Page 19 of The First Best Man

“And what is your type?” she asks, almost startling me with her straightforwardness.

“I prefer brunettes,” I say, then look up to meet her bright gaze. “I’m attracted to women with more natural beauty. And shemusthave a sense of humor. To be able to laugh at herself and make me laugh with her. And a nice, plump ass doesn’t hurt.”

If I thought my blatant honesty would throw her off her game, I was sadly mistaken. She snickers like a school girl before giving me a knowing nod.

“Sounds a lot like a certain maid of honor I know,” she sing-songs.

I lean back in my chair. “Are you trying to play matchmaker, Miss Ginny?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she says, her tone turning so haughty, I can’t hold back my laugh. Then she leans forward and pins me with a steady gaze, all humor gone. “Kate is a good girl. It would be a shame if someone hurt her and had to be dealt with by all the townsfolk who love her.”

The warning is clear, and her sudden shift in demeanor sends a little shock of fear down my spine. Leaning forward again, I meet her gaze head on and give her a single nod.

“Noted.”

“Good,” she says, shapeshifting back into the sassy little old lady she was a minute ago. “Now, eat up. You’re going to need your strength for today’s game.”

“You know what it is?” I ask.

“Now, don’t go batting those eyelashes at me, Mister. I’ll never tell,” she says, then pushes up from her chair and leaves the room. Then she pokes her head back in, saying, “And feel free to use my golf cart today, if you need it. The key is in the ignition.”

“Thank you, Miss Ginny,” I say, and she winks before disappearing again.

She’s feisty and protective, and I kind of love it. Bush Monkey Isle is full of characters like her. I can see why Logan wanted to move back here after college. It wasn’tallabout Penny. It was this place, too.

It’s really starting to grow on me.

Miss Ginny is nowhere to be found when I finisheating, and though it feels wrong, I leave my dirty dishes on the table like she explicitly told me to when I checked in on Sunday night. Heading outside, I find her golf cart parked in the drive, the key in the ignition like she promised. Hopping in, I back out and start my drive to Logan and Penny’s house, where everyone is meeting this morning.

I have no idea what we’re doing today, and my only hints were orders to wear swim trunks or shorts and a t-shirt I wouldn’t mind getting wet and dirty. So, I’m wearing my trunks and an old graphic tee with a pair of flip-flops and a baseball cap.

It actually feels good, to be so casual when most days back in San Francisco, I’m buttoned up in a three-piece suit every damn day. I had no idea how badly I needed this vacation, and I’m truly grateful Logan asked me to be his best man.

Rizzle will be fine without me for the week. Hell, the place runs so smoothly, I could leave for a month without it affecting business. Maybe even longer.

My thoughts turn to Kate as I near Logan’s place, and I wonder if she’ll be wearing a swimsuit today. I know I shouldn’t daydream about her like this, but by God, I can’t help it. I remember her leaning into me last night after she’d had too much to drink, the way my fingers sank into the flesh of her hips while I was helping her keep her balance.

I wasn’t as unaffected as I pretended to be, that’s for sure.

I shake my head to clear it. Ireallyshouldn’t be thinking about her like that. For all the reasons I’ve already gone over in my head a dozen times or more.

We’re friends. That’s all.

When I get to Logan and Penny’s and walk inside, I realize I’m the first to arrive. Apparently, last night’s activities have everyone else dragging ass this morning.

Logan closes the door behind me, and before I can say a word, he holds a finger to his lips and waves me forward. I follow as he leads me into his home office, then quietly closes the door behind us.

“Headache?” I ask as he digs his fingertips into his temples.

“Not for the reason you’re thinking,” he sighs before dropping his hands and meeting my gaze. “I need to talk to you. About Kate.”

My head rears back a notch. “What about her?”

He arches a brow as his lips tighten into a straight line. “You know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do,” I say with a shake of my head.

“Come on, man,” he says on a sigh. “You may show up at public events with blonde supermodels on your arm, but Iknowyou. Women like Kate are your kryptonite. But you need to resist the urge, man.”

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