“How does it feel to have every pair of eyes on you when you interrupt a speech from the groom? You’re not going to make a habit of it, are you? The bride is supposed to be the last one down the aisle. Somehow, I don’t think Reese and Serenity want to see you running down the aisle after the vows?—”
“Oh, shut up,” she muttered. But she didn’t say it nearly as quietly as she probably thought. A few eyes turned their way, and her blush deepened enough to match the red wine that had already been served. Wendy slumped down and turned her eyes to her hands in her lap.
Tripp chuckled. So, the woman didn’t like to be put on the spot when she was the one being judged. Interesting. He’d thought that she didn’t care about what others thought of her. But this? It made more sense.
They had more in common than he’d initially realized.
Then again, her embarrassment could be related strictly to being late. Yeah, that made more sense. Something told him that if he attempted to make a scene, she’d go head-to-head with him, no problem.
Stumped, Tripp continued to observe her. Reese finished up his little speech and the table returned to their usual chatter.
Wendy leaned forward to get Serenity’s attention and when the bride to be turned toward her, Wendy asked, “Where’s Hallie?”
“Oh, she’s not in the wedding party. She’s doing my hair and makeup, though. She’ll be at the bachelorette party.”
Wendy nodded, but the disappointment was noticeable. She was the only single woman at the table. Tripp could relate to a degree. Seeing as his father and everyone else in this room wanted him to keep his distance from Wendy, he was as single as they came.
Tripp leaned a little closer to his non-date. “What was so important that you couldn’t bother being on time to any of these events?”
That blush returned and he found he absolutely loved seeing it on her.
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped.
He chuckled. “The kitty has claws.”
She scoffed. Then she looked around the table. “Where are the menus?”
“Too late for you to order, sweetheart. But it’s okay because I ordered for you.” He cast her a wicked grin. “Hope you like shellfish.”
Wendy paused and he could have sworn he saw the cogs in her mind whirring. She was up to something, that much was clear. Not only that, but she didn’t seem the least bit upset with his food choice. When her eyes lifted to meet his, she smiled just as sweet as ever. “I’m not picky.”
Tripp could feel Leo’s curious stare. While the conversation with Wendy had been quiet, the tension in the room was unmistakable. Something was brewing and even Leo could sense it. Tripp couldn’t bring himself to look over at Leo, knowing full-well that if the man wasn’t already judging him, he was waiting for something to hit the fan and it wasn’t going to be good.
Wendy kept her attention to the conversation she engaged Lacey with on her other side. Tripp listened with half an ear. In truth, he was more interested in watching the woman.
When Wendy actually liked a person, she was perfection. She had the manners of a woman who went to boarding school. Her southern charm was almost too sweet. She even garnered a few interested looks from his other cousins.
Too bad. They were all taken.
And one day he’d be the one to capture her attention like she’d captured theirs.
He stiffened at that thought.
Strange, he’d never been possessive about a woman before.
Why her?
Wendy tucked a strand of white-blonde hair behind her ear and laughed at something Mack had said. The sound was melodic in every sense of the word. Why couldn’t she laugh with him like that? The laughs she saved for him were biting and cold. Sure, he could appreciate them for what they were, but if he could make her smile like the way the others were? Maybe being possessive of her attention wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Their food arrived and a plate of scallops was placed in front of both him and Wendy. She stared down at the food and hesitated for just a moment.
“I thought you said you weren’t picky,” Tripp mused quietly, more to himself than anyone else. “Do I need to order you a kid’s meal with chicken tenders and French fries? Would that be more up your alley?”
“You know, I didn’t realize they served fish here,” Wendy mused to Lacey.
“We have a couple dishes. Most of the time they’re served with the steak for a surf and turf sort of thing. Those scallops were the chef’s special this week.”
Oh, right. Lacey worked at this restaurant. She didn’t seem put off by the fact that Serenity picked this place. There weren’t many other options for nice sit-down eateries.
