Page 18 of Just Can't Fall for the Enemy

He wore a perfectly-tailored navy suit that brought the eye straight to his shoulders. It looked twice as expensive as any other suit here. Probably twice as expensive as any of our cars too. Heck, the groom hadrentedhis suit for the wedding. Tanner’s hair was slicked to the side with a few hairs brushing his forehead in a sexy, messy way. He’d even trimmed his facial hair slightly, leaving behind only a hint of dark stubble.

Tanner saw me and our gazes locked.

He stiffened and froze midstep, his mouth open, although nothing seemed to come out. His eyes combed me from top to bottom and back up again with eyes the size of the plates stacked on the refreshments table.

“Yesssss,” Carmen breathed. “That’s the reaction we’re going for.”

“You said you didn’t invite him,” I snapped.

“I didn’t. But rumor is that Phillip did. Glad to see it’s true.”

I reined in my galloping heart and forced myself to breathe. Tanner had a string of women across the country—maybe even the world. He’d looked at dozens of women like this. Probably done far more than gape at them, truth be told. I would not be a part of his collection.

“I’m telling him to leave,” I said and started forward.

“You are not,” Carmen hissed from behind, but I had already crossed the dance floor to meet him. Tanner snapped his mouth shut, and his eyes grew guarded as I approached.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Supporting the happy couple. You?”

“You don’t even know them.”

“Not true. I met Phillip this afternoon. The videographer said she could only do the ceremony so he asked me to get some footage of the reception. I was happy to help.” He gestured to his camera, which I now saw was all set up on a tripod in the corner and aimed directly at us. “Say hi to the nice people.”

I ignored it. “Phillip asked you to be the videographer?”

“Yes. Something about being on a tight budget?”

I laughed at that. I couldn’t help it. Everyone knew Phillip was the cheapest man alive. He’d tried to convince Tess to get married at the courthouse and agree to a camping honeymoon—two ideas that didnotfit Tess’s bubbly personality. She certainly had her work cut out for her.

“So you come to make an episode for your channel and end up behind a camera at a wedding reception.”

“Sophie, I had no other plans. I was happy to do it. Truly.” He cocked his head, still gazing at me with an expression that sent tingles zipping down my legs. “You look absolutely stunning.”

The sudden seriousness made me self-conscious. I wished I’d draped something over my chest, although he thankfully wasn’t staring in a creepy sort of way. “Thanks. You too.”

“No, really.” His eyes crinkled with a smile. “I almost didn’t recognize you without the can of bear spray.”

In a moment, everything was back to normal. I felt my shoulders relax. “For events like this, I bring the fun-size can. It’s less alarming to the other guests.”

“If any bears come, I’m grateful we have you to protect us.” The smile in his eyes finally reached his lips. The term “impossibly kissable” came to mind, though I couldn’t say why. It didn’t make sense and surely wasn’t true.

Dozens of women,I reminded myself desperately.Maybe hundreds.

“Care to dance?” he asked, holding out a hand like Mr. Darcy at the ball.

I looked around in surprise to find that the music still played and people danced and chatted as if the entire world hadn’t stopped for a full two minutes. I needed to get a grip on things, and quickly.

“What about the video?” I asked, glancing at his camera on the tripod.

“It’ll record just fine by itself. I’ll change the angle later.” He still held out his hand.

I took it, ignoring the abrupt increase in happy zings shooting down my spine, and let him lead me to the dance floor—aka the wide-open patch of park grass. “Sure. Just to pass the time.”

“Of course,” he said, finding an empty spot and whirling me around to face him. “What other reason would there be?”

“None whatsoever.”

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