Page 9 of Just One of the Groomsmen
“I highly suggest you keep your smart-ass comments about me being all gussied up to yourself.”
His gaze dropped to the sandals again, just to make sure he hadn’t imagined them.
They were flat but lacked the support she always insisted upon—she sure as hell couldn’t play sports in those things, and that was one of her footwear requirements. When his eyes reached hers again, she gave him a deadly look, half daring, half threatening.
Working to get things back to normal, he said, “Let me guess, or you’ll introduce me to your right hook.”
One corner of her mouth twisted up. “Nah, not for you.”
He grinned, about to joke that he liked feeling special.
“You’d get my jab. Right to the nose.”
He laughed full out, and then the brunette, who was apparently the leader of the group, cleared her throat. “We’re on our way to the Magnolia House in Montgomery, and we’ve got reservations. How long is this going to take?”
“It’s a broken water pump belt,” Addie said. “Which means we’re gonna need a tow truck.”
The pretty brunette crossed her arms and turned to him. “Aren’t you going to double-check to see if she’s right?”
“Hell no. She just threatened to use her jab, and she throws a mean punch—trust me, I’ve been on the other end of one before. Besides, if Addie says that’s what’s wrong with the car, that’s good enough for me.”
Addie straightened a few inches—she’d always struggled to feel confident around other women, as opposed to being a total ball-buster around the guys.
This was the first time he got a glimpse of why.
The short, dark-haired girl who had only blinked up until now started hyperventilating—or close to it. “But it was all planned, and it took so long to get a reservation there, and I’m so sorry, Lexi. This was supposed to be your special day and now it’s ruined.”
Tucker glanced at the curvy platinum blonde wearing the red dress, glad he hadn’t checked her out, although she was definitely pretty. Just not his type. “You’re Lexi? As in Shep’s fiancée?”
“Right. I guess it’s on me to make introductions.” Addie gathered her hair in one hand and pulled it over her shoulder, and the brusque, slightly irritated way she did it made him think she wanted it up in her usual ponytail. “Lexi, Tucker. Tucker, Lexi.”
“It’s so nice to meet you!” Lexi surprised him with a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like I know you already.”
She introduced him to Melanie and Brittany, the one he was currently debating whether or not to ask for her number.
He probably should so he could scrub the memory of Addie’s legs out of his mind and replace them with another set.
But his thoughts returned to being back home and his jobless situation, and it wasn’t like he wouldn’t have time later, what with her being part of the bridal party.
Besides, save Addie, the stress level seemed to be growing by the second.
Tucker dug his keys out of his pocket and extended them to his buddy. He wouldn’t trust many people with his vehicle, but they’d learned to drive together on the back roads of town, and she could pull a truck out of a tailspin like nobody’s business.
Good thing, too, or the cop would’ve busted them for doing donuts in the parking lot of the formerly abandoned grocery store.
“Take my car,” he offered. “I’ll take care of this one.”
“That would be amazing,” Brittany said, her hand going to his arm again. “If we hurry, we can still make it.” She gave him a flirty smile that made it clear any advances would be welcome, and then the three women headed toward his car.
“Are you sure?” Addie spun the keys around her finger, the jingle filling the air. “You know how long it takes to get Ray out here.”
“I’m sure. You go. This way I get to save the day.”
“Oh, sure.Icrawl under the hood while wearing a stupid dress, butyou’rethe hero.”
“Speaking of, you’ve got…” Tucker plucked leaves out of her hair and then tugged on the ends. “I don’t think I’ve seen you without a ponytail or bun in decades.”
“What I’m hearing is, you want to be reintroduced to my jab.”
