Page 20 of The First Best Man

Even though I’ve already decided I have to do just that, hearing the words from my best friend is like a slap to the face.

“Why is that?” I ask, unable to keep the bite out of my tone. “You don’t think I’m good enough for her, or something?”

“Of course not,” he says like it’s his turn to be offended. “You know I love you, man. But let’s be honest. You’re not the commitment type, and Kate is. She’s not a one-night stand kind of girl.”

Of course, I’ve figured that out, too. But that doesn’tstop my hackles from rising as Logan stares at me, waiting for me to agree not to touch her. Like he’s her father, or something. Kate’s a grown-ass woman, and she can decide what she wants for herself.

And if she wants to walk on the wild side once––withme––I honestly don’t know if I’d have the will to stop it. Regardless of what Logan thinks is best.

Logan must see the obstinance in my expression, because he sighs again, this time louder. Leaning forward, he stares right into my eyes and utters words I’d never expect. Not in a million years.

“Kate doesn’t know what kind of fire she’s playing with here, J.T. She’s avirgin.”

I stumble back a step like he actually slapped me, my eyes flaring wide as my mouth falls open. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says, rubbing his temples again.

“But…she’s almost thirty years old, isn’t she?” I ask lamely, my brain misfiring as it tries to comprehend this revelation.

Logan shakes his head. “Small town. Very few options. And, according to Penny, she always wanted her first time to be with someone she really cared about, and it just never happened.”

“I––” I start, but whatever I was about to say gets cut off as the doorbell rings.

Logan shakes his head, mutters something about remembering what he said, and walks out of his office. I follow behind him at a slow pace, my mind racing.

She’s a virgin? Despite Logan’s explanation of how and why, I still can’t wrap my head around it. It’s inconceivable, especially knowing the woman. She’s thewhole package. Gorgeous, funny, smart. Mischievous. An amazing friend to those she cares about.

I’ve known her for two days, and I can see everything she has to offer. This island is full of idiotic men who wouldn’t know a good thing if it hit them in the face.

Logan opens the door, and there she is, walking in like a bright ray of sunshine when she should be at least a little haggard after all the booze she put down last night. She looks at me and smiles, but she must see something in my expression, because her smile falls as she steps forward.

“Hey,” she says after Logan announces he’s going to see what’s keeping Penny and leaves the room. “Listen, I’m sorry about the forced karaoke last night. I had too much to drink, and I wasn’t thinking.”

I shake my head. “No need to apologize. It was actually a lot of fun.”

“Are you sure?” she asks, studying me like she doesn’t believe a word that came out of my mouth.

I force a smile. “I’m sure. Don’t give it another thought.”

“Then, what’s wrong?” she asks, reading me like a book despite the front I’m trying to put on.

I’m saved from answering when the doorbell rings again. Kate gives me a worried look before spinning around to go answer the door. As she greets Sam and Blaine, who walk in together, Penny and Logan emerge from the depths of the house with excited smiles.

“Okay, did everyone wear or bring their swimsuits, as instructed?” Penny asks after we gather together inthe living room. Everyone nods, and she claps her hands. “Great. Today, we’re headed down to the beach to build sandcastles. Each team will have until five this evening to finish their masterpiece. A few citizens of Bush Monkey have volunteered to judge at that time, blindly, of course, and they’ll pick the winners.”

Blaine whines about sand and how it gets everywhere, but when I look over at Kate, she’s vibrating with excitement. She meets my gaze, and when I raise a brow in question, she shrugs.

“I love the beach,” she murmurs, then picks up the bag she dropped on the floor earlier and heads to the bathroom, presumably to change.

I’m already wearing my trunks, as is Sam, so we take a seat on the couch while our partners take turns in the bathroom. We’re chatting about sandcastle strategy when Kate reappears, and my words trail off while my mouth fills with saliva as I push to my feet.

Her bathing suit isn’t all that revealing, in actuality. The top is a halter-style tank that bares her shoulders and accentuates her cleavage. The bottoms are a pair of shorts that end a few inches above her knees. She’s tied her long, dark hair up into a bun on the top of her head, and her toes wiggle freely in a pair of flip-flops.

She looks amazing, and my tongue feels thick in my mouth as my gaze roams over every inch of bared skin.

Logan, who seems to have materialized beside me out of nowhere, nudges me with a shoulder. I tear my eyes away from Kate to look at him, and there’s a warning I can’t miss in his narrowed gaze. I clear my throat and give him a nearly imperceptible shake of my head, letting him know it’s all good. I won’t forget whathe told me just because Kate waltzed in here looking like my favorite snack.

I can behave.

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