Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare, #1)(16)

“You think?”

Tyler stared down at the amber liquid in his glass. “We’re playing a game of hard to get right now. Her more so than me.”

“I bet something’s hard on you,” Colt muttered.

Tyler scowled at him. “Fuck you.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” Colt grinned. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be caught. Ever think of that?”

“Oh, she wants to be caught.” He fished out his wallet. Time to pay his tab and socialize before Kady tracked him down and kicked his ass. “She’s just playing a game, but I’m determined to win the war.”

Colt rubbed his jaw and stared across the room. “You might have to try a bit harder to convince her of that.”

“Nah. I just need some more time.” After locating his card, he set it on the bar. “She’ll come around.”

“Will she come around before or after she’s done with that guy?” Colt pointed at the door, where Christine was leaving with another man. Another man who looked way too happy to be at her side. Asshole. “Just wondering and all.”

“Son of a bitch.” Tyler lurched to his feet in one smooth motion. “No f*cking way.”

Colt stopped him with a hand on his elbow. “Let her go. It’s all part of the game, right?”

Tyler shook free of Colt’s grip but didn’t move. She would be gone before he could catch up to her, and he’d be damned before he literally chased her out the door. As she left, she shot him a cocky look over her shoulder, and as the door closed behind her he’d swear he saw her slide her hand into the other guy’s suit jacket.

Tyler turned back to the bar and motioned the bartender over. “I’m going to need another drink or ten.”





Chapter Seven


The tension in Christine’s shoulders increased as they neared the lodge. Her phone lit up and she glanced down at it.

Where did you go, Red?

Her heart sped up. He’d been texting her since she walked out of Spago with Joe, the guy she’d been halfheartedly flirting with after the Tyler incident at the bar, demanding to know where she was. She’d been ignoring him, but… Biting down on her lip, she jotted off a quick text.

You want me that bad? Come find me, Doc.

A short pause, then: You got it. Game on.

A contradictory shiver crept up her spine. The man was good. Heck, even his texts made her want him. Please. You were never in the game in the first place.

A reply came back within seconds, but she ignored it. Joe was commenting on the weather and she nodded politely, hoping he wouldn’t notice how distracted she was. He was some distant cousin of Colton’s—handsome, charming, and built like a freaking football player. Everything a girl could want in a wild one-night stand. And…he might as well have been a rip-out poster for all the desire he brought out in her.

Zilch. Nada. Zip.

She was half tempted to kiss him anyway, just to see if she could pretend enough to have a little fun, but wasn’t that beside the point of actually having fun? This was supposed to be her opportunity to cross another item off her list. She was supposed to have a make-out session with this guy in the elevator. Maybe even more, if it went well.

But all she could think about was Tyler.

Finally, they reached the lodge.

“So, Christine.” Joe smiled at her. “Would you like to get a drink with me?”

She should say yes. She should take him up to her room and lose herself in his touch. Forget all about Tyler Dresco. But she couldn’t. It felt…wrong. Forced.

Dull and boring.

“I think I’ll just crash. I have a headache.” It wasn’t a lie. She had a headache, and its name was Tyler. She forced a smile to lighten her rejection, pressing her fingers against her temple. “Good night.”

“Oh. Yeah, sure.” He dug in his pocket for his room key, and held open the door. Once she passed through, he gave her an awkward hug. Yep. Nothing. All those muscles pressed against her did less to stir her emotions than a cocky smirk from Tyler did. “Catch you later, Christine.”

“Thanks again for walking me back.”

“Anytime,” he vowed, his eyes trying to catch hers.

Christine smiled, even though it felt fake, and wrapped her arms around herself. The dude gave up on flirting with her and left. She sighed and looked over her shoulder, not sure what to do with herself now that her plan to get it on was ruined. Broken. That’s what she was. Or maybe not. Maybe her problem was Tyler and the way he made her feel. He made her feel like he was the one.

He wasn’t. He never had been.

So why couldn’t she get him out of her head?

She headed toward the elevator door. A footstep squeaking on the floor was her warning she wasn’t alone anymore. She turned around, eyes wide when she saw who stood there. “What are you doing here?”

“You told me to come find you. I did.” Tyler’s face seemed deceptively calm. But she could see the irritation bubbling beneath the smooth surface. He was angry. Or was he…jealous? No. Not possible. “According to you, that means you’re mine now.”

She shook her head. She hadn’t been planning on him actually finding her. He was supposed to be at the dinner party, damn it. “Excuse me? I don’t remember—”