Page 71 of Dreaming of You

"I assume so, since you're here, and Kate knows you're going to get a grilling from just about everyone. I hope you're ready."

"I think I can handle it."

The next thirty minutes passed in a flash as Barrett took orders from Kate on what needed to go where. She was very impressive in work mode, and by the time they were finished, the house had been transformed into a party palace.

Alex arrived about three minutes before Liz and her husband Michael, who was on crutches. Michael complained that he'd made it through ten years of football without breaking a bone and now a damn bike ride had done him in. Liz told him to be happy he wasn't dead.

As the rest of the group entered the house, Barrett could barely keep them straight. Matt Kingsley, the Cougars' star, stood out, of course. His wife Julie had a sweet, gentle manner that was in opposition to Liz's more direct, outspoken nature. Although, the two women seemed to be close friends and had apparently grown up together.

Isabella was an exotically pretty woman, and her husband, Nick, clearly adored her. They shared the story Kate had told him about meeting during a tango lesson, which he thought might be one of the best first meets he'd ever heard of. Although, Jessica's story about getting stuck in her doghouse was right up there, too. Her fiancé Reid was a friendly guy, who said he wasn't too worried about all the wedding mania, because all he had to do was show up.

Then they were joined by Andrea's twin sister, Laurel, and her husband, Greg, and finally the other bride-to-be, Maggie, an attractive strawberry-blonde, and her fiancé Cole.

Everyone was friendly and welcoming. The guys were happy to get to know him. The women were a bit more wary, clearly wanting to make sure he was good for Kate. He didn't mind their protective attitudes; it told him how much they cared about their friend.

He cared about Kate, too, and he liked seeing her in her element, setting up party games, nudging the most reluctant to play, which often included him, making sure everyone was eating and drinking, and continuing to point to Maggie and Jessica and their guys as the guests of honor.

There was a lot of laughter, a lot of silliness, but it was fun—more fun than he'd had in a long time.

He'd also been invited down to the arcade and had a chance to not only play the original Vertigo, but the newest version that hadn't yet been released to the public.

He didn't know how long he'd been in the arcade, but Kate found him there, and promptly challenged him to a game. What she lacked in knowledge, she made up for in enthusiasm and a competitive drive that he should have expected, knowing how determined she could be. But in the end, he won, and Kate accepted her loss with good grace.

"I think with a little more practice, I could have beaten you," she told him.

"You can come over to my place any time and practice. I don't have the newest version, but I have the earlier ones."

"I'll think about it." She smiled. "You're having a good time, aren't you?"

"A great time—like everyone else. You put on an amazing party, Kate." He put his arms around her.

Her gaze widened. "Barrett, what is on your mind?"

"Kissing you."

"Here?"

"Everyone is gone, Kate. Look around. It's just you and me. And I think as the winner, I deserve a kiss."

"You should have negotiated that earlier, Counselor."

"Come on," he said, pulling her close.

She laughed, then framed his face with her hands and leaned in for a kiss.

His breath caught in his throat as their playful kiss immediately turned into a raging flood of desire. Every time he tasted her lips, he found himself wanting more. And tonight was no different.

Kate must have been feeling the same, because her lips parted, and their tongues tangled together in delicious heat.

And then someone said, "Kate."

They broke apart.

"Oops," Maggie said with a grin. "Sorry, I didn't know you'd stopped playing Vertigo and started playing with each other. Liz and Michael have to get home. If you want to say goodbye, now is the time."

"I do, of course," Kate said, with a flush on her cheeks, as she hurried past Maggie.

Maggie gave him a warning look. "One second, Barrett."

---