Page 31 of Renegade

I also had to work on my inner dialogue not coming out. Otherwise, I’d end up like her. After the ceremony ended, we made our way back across the beach toward the hotel for the reception. I tried scoping out any men who appeared single, but everyone was walking in one big group, so it was hard to get a good read.

Dr. Mulloy stumbled in the sand, but a pair of strong arms stopped her just before she fell. I looked up and my heart stuttered. Whiskey colored eyes met mine in amusement. “Drinking and sand don’t mix well, do they?”

My mouth went dry and I just shook my head.

He was perfect; dark hair and tanned skin. Doc must’ve thought so too because she was clinging to the front of his shirt as though he were a life preserver and she were a drowning victim. “Lauren, be a doll and grab me some water.”

Oh, no. Oh, hell no.

This guy was way too young for her. He was, however, just perfect for me. I’d find her some water…I’d find her a whole damn ocean.

“Nate! Nate!” The gorgeous matron-of-honor snapped her fingers and called over at us. “They’re about to start pictures.”

Sandra’s rescuer got her settled on her feet and backed up. The setting sunlight hit him just right and then I caught the glint from his wedding ring. “Well, looks like it’s show-time for me. You ladies both good?”

I nodded dumbly again, like a bobble-head doll, while Dr. Mulloy pouted and turned away as though he was no longer in front of us. “Why are all the hot ones either married or gay?” She complained, without waiting for him to move out of earshot.

I grabbed her by the arm, dragging her across the sand toward the hotel. “Stop. He could’ve heard you. And, no offense? But the guy had to have been at least a decade younger than you. If he was into anyone, it would’ve been me.”

She laughed until the corners of her eyes were crinkled up in amusement. “Oh, honey. You twenty-somethings always think that your age makes you more appealing to men. Most men, however, want the experience you can only get with an older woman. Also, mention my age again, and you’ll be looking for a new work experience come Monday. Are we clear?”

I nodded and she pushed off of me, carrying her sandy body to the elevators. I was going to need a lot of luck and a strong drink to make it out of this weekend alive.

Chapter Five

Galveston, May 2010

“So, then I yelled, ‘Come on in!’” David’s father, John, shook his head and ran the flat of his palm across his throat. I looked over at David and Elizabeth, but the two of them looked like they were preparing for a bomb to go off.

I belatedly noticed David’s grandparents in the crowd and realized that, while my speech had been great for the bachelor party, it was not going to go over well in a wedding toast where children were present.

I cleared my throat and the microphone gave a little scream of protest. “When I first met Elizabeth, I was far from being my best, but that’s the thing about her. She came into my life at a low-point, but never once judged me for it. She has a way of always finding the best in people—hell, if it weren’t for her, I’m not sure David would’ve stuck with me. We all need a partner in our lives who sees the good when we can’t. David is lucky enough to have found it in Elizabeth. And, if he ever forgets that; well, you have my number. Raise your glasses to Mr. and Mrs. Greene!” I tipped the champagne back amid cheers and clapping.

Well, I’d pulled that speech out of my ass.

Thank god it had worked.

“Boy, I swear you’re going to get your ass beat with that story,” John noted dryly as I stepped up to the bar.

I shook my head and sighed dramatically before ordering a beer. I had to keep myself away from the liquor for the rest of the evening; the three shots before the ceremony had apparently been more than enough. “Tough crowd we got here tonight. If they were expecting hearts and shit, they should’ve picked a different best man, yeah?”

John laughed heartily. “Damn, son, you should write greeting cards. You’re so fucking poetic.”

I tipped my beer in his direction. “Thank you, good sir. I always knew you had good taste.”

A squeaking sound drew our attention back to the center of the ballroom. Jess, Elizabeth’s matron of honor, was attempting to give her speech, but kept dissolving into unintelligible blubbering mid-sentence. She pointed to a picture of David and Elizabeth that was on the projector before making some more squeaking noises and tears.

“C’mon now. They can’t be falling for this shit.” I looked over at Elizabeth, who was nodding her head and crying along with her. David looked to be on the verge of tears himself.

“Looks like you’re not the master of ceremonies tonight, Mike,” John observed before winking at me. “I liked your speech though. It showed a lot of heart for a self-proclaimed man-whore.”

As if on cue, an older woman sidled up next to me at the bar. “Nice speech. Although, I think I would’ve preferred to hear the original version. Care to enlighten me?”

She had to be pushing forty, but she’d had her tits and face done, giving the illusion she wasn’t a day over thirty-five. I could’ve committed to her, but the night was young and I was at a wedding—the one event where women were made painfully aware of their singleness and were reckless enough to pounce on the first guy that looked their way.

That was where I came in.

The woman in front of me was a solid seven, but at an event like this, I wasn’t whipping out my cock for anything less than a ten. Last night, I’d had the waitress from the rehearsal dinner on top of the ice machine on the second floor. I’d waited until she was busy cleaning up before telling her how hard weddings were since my wife had left me. I’d slipped my room key into her hand and that was it.

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