Chapter 3
three
Travis
What in the hell was I thinking, pushing Grace into the alley and fucking her like a wild animal? She deserves better than that—she deserves better than me. It’s been two days since it happened, and I can’t stop thinking about how good she felt in my arms and around my cock.
In my rush to get inside of her, I didn’t even kiss her.
That was something we used to spend hours doing—now, given the chance to do it again, I didn’t think about kissing her.
I was acting on a primal level—wanting to satisfy my lust in her delectable body.
Hell, I didn’t even make sure she was ready for me before I slammed into her.
But she was more than ready—her soaking wet pussy was all the proof I needed.
I try to silence those thoughts. Like I told Grace, we can’t do that again. It was a one-time thing—a moment of weakness on both of our parts.
Needing a distraction, I glance toward the back of the bar into the private party room.
We built a larger reception venue on the edge of town, where we hold the bigger parties, but for smaller parties of fewer than 50 people, we still use the private party room in the bar.
I notice Tessa in the room, talking to someone just out of my view.
“What’s Tessa doing back there?” I ask Tanner. It’s still early enough in the day that only our regulars are in the bar, giving us a chance to restock for the busy night ahead.
“Oh, that’s right. You had already left the other night when Tessa announced to the table that she and Grace plan to hire a male stripper for Sky’s bachelorette party tomorrow night. They're holding auditions as we speak.”
“Grace is back there with male strippers?” Jealousy, like I’ve never felt before, roars through my body at the thought of Grace and male strippers.
“I know, right? The girls seem excited about it. They say they’re just doing it to help promote Tessa’s new wedding planning business.” Tanner snorts. “It’s a good thing I’m planning the bachelor party.”
“Let me guess, we’re going to spend the night at your place playing poker.” Tanner is so predictable.
“Hey, my poker parties are legendary. Plus, we’ve got some new blood joining us.
I met the new doctor the other day—all the women are crazy over him.
He seems like a decent guy. Since he’s new to town and doesn’t know many people, I invited him.
” Tanner glances at his watch. “He’s actually supposed to stop by sometime today. ”
I want to ask Tanner more about the auditions happening in the back room, but I bite my tongue, not wanting to reveal that I still have feelings for Grace. As far as my family is concerned, I’m over her. “I thought the best man was supposed to throw the bachelor party,” I say instead.
“Yeah, right. Like I’d let you plan the bachelor party—you’d have us all sitting around grumbling about women.”
“True story. He’d have us so depressed, it would be the worst bachelor party ever.
” Great, now Turner’s arrived to add his two cents.
“Look, Travis, you used to be fun, but ever since you and Grace broke up, you have been a grumpy jerk. We had hoped that when you saw Grace again, you would patch things up and get back together. We hate seeing you like this.”
Is he right? Have I been a grumpy jerk since I lost Grace?
“Screw that. I’m the best man. I’ll be the one to plan the bachelor party.
” The look of panic on Turner and Tanner’s faces is priceless.
Let them think I’m a grump—I’m going to prove them all wrong.
I take one last look at the back room and catch a quick glance at Grace, who is now standing by the open doorway.
My party is going to be so much better than Tanner’s stupid poker party.
“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have a party to plan. ”
“Wait!” They call after me, following me out of the bar and leaving Jake to tend the bar alone.