Something Borrowed (Lone Star Match Book 2)

by Megan Ryder

  A knock at the door startled them and Brigid pulled away, her eyes dazed.

  He glared at the door and snarled. “What?”

  Caroline laughed on the other side. “Break it up, love birds. Matthew is itching to golf and we have a spa appointment. Chop-chop!”

  “I can’t get pissed at being cock-blocked by the bride, I suppose,” he grumbled.

  Brigid lifted a shaky hand and smoothed her hair. He was gratified to see she had to struggle to get her breathing under control, evidence that she was as affected as he was. She glanced down at his cock.

  “Sorry to leave you hanging, but you heard the bride!” She grabbed her purse and turned for the door, banging into the wall before opening the door.

  “We’re good together, Brigid. More than just in bed. This isn’t over.”

  She turned, halfway out of the door, a teasing expression on her face. “Not if you’re sleeping on the floor tonight.”

  She closed the door behind her. He cursed softly and headed for the bathroom for another quick shower.

  Chapter Twelve

  Brigid was antsy the entire day. Between no phone or laptop, the ominous email from her boss, and strangers touching her, it was her own personal hell. The other women were relaxed, after an initial blow up between Anna and Delaney. When they returned, the other women headed for naps or quiet time, and Brigid escaped to the office, checking her email and working on the remaining documents. No news on the date for the deal and she couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. Being a glass half-empty kind of woman, she was waiting for the hammer to fall any minute.

  The clock in the hallway chimed and she hurried shut down the computer, determined to keep her promise to Caroline and be present for the events, no matter her opinion on them.

  She was the last to slip into the dining room and she slid into the remaining seat next to Grady. He studied her intently, smoldering heat from this morning banked in his gaze. She ducked her head and looked anywhere but at the man seated next to her.

  Caroline walked in the room and laid a small stack of paper on the table. Matthew followed her and put a bordello-style, gaudy lamp on the table. Brigid groaned under her breath and Grady shot her a questioning look. She leaned in and spoke under her breath.

  “It’s our summer lamp, a prize we used to compete for when we all came out here for the summer.”

  “You call that a prize?” His lip curled. “It’s butt-ugly. If we win, it’s yours.”

  “God, no. Winner picked who had to display it for the year.”

  He nodded. “In other words, you either want to win or be nice to the winner so they don’t foist it off on you.” He glanced at Anna and Delaney. “I think we’re safe.”

  Brigid followed his gaze and smiled. “We’re only safe if one of them wins. I hate to lose so that’s not an option.”

  “I’m shocked,” he muttered.

  Caroline cleared her throat. “We never got to finish our last game to decide who won the summer lamp.”

  “Don’t you think we’re a little too old for games? Besides, no one is going to want that in their house now,” Delaney said.

  “No one ever wanted it in their house. That was the whole point,” Brigid replied.

  “True. But it comes with a monetary prize as well.” Caroline consulted her notes. “We had already anted up our summer prize money that last year. I saved it all and added to it. The winners receive one thousand dollars and the loser gets the summer lamp.”

  “I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to throw that piece of shit away,” Anna grumbled.

  “I think it would look lovely in your house, Anna,” Delaney replied, saccharine sweet.

  Anna glared at her. “Maybe you should display it for your next Fine Home magazine spread. Oh wait, they don’t do apartments.”

  Delaney’s faced reddened but she remained quiet.

  Wyatt lounged in her chair next to Anna, lips twisted in a sardonic smile. “Anna, it would be perfect on the set of your show, don’t you think?”

  The conversation went downhill from there as voices rose and tempers flared. Matthew slammed his hand on the table, cutting everyone off mid-sentence. They all looked at him.

  “You all agreed to be in the wedding. This is part of your duties.” Matthew scanned the table, resting a firm gaze on each person. Satisfied that everyone agreed, he nodded to Caroline.

  “Yes, Dad,” Ethan grinned.

  Matthew shot him the one-fingered salute and Brigid snorted.

  Caroline smiled, with a forced expression. “Thank you. As I said, the grand prize is a thousand dollars and the decision of who gets the lamp. Now, in the past, the rule was you had to display the lamp in your house for the whole year. Back then, it was a source of pride. Now, well, we can all admit it’s a bit overdone. As this will be the last year for the Whitby Summer Challenge, you may dispose of the lamp as you see fit.”

  She walked around the table, laying a piece of paper and an envelope at each woman’s place. “This event is a scavenger hunt. Each team has a list of items you need to get, along with an allotted budget. You must produce a receipt for everything on your list, except one thing, and you cannot go over your budget. Oh, and no cars. You have until ten tonight. Grady, I assigned you with Brigid. Any questions?”

  “Why am I stuck with Grady?” Brigid asked, still peeved about his refusal this morning and sexual tension riding her hard. Working with him on this stupid event was going to push her harder, undo all of her work at rebuilding her walls with him. She couldn’t risk it.

  “Because you’re in the wedding together and you need a partner.” Matthew spoke up. “Consider this event a way to get to know each other.”

  “I think I know him well enough already,” she grumbled, better probably than most in the room realized. How was she going to survive a full night with him, knowing he wanted her but wouldn’t do anything about it?

  “Gee thanks, darlin’. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” Grady drawled next to her, but she caught the flash of hurt covered by his sarcastic words.

  “Shut up, Grady,” Matthew said mildly.

  Delaney scanned her list of items. She raised her hand. “Do we all have the same items?”

  “No. I selected your items carefully, items or tasks that mean something to you or said something about you. You cannot use anything you brought with you, and you must prove the provenance of every item. You are allowed one item that is not paid for but must prove that you got it here on the island tonight. A picture or video will suffice as proof.”

  Brigid scowled at their list. This was going to be impossible. On the bright side, she’d have her phone.

  “Wait a minute. How are we going to figure out who wins? A point per item, right? But who was in the lead before?” Ethan asked.

  She frowned and consulted her paper. “Um, I think it was Ethan and Delaney. But Anna and Wyatt were close behind, by a couple of points.”

  Grady leaned over and whispered, “You suck at this. I want a new partner.”

  “Go for it.” Brigid retorted.

  “Exactly. Are you all ready?” Caroline asked.

  Delaney glanced at the other girls, who nodded. “Not quite. We assumed your plans when we saw this thing. So, we have our own counter challenge for you.” She pulled a folded sheet out of her pocket. “Here is your list, for you and Matthew.”

  Matthew was already shaking his head, a frown evident. “I have work to do. I don’t have time for this.”

  Brigid slid the legal pad across the table. “If I can’t work, you can’t either. It’s your wedding week too, Matt. No excuses.”

  Caroline scowled as she scanned the list. Brigid grinned at the clear discomfort Caroline was exhibiting. She was never very good at these challenges, being too nice to be competitive. This was a little payback for the events of the week. “We’re not letting you off the hook.”

  Ethan arched an eyebrow at Matt. “Do you really want to lose?”

  “If i
t means giving one of you that damn butt-ugly lamp, hell, yes.” But Matthew’s words were belied by the competitive set of his jaw. He didn’t become a lawyer to get along with the world.

  “Fine. We’ll meet back here at ten with our booty.”

  Brigid shoved the chair out behind her. A freaking game. Not exactly what she had in mind for the evening. She pulled out her phone but before she could do anything, Caroline whisked it out of her hands.

  “Not for you. You guys use Grady’s phone. I can’t risk you working when you’re supposed to be playing.”

  Brigid lunged for the phone but Grady grabbed her around the waist and hauled her against him. “Come on, darling. My flip phone can take pictures too.”

  She whirled, horrified. “You have a flip phone? Oh Jesus. We’re doomed.”

  He grinned and half carried her out of the room, like a deflated balloon. They had no chance of winning now. They were doomed.

  *

  Grady strode outside and headed for his truck, Brigid scurrying after him. He patted his pockets for the keys then cursed softly. Brigid leaned against the front of the truck, her arms folded in front of her, a small smile playing about her lips. He stopped and looked at her.

  “What?” His tone was irritable, no thanks to wasting a night on a game.

  “No cars. One of the rules of the game. Your truck is out.”

  He cursed quietly then considered the truck. “Not exactly. I would think you of all people, with your legal background, could find a loophole in the instructions.”

  Brigid pushed off of the truck. “No vehicles. What other options exist? At least it’s not far to the bus stop.”

  He grinned. “I’m not taking a bus. I’m taking my truck.” He pulled his keys out of his back pocket and opened the driver’s door.

  She followed him around the cab of the truck and leaned on the door. “But the rules?”

  “I’m not much for rules and I like loopholes.” He paused. “This is a truck not a car. Hence, exempt from the rules.”

  She took a step back, reluctant admiration in her eyes, a grin crossing her face. “I would have never thought about it like that.”

  He tweaked her nose and winked. “You’re going to have to think a lot more dirty if you want to win. Get in.”

  She darted around the truck and slid in the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt with moments to spare before he peeled out of the driveway, making sure no one could stop them and clarify the loophole. Maybe the night wouldn’t be a total loss. He and Brigid were together, working together on this scavenger hunt list. Maybe he could show her a different side, convince her they could be a good partnership outside the bedroom, although his pride was tweaked when she protested being paired with him. He decided to get that discussion out of the way before moving forward.

  “Sorry I’m not the partner you wanted.” He spoke in the silence and held his breath as he waited for her reply.

  She sighed, a soft sound he almost didn’t hear. “It’s not you, Grady. I just wanted to keep them off our backs.”

  “You mean about our relationship?” He shrugged. “They already know.”

  “We don’t have a relationship. It’s over. I thought it would be easier if we kept Caroline from her matchmaking ways.”

  “It doesn’t have to be over. It looks like we’re going to be thrown together all week, judging by our sleeping arrangements and our assignment today. Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

  She finally turned and faced him, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Grady, I don’t see it that way. I just thought it might be less awkward if we stayed friends.”

  “We should have thought of that four years ago.”

  She pulled her hand away and fisted it in her lap, fingers tangling, reflecting her stress. “Do you regret getting involved with me?”

  “Of course not.” His words were swift and sure.

  And he meant it. What had started has a bit of stress relief and consensual sex, had deepened, at least for his part. And he was pretty sure it had on her side too, if only she would let herself feel it. “You’re smart, funny, and I enjoy spending time with you, outside of the sex. I wouldn’t be asking for more if I regretted it.”

  “Why do we have to change a good thing?” She sighed. “I suppose you’re right though. We can’t just keep going on the way we are.”

  “So why can’t we be more? Why won’t you trust me?”

  “You’re a great guy, Grady. Really. But…” Her voice trailed off as words failed her. She hugged herself and stared out the window instead.

  He groaned. “The dreaded ‘but’. God, now I know how women feel when we use it on them. Let me guess. It’s not you, it’s me. That’s such bullshit.”

  “It’s not bullshit. Making partner involves long hours and dedication. You won’t be happy to have a girlfriend who is never available.”

  “I never complained before. Why would I start now?”

  “Because before it was about sex and we were both busy. Now you want a wife and family, a white picket fence, a dog, all the trapping of suburbia. I’m not meant for that.”

  Her voice sounded regretful and he wasn’t sure if she was sorry to hurt him or sorry that she had made the choice. Either way, the argument was getting them nowhere except losing in the gathering of their list. Time to table the discussion in favor of showing her they could be a good team.

  “What’s on the list? I have to know where I’m going, right?”

  She glanced at him, startled at the sudden change of conversation. He gestured towards the paper balled up in her fist and she blushed. She smoothed the paper and studied it. Her brow furrowed and she frowned as she scanned the list.

  “It makes no sense. This list is full of bullshit items.”

  He tried to snatch it out of her hands but she pulled it out of reach. “Focus on the road, genius. Head for the town. Apparently, there’s a carnival there that we’re attending.”

  He relaxed, a glimmer of a plan forming in his mind. “Great! I love funnel cake.”

  She darted him a sour look. “Of course you do.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Grady parked in the community lot with the other islanders attending the fair. They both got out and stood at the back of the truck, Grady grinning broadly and Brigid scowling. A large Ferris wheel towered over the festivities, and happy music echoed over the crowds of screaming children. Brigid studied the scene with a hint of disgust.

  “God, this is like hell, isn’t it? I never thought Caroline had a mean streak in her.”

  “Hell? This is awesome! How did they get the equipment over here?” Grady inhaled deeply, the scents of the country fair wafting around him, taking him back to his childhood with his father. He couldn’t think of a better place to remind Brigid of who she really was, the fun person that she’d buried deep inside the lawyer persona, the shell she had donned to fit into the law firm where she worked. Caroline was a genius.

  “Seriously? That’s all you can think of right now? When there are hordes of tired, cranky, sugared-up children running loose in there?” She shuddered, but there was a gleam of something in her eye, interest maybe, a glitter of life that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

  “Would you rather forfeit and go back to the house?” He countered, an eyebrow raised, knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge.

  She bit her lower lip, clearly trying to decide if she wanted to win that badly. He gave up waiting, grabbed her by the arm and hauled her down the aisle towards to the entrance. Meanwhile, he snatched the list from her and held it high so she couldn’t get it.

  “We should wait and come up with a plan. Give me the list.” She planted her fists on her hips and glared at him.

  He gestured at the entrance, where Ethan and Delaney were already buying their tickets. He didn’t know where Anna and Wyatt were, but at least one team was there ahead of them.

  “Screw the list. Let’s get in there and figure it out. I’ll bet all of th
e teams are here tonight.” He pointed at the other couple and Brigid cursed.

  “I refuse to keep that lamp in my house. It’s gaudy.”

  He grinned. “We have forty dollars to spend. Tickets are five each, leaving us with thirty. Let’s figure out what we have to buy and what we can get another way.” He consulted the list. “Food, we have to buy it. Unless you want to dig in the garbage.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Gross. You’d better be kidding.”

  “Okay, maybe not. Besides, we have to prove how we got it and no one would believe that. Okay, so we need to go on a ride and get a picture of us on it. Lines will be long. We can eat while waiting in line.”

  “Then throw up immediately? No, we ride first then eat.” She pressed a hand to her stomach as if it were paining her.

  He tracked the movement of her hand and narrowed his gaze, resolving to find something not fatty or irritating to her stomach. Later, they would talk about what was really going on. But for now, she needed to de-stress. He paid for the tickets and fairly dragged her by the elbow into the fair. They paused just inside the gate and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes to fully appreciate the experience.

  “Smell that. Cotton candy, funnel cake, popcorn. Heaven on earth. This is going to be great!”

  “What’s so great about it? Let’s get going on this list,” she grumbled, clearly put out by being forced to have fun.

  He kneaded her shoulders, feeling the tension in the muscles. “Relax, Brigid. We’ll get the items on the list, go on a few rides, have something to eat. It’s meant to be fun. Remember what that is?”

  Her shoulders slumped under his hands and she turned, her eyes looking sad. “I don’t, Grady. I work all the time. I’ve grown up and have a job. I don’t have time for fairs and rides.”