Page 6 of Should've Been Us
Connor growled when the dark-skinned man made a disapproving sound, “She wasn’tcrying.”
“No?”
“No.” He pushed back up to the bar, “Lulu isn’t a crier. She didn’t cry when her best friend pushed her off her bike at age ten and she broke her wrist and she didn’t cry when the man she loves broke her heart at seventeen. Trust me, if she was going to cry it would be over him, notme.”
“Ah, I see.” The bartender polished a glass, “It is a lovers quarrelthen?”
“No. I’m not… She’s not…” Connor slammed a hand through his hair in frustration and then wondered why the hell he was talking to this guy at all, “Just pour the drinks and keep the therapy sessions to a minimum tonight,huh?”
“As you wish.” The guy shrugged and put the glass on the counter, “What can I get you,sir?”
“Bullet on the rocks.” Connor watched the bartender nod and turn to retrieve the liquor. He drummed his fingers against the bar-top but couldn’t keep his eyes from returning again and again to the doorway. When she didn’t come back through it he finally forced himself to turn his back to it and that was when he noticed the glass Lulu had left behind. “What was shedrinking?”
“Theseñorita?”
Connor glared, “Yeah, theseñorita.”
“Whitewine.”
He took a deep breath and let it out, “Good. Make sure that’s all she drinks. No hard liquor forher.”
Lulu on white wine was generally a very happy drunk. Maybe she knew that. Maybe that was why she’d chosen the drink for tonight. She’d known she would have to play up her happy best friend role for everyone in the room. If she wanted to get happy drunk, Connor didn’t see any harm in lettingher.
Lulu on hard liquor, however, was a disaster. Vodka made her loud. Rum made her flirtatious. Whiskey made her mean. Tequila made her sick. But white wine made her easy-going and Connor could use a less stressed out, less emotionally compromised Lulutonight.
It would make her easier tohandle.
“Your drink,señor.”
He took the tumbler of rich, amber liquid and then paused, “You heard what I said right? No liquor for the pretty lady. Not even if she begs for it. White wine only and I’ll tip you well if you don’t tell her sticking to wine was myidea.”
“SiSenor.”
“Gracias.” Connor raised his glass in a mild salute, downed the liquid and slammed the empty glass back on the bar before movingaway.
He couldn’t seem to help himself. He headed for the door Lulu had disappeared through before he’d even consciously decided he was going after her. She’d been gone long enough and he didn’t like the idea of her wandering around the resort alone, not in the state she was in. He considered it part of his duty as Best Man to find her, round her up and get her back to the bar for the meet-and-greet before the rest of the bridal party arrived and noticed herabsence.
That would be a great start to the wedding merriment. He could only imagine what Aubrey would do if she thought a tear-stained Lulu was trying to steal her thunder. Not to mention the hell Derek would rain down on him if he found out Connor was the reason for Lulu’s tears. No, it would be best for everyone if Connor found her first and got her back to the party before anyone elsearrived.
Only as soon as he neared the door the sound of high-pitched female voices warned him what was coming. He glanced around but there was no escape. A tidal wave was coming and he was directly in its path as the group of women spilled into the room led by the brideherself.
“Connor!” Aubrey squealed his name in that high-pitched voice of hers and threw her hands in the air, “Oh my God! I’ve never been so happy to seeyou.”
He chuckled as she grabbed him and hugged him tight, “Well hello there darlin’ it’s nice to see you too although I’m fairly certain it hasn’t been long since we parted ways at the frontdesk.”
“Oh well yeah.” Aubrey rolled her eyes as she pulled back, flipping her hair over her shoulder, “But you’re here! On time! Look around, Con. You’re literally the only male member of the wedding party that managed that miraculousfeat.”
Connor frowned when he glanced around and noticed she was right. Hell, he’d been so caught up in Lulu that he hadn’t even looked around the bar earlier. He was like a one-man heat seeking missile when it came to thatwoman.
He shook off that thought when he realized the man of the hour wasn’t at Aubrey’s side either, “Where’sDerek?”
“On his way, supposedly. He had to make a trip back to the airport to pick up his parents after their flight got delayed. He swore it was okay if we started the party without him but I think we should wait. Don’tyou?”
“Well, yeah.” Connor nodded, “Considering he’s the groom andall.”
“That’s what I said!” Aubrey exclaimed as if he was the only one on herside.
Connor cleared his throat, “So, uh, if Derek went back to the airport, where’re the rest of theguys?”
