Kissing the Maid of Honor

by Robin Bielman

  The waiter put the cake in the center of the table.

  “Oh my God,” Erin said. “That is perfect.”

  Vanessa and Hayden laughed loud enough to turn heads. Sela sighed in relief that she’d gotten the reaction she hoped for, and then let out the laughter rising in her throat.

  Luke picked up a camera and took a picture of the cake. Then he turned the camera on her. Sela hated having her picture taken. It ranked right up there with filling her car with gas and going to the dentist. But the waggish smile at the corners of Luke’s mouth made her forget her dislike.

  Sela had told the guys they had to sit at their own table when they went to the Crown & Anchor. She had things planned for Vanessa that she did not want their input on. However, because she knew men thrived on competition, she had one game for both Vanessa and Hayden to play.

  She and the girls sat in a large, raised corner booth of the pub. Sela waved to Kagan and the waitress hurried over.

  “Happy Bachelorette Party,” Kagan said. “You ready to start things off with a little surprise Sela organized? Love your pink boa, Vanessa.”

  Vanessa pulled the boa back and forth across her shoulder blades. “Bring it. Can’t be more embarrassing than this penis candy bracelet I’m wearing.” She let go of the boa and lifted her arm to show Kagan the edible phallic jewelry. “There is a reason for this, right?”

  Sela nodded. “There’s a reason, and you’ll get it soon. First we need something to drink.”

  “I’m on it,” Kagan said, turning and striding away.

  “These are for each of you,” Sela said, handing over pink “I do” favor bags.

  Thank-yous rang out and Erin took the honor of pulling everything out for a little show and tell. She’d helped Sela put them together and had been anxious to share the gifts ever since they’d left the restaurant.

  “We’ve got edible finger paints, body shimmer lotion, bath salts, a penis-shaped lollipop, a Humm Dinger pleasure ring—” Erin paused and looked around the table. “It’s not worn on your finger, ladies. And my personal favorite, handcuffs. I might even use these tonight. Did you see that guy at the end of the bar? Holy smoking hotness.”

  Sela looked toward the bar, but her gaze hit a brick wall when it landed on her own personal holy smoking hotness. Luke raised his eyebrows as if he could see all the R-rated favors lined up on the table.

  She whipped her attention away, just in time to see Kagan return with the pink peni-magnum squirt guns. Sela had stopped by the bar earlier and dropped off the eight-inch penis-shaped guns and asked that they be filled with tequila, Vanessa’s drink of choice if she had to. And tonight she had to.

  “What is that?” Vanessa shrieked.

  “A hard gun loaded for action,” Sela said, taking one from Kagan. “Open wide.” She aimed the gun at Vanessa’s mouth. This first time would be easy, since Vanessa’s mouth was already opened in a giant O.

  The bride-to-be took it in stride and drank down the alcohol, only choking once. “What’s wrong with shot glasses?”

  “They’re boring,” Erin said, high-fiving Sela and then putting everything back into her gift bag. “Let’s empty these babies quick and start round two.”

  Amidst giggles and jokes about a guy’s “size,” they emptied their guns into one another’s mouths.

  “This is from those two at the end of the bar,” Kagan said, nodding toward two good-looking guys and putting a pitcher of beer down on the table.

  “Tell them thank you,” Erin said, waving in their direction.

  “Oh, I love this song.” Vanessa moved her shoulders back and forth. “Come on. Let’s dance.” She pushed Sela out of the booth and dragged her toward the dance floor.

  One gun of tequila and her best friend lost all signs of shyness. Sela glanced over at the guys, wondering how much longer Hayden could stay away.

  Probably a while, given that a girl was lying on their table, Luke was pouring some kind of gold liquid into her belly button, and Shane was drinking it up. Hayden and the other guys cheered him on.

  The second Vanessa’s head turned in Hayden’s direction, Sela grabbed her and hauled her back to their table. Time to get a little attention of their own.

  “Everyone take out your lollipop,” Sela said. “We’re going to play a game.”

  “Yum. Watermelon,” Erin said. “I wonder how many licks—”

  “Exactly.” Sela pulled the wrapper off her strawberry-flavored candy. “This is a game where we race to see who can finish their sucker first. No biting. Only licking. And we need to do it in a way that gets some of the guys in here noticing.”

  “I can’t—”

  Sela pushed a glass of beer in front of Vanessa. “Drink this and then you can. I’ll join you.” Sela took a few gulps of the pale ale. Out of the corner of her eye she looked in Luke’s direction again. A different girl was lying down and exposing her stomach. Something sparkled, probably a piercing. The guys seemed mesmerized by it.

  “Ready, set, go!” Sela put her sucker in her mouth.

  It took less than a minute for the two guys at the bar who had sent the pitcher of beer to notice something going on at their table. They sauntered over.

  “We couldn’t help but notice—”

  “That we’re having a sucking contest?” Erin said.

  Vanessa and two other of her bridesmaids choked. The guys’ eyes widened before they both broke out in grins.

  “My money’s on you,” one of them said, unable to take his eyes off Erin.

  Sela wondered if he was the hottie Erin had set her sights on earlier. Last year Erin had been dumped by her college boyfriend of three years—he’d cheated on her and told her he’d stopped loving her months before they broke up. The heartbreak had wrecked her faith in men, and ever since, she’d treated the opposite sex like she had no desire for anything of substance. Sela had a feeling it was to protect herself and hoped Erin didn’t let one guy ruin her for another chance at love.

  “What’s going on here?” Hayden said, bumping the table and shouldering their male company out of the way.

  Sela sighed. So much for separate parties now. “How about a scavenger hunt?” She pulled the lists for both of them out of her purse. “From now until we leave, Vanessa and Hayden have to try and get these items and do the tasks. The person who accomplishes the most wins whatever he or she wants from the other.”

  “Could you stop doing that?” Hayden said to Vanessa. “It’s very distracting.”

  Vanessa pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. “Sure, baby.”

  “What’s on the list?” Luke asked.

  Sela jumped. She’d known he was standing next to her; his arm had grazed the back of her neck when he laid it across the raised booth. But she’d been trying her damnedest to focus on Hayden, so the question surprised her.

  “They’re identical but specific to male or female. Meaning on Vanessa’s list it will say a pair of boxer shorts but Hayden’s will say a G-string.”

  Luke leaned over her shoulder and she fought the compulsion to turn her head and put her lips on something besides her lollipop. “It also lists a condom, five men’s business cards, an empty shot glass, dancing on a table, an object that unintentionally resembles the male anatomy…”

  Sela turned the list over and handed it to Vanessa. “Time starts now. Good luck, you guys.”

  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 tim
e. 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.