"Calm down, sis," I tell her.
I look over her shoulder and my body tightens. I grab her arm and pull her behind my back fast. The stranger from a couple of weeks ago grins at me. What the hell is he doing here?
"Are you following me?" I say as I prepare to hand him his nuts through his throat.
"You two know each other?" Ana claps and starts bouncing on her toes.
I flick my head back to look at her but keep my focus on him. He reaches out and takes my hand. Flipping it over, he bends to kiss it, keeping his eyes on me the whole time. I'm in shock and can't hit him. Ana knows him. His chuckle pulls me from my thoughts.
"Duncan Preston, and you must be Maya Aaron," he says as his lips skim the back of my hand, sending tingles up my arm.
"You're Duncan?" My jaw drops and I now realize why he looked so familiar. In the years that I visited London we never met, the timing was always off. His father still has never explained why our parents stopped visiting each other.
"When did you meet Duncan? How?" Ana asks in a piercing girly shriek. Yep, she is a girly girl.
"We actually didn't meet. She was on the team that helped at the convention center a couple of weeks ago. I asked her for drinks, but her boyfriend declined," Duncan explains as he drops my hand and goes to grab my messenger bag. I shake my head and turn to Ana.
"You have a boyfriend? Since when? I thought you wouldn't have another after that Carl arsehole?"
"No. I don't have a boyfriend. It was Derek."
She nods in understanding and we begin to walk toward the parking garage. I take the time to really look at Duncan. He has starred in many of my fantasies since I saw him last, all six-foot-eight of him. I forgot how big he was. His large muscles strain against his black jacket and slacks. I turn my head and try to pay attention to Ana going on and on about catering and flowers, but not before he turns and catches me checking out his ass. He just smirks at me. After a few minutes I turn to look at him again. His close-cropped dark hair and five o'clock shadow make him off the charts hot. He has a chiseled jaw and prominent cheekbones. His hands are so large. The old saying about hands makes me smile. Oh God, did I just think that about my best friend's brother?
We make our way out to the parking garage, and the heat has me pulling off my lightweight leather jacket. I'm still wearing a black blazer beneath with a white T-shirt and jeans.My necklace can be seen and I know that Ana won't say anything about it. I only wear a few bits of jewelry—this locket with my parents’ wedding rings, a ring that was my grandmother's on my middle finger, and my father's watch. Today I'm also wearing a necklace Greg got me for Christmas last year, it’s long and hangs to my belly, but I know I look decent enough for Ana. Ana is wearing a pale pink skirt suit with a white blouse. The jacket is long enough to cover her hips. She looks sophisticated and demure.
"I can't believe you couldn't get here sooner. You're supposed to be my maid of honor. You know…relieve my stress? The rehearsal is this evening." Ana is talking away, but I'm not paying attention again.
I shake myself and look at her. Time to pretend her brother doesn't affect me. A slow grin slides across his features. He knows I was checking him out again. Damn!
"I'll make it up to you. Let’s go to our pub tonight and get trashed like old times."
"I can't do that. Jonathon won't allow it. Besides, we've got the rehearsal and dinner tonight."
"What the hell, who cares! You aren't married to him yet."
This is why I don't care for her fiancé. He treats her like a child and doesn't let her do things. Worst of all, I know this is his style she is wearing, not hers.
"I agree with Maya. You need to let your hair down and go out," Duncan pipes in.
"No, I can't. Thank you, anyway, but no. Besides, Maya, I don't go to that pub anymore."
"What pub?"
"One in Surrey we liked to go to. The bartender knew ourfavorite drinks and even kept a bottle of mine set aside for me. He was a hoot." I laugh.
"Surrey? My friend Joshua is from there. We can all go together. Come on, Sis. Think of this as your hen party."
"Her what?" I ask confused.
"Hen party, I believe you call it a bachelorette party in America." Duncan smiles at me.
His smile causes me to take a deep breath, and I feel like I'm his complete focus. I shake it off and turn back to Ana.
"No, I'll not say it again. I can't...won't go. Jonathon will be upset if I do." Ana's breathing increases and she starts to hyperventilate.
I know the signs of a panic attack, and I'm wondering what else is going on to cause this. Wedding planning is stressful, but not like this. Well, at least I don't think it is. Ana starts to shake and I don't know what to do to stop this for her. What the hell is going on with my best friend?
"Okay, Ana, don't worry. We don't have to go."
