Page 14 of Wrapped Around My Heart
“So what is it that you do? Besides golf, that is,” Dean asks while adding ice to the shaker before pouring the whiskey in.Tanner answers, going into a long and unnecessary description that could easily have been summed up by saying he’s in finance. The entire time he drones on, I follow Dean’s movements as he adds in the apple cider, pumpkin pie spice, and lemon juice before shaking it.
Dean is better than me, nodding along absentmindedly and making it seem as if he’s listening. All while I watch the way Dean’s biceps flex and coil as he shakes up the drink.
By the time Tanner finishes his winded job description, the drinks are being poured and I’m practically drooling. Over the drink, that is. Definitely not over my brother’s best friend in the middle of my parents’ dining room while standing beside the man my mom clearly had brought in hopes to set me up with.
Just as Dean finishes adding in the cinnamon sticks for decoration, Tanner reaches for one of the glasses and takes a sip. I have to bite my lip to hold back my laugh at the scowl Dean sends his way.
Ever the gentleman, Dean hands me a glass with a wink.
The first sip nearly makes me moan and my eyes slip closed as the sweet and slightly sour drink explodes across my tastebuds. It might not be a proven fact, but I’m fully convinced that any drink Dean Hayes makes turns out one hundred times better than when I make it for myself.
When I finally peel my eyes open, the look on Dean’s face is one I’ve seen countless times…
Right before he makes me come so hard I practically see stars.
“This is…interesting,” Tanner says, ruining the heated moment. I turn to him, finding his nose scrunched in disgust as he stares down at his glass.
“It’s my favorite,” I deadpan, unwilling to hear any criticism over this perfect beverage.
Tanner shakes his head, a practiced smile forming on his lips as he turns his full attention to me. “That’s no surprise. A sweet drink for a sweet girl.”
I blink at him. The guy doesn’t even know more than my name and has decided to call me sweet? Best to squash that down now, along with any of his hopes that our parents’ setup might actually go anywhere.
So I shrug and raise my glass to my lips. “I’ve always related more to the sour tones.”
Tanner laughs awkwardly, shifting his weight between his feet.
“So what do you—” Tanner’s question is cut off as Cora comes bounding into the dining room. She runs directly to me, jumping up and resting her front two paws on my knees.
“Holy crap, someone needs to control that thing,” Tanner sneers, taking a step back. Without looking, I hold my glass out toward Dean, which he takes without question. I bend down and pick up Cora, cradling her in my arms.
“What? This sweet angel?” I coo at Cora, hiding my snickering laugh into her tummy. Tanner clears his throat.
“Shouldn’t she be outside?”
My smile drops and I stare up at him as if he has three heads.
Yeah, he might be cute, but the second he opens his mouth, he loses all credibility.
“This sweet princess is exactly where she should be. I mean, everyone loves puppies. It’s a red flag not to. So she’s inside. Where everyone can give her all the love and attention she deserves.”
“Right…I just mean that you wouldn’t want to get dog hair on your dress,” Tanner says, taking a giant swig of his drink and barely hiding his cringe.
“Dude, you’re talking to the girl who would ruin an outfit in a heartbeat if she saw a pretty rock. Dog hair is nothing in comparison.”
A surprise laugh slips free and I focus on Cora, hoping to hide my shock that Dean remembers the time I wrecked a pair of white jeans at the beach just so I could get the rock I had my sight set on. The sound of glasses clinking together draws my attention up and I look over at Dean, finding him balancing both our drinks in one hand while he holds up his phone with the other.
“Two pretty girls in one perfect picture.” He flips his phone to show me the photo and I know I’m blushing again.
Until, once again, Tanner ruins the moment.
The next twenty minutes are spent in a tense circle of trying to make small talk with Tanner, only for him to make a backhanded or a full-blown snide comment about something I say or do. If Tanner’s true mission was to win me over so he could make our parents happy and ask me on a date, he ruins it by being a complete douchebag. The entire time, Dean is right there, instantly backing me up and complimenting me. Some of his comments border on outright flirting and it leaves me stammering to think of retorts.
When Mom finally announces that food is ready, my sigh of relief is audible to everyone.
However, my respite is short-lived.
All the guests make their way into the dining room, bringing their loud conversations and laughter as they all claim a seat at the long table. Ever the creature of habit, I snag the same chair I always sit in, not thinking twice about who that puts me next to. Dean plops into the seat at my left, placing himself between me and my dad, who sits at the head of the table. His warmth beside me momentarily distracts me until the feeling of the seat to my right being taken pulls my attention. I cringe as Tannersits next to me, immediately continuing his ramblings about his golf buddies.
