“You’re so lucky.” I reach out to hug her.
“I really am.” She beams. “You’ll find your man soon. I can feel it. But you need to go on more than three dates a year. Make a goal of at least one per week maybe.”
“How about you go throw your bouquet and I’ll talk to you in the morning, Mom.”
She leaves laughing, and with a fresh drink, I join the crowd around the dance floor when a hand lands on my back. Jerking away, thinking it’s Braden, I’m surprised to find Jordan instead. That’s when I remembered I’d left him waiting.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize it was you. And I’msosorry I took so long. I ended up going back to my room for something.” Using female issues as an excuse doesn’t seem very smooth, so I leave that part off.
Oh, God. To think I could’ve been making out with this guy and missed out on having sex with the other. And who am I even having that thought pop into my brain? Braden truly has made a monster out of me.
He reaches up and touches a strand of hair. “Your hair’s down. I like it.”
“Thank you. The pins were bothering me.”
“Would you be interested in that walk now?”
“I’d—”
“I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Braden.” Suddenly, he’s between us, offering his hand to shake.
“Jordan.” He reaches out, and it’s obvious how hard Braden squeezes at the visible wince Jordan gives.
“So which bride and groom are you here for?” Braden asks casually.
“Eli and Cici. I work with Lily in the marketing department at Dubree Enterprises. How about you?” Jordan responds, completely oblivious to the testosterone rolling off of Braden.
“Both. Jackson and I go way back, and Eli and I have been friends for a couple of years now, and Poppy here,” he turns to me, “was on the flight from Bozeman with me. We’ve been getting to know each other quite well over the weekend. Haven’t we, Mouse?”
He has the audacity to wink at me—the absolute nerve of this man. Right after I told him I didn’t want anyone finding out about us.
I fake a smile and force an answer while my blood boils. “We have been. Enough to know that I don’t like you. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to catch the bouquet now.”
To which—I did not.
Braden
I couldn’t help it. The absolute nerve of this woman talking it up with another man minutes after I came in her. What the actual fuck?
“Hey man, we were just introduced tonight, but I’ll back off if you two are…” Jordan trails off, unsure of what word to use.
Unlike me. “Fucking. Probably best not to double-dip. I’d offer to tag you in, but I’m not done with her yet.” I wink and walk away. Hell, it’s doubtful I’ll see the guy again, so I don’t give a fuck what he thinks of me. Mission accomplished.
After grabbing a drink and finding a seat to chill out, I can’t help but follow the movements of one person in particular.
Jackson sits beside me. “Fuck man, you’ve got it bad. You do know you haven’t taken your eyes off Poppy once tonight. What’s the deal?”
“Fresh meat, that’s all.” He’s my best friend, but he’s still Cici’sbrother, so he might not be excited to hear I succeeded in banging her bridesmaid during the reception.
“You sure about that? I’ve never seen you so… attentive.”
“Speaking of, shouldn’t you beattendingto your wife?”
“Fuck, I love hearing that.”
“Which part?Wifeorattendingto her?”
“Both, but the fact that she’s officially mine… damn. Nothing compares.” He’s staring at Mia with stars in his eyes while she shakes it on the dance floor with Walker.
