Game (Gentry Boys, #3)(6)
I looked at Saylor McCann Gentry. She was talking to her father, her hands resting on her belly and her face glowing. She was beautiful. She was his.
“You couldn’t have done better,” I told him sincerely. “I should be so lucky.”
“You will be,” he assured me with a look of surprise. “Just give it time, Chase. Your girl is out there.” He turned his head to see what I’d been staring at while he talked. He chuckled. “I don’t think that’s her, though.”
“Maybe not, but it gets me all crazy the way she acts like she hates the world.”
“Not sure it’s an act, bro.”
I watched Stephanie adjust her dress again and then glare at one of Cord’s friends when she thought he’d been looking at her. My mind was starting to run away with me again, imagining pushing that damn gown up over her waist and sliding inside while she moaned my name. I let out a low whistle.
“Damn, I want to f*ck her. I want to f*ck her so bad. I could turn all that angst into something useful.”
Cord was exasperated, looking around as if he were panicked that someone might have heard me say the word ‘f*ck’. We were in a Vegas hotel for crying out loud. People said ‘f*ck’ here as often as they said ‘hello’.
Cord swatted me over the head anyway. “Jesus, dickhead. It’s my wedding day. Try and keep a lid on your urges, or at least try to stop talking about them.”
I smiled. “You know, Steph’s the kind who keeps it all bottled up. Yeah, that’s right. Those kinds of girls always come the hardest. Can’t resist that temptation.”
“Okay,” Cord rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“I bet she plays with her * every night while she pictures my dick. I bet she keeps a big vibrating dildo underneath her mattress, strokes it, calls it ‘Chase’ and needs to replace the batteries once a week. Maybe twice a week.”
Cord was cracking up in spite of himself. “You’re having a fantasy. I’m gonna go mingle with some guests who can control their libidos.”
“All right, man. Congratulations again.” I didn’t tell him that I thought marriage had made him a little uptight already. Hell, it wasn’t as if I was standing there jerking off in front of everyone, although I was getting more uncomfortable the longer I stared at Stephanie. Something would have to be done about that.
I figured I’d wait until Stephanie downed some more champagne and improved her mood before I made an approach. One way or another, I was determined to have some kind of encounter with her before the end of the night. I had thought it would happen last night but she’d holed herself up in her room as soon as we arrived and when I knocked on her door she flat out ignored me. We were in Las Vegas for crying out loud, the epicenter of sin. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Brayden and Millie appeared to take pity on Stephanie and sat down at her table. I figured that would keep her busy for a while so I relaxed and wandered around, talking to everyone. Cord’s coworkers were freaking hilarious. They were a rough bunch covered in ink and loaded with dirty stories about the curious places girls wanted to get stamped. If I had an ounce of artistic talent I’d be all over that tattoo shit.
It got awkward when I tried to have a conversation with Saylor’s dad. He was willing to tolerate Cord at this point and had even footed the bill for most of the wedding. But he didn’t seem to have much use for any other Gentrys. He’d gone to high school with my father. The experience must have left quite an impression because he flared his nostrils and kept his conversation stiff, like he would rather get kicked in the nuts than speak to the progeny of Benton Gentry. The tacky blonde at his side was a whole different situation. She licked her lips and looked like she could stand to cougar jump me.
The steaks were a little overdone for my taste, but I ate every bite anyway. I noticed Stephanie picking at hers and talking to Truly. Sometimes Truly seemed a little lukewarm over the idea of me getting together with Stephanie. I had to wonder what made her so protective. Steph didn’t seem like she would have any problem taking care of herself. Yet just last night Truly had squeezed my arm and issued a plea.
“Don’t hurt her, Chase. If it’s just a hot time you’re after, then find it somewhere else, okay?”
Well of course I was after a hot time. But it wasn’t a good idea to admit it so freely. “I’ll be the same gentleman I always am,” I promised Truly with a grin and she gave up with a roll of her eyes. Creed had glared at me again though, silently warning me of the consequences if I upset his girl. I flipped him off with a smirk. Now that my brothers had settled into real relationships they were all over my ass to act like an adult. It was becoming tiresome.
When Stephanie rose out of her chair and started heading for the door I saw the perfect moment. I could buy her another drink, maybe take her for a stroll along the strip, and then slowly, gradually, coax her into letting me inside her room. I was already standing and silently rehearsing what I would say when the bride caught my eye.
Saylor had retreated to a table in the corner. Cord didn’t notice; he was talking to some of his buddies. Saylor sighed and ran her hands along the white tablecloth. She looked so sad all of a sudden.
I glanced over to where Stephanie was already disappearing through the door. Even though a curse flashed through my mind I couldn’t follow her right now. I sure as hell wasn’t going to walk away while Saylor was sad.