I never felt this much lust with Nicholas.Why can this sexy mystery man get my juices flowing, when my ex never got this type of response from me?Like ever?Was I so desperate to achieve my dream that I didn’t consider how being with a man should make me feel?Maybe.All I’ve ever wanted was to fit in, to find my place and plant some roots.A military brat, I loathed the transient lifestyle, being forced to move every time my dad was re-assigned.
“Here’s your cowboy nachos and sliders.Be right back with the next round.”The bartender lifts one eyebrow as we descend upon the food like savages, not giving a hoot what we must look like.Satisfaction flows through me as we fill our stomachs with something besides tequila.
A drop of hot nacho cheese falls.Of course, it does.It tops off my entire freaking day.I literally can’t eat anything without making a mess.It’s a curse.
I use a napkin to wipe the warm gooey mess from my skin, carefully avoiding the edges of my dress.I know.I know.I didn’t get married in it, but it’s still a beautiful dress.Nacho disaster averted, I glance up to find the man in the middle watching every move like he’s hypnotized and can’t look away.
For a moment, I’m sucked into his gaze.A potent vortex of electrically charged energy flows between us.
I glance at Emily, who is studying me with that accountant’s calculating glare.
“What?”I recognize that look all too well.I’ve seen it frequently since we openedTahoe Triple Treats, Art, Books & Cafe.Emily made her parents happy getting a finance degree, but she’s an incredible painter and sculptor.Hannah is our resident bookworm.Me?I love to bake cookies and make people feel good.Whenever dad would get deployed, mom and I would bake.It was rough, especially the first week he was gone.So, we’d bake chocolate chip cookies to make us feel good.By freshman year of high school, I’d taken over our cooking baking as I developed my talent.I even started to ship my dad homemade cookies.He became the envy of his SEAL unit anytime he received a package from home.
Emily nods her head in their direction.“You’re going to go over there and ask that tall, gorgeous hunk of man if you can buy him a drink.”
“No.I’m not.”Is she nuts?He’s hot, but I’m not going to hit on another man while I’m still wearing my wedding dress!That just seems wrong.“No way.”
“Do it.I want to meet his friend.”Hannah encourages me, giggling again, and I know with absolute clarity that we’ve all had too much stress, too much chaos, and way too much tequila.“You go first, Maddie.He’s totally staring.We’ll play wingman.Wing-woman.Whatever.You know what I mean.”
“You mean you want to sit in Mr.On The Left’s lap?”
“That’s not the only place she wants to sit.More like on his face.”Emily’s deadpan tone makes me choke back laughter.
Hannah gasps.“Like you can talk!I see you staring at the other one.”
I’m ignoring them both because Mr.Sexy In the Middle is still staring directly at me.
Is he really that interested?The signs are there, but I’ve misread men before.
Should I tug up my dress again?I’ve got impressive cleavage.It’s one of my few nice features.This bodice is cut low and sexy for a reason.
No.Leave the dress where it is, hanging on for dear life.Let him look.
Emily is right.Dammit.Idowant to go talk to him.
Maybe he wouldn’t mind helping me out of this dress.I haven’t had up against the wall, hot, fumbling, I-need-you-right-now sex in… ever?One old boyfriend at least made sure I had an orgasm before the main event, but even then, I’ve never been as turned on as I am right now from just looking at this guy.I want to taste him.Lick him up and down like an ice-cream cone.I want to see the muscles without the clothes.
That man’s impressivesizewill either make me hurt so good or make me come in five seconds flat.Maybe both.
“Please be both.”The words are barely a whisper.Is his strange suit bulletproof?I don’t know.Maybe it’s plastic or something else.Either way, it’s the best cosplay I’ve ever seen.
All three of them stare at us.We stare back.Silence descends, closing in around me like a bubble of overly warm air.I’m too hot.The air moves in and out of my lungs in ragged, uneven bursts.
Blue eyes lock with mine.His face is chiseled, god-like.Those lips.Shit.Kiss them.Sit on them.Kiss them some more.Watch them devour and taste every inch of my body?Yes, yes, yes, please.
If Nicholas David Cunningham, the third, can have sex—with someone else—on our wedding day, then so can I.Even the song on the jukebox agrees that maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats.Too bad I don’t have a Louisville Slugger to take to his truck’s headlights.
Not for nothing, but this guy is ten times sexier than stupid Richard in his best man’s tux.
My phone blares with the cheesyHere Comes the Bridemusic.I sneer at the sound and glance at the screen.
Nicholas.I roll my eyes.Perfect timing, too.
Why the hell is he calling me?What does he want?Maybe he wants to apologize.
Yeah, right.Not that I care.I really don’t want to talk to him.I answer anyway.“Hello.”
“Madison.Please don’t hang up.”I lift a brow and put the call on speaker so Emily and Hannah won’t miss a word.They lean in close to hear him over the noise in the bar.
