“The one staring at you?” Christy laughs. “That’s Derek.”
As Felix makes his way toward the groom and his buddies, Christy leads me a few steps away. “Okay, first of all, Felix Barlowe is totally into you. We need to discuss this at some point.”
I shake my head. “We absolutely don’t. Let’s just say it’s complicated.”
“I’ll bet.” She takes my hand. “I need to apologize, Pip. I shouldn’t have invited Bradley and Marie.”
The apology catches me off guard. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not. I’ve been a terrible friend since you moved back, and I’m sorry.” Her eyes are suspiciously shiny. “You deserve better.”
My own eyes start burning again. “Thanks for saying that.”
“I mean it.” She gives me another hug. “And if Bradley says anything out of line, you let me know, and I’ll give him the boot. It’s my wedding, and I can do what I want.”
A surprised laugh escapes me. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but thank you.”
“Right. Because you have a date who could kick his ass.” She winks. “And then throw you over his shoulder, which is hella hot.”
I don’t even bother to deny it. We join Felix and the rest of the wedding party, which has gathered around him at the far side of the bar. Guests snap about a thousand photos, and a couple of the guys lament that he’s not wearing his Super Bowl rings. This is normal for him, I know, but when his smile begins to look tight at the corners, I make an excuse to pull him away.
Our hands stay joined as we make our way toward one of the empty tables near the edge of the terrace. “Want to sit for a bit?” he asks. “I imagine it’s been a long day.”
The thoughtfulness of the comment is also hella hot, and Iforce myself not to climb this man like a tree right here in front of God and the rest of the wedding guests. “You can tell I’m tired?”
“I pay attention.” He pulls out my chair, waiting until I’m seated before taking the seat next to me. “Plus, you keep shifting your weight. Dead giveaway.”
“You’re very observant.”
“When it comes to you? Yeah.” He says it matter-of-factly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
The sun is starting to set now, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, and the temperature is dropping. Even in the summer, Colorado evenings can get chilly once the sun goes down. I suppress a shiver, but Felix notices.
“Take this.” He shrugs out of his jacket, draping it over my shoulders before I can protest.
The fabric is warm from his body heat and smells like him. I want to burrow in and never give it back.
“Now you’ll be cold.”
His grin is wicked. “You know I run hot, Hart.” He leans back in his chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “On a scale of one to ten, how much are you hating being here?”
“I started at a solid nine, now down to maybe a four?”
“I’ll take that as a win.”
I’m about to respond, when a familiar voice makes my spine go rigid.
“Hello, Piper.”
Bradley stands a few feet away, looking like a condescending jerk in his seersucker suit with his Hugh Grant-coded mop flopping over his forehead.
“Bradley.” I force my voice to stay level.
His eyes slide to Felix. “Keeping it in the family. What a surprise.”
“We’re full of surprises.” Felix stands, towering over Bradley by a good six inches, but doesn’t extend his hand. “You must be the ex-fiancé. I’ve heard a lot about you. None ofit good.”
Bradley’s face flushes. “Now wait just a?—”
