Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)(25)

“You steal those shoes off a stripper?” Julie asked. ”Or are you planning on taking the drastic step of breaking your neck to avoid this scavenger hunt?”

“Actually I’m hoping to distract the competition.” Regan posed. “Jealous?”

“Concerned,” Kady corrected. “About your ankles. And your mental health.”

Regan shrugged, already looking bored.

“Does everyone really want to avoid the scavenger hunt? I thought it would be fun.” She felt the familiar stab of disappointment in herself when everyone stayed silent. Don’t let it show. “Well, that’s just dandy.”

Reed sauntered up then, standing off to the side of the growing group, arms crossed over his chest. Against her will, every inch of Julie’s skin went hypersensitive. Lord, he looked ready for sin. An observation she resented. She didn’t want to observe him. Yet she couldn’t stop herself from cataloging every part of him. Cut biceps, adorned with tattoos, stretched the sleeves of his white T-shirt in a way that didn’t belong among the khaki and polo-shirt-wearing wedding guests. His dark hair was still damp from a shower. She knew from experience now that he would smell fresh, masculine, raw. That underneath that T-shirt and jeans, his body was poised, ready to be exerted. Craving exertion. Such a contrast to his deceptively casual pose. When their gazes met, rebellious heat curled below her waist.

No. She didn’t want this. Perhaps he’d partially redeemed himself by cleaning up after the party. Easing her burden. Leaving her that unintentionally sweet, uniquely Reed note. That didn’t mean she should excuse last night’s lewd comment so easily. Did it? Why did she want to?

Watching Reed, she held out a hand to Kady. “Hand me one of those lists, darlin’.”

Regan did a little dance move. “Aw, shit. Julie P on the prowl.”

Christine looked amused. Not to mention grateful for a distraction from whatever was obviously giving her fits. “Go easy on him. No one outmatches you when you’re holding a list of meaningless items.”

“Y’all are seeing things. I just need to clear something up, is all.” Julie ignored the round of snorts delivered by her friends and swayed toward Reed, trying for all the world to hide her nerves. At her unexpected approach, he narrowed his eyes, but otherwise didn’t move an inch. She lowered her voice so her friends wouldn’t overhear their conversation. “If you’re expecting a thank-you for acting as my cleanup crew, keep waiting. It won’t come. But in the spirit of goodwill I’ve decided to call us even.”

“Is that right, pixie?” He swept her head-to-toe with a blistering look. “I feel obliged to tell you goodwill is the furthest thing from my mind right now.”

Julie struggled for composure. She should turn up her nose and walk away. It’s what she’d been taught to do when a man overstepped his bounds. They’d gone way past that point, however. She couldn’t walk away just then for the life of her. “I’ve got a scavenger hunt to win. What’s on your mind is none of my concern.”

“Maybe. But you’re hoping I tell you anyway.” His attention dropped to her breasts. Julie’s face heated, somehow positive he was remembering what they’d done last night at the spring. It made her remember, too. His hands, his mouth. Things he’d said. “I’m thinking about how none of your friends over there know what I found out last night. That you’re a kinky little bad girl who likes to be creative. No one here knows. And I f*cking love that I do.”

Awareness flooded Julie. As if her senses remembered what he could do for her body. The feelings he could elicit with a simple touch or a whispered dare in her ear. She forced herself to remember the crowd of people witnessing their exchange, including her friends, who didn’t often see her lose her cool. Friends who would notice immediately if she did. “Enjoy having your secret. Can I trust you to keep it?”

Reed’s eyebrows drew together, his voice dropped even lower. “Do you honestly think I would tell one single person? That the blond beauty queen goes off like a firecracker when you stroke her just right? Not a f*cking chance, baby. I wouldn’t risk someone else trying to take what’s—”

“Stop it.” Julie’s face flamed hot. Her attempts to calm her pounding pulse failed. She couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth, even though she knew if they were in the dark, she wouldn’t be able to get enough. They weren’t in the dark, however. And if she listened to him a minute longer, she would combust in front of everyone. Everyone who thought of her as the respectable do-gooder. The planner. The maker-of-pretty. It certainly wouldn’t be pretty when she burst into flames. “You’ve made your point.”

“Haven’t even begun.”

“I say you have.”

“Your legs look goddamn incredible in that skirt.”

Her rejoinder died in her throat and came out sounding like, “Guhhhh wham.”

An uncharacteristic smile shaped his mouth. “Ah, you gotta love a bilingual girl.”

“Oh, no. You don’t get to be funny, too.”

“Too?”

“Here you go.” She shoved the scavenger hunt list into his waiting hand and tried to hide her embarrassment with a saucy look. “Think you can keep up?”

“We both know I can keep it up.”