by Jamie Beck
Hank wouldn’t lie and pretend some part of him hadn’t felt avenged when her ex got arrested on assault charges. But for the most part, he’d been extremely upset Cat and Vivi had been in such danger, especially after learning the guy’s lawyer succeeded in keeping him out of jail. Cat’s decision to date an asshole, when she could have her pick of any number of decent men, boggled his mind.
He’d come to this wedding convinced he would no longer feel this tug in his chest. Things had been going pretty well until Jackson interfered and made off with Amy.
Yeah, things had been going okay until Cat cuddled up against him during their dance. In an instant, he’d started falling back under her spell. Hell, at that point he’d been counting the parquet floor tiles to keep from reacting to her drop-dead bedroom eyes and those wine-colored lips.
Holding her in his arms again had been the most exquisite form of torture. When she’d purred in his ear, his insides had exploded like a Roman candle.
But she’d been drinking champagne all night, and experience told him that dance was merely another “Cat”-and-mouse game. She may think of him as some lowly carpenter to toy with, but he wouldn’t be her fool twice.
“Is that scowl for me?” Jackson slapped Hank on the back. “You know I was just having a little fun. I’m not really trying to steal Amy from you.”
“I might be pissed if I actually considered you any kind of threat,” Hank joked, thankful Jackson had no idea what he’d really been thinking.
“Well, we’ll never know because, unlike my brother, I’m not looking for love.” Jackson’s gaze veered across the crowd to David and Vivi, who were approaching them. “But I’m glad some people find it.”
Hank ignored Jackson and stole a glance at Cat, who was sitting beside her father at her table with her chin propped up in her palm. Her unfocused eyes stared into the distance while she mindlessly tapped her pinky finger against her cheek. When he’d first seen her tonight, she looked brittle, like she might snap in two at any time. Curiosity pricked him, but whatever had her preoccupied wasn’t his business.
“Hey, you.” Vivi tugged at Hank’s forearm. “How about dancing with the bride?”
David nodded in agreement, so Hank set his glass down on the bar and led Vivi to the dance floor. Her big smile made him grin. Meeting her last summer had been a breath of fresh air. She might be a pip-squeak of a girl, but the size of her heart more than made up for her tiny stature.
“Thank you for dealing with my dad.” Vivi’s gaze drifted to the floor. Her suddenly somber expression kicked his heart. No bride should have to worry about anything on her wedding day, especially Vivi. “I didn’t realize he had so much to drink so early.”
“Forget about it and enjoy the night,” he said, raising her chin with his fingers. “Nothing but good memories, okay? Besides, I have to eat some crow. Seems you were right about David after all. He never once looked at Laney the way he looks at you, and now here we are dancing at your wedding.”
As the words left his mouth, he wondered if he could remove the foot he’d just stuffed in there when mentioning David’s ex-girlfriend. Fortunately, Vivi seemed unaffected by his blunder.
“You should always trust my instincts.” She grinned. “Speaking of which, I saw you and Cat dancing. Does that mean the frost has thawed?”
Hank hadn’t thought his and Cat’s indifferent behavior last summer had been particularly noteworthy, but apparently he hadn’t been as nonchalant as he’d hoped. Had Cat told Vivi anything about their past? Annoyed with himself for giving a damn, he spun Vivi away and back again. “Your friend Amy seems like a nice girl. What’s her story?”
Vivi frowned before she wiped the expression from her face. “Well, Amy is a good friend and a thoughtful person. A lot like you, actually.” She then pinned him with her saucer-eyed stare. “She’s great, Hank. But wouldn’t you rather be with someone who challenges you, who pushes and surprises you . . . who excites you? Because I know someone who might do all that and more.”
Vivi glanced over to where Cat was sitting.
“Why do newlyweds always try to play matchmaker?” Hank asked before playfully dipping her as the song ended. He kissed her cheek, cutting the conversation short. “Congratulations, Mrs. St. James. I’m really happy for you.”
He led Vivi back to her husband, but she promptly stole Jackson for a dance. Hank had never warmed to David, who still struck him as a bit aloof. However, they’d spent a little time together whenever David had visited Jackson throughout the past year.
“Thanks for dealing with Vivi’s father, Hank. I’m sure you prevented a disaster tonight.” David sipped his drink. “We owe you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
David glanced toward the crowd and said, “Jackson seems more scattered than normal. Everything okay at work?”
“It’s been busy.” Hank watched Jackson and Vivi rather than meet David’s eyes.
Due to the financial strain caused by his mother’s illness and his baby sister’s college tuition, he shouldn’t complain about the extra hours and extra pay. But Hank knew enough about David to recognize his indirect way of checking up on his younger brother.
Hank wasn’t without concerns for his friend, either. “We’re struggling to keep up with all the deadlines he’s promising to meet. It’s been stressful.”
“Have you discussed it with him?” David’s brows gathered.
“Once.” Hank folded his arms across his chest, chuckling. “The brief discussion ended with a reminder of who’s the boss.”
“His behavior has me concerned. Of course, anytime I bring it up, he throws my own mistakes in my face and tells me to butt out.” David stared across the room at Jackson and muttered, “Shutting others out is an unfortunate family trait.”
Hank already knew this much about Jackson, and suspected it about Cat.
“How’s Vivi handle that?” Hank braced himself for David’s response, but David merely looked into his glass and grinned.
“I don’t have to hide from Vivi.”
Hank could’ve sworn he saw David smile. He stifled a chuckle at his private conclusion that no one could hide much from Vivi, even if they tried.
“Jackson will sort himself out.” Hopefully the fallout wouldn’t be disastrous, but Hank didn’t want to come between the brothers. “Excuse me, I need to step out for a second.”
With a brief nod, he left the tent to steal a few minutes of peace and quiet.
Inside the men’s room, two lawyers from David’s firm were literally engaged in a pissing contest. Their loud voices suggested they were already half plastered.
“She’s smoking hot,” said a man who looked to be in his late twenties. “Too bad she’s David’s sister.”
“Yeah, he could block your bid to make partner if you mess with her. Lucky for me, I’m already a partner.” The slightly older, paunchy man flashed a victorious grin. “Guess nothing is standing in my way.”
“You’ve got no chance of scoring with a girl like her.” The slick-haired younger lawyer zipped his fly. “In fact, I’ll bet you five hundred bucks you can’t close the deal.” He stepped away from the urinal.
Hank’s jaw clenched, but he kept a cool head.
“You cocky son of a bitch,” replied the older man. “You’re on. In fact, double or nothing I close the deal before you.”
His competition barked a laugh while glancing at the giant gold Rolex on his wrist. “The reception ends in an hour.” He stuck out his hand to his friend. “May the best man win.”
“The best man . . .” The other man cracked up. “A wedding pun?”
Assholes.
“I sure hope this bet is a lousy joke,” Hank interjected. “You two aren’t actually planning to take advantage of David’s sister at his wedding, right?”
“Who the hell are you?” the younger one demanded.
“A friend of the family.” Hank leveled him with a cold look.
“Of course we’re jokin
g,” said the older man. He shot his pal a “shut the fuck up” look while slapping Hank on the shoulder. “No harm, no foul.” He dragged the other punk toward the door. But before the arrogant young prick left, Hank heard him mouthing off.
“That guy should mind his own fucking business. She can decide for herself who she wants to screw.”
The vein in Hank’s temple was throbbing by the time the two idiots left the bathroom. His first instinct was to tell Jackson, but he doubted Vivi would appreciate a brawl in the middle of her reception.
He considered warning Cat, but in her condition she might also cause a scene. She wasn’t his girlfriend or even his friend. It shouldn’t matter to him whether or not she hooked up with someone tonight, or any other night. So why was he scouring his hands in the sink as if they were covered with a flesh-eating bacteria?
Hank went back to the reception, wishing to return to the pleasant evening he’d been enjoying before his brief dance with Cat. Now he had to figure out how to protect her without ruining the whole damned party.
He passed by the scumbag lawyers, who’d already coaxed Cat into joining them at their table for a drink. His eyes met hers. She looked resigned—dammit, she looked sad—which made no sense. She turned away from him and continued her conversation with the jerks.
Hank dug the tips of his fingernails into his palms but kept walking. He couldn’t rush in like some B-movie cowboy. He needed a plan.
Back at his table, Amy and other guests were chatting about summer vacation plans. He sat and politely listened while keeping one eye on Cat. Her laughter appeared exaggerated—unlike the girl he’d first met last year—but he couldn’t guess at the reason for her charade.
“How about you, Hank?” Amy asked. “Are you going anywhere exciting?”
He hadn’t been away since last summer’s trip here with Jackson’s siblings, which he’d only been able to take because the accommodations had been free. This overnight stay had tapped out his disposable income for a while.
Even if money weren’t in short supply, his mother’s rapidly deteriorating condition handcuffed him to his home. Hell, this thirty-six-hour excursion had already required multiple check-ins with her caretakers.
“Nah. Summer is my busiest time at work.” With a wry grin, he huffed. “I rarely get away.”
“Kind of the opposite of my teaching schedule,” Amy conceded, looking at him from beneath wispy blond bangs. “Maybe you could plan a winter trip to an island and start the New Year off right.”
“Not a bad idea,” Hank said. Hell, if he could actually find the money and time to go away for the holiday, he wouldn’t mind some female company. But he had a better chance of winning the Powerball than taking a vacation this Christmas.
Hank compared Amy’s warm smile and feminine voice with Cat’s edgier vibe. Vivi’s advice floated through his mind, goading him, so he shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. He rested his chin on top of his fist, listening with half an ear to the discussion around him. All the while he kept watching Cat and those lawyers.
Now they had her doing shots. He couldn’t decide which was more repulsive, the bet itself, or the depths to which those assholes were willing to sink to win. All he did know was that he’d make sure neither succeeded.
“David’s sister sure seems to capture everyone’s attention,” Amy said, pulling him from his preoccupation. “Is she as nice as she is beautiful?”
Hank’s gaze snapped back to Amy while scrambling for a suitable reply. “She’s not easy to know.”
“Ah,” Amy sighed. “Beautiful and a challenge. Few men can resist the lure of that particular conquest.”
Few men indeed.
As the party started to die down, David and Vivi began making the rounds to say goodnight to their guests before they departed for the St. James family home situated a few miles up the road. Jackson had mentioned how the rest of the family had opted to stay at the hotel to give the newlyweds privacy.
“It seems the party’s over.” Amy looked at him expectantly.
If he weren’t concerned for Cat’s welfare, he’d probably ask her to join him at the bar for another drink.
“It’s winding down,” he agreed.
“Guess I’ll be heading to my room,” she hinted. “How about you?”
The invitation in her voice tempted him. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, and he was sitting on six tons of pent-up sexual tension tonight. He glanced around the room.
Jackson was MIA, and David and Vivi weren’t paying attention to Cat. If Hank left, she’d be easy pickings for those bastards who were hell-bent on winning a bet. Well, on winning a bet and living out every guy’s fantasy. Not that either of those guys needed the thousand bucks anyway.
He didn’t owe Cat rescuing, but if she got hurt, it would wreck the wedding memories for Vivi and the rest of the family.
Who are you kidding? He didn’t want her to be hurt, and he didn’t want to think of her in bed with one of those jerks tonight, either.
“Think I’ll check in with Jackson and see what he’s planning to do. Cigars will probably be involved.” He grinned and took a long pull from his beer while trying to ignore the stab of guilt her disappointed expression caused.
“Oh, okay,” she said. “See you in the morning?”
“Sure thing,” he replied. “Sweet dreams.”
Damn. What in the hell was he doing? He should be spending his time getting to know a nice girl. Someone grounded, who wanted the simple life he did—one filled with kids and holidays, bikes and baseball games, and a partner to curl up with at night. Instead, he was babysitting a complicated woman who’d already brushed him off once and whose jet-setting life seemed anything but normal.
His fingers drummed against the tabletop. Minutes later, Cat staggered away from the dickhead gamblers.
Lucky break.
Hank leapt from his seat, trailing her at a distance. He lingered around the ladies’ room entrance until she stumbled back through its door into the hallway. She tripped on the hem of her gown, but he caught her before she hit the floor.
“Oh,” she said over a tipsy giggle. “Clumsy me!”
He released her arm once she stood fully, but then she raised one leg to start to take off her shoes, and landed flat on her ass. Whatever shots she drank with those men had launched her right to wasted.
Crimson flooded her cheeks as she looked up at him from beneath her thick lashes. For the first time since he’d met her, she appeared vulnerable and uncertain. His heart rammed against his ribs at the sight, and irritation quickly surrendered to a sudden, fierce wave of protectiveness.
“I think it’s time you went to your room.” He reached down and pulled her to her feet, keeping one arm around her waist for support. “Come on.”
“Is the party over?” Her warm breath swept below his ear and across his neck, teasing the fine hairs of his nape. With each encounter he became more convinced she was some kind of test of his willpower. That or a cruel joke God was playing on him.
“It is for you.” He began walking her toward the stairwell. Along the way, they came across Amy and another woman talking in the lobby. Amy glanced over, the beginning of a smile forming, but then caught sight of Cat on his arm.
Feeling like a jerk, he started to say, “This isn’t what it looks like,” at the exact time Cat mumbled, “Uh-oh.”
Cat continued to stagger, even with his support. Then she stopped suddenly. Her eyes drifted from Amy to Hank. With her moist lips pressed against his ear, she whispered, “Can’t blame her for wanting you. You look sexy in a suit.”
Ignoring Cat when she was attached to his side and coaxing tingles all over his skin was a challenge he suddenly realized he might lose. He didn’t even need to close his eyes to picture her naked body wrapped around his, their arms and limbs entwined in an erotic dance. Steady.
“Stop talking and keep walking.” He propped her up. “What room are you in?”
She
beamed at him. “Hmm?”
He clenched his jaw, fighting mounting temptation. “What room, Cat?”
“Two Seventeen.” After struggling to assist her up the first flight of steps, he lifted her into his arms to carry her the rest of the way. She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. Her spicy perfume invaded his nostrils, fighting for control of his brain.
At her door, she fumbled inside her purse for the room key. He put her down, prepared to turn and run, but she wobbled again and burst into another fit of giggles while unlocking her door.
There is no God. Heaving a sigh while rubbing his hands over his face, he then picked her up and carried her over the threshold.
“Here comes the bride,” she giddily sang out.
Her husky laughter and twinkling eyes affected him like a shot of tequila. The more time he spent alone with her, the more trouble he invited. He strode through the room and deposited her onto the bed, determined to conquer this unholy addiction.
“Hang on.” He went directly to the minibar, retrieved a bottle of water, and cracked open the lid. “Do you have any aspirin?” he asked as he turned back to face her. Then he nearly spilled the water all over himself.
In those few seconds, she’d managed to unzip her gown and partially disrobe. Somehow she’d gotten tangled up while slinking out of the contraption of a dress. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her strapless, sheer lace bra, which revealed a hint of her dark nipples as they strained against the see-through fabric.
Cat didn’t have big breasts, but they were big enough, and perky. His mind went blank, although he was vaguely aware of the fact his trousers began to feel two sizes too small.
“Don’t just stand there.” She grimaced while wrestling with the gown. “Help me out of this.”