Page 17 of Best Man
Huh?
It took a moment for his comment to register.
Wait—is he flirting with me?she wondered, bewildered.
She didn’t have to ponder the question for long before she assured herself he wasn’t. He went for supermodels and “exotic beauties,” after all, not farm girls who weren’t even wearing makeup. Hehadto be joking; remember, Piper had said he was a jokester. Besides, who knew what might be getting lost in translation?
“Ah-ha,” he said as if he were making a revelation. “You’re not saying anything. That means your boyfriendisjealous.”
She didn’t know what to say. At last, she managed to mutter, “Hard to get jealous when you don’t exist.”
His almond-shaped eyes narrowed with confusion. “Huh?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” she explained.
“Oh.” Niko quietly chuckled. “Sorry. I get it now. You’re funny.” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “So you’re single.”
This was startingto feel more and more like a flirt, but Paulina still found it too impossible to believe. He had a girlfriend, after all, asupermodelgirlfriend. Paulina decided to remind him of that fact, just in case he’d forgotten.
“What about you? Is your girlfriend the jealous type?”
“Nah. I’m single, too.” He turned his head and stole a glance, eyes darting down her neck. “And it’s a very good thing. Because I bet she’d beveryjealous right now.”
WHAT?
Paulina was glad this walk down the aisle was just a practice run and not the real thing, because she was sure she’d just made the most shocked face ever, as reality dawned on her:
Heisflirting with me. What the hell? Why?!
Just an hour ago, she’d been told that this guy only went for the most gorgeous women you’ve ever seen in your life. And now? Now he was hitting onher?
Frankly, she wasn’t even sure she believed he was truly single. Scott said he was single, too, after all—and he was friggin’ married with children. Guys lied when it suited them. And yet, despite the fact she clearly didn’t trust him, she couldn’t deny that she was—well,flattered,sort of. Because a professional hockey player was flirting with her.Whoa.Even if he was a total dirtbag, it was a pretty big compliment to get hit on by a pro athlete, wasn’t it? Because they were tall and charming and famous, and could have basically any girl they wanted—Niko especially—but he wanted to flirt withher?
Not that she’deverbe foolish enough to think they had a future. It wasinteresting,that’s all. And it made her feel good.Reallygood, actually, and Paulina subtly pulled herself a little closer against his side.
By the time they reached the altar, she didn’t want to let go of his muscular arm. Alas, their paths had to split, and she felt him pulling away.
“Nice to meet you, Paulina,” he whispered as they broke apart. “Catch up with you later.”
“You too,” she whispered back.
She took her place at the head of the other bridesmaids, her head still spinning.
Did that seriously just happen?
She glanced over at Niko, hoping to catch his eye, but he was already too busy palling around with Jax and his teammates to notice.
No … can’t be … he’s just playing around.
7
Niko
The wedding coordinator only needed an hour or so of their time, which was just long enough for Niko’s stomach to begin mercilessly growling. Luckily, Jax and Piper had planned for empty stomachs; they’d rented out an entire gourmet French restaurant in town to host the rehearsal dinner. Niko hopped into Jax’s truck and the athletes headed to town with the packed party bus following closely behind.
They sped down the gravel roads, the fresh country air blustering through the open windows and ruffling their hair. Niko stuck his arm out the window and surfed the rushing wind. He was all smiles. In fact, he’d been smiling ever since he met Paulina. They’d only just met and very briefly talked, and yet he could already tell she was different, somehow, from the sort of girls he was used to meeting. Which was a strange thing to say about someone he instantly felt like he “knew.” It was confusing, yes, but how else could he say it?
The truck merged onto the highway and Jax drew up the windows, muffling the noise of the road. They could talk now that the cabin was quiet—but Niko stared out at the road ahead, still thinking about Paulina. She had the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. Her icy blues were a window right to her soul; one look into those, and Niko knewin his heart she was a good person. And yet he didn’t know her at all! It was the strangest thing. But when he’d stared into her eyes, he felt a spark, a connection. Had she felt it, too? He could only wonder and hope. He couldn’t wait to see her again—and they’d talk againsoon,hopefully, at dinner.
