Page 28 of Last Second Chance

But I had to get through the rehearsal before that could happen.

We finished decorating and ran through the ceremony. Practicing the order that we’d walk down the aisle and where we’d stand, we went through all the motions. Then, it was time to go to dinner.

The rehearsal dinner was held at a seafood restaurant surrounded by palm trees. We were on a private terrace, sitting at a long table. We had a view of the ocean, just like all the best places on this island, and I couldn’t help thinking that Poppy would like seeing the sun set over the water.

It was dark out as we finished eating, and I was stuffed from the swordfish and fingerling potatoes I’d had for dinner. Ben was seated beside me, but I could tell that he was distracted by the pretty maid-of-honor sitting across from him.

As we finished eating, Ben’s phone went off with a text message. I wasn’t paying much attention as he pulled it out of his pocket and read the note. His elbow nudging my side made me turn to face him while the waiter collected our empty plates.

“It’s Poppy,” he said simply, and the rest of the people around us faded into the background.

“What about her?” I asked immediately. “Is she okay?”

“She needs a ride. I guess that she went out with some friends to a bar and somehow got separated from them. She had a ride to the bar, but now she’s stuck there alone.”

“Friends? Who was it?”

Ben shrugged. “You know how Poppy is. She makes friends everywhere she goes.”

“I’ll go get her,” I said, pushing my chair back.

I tried not to think about how much it bothered me that she didn’t text me when she found herself in need. Yeah, Ben was her brother, but I wanted to be the one that she relied on.

“We need to talk anyway,” I said.

Ben smirked. “I thought you might say that.”

I quickly said my goodbyes to Michael and Faith before leaving the restaurant. Ben forwarded me the information about where Poppy was, and I plugged the information into my GPS and followed the directions to the bar where she was stranded. It was only about ten minutes away.

When I pulled into the parking lot, it was nearly full, and I had to search for a parking spot. Finally finding one near the building, I pulled in and killed the engine. I hoped that I didn’t end up getting side swiped in this crowded lot, knowing that I’d have to pay a fortune to the car rental company for any damage.

I could hear music playing as soon as I got out of the car, the bassline seeming to vibrate my sternum. It was a hard rock band and it just grew louder when I walked inside, glancing around.

The bar looked just like any other I’d ever seen. Tables and chairs dotted the floor, stools lined the bar, and there were flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls playing a college football game. I found Poppy leaning over one of the pool tables. She was lining up a shot, all of her concentration on the white ball she was about to hit with the tip of her pool cue.

But my attention shifted to the man standing directly behind her, holding his own pool cue. His eyes locked on her ass, and I felt a surge of jealousy and protectiveness rush through me. Unlike when I saw her at the pool, I was going to do something about it this time.

I came over to her as quickly as I could with the thick crowd in the bar. It seemed like this was a popular spot for tourists. Poppy made her shot by the time I reached her, completely missing the ball she was aiming for and knocking the white ball into the corner pocket instead.

“I’m telling ya, I can give you some lessons,” the man she was playing against said as she stood up straight.

I bet he could, but I’m not going to let that happen.

I reached Poppy before she had a chance to respond to the man’s offer. Her eyes went wide as she saw me, and I knew that Ben didn’t give her a heads up that I was coming. It was probably for the best, since she’d been avoiding me all day.

She blinked at me in shock. “Scott?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice coming out a little more aggressive than I intended. I was battling jealousy and frustration so much that the relief I felt at laying eyes on her again didn’t come through clearly.

“I’m playing pool.”

Her answer was simple, but I saw a glimmer of the same embarrassment that had been there this morning in her expression. I needed to find out what was going on. Why was she pulling away from me again?

“Game’s over. We need to talk.”

I took a hold of her arm at the elbow, ready to lead her outside, when the man she was playing the game with came sauntering up.

“Hey, Poppy, is this guy bothering you?” he asked.

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