Erin and let the music take over her body. The tension in her neck relaxed. The crowd swallowed her, and she wasn’t the maid of honor or Shane’s little sister, she was just a girl on the dance floor. Until she turned and found herself right up beside Luke again. Dammit.
Their bodies weren’t touching, but she’d swear his vibrations flowed through her. No matter how much she didn’t want it to be true, no matter how much he’d hurt her feelings, no matter how much she might hurt Vanessa, she lost herself to him while they danced.
Luke didn’t miss a beat, and she matched him move for move. A slow smile played along his lips.
She stopped thinking and sang the words in her head, enjoyed the rhythm and the melody. With each step, Luke countered like they’d danced together to this song a hundred times. It really wasn’t fair that he was gorgeous
and
a good dancer.
Someone bumped his shoulder and the happiness on his face disappeared. To anyone else it might mean irritation at the body contact, but she had a feeling it was more than that. The jolt had sent another sharp pain through him. She reached out to put her hand on his chest.
Vanessa grabbed her arm before she made contact and swung her around. Sela peeked over her shoulder, but Luke had disappeared into the sea of bodies.
She fought the urge to follow him.
…
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Luke scowled at his best friend. “Having a drink of water.”
Shane leaned against the bar and looked at him like he was a dumbass. Which he no doubt was. Thank God Vanessa had grabbed Sela when she did. The stab of pain stung, but Sela’s sympathy hurt more. What an idiot he’d been to tell her about his accident. He didn’t want her fawning over him because he was hurt.
“You know that’s not what I meant. What the hell are you doing with my sister?”
“Relax. We were just dancing.”
“That was not just dancing. You were undressing her with your eyes.”
Lying to Shane never worked, so he went with the truth. “It was either me or that Joe Schmo over there.” Luke nodded toward the guy who’d almost gotten Sela’s phone number. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “I figured with me you know she’s safe.”
“Safe my ass. What’s going on with you two?”
“You think something’s going on?” Then could he please explain it to Luke? The woman disarmed him with such ease he didn’t know what to make of their relationship. Her position with his family should have him running into the Pacific, not into her personal space every time he had the chance.
“She’s my sister, Luke. If you do anything to hurt her, you know I’ll take her side.” Shane knocked him with his shoulder. “After I mess up that pretty-boy face of yours.”
“I’m not planning on doing anything. We’re friends.”
“Doubtful. She can’t stand you.”
“That was a long time ago.” Luke downed some more cold water. The pain in his chest had subsided, but talk of Sela brewed a different sort of ache.
“Are you dense?” Shane asked. “She’s only putting up with you because of the wedding. Girls remember all the shit guys did to them when they were young, and you, my friend, embarrassed her in front of a lot of people. I heard her crying that night, but when I tried to comfort her she begged me to just forget about it. That’s the only reason I didn’t say anything to you the next day.”
The apology Luke still hadn’t given Sela sprung to mind. Would it even matter if he said he was sorry? Better yet, if he kept it to himself, he could stew in his regret and be reminded that he had no place in her life.
“You’re right. We’re not friends. I just wanted to be nice for Vanessa’s sake.”
“Well, keep it to a minimum. If you’re too nice to her she
might
start to like you. And we both know that’s a bad idea. Vanessa will survive if the two of you don’t get along.”
Yeah, but would he?
“Hey,” Kagan said, bumping Shane’s hip. “I’m off in ten. Your offer still stand?”
Shane rose to his full height and puffed out his chest. “Absolutely.”
Kagan glanced at the floor then back at Shane. “Great. I’ll see you in a few.”
Luke cracked up. “Careful. You’re about to burn a hole through her back with your stare.”
“Could you do me a favor?” Shane spared him a glance. “I was supposed to give Sela a ride home. Think you can do it for me? I’ll owe you one.”
“What happened to us staying away from each other?” The laser-sharp focus Shane had just put on Kagan? Nothing compared to the attention he’d kept on Sela. Which meant he really needed to keep his distance.
Right now, she was dancing like she was the only one in the room but smiling at those around her like she wouldn’t be standing there without them. He wondered if she had any clue how engaging she was.
Her gaze captured his, like it seemed to do whenever too much time had passed without acknowledgment. He looked away. If he had any hope of forgetting the influence she had over him, he had to keep his eyes off her. He’d crossed the line earlier, unable to help himself, and he couldn’t do it again.
“Now that we’ve had our little talk, I can trust you,” Shane said.
“I won’t let her walk. How’s that? But maybe someone else can give her a ride.”
“Dude. You’re giving her the ride. You’ll be in the car with her for, like, five minutes. I think you can survive that.”
Luke inwardly sighed. Shane thought Sela was safe with him when the complete opposite was true.
“Fine. I’ll make sure she gets home okay.”
Ten minutes later, he regretted those words.
In the confines of his rented Audi, the floral fragrance on her skin teased him each time she squirmed. Her every shift made his zipper tighter. If she would just sit still, he could concentrate on the road and not the way her cardigan gaped open in her effort to get more comfortable.
“Do you think you could stop fidgeting?” he said.
“Could you drive faster? I think I’m going to…” She rolled down the passenger window, leaned her head out, and threw up.
Luke veered to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. “Are you—”
She slowly turned back around. “I’m really sorry. It just hit me so fast, I didn’t know what to do.”
“Are you okay? People normally wait until the car has stopped so they can open the door.”
Her head lolled to the side and her glassy eyes and trembling lips hit him upside the head with shame. She wiped the sleeve of her sweater across her mouth. “I’m not normal,” she whispered.
Tie his heart to a pole and shoot arrows at it. That’s what her soft voice and wounded expression did to him. He reached into the glove box and handed her a tissue.
“You’re right. You’re not. You’re…”
She flung the door open and vomited again, saving him from saying something he had no business voicing. When finished, she bent forward and covered her face with her hands. “This sucks.”
“I didn’t think you were so drunk.”
“I didn’t think so, either,” she said, straightening up. “But I did drink way more than usual.” She closed the car door. “I hate to tell you this but there’s Moroccan food that smells like beer on the side of your car.”
He laughed. He enjoyed that she could make fun of the situation. “Think it’s safe to put the car in drive?”
“Sure. What’s the worst that can happen? Now that I know protocol, I’ll shout a warning to stop.”