Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare, #1)(15)

Reed was a cop and looked more likely to shoot than to ask questions with his dark looks. Brock was a quintessential Southern boy, complete with charm and charisma. And Logan? The guy looked like he’d be equally at home hanging from a rock face or facing down a boardroom. Out of all of them, Tyler related to him the most.

They were both happily married to their careers.

Logan sat on the empty barstool next to Tyler. “Evening, gentlemen. Refresh my memory. What’s on tomorrow’s agenda? Mountain biking, poker…what was it again?”

“Scavenger hunt. Tomorrow afternoon,” Tyler said. “You ready for some outdoor adventure?”

Logan grinned. “What do you think?”

Brock lounged on a barstool on the other side of Colt. “I think you’re both going to win, because Lord knows I’m not about to go traipsing across the mountainside for a prize I can buy myself.”

Reed sat down next to Brock, his attention still across the room and his frown even deeper than before. He nodded at Colton’s glass. “What are you drinking?”

“Whiskey,” Colt said, waving at Kady. “But not for much longer. My bride’s beckoning.”

“Nice,” Brock said, grinning at Kady. He signaled for the bartender to come over. “Not before I buy the first round of drinks, though.”

“Is it from Julie’s company?” Logan asked, grabbing one of those coasters that all bars had and dealing them down the bar like playing cards. “If so, line ’em up.”

“They have that here?” Reed asked, a brow up. From what Tyler could tell, he’d stopped watching Julie, but only because her family’s business had come into play. If he needed confirmation of his suspicions—which he didn’t—he’d gotten it right there. “I want to try some, too.”

“Sure,” Brock agreed. The bartender came up, and he smiled at her. “Hey, sugar. Can we get a round of One-Eyed Jack Whiskey?”

“And two champagnes,” Logan added, but the girl had eyes only for Brock.

“Sure thing,” she said, her cheeks flushed. “R-Right away.”

Not a big surprise there. From what Tyler had noticed over the past day or so in the man’s company, women melted into a puddle of goo when Brock turned on the Southern charm. Last night, he’d learned that he’d once charmed himself out of an arrest all because the cop was a woman. No one knew what Brock had done to get arrested.

He hadn’t been so quick to share that part of the story.

Logan shifted a little on his feet. “Next round’s on me, but it’ll have to be tomorrow after the scavenger hunt. Tonight I have to drink and run.”

“Why?” Brock asked, his drawl thicker than usual. “You got a hot date?”

Logan cast an odd look Colt’s way. “Hotter than you four.”

“Speaking of which…” Tyler eyed Logan’s casual gear. All of them were suited up except for him. He wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt, with a pair of brown leather sandals. “Dude. You realize this is a black-tie event, right? Not a visit to the Outback?”

“Seriously,” Colt said. “What the f*ck, man?”

Logan shrugged. “Hey, I wore this for you, big guy.”

“Huh?” Colt frowned.

Logan leaned in and lowered his voice. “Long story, and no reason to get your panties wadded, but I’m dressed like this so your little sister would come tonight. You asked me to keep an eye on her and make sure she didn’t hide in her room, and this is what it took.”

Colt shook his head and clapped him on the shoulder. “Okay, I’m not even going to ask. But, thanks. You’re the best.”

“It’s nothing.”

Colt shook his head and withdrew his hand. “Actually, no. It means a lot to me.”

Logan looked vaguely uncomfortable with his friend’s gratitude, but he didn’t reply. Interesting.

Without even intending to, his eyes sought out Christine. She’d been staring at him, so their gazes crashed in one hot, scorching collision. He froze, not daring to so much as move. Not when she was looking at him as if she wanted to get him naked now. When she turned her back on him, he looked away—only to find Logan watching him.

When the drinks came, Logan looked away. He downed his shot, picked up the glasses of champagne, nodded, and then took off in Sophie’s direction.

“Jesus,” Reed said, his frown back in place. “Is she going to eat anything herself?”

“What?” Colt asked. “Who?”

Reed startled, as if he hadn’t realized he spoke out loud, and picked up his drink. “Never mind.”

Tyler cleared his throat. “Dude, you look like you’re about to drown a fluffy white kitten. Relax.”

Reed snapped himself out of it, frowning even deeper. “I’ve gotta go.” He headed across the room without another word.

Tyler shook his head and sat down beside Colt, who cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “So, uh, that was an interesting show to watch.”

“Who? Reed and Julie? I know. It’s f*cking—”

“I wasn’t talking about them,” Colt said, rolling his eyes. “I meant the look you and Christine just exchanged.”

Tyler picked up his drink and took a swig of Julie’s whiskey. It went down smooth. “Okay, maybe your math isn’t that far off.”