Page 54 of Bridesmaid to Bride

“Right. Pact partners by day, lovers by night.” She nods. “No thoughts of the future.”

“Exactly,” I say, but the weight of reality presses down. I’m agreeing to no thoughts of the future, but that’s a lie. I think about it all the time, and every version includes Eva. But screw it, I’ll deal with that later. “For now, let’s just... be.”

“Us,” she finishes.

“Us,” I echo, pulling her close again, her warmth seeping into my bones. We lie here, side by side, letting the moment stretch until it fills the whole room. The whole night.

I’ve got her here with me now, and that’s all that matters.

It’s the butt crack of dawn, and Eva’s leaving my room to get going on her day. The rehearsal dinner is tonight, so she’s overloaded. We’re out in the hallway when she brings me in for a kiss. Then I hover my lips over hers. “That was amazing. You’re amazing.”

Her mouth meets mine, and our tongues tangle together instantly. We’re seconds into this, and I’m already anxious to pick up right where we left off for the fourth time last night. Our bodies mesh together, feverish. I pull away just enough to say, “I’ve never wanted anyone so much.”

“Same. It’s everything.”

We’re a scramble of zippers unzipping as I try to open my door, but it clicked shut, and I don’t have my keycard. I don’t want to tell her this—to ruin the moment. So our hands are roaming everywhere when I hear something crash.

We pull away, our eyes wide, and my dick instantly deflates.

“What was that?” she whispers.

Footsteps pad down the intersecting hall, and we rush over to see who it is, but by the time we get there, the person’s gone.

Eva looks at me, her face ghostly. “Who was that?”

“A kid?” I offer, trying to think positively. “I mean, who runs away?”

“A kid.” She nods, looking relieved.

I hope to hell we’re right.

26

Who Let the Kat In?

EVA

After showering and getting dressed, I head over to Skye’s for coffee because she makes it really good. I’m riding high with the memory of West’s hands tracing my skin last night, his lips searing heat through every inch of me.

But I really hope no one important saw him and me, and I really need Skye’s advice. When I go through the adjoining door, the dogs go nuts, so I take a seat to pet each one, and before I can ask her anything, there’s a knock on her front door.

“Glad you’re here, we have an interrogation on the books—” She glances at her phone.

“Huh?”

“Brielle.” Skye hands me a cup of coffee, and after I thank her, I look around the room. Indeed, it is set up for an interrogation: a lamp shines brightly over the armchair and the curtains are drawn.

“Here she is.” Skye answers it and ushers Brielle in.

Brielle’s wide eyes dart around the room as if she’s casing the joint for a quick escape route.

“Take a seat, Brielle.” Skye points to the chair, her tone light but carrying an edge. The air is thick with the scent of conspiracy and hairspray.

Brielle, smart, doesn’t sit in the chair and, instead perches on the edge of the couch, holding her clutch. “Okay, what’s this about?” Her voice is wary, like she’s ready to bolt.

How did Skye get Brielle to agree to come? She’s good.

“Relax, we’re not the mob.” Skye doesn’t sit either.

---