“We are, but Sarah insisted Richard dance with her first. So, we’re here for an hour or two before we can ditch her.”
“I’m going to need a stiff drink or two if you don’t want the bride to have black eyes in the pictures tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll ever understand what you saw in her.”
“I’m beginning to wonder myself.”
“First round is on me. We’ll toast to you dodging the bullet and to your brother’s bad luck.”
Sam’s smile grew by the minute. Bringing Grace as his date had been a stroke of genius. She was funny and feisty. Her beauty was just a bonus.
Grace walked into the bar as if she’d grown up in this town and everyone knewher name. There wasn’t a person she’d met yet she hadn’t made to feel comfortable in some way or another, except the bride, of course.
Sam watched Grace as she moved through the crowd and straight to the bar. She wasn’t even aware that the groomsmen were undressing her with their eyes, or the way the men naturally gravitated toward her, or how the bartender dropped what he was doing just to serve her.
Why was she still single? He’d spent less than a week with her so far, and he could see what a catch she’d be. The thought of dropping the charade to help her find the type of man she wanted weighed heavy on his mind. Here she was helping him, and what was he doing in return? The opposite of helping her. She thought she’d ruin his chance with the bridesmaids when, in reality, he was ruining her chances at finding the right guy. Did that make him selfish? Would she consider letting him really date her instead?
Sam and Grace downed a shot of whiskey before grabbing their beers and heading toward the wedding party. Sarah was sitting in Richard’s lap, even as she watched Sam approach. He’d seen that look in her eyes before. The kind wherethe claws were itching below the surface. Her gaze was predatory.
Sarah smirked before she turned in Richard’s arms and pressed her lips to his in a heated kiss. He’d expected that jab to hurt, but he felt nothing. No hatred or anger or jealousy. Just…nothing. Interesting.
Sam pulled out Grace’s chair and took the one next to her. He laid his hand along the back of the chair and took a sip of his beer, doing his best to look happy for his brother.
“So, Sam, how did you two meet?” Sarah asked, as if she was genuinely interested.
Grace raised her brow, as if she was interested in knowing herself. He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “She works in the office building directly across from mine, and I asked her out.”
“I thought you were going to say she’d come to your office in need of your services helping her find a date,” Sarah said with a challenging look.
No one knew that was exactly what had happened.
“Does she look like she needs help finding a date?” Sam asked, raising a brow.
“Hell no,” Mike answered. “Grace, do you have any single sisters?”
Grace smiled. “As a matter of fact, one is still single.”
“Perfect.” Mike rose and held out his hand when a slow song started to play. “Come dance with me and tell me all about her.”
Grace rose from her seat and kissed Sam on the lips in a slow, tantalizing kiss that was more heated than the one Sarah had given her groom. “You okay with this?”
“Of course.” Sam gave a slow nod. “I trust you explicitly.” He said it loud enough for Sarah to hear. His words earned him a bright smile from Grace.
He watched Grace and Mike on the dance floor, unable to look away. Grace spoke as she swayed. She laughed at something Mike said, and Sam forced himself not to cut in. He was watching her for the first time with another man. She seemed confident and in control. The way she smiled and her eyes sparkled held her dance partner a bit mesmerized. Other bridesmaids and groomsmen took to the floor as Richard walked to the bar to get Sarah a drink. She moved into Grace’s empty chair.
“You look like you’re ready to devour her. You never used to look at me that way. If you had, I might not have found comfort with your brother.”
“Yes, you would have. If you’ll excuse me.” Sam rose from his chair with his gaze locked with Grace’s. She licked her lips and winked. More than enough of an invitation for Sam to cut in.
The crowd and people between them parted as if they, too, could feel the building heat that was stirring between Grace and him. With every turn, Grace found his gaze. The look in her eyes turned downright hungry until Sam tapped Mike on the shoulder.
“My turn.”
Mike frowned. Yeah, Sam knew why. He finally understood what Grace had meant when she said she wanted the heated gaze from across the room. Sam took her into his arms and twirled her once before pulling her tight against his chest. His lips hovered near her ear, his words a whisper. “Did you feel the heated gaze?”
Goosebumps rose on her arms, telling him what her words didn’t.
“What about the butterflies? Are you feeling those yet?”
She leaned out of his hold to glance up at him. “And the pitter-patter,” she said as though confused. “It wasn’t supposed to happen with you.”
