Page 23 of The First Best Man

“Good girl,” she says, squeezing my hands before dropping them. “Now, let’s go eat before Blaine chases everyone off with her sparkling personality.”

A giggle bursts out of me, and I slap a hand across my mouth before dropping it to say, “That was mean, Penny Jones. She’ll soon be your sister.”

“Don’t remind me,” she groans, then shakes her head. “No. You’re right. I’m sure she’ll grow on me, eventually.”

I have to stifle a laugh at that. We’ve known Blaine for twenty years, and if she hasn’t grown on us yet, I don’t see much hope for the future.

We wash up and head back out to the picnic lunch. Everyone takes turns in the bathroom, and when Tucker returns, he plops down onto the blanket right next to me, sharing my shady spot. I try to act normal, but my mind won’t stop replaying the feel of his strong hands picking me up and tossing me around. And it won’t stop conjuring the image of him doing the same thing in a much different, much moreprivatesetting.

I may not have experience to draw from for the fantasy, but my imagination knows no bounds.

“Hey,” the man in question whispers, leaning inclose. “I’m sorry if I was too rough with you out there in the water. I wasn’t thinking.”

Rough?Rough is good.Shit. Stop it, Kate.

“You weren’t,” I assure him, flinching when my voice squeaks. Clearing my throat, I try again. “You weren’t. I promise. I was just surprised and got a bit waterlogged.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“I’m sure,” I say, offering him a smile.

He seems to accept that, and we finish our meal in pleasant silence, listening to the others chat and joke around. We spend a few more hours on the beach, working on our creations. Ours ends up looking like some primitive mud hut that has zero chance of winning anything. Penny and Logan can’t stop kissing and touching each other long enough to put in a real effort, so theirs isn’t much better.

But Blaine and Sam’s? Their castle is damn magnificent. Sam’s attention to detail is on another level, and even though Blaine has spent more time barking orders than she has actually helping, he doesn’t seem to mind. The man is a saint.

Tucker and I decide we’re finished, followed closely by Penny and Logan, so the four of us head out to play in the water. Sam and Blaine finish shortly after, joining us in the sea until we’re all tired. We head back to the picnic blankets to sit in the shade until our judges arrive to inspect our creations.

Twenty minutes later, the townsfolk Penny enlisted to serve as judges declare Sam and Blaine the winners, to exactlyno one’ssurprise. Penny smiles as she pulls a shiny trophy from her bag and presents it to them. It’sgold and is topped with a sand pail and shovel, and Blaine snatches it from her and holds it up like she won gold at the Olympics, or something.

We say our goodbyes, agreeing to meet back up at Penny and Logan’s at seven for dinner. Tucker keeps the conversation going as I drive him back to their house to pick up Miss Ginny’s golf cart, then smiles and tells me he’ll see me in a bit before sauntering over to it.

I watch him go, that smile burned into my brain along with the memory of his strong hands on me, then startle out of it when his golf cart buzzes, indicating he’s put it in reverse.

And I’m blocking his way out.

I quickly snap my own cart into reverse to get out of the way. After backing down the drive, I push the button to put it back into forward mode, then slam my foot down on the gas pedal. The cart will only go fifteen miles per hour––maybe a bit faster on a downhill slope––and it takes me several moments to get far enough away from Tucker that I feel safe looking back.

And when I do, I find his gaze on me. He lifts a hand and waves. I wave back before snapping back around and taking the turn that will lead to my house.

Sheesh. I am out of control.

And before I meet up with him again at dinner, Ineedto get myself together.

CHAPTER NINE

Tucker

I can’t stop lookingat her legs.

I can’t. Stop. Looking at. Her legs.

It’s stupid. I was with Kate all day, and she was wearing a bathing suit that revealed just as much as the little sundress she’s wearing tonight. It’s a pretty yellow number that looks amazing against her suntanned skin and dark hair, and the skirt cuts off around the middle of her thighs.

Her thick, gorgeous thighs.

Breathe, man.

I have to stop staring. Even if Kate doesn’t notice, someone else will. All six of us are in Logan and Penny’s living room, enjoying a cocktail and chit-chatting before dinner.

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