She chewed on her bottom lip and stared as if trying to figure him out. “Who are you?”
Adrenaline spiked his bloodstream. He slinked deeper into the shadows. Had she recognized him?
“Jamie. Like I said.” Well, that was his cousin’s name, but he’d respond if someone shouted it. Hopefully. “I’m not a crazed rapist or ax murderer, if that’s what you’re worried about. I overheard your dilemma and decided to help. I just want to see you smile, okay?”
“Everything all right?” a male voice called from the next table.
The groom-to-be tried to stare him down, his eyes narrowing to something he probably thought resembled a Hollywood action hero’s most intimidating glare. Jesse tried not to laugh.
“Fantastic,” he assured the dickwad, curling a possessive hand around Bristol’s shoulder.
Bristol’s sister latched onto her fiancé’s arm and blinked up at him as if she sought all the answers of the universe in his eyes. Jesse didn’t have anything against love or adoration. He didn’t know much about them, but he didn’t think her insipid expression was a good representation of either emotion.
“Is that guy bothering you?” Bristol’s ex asked her, nodding his way.
Jesse’s heart picked up when she leaned closer and curled her fingers over his. Then she glanced the fidiot’s way again. “Why would you think that, Hayden? I’m great.”
“She’s just put out that I’m late,” Jesse lied smoothly. “Carry on.”
Hayden did so reluctantly, telling everyone at the gathering about the moment he’d realized he was in love with her sister over punch and cake, right after Presleigh risked herself to rescue the neighbor’s kid from an angry hive of bees.
“Is he talking about Ben Bob?” When Bristol nodded, Jayla rolled her eyes. “C’mon now. That kid threw rocks at the hive because he wanted to see what the bees would do.”
“Yep. He even admitted that.”
Jayla frowned, as if remembering an annoying but key fact. “Didn’t that happen at your birthday party?”
“It did.” Bristol nodded with an acid smile.
So Hayden had thrown her over for her vapid sister when he’d come to celebrate her big day? “What an asshole.”
“You got that right,” Jayla put in.
While Jesse couldn’t deny that he’d pulled some dick moves when he had been briefly engaged to Kimber, that had been years ago, when he had been young, intoxicated, and stupid. Back then, he’d believed the world owed him a good time.
He’d grown up since then. He didn’t think he could say the same for Hayden.
“I’m glad you figured that out,” Bristol tossed back at him, wearing an intriguing hint of a grin.
“If hearing me diss your ex makes you happy, I’ll be glad to do it more.”
Her grin widened, almost becoming a full-blown smile.
Before Jesse could coax one out of her, the waitstaff began bringing everyone glasses of sweet tea and trays full of beef brisket sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, and bread. Bottles of wine followed. Hayden called for a bucket of beer. People dug in, conversation ensued, and the engaged couple looked at each other as if they couldn’t wait to be alone. Jesse wondered if they realized how incredibly insensitive they were being. But Jesse suspected they didn’t care if they hurt Bristol. They’d clearly disregarded her feelings a while ago.
Thankfully, the restaurant began piping in music, a kind of modern country tune that Jesse didn’t hear often but liked. He eyed Bristol as she bounced in her chair to the beat. Her gesture looked completely unconscious, as if she didn’t expect anyone would be watching her. He found it kind of adorable.
When the waiter began taking the food away, she’d barely touched hers. Instead, she peered at him as if he was a riddle she needed to solve. The intelligence on her face, coupled with an unconsciously sultry thing she had going on, piqued his interest. Blood rushed south. Against his better judgment, his cock stood up and saluted her.
Shit, he’d jumped into this situation to help—nothing more. He’d just rolled into town and wasn’t sure what to do with himself. He definitely hadn’t cast himself in the role of her boyfriend in the hopes that she’d let him fuck her.
Everyone around them was laughing and imbibing. The engaged couple kissed again. Bristol tried not to look at them. Jesse wanted to wring their insensitive necks.
“Walk with me?” he leaned closer and asked in her ear.
She whirled his way, her green eyes wide. “Where?”
He shrugged. “I’ve never been to this place. Where can we talk without technically leaving the party?”
