Anyone could hear the sarcasm in his voice—anyone except for Celesta. “Would you?” she asked hopefully.
Holly stared at the bridesmaid in disbelief, then ignored her as she continued. “Brittany and I have paired everyone off, and we’re about to read the list. This person will be your partner from now until the wedding’s done.”
Britt winked at Tyler. “Of course, if you choose to stick with your partner after the wedding, that’s okay, too.”
Oh. God. It was just like Britt’s friend had warned him. Britt was playing matchmaker. He eyed the distance to the street where his car was parked. Could he make a break for it?
But Kevin had just appeared at the edge of the group, and while Tyler initially felt relieved to see him, his friend now caught Tyler’s attention and held his gaze. Kevin knew him well, and the message was clear. Tyler wasn’t going anywhere.
“But,” Randy said as he scanned the group with a big grin, “that only applies to you single people.”
Everyone laughed, but Rowdy didn’t laugh as much as the others, and Tyler wondered if it was because he and his wife were having marital problems—not that he was supposed to know. Randy had let it slip the week before at the office.
“Kevin’s back with the insect repellant,” Holly said, giving her husband a look of relief. “So we’ll get everyone covered first.”
Kevin walked through the group, handing out cans of repellant. Celesta ran over and snatched one from him and began spraying a cloud so thick it gagged Tyler from ten feet away.
“You look like you’re waiting for your walk to the gallows,” Kevin teased as he came up beside Tyler.
“You know I’m allergic to weddings.” He glanced over at his friend. “All of this reminds me that I never thanked you for getting married without any of us around. I’m not sure I could have handled being in two weddings within three months.”
“If you can’t handle being in a wedding, how are you going to handle your own wedding someday?”
Tyler snorted. “I’m never getting married. I thought I’d made that pretty clear.”
Kevin crossed his arms and scanned the group.
His nonresponse was a response of its own, which rankled Tyler even more. “Watch out for the blonde bridesmaid. I suspect she has a thing for heroes.”
“Looks like she only has eyes for you.” Kevin chuckled. “She’s drooling like you’re an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.”
“She’s liable to turn her attention to you when she realizes you’ve saved her from a mosquito attack.”
Kevin chuckled again and shook his head. “Ha! Holly would put a stop to that.”
“Sweet little Holly?” Tyler asked.
“Never underestimate a woman in love, my friend.”
Memories of his crazy Nina flooded Tyler’s head. If that’s what love did to women, he wanted no part of it.
“She wasn’t in love with you,” Kevin said quietly. “She was obsessed. There’s a difference.”
Tyler whipped his head around in surprise.
“I could see it on your face.” Kevin paused. “You know, the Bachelor Brotherhood seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I’m not so sure.”
Tyler snorted. “Says the man who lasted one fucking day.”
A wicked grin lit up Kevin’s eyes. “Which maybe proves my point even more. The thing is, you and I are a lot alike. We’ve spent most of our dating life going after the easy catch. It was when I took a risk that it worked out for me. When Holly and I met, for the first time in my life, I had no idea how it would turn out. Did she want me? Did she even like me? I actually had to work for it.”
Tyler shook his head, becoming irritated with this conversation, mostly because Britt’s friend from the shower kept popping into his head. The image of her in the coffee shop, with her open shirt and the pale blue bra, had quickly taken over. Where did she fit into Kevin’s theory? Did it even matter? “Don’t you have better things to do on a Saturday night? I thought your fake wedding-planner-assistant job only applied to the actual weddings.”
Kevin laughed. “And miss out on the chance to watch you suffer in the ninety-degree heat in a monkey suit? No way. Besides, the pay is crap—but the benefits are totally worth it.”
Tyler cringed, then changed the subject. He didn’t want to hear about his best friend’s sex life. “Since your wife has the list pairing the bridal party, please tell me that I’m not stuck with that nightmare.”
“Which one?” Kevin teased.
“Oh, God. There’s more than one?”
“I hear Britt’s cousin is a firecracker.”
“She obviously can’t be bothered to show up on time.” Tyler looked over at Celesta, who continued eyeing him with undisguised interest. His anxiety grew when he realized that Holly had already announced a groomsman and a bridesmaid, pairing Rowdy and some other woman, before she got interrupted by the photographer. That left Kevin and one other groomsman and the very interested Celesta. And the missing firecracker cousin.
“Okay,” Holly said as the photographer opened her camera bag. “The next pair is Tyler and—”
Britt released an excited squeal. “There’s Lanie!”
The wedding party stood between Tyler and the trees next to the street, but he could see glimpses of a woman in a lavender dress weaving a path toward them.
She stumbled as she tripped on her dress, and her long, dark hair fell forward into her face.
“What the hell?” Kevin muttered. “Is she drunk?”
Tyler had to wonder which of his two bridesmaid choices was the lesser of his evils.
Celesta gave him a seductive smile, making a production of licking her bottom lip.
Well, that answered that.
He took off jogging toward the brunette bridesmaid just as she semi-righted herself and kicked off her shoe. It flew through the air, and he ducked out of its path, congratulating himself on his quick reflexes. But as soon as he straightened, the other heel hit him square on the forehead, and he stumbled back a step.
Brittany gasped loudly enough for him to hear twenty feet away, but he was in too much shock to think about the stinging over his eye. He was more stunned by the woman in front of him.
Holy shit. The woman he’d been obsessing over was Brittany’s cousin. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a complete disaster.
His brain was too shocked to figure it out, but his body decided it didn’t need his brain to get on board with this new development.
Maybe this was fate. He scoffed at the idea, wondering where that thought came from.
But his thought process was interrupted as Lanie looked up at him and recognized him too. Her eyes widened in horror.
He realized that she was probably horrified to see him after he’d ripped her shirt open. Or maybe she was worried he was going to tell everyone and embarrass her more, although she hadn’t acted very embarrassed at the time. Her reaction now was confusing him.
She rushed toward him, her face still covered in fear. Was she going to verbally berate him? Slap him across the face?
But she did neither, stopping in front of him and looking around frantically.
How drunk was she?
She bent down to pick up the hem of her skirt, then dropped it and reached for his tie, before finally grabbing the handkerchief out of his jacket pocket. She jerked it out and pressed it to his forehead, using a lot of pressure.
“Thank God,” she said. “If that had dripped on your tux, Brittany would have killed me.”
He shook his head, and her hand followed. “What are you talking about?” But he smelled alcohol on her breath, giving support to his assumption that she was drunk.
“You’re bleeding.” She cast an anxious glance over to her cousin. “Don’t make a big deal over this, okay? I know men can be big babies, but if you play this off, I’ll make it worth your time.”
A jolt shot right to his crotch, and a grin stretched his lips.
“Oh
my God,” she said in disgust. “Not that.” She was about to take a step away from him, but another look at Brittany stopped her.
Brittany was rushing over to them, so he lowered his voice. “I think we can work out a deal.”
She gave him a wary look. “I’m listening.”
“If you insist on being my partner in this groomsman/bridesmaid thing until the end of the wedding, I’ll act like it’s a scratch.” For all he knew, it was. It stung, but it couldn’t be that bad.
“What happened?” Brittany asked, sounding breathless as she reached them.
“I tripped on this dress,” Lanie said, then she sounded indignant. “And my heels sunk in the grass. Why are we wearing heels in the grass?”
“You were supposed to wear flats and put the heels on when it’s time to take photos. Didn’t you get the text?”
A guilty look washed over Lanie’s face, but then it faded. “You sent me ten million texts today, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t get that one.”
“Is he bleeding?” Brittany asked in dismay.
“Brittany,” Holly said, walking up behind them. “I’ve got it covered. Randy, come help your bride back over to the group, but pick up her dress so she doesn’t get grass stains.” Then she glanced up at Tyler’s forehead and grimaced. “Kevin, can you bring over my bag?”
Tyler tried to turn back to see what Kevin was getting, but Lanie grabbed his chin and held him in place.
“Stop. You’re going to bleed on your tux!” she whisper-hissed and gave Holly a worried look. “If Brittany realizes I maimed him, she’s going to kill me. You have to fix this.”
“Maimed?” Tyler asked in confusion. “From a shoe?”
Kevin approached with a small canvas bag. He set it down, pulled out a first-aid box, then removed several packages of gauze.
“Lanie,” he said, ripping the packages. “You release the pressure when I tell you to.”
“But drop the handkerchief in the grass so you don’t get blood on your dress,” Holly added.
Tyler gave Kevin a questioning look, but his friend ignored him as he put a piece of gauze under Holly’s hand.
“I’ve got it,” Kevin said, blocking Tyler’s view of Lanie as he dabbed at the wound.
Tyler flinched. “Shit. That hurts.”
“I bet. I’m pretty sure you need stitches.”
“Stitches? From a shoe?”
Kevin shrugged, and a smirk lit up his eyes.
“No!” Lanie whispered loudly. “He can’t need stitches. Brittany is going to kill me!”
“Brittany?” Tyler asked in disbelief. “I’m the one who’s maimed.”
“Shh!” Lanie waved her hand in dismissal as she turned to Holly. “Do you have any butterfly bandages in that first-aid kit?”
“Probably,” Holly said, picking up the box and examining the contents.
“He’s still going to need stitches,” Kevin said. “And the bandages are going to show in the photos.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Tyler groaned and held out his hand. “Give me a damn mirror.”
Holly gave him a sympathetic look. “I don’t have one.”
Shaking her head, Lanie swiped the screen of her phone. “Here. Use this.” Then she handed it to him, open to the camera app in selfie mode.
He held it up in front of his face, pushing Kevin’s hand away. When he saw the cut, he groaned. Sure enough, there was a half-inch gash, and one part looked fairly deep.
“Well, shit.”
Lanie looked worried when he handed back her phone. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for your medical bills, just please don’t act like this is a big deal until we’re done.”
“How do I act like this isn’t a big deal when I’m bleeding to death?”
“Not to mention it’s going to show in the photos,” Kevin reminded them.
“The photographer can Photoshop them out,” Holly said. “Just like Celesta’s mosquito bite.”
“But I—” Tyler started to say before Lanie rolled her eyes and cut him off.
“Please. I promise you’re not bleeding to death. We’ll patch you up with a couple of butterflies, then when we’re done, you can go get your stitches.” She gave him a sardonic smile. “We’d hate for that pretty face to get scarred.”
A bad-boy grin spread across his face. “I hear women like guys with scars. It makes them look more dangerous.”
“Of course, a guy like you would say that.”
“How’s it going over there?” Brittany called over.
“Fine!” Holly shouted. “We’re just cleaning it up, and then he’ll be good to go.”
Just then the blonde hurried over and draped her hand possessively on his arm. “You poor baby. I can’t believe that woman kicked her shoe at you!”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Lanie countered, sounding indignant.
“No worries, Celesta,” Tyler said, shifting his stance to shrug off her hand. “It’s just a scratch.”
“She’s Celesta?” Lanie began to giggle.
What in the hell was she laughing at? She really was drunk. “What’s so funny?” Tyler asked.
“Nothing.” But she was still giggling as she eyed the blonde woman.
Celesta shot her a withering glare. “Look at all the blood! You could have killed him.”
“He’ll be fine, Selestra,” Kevin said, turning Tyler so the woman couldn’t see his wound. “I think the photographer’s looking for you.”
“My name is Celesta. Why can’t anyone get it right? And I can’t do anything without my partner.”
Tyler caught Holly’s attention with a wild look, but before the wedding planner could say anything, Lanie put a hand on her hip and made a shooing motion, still wearing a grin. “Then run on over and claim him. He looks like he’s waiting for you too. Tyler’s mine.”
Randy’s gangly teenaged cousin waved to Celesta.
Lanie gave Holly an expectant look. “Celesta is Alvin’s partner, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah. That’s right.”
Celesta’s face turned red, and she started to protest, but Holly stared her down. Celesta’s anger faded, and she grudgingly stomped toward Alvin.
Holly handed Kevin a butterfly bandage, and he applied it to Tyler’s forehead. “This is holding it really well, but since it’s on your forehead, you should still get stitches. I suspect it’s going to scar either way, but it’s likely to scar less if you see a professional.”
Guilt washed over Lanie’s face.
“Kevin,” Holly said, “he still has blood smeared all over his forehead.”
Lanie snatched an alcohol pad from the kit and ripped it open. “I’ll clean him up.”
Holly lifted her eyebrows as she waited for Tyler’s answer.
“Yeah,” he said. “You need to get back and boss everyone around. Since this is Lanie’s fault in the first place, she can finish up.”
Lanie started to protest, then closed her mouth and looked like she was biting her lips to keep from saying what was on her mind.
Tyler laughed.
Kevin glanced between the two of them, then clapped Tyler on the shoulder. “Drinks later. You promised.”
“That was before my trip to the ER.”
Kevin waved him off as he walked away. “Hell. You’ve got something like six hours before it’s too late for stitches. Don’t be a wuss.”
Lanie moved closer as they walked away. “Are you really going to wait to go to the ER?”
“I don’t know yet,” he said, watching her in amusement. She was acting guilty as hell. “Are you going for drinks?”
She looked up into his eyes. “Yeah, I am.” A grin lit up her face. “But not with you. It’s a work thing.”
“On a Saturday night?”
“No rest for the wicked,” she murmured as she gently swiped his skin.
A warm feeling spread throughout his body. This woman intrigued him more than she should. He was suddenly looking forward to all of Britt’s wedd
ing craziness.
“How much did you have to drink?” he asked with a grin.
“Who said I’ve been drinking?”
He chuckled. “Your entrance and your breath.”
She rolled her eyes. “So I had some wine before I came, but in my defense, how was I supposed to face Celesta sober?”
She was lying. It was obvious the two women hadn’t known each other. Maybe being here made her just as anxious as it made him.
He laughed. “Bring me some next time. You owe me after this.” He pointed toward his forehead.
She cocked an eyebrow. “You think there’s going to be a next time?”
“I know for a fact there’s a next time. Tomorrow night at Loose Park, the time to be determined. And whatever other places Britt chooses for her crazy photos. We’re stuck together until this wedding is over.” His grin spread. “How do I know more about this wedding than you do?”
Guilt washed over her face again, then her grin was back. “I can always call Celesta back over. I’m sure she can be very entertaining if you’re adventurous.”
He was about to ask her what she was talking about when he heard a loud whistle come from the group.
“Hey,” Randy shouted. “Are you two going to keep flirting for the rest of the night or are you going to join us for photos? You can flirt over here, you know.”
Tyler looked behind him and realized the entire wedding party was watching them with intense interest.
“We’re not flirting!” Lanie replied as a deep red blush stained her cheeks. “I’m making sure he’s presentable for photos.”
The snickers from the group suggested no one believed her.
“You can’t act like you’re interested in me,” she said, sounding desperate.
“Who says I’m interested in you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Remember the shower? Britt’s meddling matchmaking? If Britt finds out, she’ll pull out the big guns to get us together.”
While Tyler wasn’t sure how disastrous that would be, Lanie obviously knew better. “So how am I supposed to play this? Ambivalent? Disgusted? Outraged over the maiming?”
“Take your pick, and I’ll follow your lead.” But as soon as she uttered the words, he could see she regretted them.
Until You Page 6