Page 15 of The First Best Man

Taking her hand, I pump it firmly, holding on for a second longer than I should before releasing her.

This week is going to be much more fun than I expected. Kate is full of mischief and surprises, and I kind of love it.

Even though she just made me look and act like an idiot.

I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun, and the week has barely gotten started.

CHAPTER SIX

Kate

As hard as I try,I can’t stop the periodic spurts of laughter that burst out of me as we drive around the island, collecting photos of our scavenger hunt items. It’s official. Images of Tucker landing flat on his back before scrambling back to his feet in sheer terror will forever live rent-free in my head. I wish I’d had the foresight to record the whole thing on my phone.

Who knew Mr. Ladies’ Man was so gullible?

Clutching the steering wheel of the golf cart with one hand, I rest the other in my lap. I jump when Tucker’s arm shoots toward me, gripping my wrist and pulling it toward him. I don’t fight for release as I glance over to see him staring at the faded scars on my skin.

Rubbing his thumb over the slightly puckered flesh––which totally doesn’t send a ripple ofgoosebumps up my arm…totally––he asks, “So, how did youreallyget this?”

“Kitchen accident,” I say, flinching at the slight waver in my voice. Clearing my throat, I add in a much firmer tone, “I tripped and accidentally caught myself on a hot grill.”

“Ouch,” he breathes, rubbing the spot again.

Something tumbles in my gut, and there’s a tightening in my core I’ve never felt from another’s touch before. I don’t know how to handle it, so I end up gently extracting my wrist from his grasp. Pulling my arm back to my lap, I surreptitiously rub the spot against my leg in an attempt to erase the remaining tingles from his touch.

Feeling an extreme urge to change the subject and break the tension, I pump the brakes and throw out an arm toward a nearby bush, shouting, “Monkey!”

Startled, Tucker flinches toward me before sighing audibly and straightening back to his former position. When I snicker, he looks my way with an annoyed expression.

“How long are you going to milk this?”

I shrug, humming the universal sound for “I don’t know.” Meeting his eyes, I offer, “All week, maybe? But I promise I won’t make you screech and run at the wedding. Can’t do that to Penny.”

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate your consideration,” he grumbles, making me laugh again.

“Oh,” I say as I pull the golf cart to the side of the street. “Here we go. The last one.”

Tucker meets me by the front bumper, looking as I point to the small, two-story yellow house. Lifting hisphone, he snaps a picture, then slides the device into his pocket.

“So, this is where Penny lived when they first started dating in high school?” he asks, referring to the last clue we had to solve.

“Yep,” I say, pointing to a window on the second floor. “He used to keep a step ladder hidden in the bushes so he could reach the porch roof and pull himself up to sneak into her bedroom after her parents went to sleep.”

“Scandalous,” he murmurs, making me chuckle.

“Very,” I agree. “Of course, her parents found out. It’s hard to keep a secret in this town. You want to know how Penny’s mom let her know they were onto her?”

“How?” he asks, looking over to meet my gaze.

“She left a very special gift on Penny’s bed. Penny got home from school to find a basket filled with condoms and an appointment card for a doctor’s visit to get birth control pills.”

A bark of laughter bursts from his lips as he shakes his head. “That’s one way to get your point across.”

I chuckle. “Penny was mortified.”

“I bet,” he replies, then moves to climb back into the golf cart. “Come on. Let’s go see if we won.”

The drive is a short one, and after we park and head into Miguel’s, it only takes a second to realize we’re the first ones here. I let out a little shout of victory and, without thinking, lunge for Tucker, wrapping him in a tight hug. His arms move around me automatically, hugging me back as the woodsy scent of his cologne wafts up my nose.

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