Page 7 of Should've Been Us
Aubrey shrugged, “Probably lost, or at the wrong bar, or drunkalready.”
“Or all three.” A petite blonde sidled up next to Aubrey, eyeing Connor from top to bottom like he was a piece of meat, “Good lord, Bree. I was under the impression you somehow wrangled the best looking Texas boy in existence but this one is in a class all his own, don’t ya think? I thought Montana had the hottest guys in the country but you boys certainly give them a run for theirmoney.”
Connor gifted the girl with a grin and turned on the charm, “Seems she’s been holding out on me too. Are all the Montana girls as pretty asyou?”
“Fuck no.” The blonde fake fanned herself, “I’m one of a kind, handsome, but you’ll figure that out foryourself.”
Aubrey groaned dramatically, “For God’s sake woman, keep it in your pants. The only thing he’s going to figure out is that you’re crazy if you don’t put a lid onit.”
“I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.” The blonde ignored Aubrey and offered a hand, “I’m Sierra Ramey, best friend of the bride and single for the weekend so long as you keep talking to me in that sexy, southernaccent.”
“Connor Shaw.” He took her tiny hand in his much larger one but rethought giving it a peck on the back like she clearly intended him to do when he noticed the big man that walked up behind her and made his presence known with agrowl.
“Sierra.” Dark eyes narrowed even as a smirk played on his lips. “Behave.”
“And that killjoy would be my husband, Brenden.” The blonde blew a piece of hair off her forehead with a feigned sigh before taking back her hand and turning to face the man that could have doubled for Vin Diesel if the actor added about ten pounds of pure muscle to his stocky frame, “I was just playin’ baby. You know I’ve got eyes only foryou.”
“Uh huh.” Brenden grunted, pulling his wife into his side before offering a mitt of a hand, “Nice to meetyou...?”
Connor shook his hand, “It’s Connor and it’s nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot abouty’all.”
“Lies. All lies.” Sierra giggled as her husband chimed in, “Unfortunately it’s probably alltrue.”
Connor smiled as he took in thecouple.
They were going to be fun. He’d heard enough of Aubrey’s stories about her friend Sierra to know she was half-crazy and a full on flirt. Just like he knew that her husband, Brenden, headed up the Bounty County Sheriff’s Department back in Montana. Connor figured despite the blonde’s shenanigans that he and Brenden would become fast friends this week. They had a lot in common. They were both members of the law enforcement community and they were both in love with clearly crazy women forstarters.
“Connor.” A second female voice whined loud enough to grab his attention and he shifted his gaze to see that the other blonde next to Aubrey was pouting, “Aren’t you even gonna say hello tome?”
He had to force a smile but he gave an apologetic shrug, “Just getting around to it,darlin.”
Amber batted her lashes at him and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. Sleeping with one of Aubrey’s cousins had clearly been a mistake. Of course, he hadn’t known she was Aubrey’s cousin at thetime.
He and Amber had gone to school together, known each other their whole lives, and then happened to hook up at the local backwoods bar called The Roadhouse one night when he’d been feeling particularly stupid and lonely last summer. He hadn’t given it much thought after. It hadn’t been anythingspecial.
But then Aubrey had rolled into town. Derek had met her. She’d ended up staying. And now Connor’s one-night stand seemed to be a permanent fixture in his already complicated enoughlife.
He’d made it clear to her that there would be no seconds, that he wasn’t on the menu and they could stay friends but nothing more. Amber either hadn’t understood or didn’t know how to take no for an answer because she constantly flirted and found reasons to be near him. He’d been hoping that she would bring a date to the wedding and save him the trouble of avoiding her all week but since there wasn’t another man in sight he knew he’d have to be polite but aloof to keep her at adistance.
“You’re looking handsome this evening.” She cooed, coming closer, but Connor sidestepped her and pointed towards the bar, pretending not to have heardher.
“They’ve got us all set up in the room back there if you want to go on in and grab a seat. We’ve got private dining and access to the patio but this main room is open for all the other resortguests.”
“Oh, I don’t know if we should sit down yet, shouldn’t we wait for Derek?” Aubrey blinked up at him as if waiting for the right answer but Sierra beat him toit.
“Jesus Christ, Bree. Cut the cord. I’m in five-inch heels. I’m sitting my ass down and getting a drink. We’ll save the seat next to you for Derek. Now come on.” The blonde looped her arm through Aubrey’s as she all but dragged her towards their privateroom.
With a,what are you gonna dolook, Brenden followed. Connor traded polite hellos with the other bridesmaids. Anna was the youngest at twenty-one and a shy little thing compared to her older cousin and sister. The other one was Aubrey’s friend from back in Montana and Connor hadn’t caught her name yet. They both returned his smiles and greeting and then continuedon.
“What about you, Con? You coming?” Amberhedged.
“Not yet. You go on.” He shook his head firmly, “I’m going to see if I can’t track down the guys. Make sure they’re not at the wrongbar.”
“Oh… Okay,I…”
He was fairly certain Amber had been about to offer to go with him but a loud, booming voice cut her off, “We’re here. Time to get this partystarted!”
Connor started to breathe a sigh of relief at the familiar voice but then he turned his attention towards the hall and saw the small group heading towards them. Dean was leading the way of course. Derek’s little brother was loud, fun and enjoyed being the center of attention, especially when it came to women. Connor loved the guy like he was his own little brother. Which was why the urge to rip his hands off and beat him with them was both new and yetfamiliar.
