Page 64 of The Wedding Wrecker

"Nonsense." Dick was already pulling out a barstool. "Bartender, get the lady a drink."

"Actually, I should probably check on?—"

"One drink." Dick's hand settled on my lower back. "We barely see you except when you're attached to James."

I slipped out of his reach, making sure he didn’t try to touch me again as I kept my eyes on his gross hands.

"Speaking of James," Richard said, "I was asking Marcus, and he said Lily has never mentioned the man. Odd, considering he’s supposed to be an old family friend of your mother’s, isn’t it? And what a coincidence that you should happen to run into him and feel such…chemistry.If you’ve known him for years, why did you two wait so long to get together?”

God.He might as well shine a bright light in my face before he continued the inquisition. I opened my mouth to answer, but a familiar voice cut in before I could speak.

"There you are." James appeared behind me, his hand slipping around my waist as he pulled me toward his large body. The possessive touch sent shivers down my spine despite my better judgment. "I've been looking everywhere for you, sweetheart."

Richard's expression darkened slightly. "We were just getting to know Emma better."

"Were you?" James' tone was light, but I felt the tension in his touch.

Dick signaled the bartender again, who was busy flirting with a woman in a red dress and had been ignoring him so far. "Stay for a drink?"

"Actually," James said, "I have dinner plans with my girlfriend." He emphasized the last word slightly. "Unless you need her for something specific?"

The look that passed between Richard and Dick made my skin crawl. But why? They were just being protective of their family, right?

"Another time," Richard said smoothly.

As James led me away, I was almost tempted to repeat what I just heard Dick and Richard talking about, but I worried he’d read too much into it. After all, James was literallylookingfor problems. For all I knew, Richard and Dick were simply hoping to help their new in-law with her business. It would be her call if she wanted to accept their offer or not.

For the moment, I let myself simply be grateful that he was here to save me from awkward encounters of the Dick variety—that we could both agree to handle our mutual attraction like adults.

“Are we really going to dinner?” I asked.

“If you’d like.”

I was about to protest, but my stomach betrayed me by growling.

“Your stomach has spoken,” he said. “I know the perfect place.”

Half an hour later and after a bumpy ride in James’ truck across snow-covered roads, we pulled up to a fast-food Mexican place called Terry’s Tiny Tacos.

21

EMMA

“Surprise,” James said. “The reviews online will tell you this is only a three star establishment, but the pictures were fantastic. Personally, I think it’s worth a shot.”

“You drove us half an hour to a three star taco shop?” I asked.

James drummed his fingers on the wheel, smiling at me from beneath a black wool beanie that made his eyes seem dangerously bright and inviting. “It sounded like a better idea until you put it that way.”

“Lucky for you, I happen to beverycurious to know just how tiny these tacos are. So I will allow you to take me into this place.”

James hopped out of his side, shut the door, and then pulled my door open, extending a hand. “It’s icy. I’m going to have to insist you hold my hand the whole time.”

“Is that right?” I asked.

“That’s right,” James said, taking my hand and helping me out of the car.

It was cold, too, and James also had to insist that I huddle against him for warmth for the whole ten second walk from the truck to the front door. The inside smelled like grease and beef, which, under some circumstances might have been disgusting. Considering I was starving, it smelled like heaven.

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