Seducing the Bridesmaid (Wedding Dare, #3)(14)

“A gentleman never tells.” A flash of movement caught his attention. Regan stood next to Kady, glaring daggers. She snatched a piece of paper out of her friend’s hands, and she stalked over to him. It wasn’t every day he saw a woman who walked in six-inch heels like they were flats, but Regan made it look effortless.

And he really needed to stop obsessing over her f*cking shoes.

She shoved a paper at his chest. “Howdy, partner.” Then she turned a genuinely sweet smile at Christine. “Sorry, honey, but I’m doing you a favor. You don’t want to spend any more time with this asshat than strictly necessary.”

Christine’s gaze jumped between them and then away. “Better than the alternative,” she muttered. With a pained sigh, she walked away, leaving him to Regan’s tender mercies.

She barely waited for her friend to get out of earshot before she spun on him. “You stay away from her.”

“Why? I think she’s a sweetheart.”

She glared. “She’s a nice girl, and you’d eat her alive. Then I’d take a truly scary amount of pleasure in killing you and throwing your body in a Dumpster.”

Even though it was aimed at him, her protectiveness of her friend chipped away at some of the anger he felt over how last night had ended. Some of it. “Aw, you’re adorable. I reckon you’ve never seen woods before right now.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Scarlett, please. I was a Girl Scout.”

That startled a laugh out of him. “And pray tell, why did you drop out?”

“Do you know what’s in the woods? Bugs. Things that make freaky noises. Squirrels who are only too happy to go for your throat.” She shuddered. “I’m more cut out for the concrete jungle.” Then she seemed to realize they were having an actual conversation without animosity, because her eyes narrowed. “But that changes nothing. Stay away from Christine. She’s not like us. You’d hurt her.”

The unspoken comment being that he couldn’t hurt Regan. Since he didn’t want to hurt her, that was great news. Or it would be if it didn’t signify the fact that she’d never care enough about him for him to be able to hurt her. He shouldn’t care. She was just some chick at one of his friends’ weddings.

Damn it, he did care.

“You should let me take you out sometime.” The words were out before he realized he was going to say it.

The shocked look on her face was almost funny. Almost. “Hitting the moonshine a little early today, don’t you think?”

“Enough with the country boy references.” He’d bet she’d never touched moonshine.

“I just call it like I see it.” She crossed her arms under her chest, and he did his damnedest not to stare at her breasts. “Look, I had a great time last night and all, but this just isn’t going to work out like you want it to.”

She thought she had him all figured out. It shouldn’t surprise him. Everyone else did, too. “Why not, Regan? How the hell do you know what I want from this? I don’t remember you sticking around long enough to talk last night. ”

“There is no ‘this.’” She motioned between them. “You aren’t the kind of guy who settles down. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m not looking to waste my time. To be frank, Logan is more my speed.”

He stared. Was she for real? “Logan.”

“Yeah. He’s cultured, has excellent taste, and owns his own business. He’s not the type to flit from woman to woman.”

“Have you exchanged more than two words with the guy?” Brock had. When they’d all gone out for drinks the first night here, he’d had a chance to talk to Logan for a little while. He was a decent guy. A little work-obsessed for Brock’s taste—and a whole lot too much like his brother Caine.

Right now he kind of wished Logan was an ass so he could hate the man.

She shrugged one shoulder. “We’ve talked.”

Of course they had. How could Logan not lose his head over Regan? She was all glitter and fireworks that drew the gaze—though he’d bet she hadn’t shown Logan her claws.

She glanced sideways and her eyes widened. “Quick, say something funny.”

The change in subject almost gave him whiplash. “What?”

Regan gritted her teeth. “A joke. Tell a joke, or something.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Good Lord, you’re hopeless.” She leaned in, so close he got a whiff of her perfume, and laid her hand on his arm. Then she threw her head back and let loose the most carefree and intoxicating laugh he’d ever heard in his life. It hit him like a lightning bolt, a shock that he wasn’t prepared for.

The shock turned sour as soon as he realized what she’d caught sight of. A man had just walked past their group, shooting an interested look in her direction. Brock shook his head, realizing she’d mistaken the stranger for Logan. “Stand down, Mrs. McCade. That is not the man you’re looking for.”

“Shit.” Her smile looked a little strained around the edges. “Nice Star Wars reference, even if you butchered the delivery.”

He never would have pegged her for a Star Wars fan, but he refused to pursue that curiosity because there were bigger issues at hand. “You were going to use me to get his attention.”