Page 19 of Indiscretion

Jack, one of the other groomsmen, pointed to the silver Mercedes. “Isn’t that Emily?”

Dawson grunted something that might’ve been a yes and looked away, but a few seconds later, his eyes found their way back to the woman. Lily had mentioned that Dawson’s ex had decided to come to the wedding, and I had a hunch that gorgeous woman was her. They looked like a matching set of hotness.

Ben walked over and laid a hand on Dawson’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, man. I had no idea she was bringing him.”

“Whatever,” Dawson grumbled. “I don’t give a shit.”

But it was clear he gave a whole lot of shit. I stood next to Dawson, watching the woman lean down to the rearview mirror and fix her lipstick before strutting our way. The guy with his arm around her back had highlighted hair and probably could’ve been a model for some brand that liked the look of fraternity douches. The two made their way to the corner of the lot where we were all waiting, but I noticed the woman’s steps falter when she locked eyes with Dawson.Definitely his ex.

One of the wedding attendants walked over and pointed to the golf carts waiting nearby. For a second I thought the show was going to end there, but then the woman headed right toward Dawson and me. She flashed a mega-watt smile and acted like there was a chance in hell Dawson might be happy to see her here. At least until she got close enough to notice his eye.

“What in the world happened to you?” she asked.

I felt tension radiating from the man next to me. Something had gone down between these two, and my gut said whatever it was, Dawson wasn’t in the wrong. He looked angry, but I sensed there was hurt underneath.

“Ceremony’s starting soon,” he grumbled. “You should get going.”

Mr. Phi Kappa Douchey put his arm around the woman’s back. “Come on, babe.”

I hated that this woman was standing there with a date and Dawson was all alone. So I decided to balance the score and grabbed hold of Dawson’s arm. “Honey, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Dawson turned and looked at me like I had two heads, so I, of course, doubled down and snuggled closer. “You’ll have to excuse him. He’s a little embarrassed about the black eye. We were trying this new move…” I lowered my voice. “It’s sort of a reverse cowgirl, but you arch into a backbend and then…”

The woman looked as confused as Dawson, so I lifted my arms in the air to explain the position better and demonstrated by arching my back. When I felt a dozen eyes on me, I thought maybe I was making too big of a scene, so I brought my arms back to my sides. “Anyway, it’s my fault. Whenithit, I started to flail and well, poor Dawson’s eye took a punch.”

The brunette’s mouth flattened to a grim line, while the douchey guy next to her flashed a dirty grin, and his eyes went to my cleavage.

I grabbed Dawson’s arm again, snuggling against his side. “Hope that wasn’t TMI.”

Dawson looked over like he was one-more-word-out-of-my-mouth away from feeling my forehead. But I was in too deep to abandon ship now. I fluttered my eyelashes. “Maybe we should make up a funny story like I punched you when you unexpectedly slipped into bed in the middle of the night so people don’t struggle with the truth. I think I made your friend uncomfortable, honey.”

The woman’s eyes bounced between Dawson and me. It was clear she didn’t know what the heck to say or do, so I helped out a little more. I flashed an over-the-top smile and thumbed toward the golf carts. “That way to the ceremony.”

She nodded, still looking confused, but she and her date walked away. I watched them climb onto the golf cart and start down the path into the woods, then grinned up at Dawson.

“She was definitely jealous.”

“Or thought you were insane. What the hell was that?”

My smile fell. “I was helping you.”

“Helping me what?”

“Make her feel some jealousy, too.”

“Too? I’m not jealous.”

I pursed my lips. “Your teeth were clenched so tight, it looked like you were going to crack a pearly white, Dawson.”

“Because that woman has a lot of balls showing up here with that asshole. He and I used to be friends. Not because I’m jealous.”

“I know jealous when I see it.”

“Did you hit your head with that cast on your arm?”

I scowled. “You don’t have to be a jerk. I was only trying to help.”

Dawson pointed to his face. “I have a black eye, and I’m going to have to sleep on a couch tonight. I think you’ve done enough.”

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