Page 80 of Just One of the Groomsmen
She pulled away and scooted off his lap, hating her sober thoughts for being so logical. “I better get goin’. Lexi’s coming over to my house so my mother, grandmother, and I can help her organize the seating chart, and I think a shower and wardrobe change is in order.”
Tucker groaned, and she lowered her eyebrows, trying to piece together where that reaction had come from. “Don’t mind me,” he said. “I’m just thinking about you in the shower. I was going to hold back the remark about wanting to join you, but I guess it’s out there now.”
Her cheeks flushed. “So you are…attracted to me in that way?”
He stood and placed a hand on her hip. “You underestimate yourself and the effect you have on men.”
“My effect usually involves sending them running in the opposite direction.” She swept the strand of hair that wouldn’t stay out of her eyes behind her ear. “You fled pretty fast last night.”
“Not fair. You can’t compare me trying to be a gentleman to those other pricks who can’t handle you.”
“But you think you can handle me?”
His fingertips skimmed down her sides and her pulse skipped and hummed. “I’d love to show you exactly how well I can handle you.”
She tipped to her toes and gave him a chaste peck. “That’s a polite goodbye kiss meant to help us stay in check, in case you were wondering.”
His hand moved to her butt, and he gripped one cheek. “That’s a polite goodbye squeeze meant to do the opposite, in case you were wondering.”
She braced her hands on his chest, instructing them to remain there instead of slipping up and behind his neck so her body would be flush with his. “Why are we goin’ slow again?”
“You seemed to think that’d make it less of a bad idea, and I’m just tryin’ to be respectful.”
“Said the guy with his hand on my butt.”
A crooked, mischievous grin spread across his face. “Hey, I never said I was succeeding.”
To keep herself from making decisions based strictly on her overactive hormones, she reluctantly pulled away.
Rarely did she feel sexy, but as Tucker did another sweep of her from head to toe, she felt like a damn supermodel.
She wanted to make one of those awesome, confident exits, but then she remembered she’d been dropped off here, and there was no way in hell she was walking all the way into town wearing this getup, everything about her saying “walk of shame.”
Not that she’d be ashamed, but without the great sex to go with it, not worth the gossip for sure. “Can I—”
Tucker tossed her the keys to his truck. “Just come get me before the game.”
Chapter Nineteen
Addie answered the light knock on her front door, and Lexi pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and squinted at her. “Are you hungover? I’msohungover.”
“That. I’m definitely that.” After coffee and a shower, Addie was feeling much better, but the cringe-worthy memories that continued to pop up didn’t wash down the drain quite as easily. “Come on in.”
Lexi stepped inside and tucked her sunglasses in her purse. While Addie had showered, pulled her wet hair into a bun, and thrown on a T-shirt and jeans, Lexi’s hungover look was pin curls, full makeup, and a summer dress. “Did you, uh, surprise Tucker like you said you were going to?”
Shoot. She hadn’t realized she’d told Lexi her plans.
Hadn’t she decided after she’d climbed in the back seat of the car? Apparently this girl plus alcohol turned her into an open book. “Yes, and for my next trick, I will be dying of embarrassment.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
“He carried me to bed. Not in a sexy way. A gentlemanly way.”
“Which is sexy,” Lexi pointed out.
“True.”
“And…?” A hopeful smile spread across her face as she conspiratorially leaned closer. “What happened this morning?”
