Page 79 of Hot Shot

“Just because you’re all kiss-kiss with Hayden doesn’t mean you know everything,” I tell him.

“I know more than you do.”

“I was in love once.” I stare down at my tequila.

Beck sighs. “Yeah. Sorry. I forgot about Liz.”

Ha. The truth is, so have I. I thought my heart was broken when things ended with Liz. It was one more painful reminder why I’m never going to be a guy who has love. Home. Family.

I’ve apparently gotten over it, because I don’t give a single fuck about Liz anymore. But I remember what it felt like to care about someone . . . enough to want to spend your life with her, enough to ask her to marry you. Well, I sort of remember.

I squint at the label of the tequila bottle where it says “100% Pure Agave.” Did I feel territorial about Liz? I can’t remember being annoyed because she danced with another guy, or smiled and flirted with someone else. I sure as hell never felt a need to tell my friends to keep their eyes off her. But that was probably because I was secure in our relationship, knowing she was mine and I didn’t need to have those feelings.

The joke’s on me, though, because we weren’t secure in our relationship at all.

“Don’t worry about it,” I finally mumble to Beck. “Just saying. It’ll all be fine.”

A knock on the office vibrates through the room and the door opens. Hayden’s blond head pokes in. “Hey! What are you guys doing back here? Important business meeting?”

“Very important.” Beck moves to open the door wider and pull in his fiancée. He wraps his arms around her. “We’re tasting a new tequila.”

Carrie walks in behind Hayden, looking gorgeous as always in a pair of jeans, a fitted tank top, and a thin flowered scarf draped around her neck. Her eyes sparkle and her cheeks wear a glowy flush. “Oooh. That’s an exciting part of the job.”

“It’s the best part of the job,” I mutter, trying not to devour her with my eyes. My slightly unfocused eyes.

“Do we get to try it?” Hayden asks.

“Sure, babe.” Beck hands her his glass. “You know how to do it.”

She follows the protocol and finally sips. “Very nice.”

I hand my glass to Carrie, raising an eyebrow. I’m not sure if she’ll take it from me, but she does, our eyes meeting in a clash of heat. She too holds up the glass to the light, swirls, sniffs, and sips.

Christ, she’s sexy.

She nods approvingly. “I agree. This is really good. Expensive?”

“Moderately priced,” I say. “Hey, I’ll bring a bottle to the party tomorrow. It can be your dad’s birthday present.”

“Oh wow, he’d love that. But you totally don’t have to bring him anything.”

Too late, I become aware of Beck’s penetrating stare. “Birthday party?”

“My dad’s,” Carrie says, eyes shifting around the room as the atmosphere goes heavy.

I sigh.

17

CARRIE

I’ll admit to being a teensy bit buzzed from a couple of glasses of wine. After the dress shopping, we went to a nearby wine bar. Hayden only had one drink because she was driving, but since we wanted to get food and more drinks, we decided to come to Conquistadors.

To my amusement, Marco seems a little drunk too. I survey the half-empty bottle of Mayahuel and the three glasses. “Looks like you guys have been enjoying the taste testing.”

Cade gives me a loose grin. “We’ve been talking about wedding stuff.”

Hayden’s eyes bug out and she turns to Beck. “What wedding stuff?”

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