Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare, #1)(8)

He flinched. “That was the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done, I’ll admit it. But I went down there to protect you girls, not to f*ck one of you.”

She crossed her arms and gave him an appraising look. “Looks like I won the unexpected prize package then, huh?”

“No.” He eyed her. He could read her like a book. She intimidated people by being on the offensive, making them back down. It wouldn’t work with him. “I didn’t mean it like that and you know it.”

“Not really. I do know, though, that when you’re about to come, you close your eyes and your fingers tighten on my hair before you tug—”

“Jesus.” His stomach clenched and he took a step toward her, but pulled himself short. “How the hell do you remember that shit?”

“I have a good memory.” She crossed her arms and grinned. “Once I see or feel something, I never forget.”

“Maybe you need to,” Tyler said, thinking of her photographic memory of him running away like a scared f*cking pansy in Mexico. “Some things aren’t worth remembering.”

Her smile slipped a little, but she forced it back into place. What game was she playing? “I remember it all, you know. Do you?”

Did she remember all of those details? It had been eight years. Sure, he remembered them, too, but that was different. He’d been older and completely sober. “Weren’t you too drunk to remember your name, let alone what we did?”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he wanted to take them back. He felt like an ass for having sex with her when she was under the influence in the first place. The last thing he needed was to remind her he’d done it. Stupid *.

She laughed, tossing her head back. “Actually, I wasn’t drunk at all.”

“You had three drinks.” He looked her up and down. “At your age and your size, you would have been at an approximately 0.28 percent blood alcohol concentration, which is way beyond drunk. I was a jerk for taking advantage of you, and I’m sorry.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and averted her eyes. “That’s an awfully detailed calculation. Thought about it much over the years?”

“You could say that.” He clenched his jaw. “Like I said, I’m sorry.”

“Well, save your apologies for someone else.” She lifted a shoulder. “You had three drinks. I was too distracted watching you to drink, so there’s no guilt needed. I didn’t even drink that night.”

How had he missed her not finishing her drinks? Maybe he’d just been that taken in by her. She was more fun to watch than a f*cking cup. “Oh.”

“I had sex with you because I wanted to. Because you made me feel good. Not because I was drunk and out of my head.” She cocked her head. “Can you say the same? Why did you do it?”

Heat swept through him, taking away some of the guilt that had been his companion for way too long. She’d been fully sober and still f*cked him? Well, that changed a few things. It meant she’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her.

Also, he couldn’t believe how much she’d grown up. Last time he’d been this close to her, she’d needed him. Needed his help. She didn’t need him anymore…

But he might just need her.

He watched her, his fingers flexing. “You’ve changed. You’re bolder.”

Surprisingly, he found this version of Christine even hotter.

She raised her brows. “So have you, but I bet you’re still that same boy who runs away after sex—just all grown up.”

“I’ve outgrown that particular habit,” he said drily. “But I don’t take virgins to my bed anymore.”

“That might be so.” She stepped closer, uncrossing her arms. “But I bet you still leave afterward, even if it is for a different reason. Perhaps to avoid commitment? I’ve heard you’re not big on the whole long-term relationship stuff.”

He gritted his teeth. She was way too f*cking spot-on for his liking. “And what do you know about me? It’s been eight years.”

She stepped even closer and ran a hand down his chest. His heart sped up at her featherlight touch. “I know you’ve avoided commitments and seem to love throwing yourself into your work. I know you feel more comfortable overseas in a jungle than you do here, in a hotel lobby. I know the last place you want to be right now is here, with me.” Her hand dropped. “Am I right?”

Damn it all to hell, she was too f*cking good. He curled his hands into fists, refusing to touch her even though he couldn’t think of anything else he’d rather be doing right now. “Pretty damn close except for the last part. I’m finding this whole encounter enlightening, to say the least.”

She smiled and bit down on the corner of her lip as if she tried to stop it. It was adorable and sexy all in one. Just like her. “How so?”

“Like I said, you aren’t the same person you were in Mexico.”

Her smile widened. “But I bet you are.”

“Care to find out?” he asked, crossing his arms. “We could—”

“Yeah. I don’t know about that.” She crossed her arms and considered him. “The last performance wasn’t all that great for me to revisit it. Especially the ending.”