Page 7 of The First Best Man

“He sat back down and looked at me, then his eyesdropped to my mouth,” I say, and she sucks in a breath through her teeth.

“Did he kiss you?”

I shake my head. “I thought he was going to. I freaked out over probable chili and beer breath, so I excused myself to use the bathroom so I could swish some mouthwash.”

“Smart move,” she says, then nods for me to go on.

“And when I came back out, he was gone.”

I fall backwards, stretching out on the floor with a sad sigh. Penny crawls over to stretch out beside me, linking the fingers of one hand through mine and squeezing.

“Maybe he took your sudden need to use the bathroom as a sign you weren’t interested?” she offers. “He might’ve left to save you any embarrassment.”

“Maybe,” I say, my tone doubtful. “Or maybe he used my absence as the perfect opportunity to escape without any awkwardness.”

“That doesn’t make sense. He stood up for you, didn’t he? Your average guy would’ve ignored the conversation between you and Asshole Alex, completely, under the guise of minding his own business. Tucker didn’t do that. He defended your honor.Swoon.”

“And then he realized I was reading more into it than I should and ran for the hills.”

“Stop it, Kate. Do you need to look into my eyes again?”

“No,” I say with a half-hearted chuckle. “I got the message.”

“Oh, shit. What time is it?” she blurts suddenly,releasing my hand and jumping to her feet and grabbing her phone from the couch. “Crap. Logan’s going to be here any second with J.T.”

“Ah,” I breathe, pushing myself to my own feet. “The infamousbest man.”

“I wouldn’t sayinfamous,” she argues. “He’s actually a really great guy, for the most part. He’s just…”

“Promiscuous?” I offer when her words trail off.

“Yes,” she breathes, drawing out the word for several seconds. “Promiscuous. Remember what I told you?”

“Yes,Mom,” I say facetiously. “I’m allowed to be friends with him, but under no circumstances should I harbor any secret romantic fantasies about J.T. and me. He’s a player, and he’ll break my heart if I put it on the line. I’ve got it.”

“Good girl,” she says with a nod, and I freeze with wide eyes.

“Oh, wait. Should I double-check the locks on my chastity belt?” I ask, fiddling with the hem of my sundress.

“Ha, ha,” she says, enunciating the words sarcastically. “I’m serious, Kate. I like the guy, but he’s a total man-whore. He’s got more notches on his belt than Mariah Carey has shoes. He’s never going to settle down, either. Plus, he’s loaded, and women everywhere swarm to him. It’s kind of disgusting, and if he wasn’t such a good guy, otherwise, and an amazing friend to Logan…”

I hold up my palms. “Consider me adequately warned. Best man––bad. Hands off. Got it.”

She nods. “Good. Besides, if you were to decide totake your first walk on the wild side with him, and things were to get weird, it would make for a very uncomfortable wedding. Because obvi, I’d take your side, and Logan would take J.T.’s, and it would be a huge mess that’s wholly avoidable.”

“Message received,” I say, and Penny spins around as the front door clicks open.

I plaster on a smile as Logan walks in, followed by…

Oh, shit. No. No, no, no.

Logan sees me and smiles, saying, “Oh, good, Kate. You’re here. I’d love to introduce you to my best friend and best man, J.T. Gibbs.”

Recognition fillsJ.T.’sbright blue eyes, and I rush forward before he can speak.

“Nice to finally meet you, J.T. Welcome to Bush Monkey Isle. I’m Kate. Kate Reid.”

I hold out a hand for him to shake, and he stares at it for a moment before slowly reaching out to take it. I’m freaking out, and thank God Penny is behind me, because she’d put two and two together in a heartbeat.

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