Page 13 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

“Party’s over,” I tell her.

I hand the mic to Harrison. “You’re better at this than me. Get everyone out of here.”

His eyebrows raise. “A compliment fromyou, William? That was almost worth today.”

I ignore him and take Ivy’s hand. I try to gently tug her forward. She resists, digging in her heels. “Liam, stop. I’m staying.”

“No, you’re not.”

She’s left me with no choice. She may be mad at me now, but she’ll thank me tomorrow.

Bending my knees, I scoop Ivy up under her perfect ass and lift her up.

Then I haul her kicking and protesting out of her wedding reception.

CHAPTER 4

Harrison

I hearthe clink of glassware and the water running in the kitchenette of the suite.

I crack one eye open and spot Liam at the coffee pot. I’m on the couch, where I’ve slept fitfully for the past six hours. I glance toward the door to the suite. Ford is still awkwardly draped over the two armchairs he dragged across the room and positioned in front of the door to keep Ivy from sneaking out.

Liam had taken the other side of the gigantic king bed with her, presumably in case she needed anything in the night. But at about two a.m., Ford and I had caught her trying to sneak out to meet some friends who had texted her, asking her to meet them at a dance club.

She definitely didn’t need any more alcohol and Ford wasn’t about to let the newly single, more than slightly tipsy, no-fucks-left-to-give jilted bride go dancing without us to chaperone. And neither of us was in any mood to hit a club at that hour.

My best friend has had a thing for Ivy for over a year. And while he’s too good of a guy to make a move on a friend's girlfriend, and certainly not on a friend‘s fiancée, I know it’sbeen gnawing at him that he didn’t make a move before Brad and Ivy started dating.

Oh no, Ford, ever the good guy, met Ivy, flirted his ass off, then found out she was working on Brad’s show and decided he shouldn’t mess around with our friend’s pseudo-employee.

Ivy was a food stylist on the show where Brad was the star chef. But he was also an executive producer. And had been the one who decided to hire Ivy. She’s extremely talented and I’m certain he hired her because of her professional credentials, but it did put him in a position of power over her and boy scout Ford decided that was messy.

He was really angry when he found out Brad was dating her. He even told Brad he didn’t think it was a good idea.

When they got engaged, Ford gotverydrunk.

All of which makes his anger at Brad and the fucked up wedding even more intense, I’m sure.

What sounds like a spoon clatters against the inside of the sink and I rub a hand over my face. “Jesus Christ, William,” I say. “There are far nicer ways to wake me up.”

I make sure both of my eyes are open in time to see Liam swing to face me with his adorable glower.

“You’re going to start with your bullshit this early?” he asks.

I know he’s referring to my perpetual poking at him.

And yes. Yes, I am.

It’s his own fault. He always looks like he just tumbled out of bed, though he typically is fully shaved and at least in jeans or khakis. Right now he’s got stubble dusting his jaw, and he’s wearing gray sweatpants.

How am I not supposed to want to rile him up looking grumpy and sexy and so damned fuckable?

He’s just about the only person on the planet who can get me worked up and thrown off my game. And it’s one of my favorite things to see him unsettled ever since I realized that theseemingly shy, introverted writer—who is actually pompous as fuck underneath—is normally cool and composed.

It seems I’m one of the few people who can get to him too.

I like that.

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