Page 34 of The First Best Man

I had a delicious breakfast, Kate’s not mad at me for the awkwardness between us last night, and I get to spend the day with her again today. Who could ask for anything more?

I take Miss Ginny’s golf cart and head to the midtown square, where the wedding party is meeting today. I see Kate immediately. She’s alone in the gazebo, seated on a bench with the breeze making her dark hair flutter around her. God, she’s beautiful. She always is, but something about her contemplative expression makes me itch to pull her into my arms and encourage her to spill her deepest thoughts.

While I’m staring, Logan and Penny’s cart slides to a stop beside me. Logan calls out a greeting and offers me a wave, but as Penny climbs out of the cart, she eyes me suspiciously. She turns her gaze to Kate, then looks back at me with a deep frown.

“You ready, babe?” Logan asks, and her expression morphs into happy excitement as she meets him in front of the cart and takes his hand.

“Hey,” Kate says, pushing to her feet as the three of us approach.

She meets my gaze and offers me a small smile, but there’s a tension around her eyes that hits me in the gut. It clears as she refocuses on Penny, who’s started to speak.

“Sam had a work emergency and had to go to the mainland this morning, and Blaine texted to tell me she has a migraine and will be sitting today out. So it’s just the four of us.”

“I vote we cancel today’s competition and just chill,” Logan adds.

I nod in agreement as Kate says, “We could spend the day at my house out by the pool. We could barbecue some burgers or something.”

“Sounds good to me,” Logan says before meeting Penny’s eyes while she nods. Then he looks at me. “J.T.?”

“Sounds perfect,” I say, my gaze darting to Kate and back. “I’ll swing by the B&B and grab my trunks, then meet you guys there.”

“And I’ll bring that twelve-pack of Rizzle you so graciously gifted us last night,” Logan replies with a grin before narrowing his gaze at Kate.

“What? Why are you looking at me?” she asks, unable to temper her expression. Then she jerks a thumb in my direction. “It’shisfamily’s company.”

I let out a playful growl and lunge for her, but she skips out of reach with a laugh before I make contact. I step back and cross my arms over my chest, shooting fake daggers at Kate with my eyes. She just beams back at me, the tension I saw earlier having melted away, completely.

The sight of her like this makes my body ache in allthe best ways.

“Seriously,” Penny says. “That little surprise had ‘Kate’ written all over it. You didn’t fool us with the note.”

“I don’t know what note you’re talking about,” Kate says, sticking to her story though it’s obvious no one here believes her. Then she jogs down the steps as she calls over her shoulder, “I’ll stop by the market to grab burgers, buns, and some chips. You guys bring the drinks. See you in a bit!”

I watch as she slides into her golf cart and drives away without looking back. After several beats, the silence around us becomes physically noticeable, and I look back at Logan and Penny.

They’re both frowning in my direction.

I hold up my palms in surrender as I walk backwards. Then, giving them a wave and telling them I’ll see them at Kate’s, I turn and hop down the steps before striding toward the golf cart I’m using.

Message received.

And I refuse to think too long and hard about how their united front in protectingKatefrommemakes me feel. I mean, am I really that bad for her?

Shit.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kate

I’mnervous as hell about today.

Sure, I’m happy to host the group. I have a pool and a backyard set-up meant for parties, and I know everyone will have fun just hanging out there and relaxing. Penny and Logan have come over for days just like this a thousand times.

But Tucker? After last night, I’m not surehe’scomfortable coming to my house. He seemed all for it when I suggested it earlier, but was that the truth? Or did he agree just to placate the rest of us?

Whatever the reason, his being there will be a stark, constant reminder of my fumbling attempt and his blatant refusal last night. But if he can pretend everything is fine, that last night never happened, then so can I.

I think.

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