Page 18 of Play Dirty (Brooklyn Dawn 1)

I couldn’t imagine being so eager to be attached to someone forever.

Marriage wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of happiness in my world. Between fellow musicians who crashed and burned after coupling up too fast, or the old money types from my parents’ generation who viewed weddings as mergers, there wasn’t a whole lot of happiness attached to the word as far as I was concerned.

A shrill whistle followed by peals of laughter drew my attention back to the reception. I was pretty sure I was supposed to be over there with the wedding party as they did an elaborate dance to introduce the bride and groom. Considering I had been a last minute addition, I decided staying out of the way was a much better option.

There had already been far too many cameras on me for a day that wasn’t supposed to be about anyone other than the bride. Today was for Lauren.

The reception held far more people than the actual wedding. Some faces I knew—other musicians and extended family of the outrageously large band—but couldn’t attach to names.

I drifted to the sidelines with my colorful drink. The girls hopped forward as the familiar anthem, “500 Miles” blared from every speaker. I dropped into a chair with a grin at their antics. More hijinks, more catcalls, and finally, the sweetly choreographed dance between the bride and groom brought the house down with laughter and whoops.

Oz and Teagan hopped right into the melee of dancing as typical wedding songs started off the night. It was a buffet-style dinner so there were no formalities after the ceremony and I, for one, was glad to be able to just chill out.

I danced to a few songs with Molly, Elle, and the troupe of girls they’d collected. Then I took Oz for a twirl through a rockabilly song. He was big enough to swing a girl my size around.

There’d never been a lick of chemistry between me and the male members of Brooklyn Dawn. No wild Fleetwood Mac moments for us, thank you very much.

Sometimes I wished there were. It would have been so much easier to be attracted to someone safe like Oz. He had an intense scowl and growls for days, but he was as sweet as a kitten underneath his gruff exterior. At least he was with me. Like the brother I wished I’d been born with instead of the Wall Street shark whom I barely knew.

Why I’d made Brooklyn Dawn my family.

Why I’d do anything for them.

Oz twirled me out with a flourish, but I slipped away and passed another guest his way. One he’d been eyeing most of the night.

At least I could play matchmaker.

I swiped a glass off one of the tables and downed a goblet of water. A flash of dark hair and an arched eyebrow halted me mid-gulp. I choked as the water went down the wrong way.

No.

I teared up with each cough.

No way should he be at this shindig. He didn’t socialize with mere mortals. Unless he had no choice. And I had heard through the grapevine that he’d done some work with Warning Sign…

The urge to slip out of the tent and escape to the beach was almost impossible to resist.

No.

Goddammit, I was tired of running whenever I saw him.

To hell with it.

I lifted my chin and set the glass down before tearing my way through the crowd of people. I weaved around and spotted the dark hair again, then got stopped by Jules and Molly.

“We’re headed back on the dance floor, you ready?” Molly hooked her arm through mine. When I didn’t answer right away, she frowned. “Lindz?”

I inched up on my tiptoes to look around. “Dammit.”

“You good?” Jules asked as she craned her neck to follow the direction of my gaze. “Is some guy hassling you?”

“No.” I almost pushed by them until finally, I got a good look at the man. He smiled at me, puffing up his chest when we locked eyes. Not him.

Thank God, it wasn’t him.

I relaxed and took Molly’s drink. “Nope, not hassling me at all.”

What the hell was wrong with me?

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