Chapter Eleven
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Marin
I saw you.
Me
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Marin
Don’t play dumb with me. I saw you and Zander in the water.
Me
You saw nothing.
Marin
You would lie to a pregnant woman?
Me
You’re pregnant…not a freaking priest! eye roll emoji
Marin
Honestly, I think I deserve sainthood for surviving my first trimester. I’ve never thrown up so much in my life. So. Much. Vomit.
Me
You should consider being a spokesman for abstinence. Teen pregnancy rates would plummet.
Marin
You’re avoiding the subject. What the hell happened with Zander? And don’t lie!
Me
Nothing….much. Okay, fine. We almost kissed. But it was a total mistake. Definitely won’t happen again.
Marin
OMG. No. Do it!!! Marry Zander, and then we can be sisters-in-law again!
Me
Wait, I thought you didn’t want me to hook up with Macon’s brother?
Marin
Eh. I’m over it. I mean, who could blame you? Did you see all those tattoos? drooling emoji
Me
I’m so gonna tell on you.
Also, who else saw us…doing absolutely nothing in the water?
Marin
No one. They were all busy talking about Macon’s super-secret bachelor party. Which reminds me…
Me
Yeah, yeah. I’m on it.
I tried not to think about that moment in the water with Zander.
I definitely tried.
But I couldn’t say I succeeded.
We’d almost kissed. I hadn’t imagined it.
If we hadn’t been interrupted by those very nosy college girls, I was nearly positive I would now know what it was like to be kissed by Zander Green.
Kinda hate those bitches, if I am being honest….
Because now, all I could think about was that almost kiss and the man who was responsible for it. The memory of his piercing green eyes seemed to follow me all the way back to the rental, through the door, and to the bedroom. I couldn’t help but remember the way his hands had felt on my hips as I stepped into the shower, and it took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to reach down and soothe the ache between my legs, thanks to those stolen moments in the water.
After I rinsed away all the sand and washed my hair, I wrapped myself up in a towel. I took my time getting dressed, choosing leggings and a cropped hoodie again. When I resurfaced an hour later, I found Zander and Hendrix in the living room, both freshly showered, surrounded by guitars.
“Hey,” Zander said as he moved about the room with ease. “We ordered pizza. Hope that’s all right?”
“Perfect,” I answered.
We’d all decided to give Macon and Marin some alone time tonight, and I was thankful for the night in. The sun had been draining, and I needed some time to recharge.
I watched as Zander plugged cords into an amp and sat down on one of the couches, positioning a foot pedal. He’d dressed down in a pair of black sweatpants and a gray T-shirt that said I’m with the band .
“We were gonna play for a bit. Do you mind?” he asked as his eyes met mine, waiting for an answer.
“Um, no,” I answered, suddenly unsure of what I was supposed to do. Turn around? Sit down? God, I hoped he didn’t expect me to join in.
If he thought those singers at karaoke night were bad…
“You can stay,” he clarified with a knowing grin.
“You should stay,” Hendrix added. “I love an audience.”
“That’s an understatement.” Zander laughed as I headed over to the oversized chair that sat diagonally from the couch.
I noticed the way his eyes followed me, like a predator tracking its prey. It sent a shiver down my spine.
“Hey”—Hendrix shrugged—“not all of us can be rock stars.”
Zander glared at his best friend before he turned to me. “He’s kidding. He’s just jealous ’cause the only session work he’s done is in the studio.”
“Someone’s gotta stay home and keep the plants watered.”
“You guys live together?” I guessed.
Zander nodded. He’d switched out his acoustic for an electric guitar today. I’d noticed Hendrix haul in a large guitar case, and I’d wondered what was inside. “Yeah, we’ve been roommates forever, but we were sick of renting, so we went in on a place together a couple of years ago.”
“That’s impressive. The housing market in California is insane.”
They both nodded as they got situated. Hendrix also had an electric guitar strapped around his chest. Or was it a bass? I was a little rusty. It’d been ages since I had been in front of a live band and not just listening to one through my earbuds.
“How about you, Elena?” Hendrix asked. “You own a big old house in Richmond?”
He knows where I’m from? Zander must have filled him in.
I shook my head, laughing. “Hell no. I barely see the inside of my apartment. Why the hell would I want an entire house? But I do own it—my apartment, that is. Paid for it in cash.”
“No shit?” Hendrix was impressed. “You must be a damn good lawyer.”
As usual, my mom’s cutting words came to mind.
Not good enough, apparently.
My face must have betrayed my emotions because Zander turned to his friend. “Let’s get this going, yeah?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Any requests?”
“Oh, um…what do you know?” I asked. “Give me a few to choose from.”
They both just looked at each other and then back at me.
Zander feigned shock. “You wound me, Elena.”
“What? What do you mean? It’s a valid question.”
“No,” he argued, “it’s not. Now, try again. Any requests?”
I let out a huff of frustration. There was no way the two of them could possibly know every freaking song on the planet. “‘Stairway to Heaven’?”
“Too predictable.” Hendrix looked insulted. “Try again.”
“Fine,” I sighed, wondering just how vast their song catalog could be. So, I went for something a bit different. “‘Wicked Game.’” Chris Isaak’s voice was fucking hot.
A wicked smile spread across Zander’s face. “Done.”
They both fiddled around with dials on their amps and their instruments, and then a minute later, Zander gave Hendrix a nod. With one foot on the pedal and the other bouncing out a beat, they started.
For most of us, a career was just something we did during the day to put food on the table at night. For Zander, his career was an extension of his soul. From the very first note, he had me.
Hendrix came in a moment later with the bass line, and it was perfection.
Until Zander did something so totally unexpected that I had to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor.
He started singing.
Because of course, he could sing.
The man sounded like liquid sex, and even though his attention was focused on the song, I couldn’t help but feel like every word was meant for me.
A voice like that should come with a warning label.
By the time he uttered the last lyric, I was completely spellbound.
“Okay, what else?” Hendrix’s exuberance cut through the haze, and it was then I realized they’d finished.
I double-blinked and tried to focus. “‘No Rain,’” I said almost immediately, needing something a little lighter.
“Blind Melon?” Hendrix chuckled.
“That album cover is legendary. Tell me you didn’t want to dress up like a bee for Halloween.”
“My sisters definitely did,” Hendrix confirmed.
“See! ” I rest my case.
“I am not singing that one.” Zander groaned, but his face was full of amusement.
Hendrix made a dramatic hand gesture and slicked back his long hair. “Prepared to be amazed, darling.”
Zander set the beat and then executed the iconic intro flawlessly. I was instantly transported back to my brother’s childhood bedroom. I swallowed back a lump in my throat.
When it was time for the lyrics, I learned one thing very quickly.
While Hendrix had a sexy speaking voice, the guy definitely could not sing. He could play the shit out of the bass, but his vocals were absolute crap, and he knew it. In fact, he might have been a little proud of it.
He got to the chorus, and his voice cracked at the high note. I could see Zander trying to keep it together, but I couldn’t. My head fell back as laughter exploded from my lips, and Zander joined me.
“Okay, assholes. You sing along if you think you can do any better,” Hendrix said over us.
He got around to the chorus again, and as Zander’s eyes met mine, I let out a huff of resignation, and we both belted out the lyrics to the ’90s classic.
Despite Zander’s complaints about the song, he sounded surprisingly good.
Me, on the other hand?
“Dear God.” Hendrix feigned disgust. “Is there a cat being tortured nearby?”
I threw a pillow at his face. “Fuck off. You’re not any better.”
“What?” The song came to an end. “My mom told me I have the voice of an angel.”
It was the most fun I’d had in forever. By the time the pizza had arrived, they’d played a few more songs, I’d fallen more in love with Zander’s voice, and I’d laughed so hard that I was in danger of cracking a rib.
“You seem to know a lot of music,” Hendrix said as we gathered plates and napkins for our meal.
“I know a little.” I shrugged.
“She knows more than a little.” Zander started lining up the pizza boxes on the counter and opened them.
“What’s your poison?” Hendrix asked. He handed me a plate and a napkin. “Hard rock? Metal? Alternative?”
“I grew up listening to a little bit of everything—whatever my brother could get his hands on. He’d sneak off to this record shop in town, and they had a small CD section, and he’d buy whatever they had—within reason,” I added with a grin. “I think after a while, the owner took notice and saved stuff for him.”
“Did he ever play? Your brother?”
I shook my head. “He never really got the option, growing up, but I think he would have liked to.”
We all started fixing our plates. I was happy to see they’d ordered a salad in addition to the pizza and plopped down a large amount next to my single slice.
We all took a seat in the living room and sat in companionable silence as we ate.
Finally, Hendrix looked up and asked, continuing our conversation from earlier, “Do you like anything modern? Or do you mostly just stick to the classics?”
I wiped my mouth with my napkin, catching Zander’s gaze. “I listen to modern stuff.”
Hendrix, having finished his pizza ages ago, absently plucked out a tune on his bass.
“Is that Manic at Midnight?” I asked him, and I swore Zander grimaced.
“Yeah. You a fan?”
I shrugged. “They’re all right. Their earlier stuff is pretty good,” I said.
Daniel had actually tried to get tickets to one of their concerts when they came to a small venue in Richmond a long time ago, but it sold out too quickly. Even back then, they had been crazy popular.
“Are they even still together? You know, since?—”
“Since their lead guitarist knocked up a seventeen-year-old minor and then tried to pay her off to say it wasn’t his?” Hendrix interjected.
“Yeah, that.” I winced. I’d already known that, but even hearing it again out loud made me sick. “Seriously, who does that?”
“You’d be surprised,” Hendrix said. “My dad works in the music industry and has heard it all. But Mitch is one of those guys who let it all go to his head. He wasn’t always like that, and unfortunately, he didn’t give a shit who he took down with him when he spiraled.”
“I guess fame doesn’t always bring out the best in everyone.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Zander had been suspiciously silent during this whole tangent of conversation, leaning back against the sofa with his head slightly bent, as if he were an observer rather than a participant.
“I, um, really like Vertigo,” I said, hoping to redirect the conversation. “I was actually telling Zander how jealous I was that he got to tour with them. I love their album.”
“They’re great,” Hendrix said. “And their lead singer? So fucking hot. Zander was an idiot to pass on that, but he’s a stickler for his ‘rules.’” I didn’t miss the way Hendrix made little air quotes around the last word and rolled his eyes.
“Rules?” I didn’t know why I was probing for more information regarding this particular subject. It wasn’t like I wanted to know more about Zander’s sexual exploits on or off the road. In fact, the mere thought of it made the pizza in my stomach start to churn.
“I don’t mix business with pleasure. It never ends well,” he simply stated, setting his plate on the coffee table before settling back into the plush sofa.
“So, you’re saying two consenting adults can’t have a casual relationship?” Hendrix pressed.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” Zander argued, shifting in his seat as he eyed his friend. “But when you add the element of working together, it can blur the line of professionalism, and that’s when it gets messy.”
“I agree with that.” I nodded.
“Yeah?” Hendrix set his bass down and headed to the kitchen for more pizza.
“I had this thing going with a coworker years ago before I started dating—” I realized neither of these men knew anything about my dating history, so mentioning my previous long-term boyfriend who was no longer in the picture was pointless. “Anyway, it was great for a while.” Fucking hot, actually, but I didn’t need to go into detail. “And then we got put on the same case. When he started slacking and I had to call him on it…”
“I bet that went over well.” Hendrix grimaced, returning with four pieces of pepperoni piled high on his plate.
I looked at the flat, washboard abs pressed against his tight T-shirt. Where the hell does he put it all?
“No, it didn’t. His ego did not recover well from that one.” I looked up and found Zander staring at me.
“But would you say it’s possible outside of the workplace?” Hendrix asked.
“What?” I pulled my gaze away from Zander.
“A casual relationship.”
“Oh, sure.” I shrugged.
Hendrix’s face broke out into a wide grin, and Zander…
Zander just kept staring at me as if I was a puzzle he couldn’t solve.
The next day, I had promised Marin my undivided attention. There were still a lot of details to work out regarding the wedding, and with the unexpected arrival of Zander and the baby announcement, things had understandably gotten a bit…derailed.
We spent the morning at By the Bay Inn, discussing ceremony and reception details with Molly, who was seriously the most organized person I’d ever met. Her lists had lists. She showed us pictures of past weddings held at the inn, including her own, and made sure Marin was comfortable with every choice, down to the very last cream puff.
“If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be sitting here, planning Macon Green’s wedding at our family inn of all places, I would have never believed you,” she told us as we headed out.
“Not just planning it—a bridesmaid, too. Don’t forget that part.” Marin grinned.
Molly laughed. “Oh, I haven’t.” She gave me a wink.
“Life has a way of surprising you, doesn’t it?”
Marin had originally met Molly on the way to the hospital after the ferry accident. Molly had been engaged to Jake’s best friend—which was a whole other story—and they both caught a flight from a local pilot to get there as quickly as possible. Marin had never thought she’d see Molly again.
“Sometimes in the most amazing ways.”
Molly pulled her into a tight hug, and after I wiped away the dust that had somehow lodged itself in my eyes, we headed out to Billy’s for a much overdue lunch, where my best friend tried to badger me again about my almost kiss with Zander.
“I don’t know what to tell you other than it won’t happen again.”
God, how I wanted it to happen again.
“Why?” she challenged.
“What do you mean, why?” I scoffed. “He’s Macon’s brother. I can’t just hook up with your brother-in-law!”
“Why?”
“Are you a broken record today?”
She grinned. “Just don’t rule it out. I know you have your man ban or whatever, but Zander could be good for you. You could be good for him.”
“Or…it could be a cataclysmic disaster,” I countered, rolling my eyes. “Zander is already a bit of a flight risk. I don’t need to give him one more reason not to come back here.”
“I’m hearing a lot of excuses, but I haven’t actually heard you say you don’t like him.” A wide grin spread across her face.
I didn’t have a comeback for that one because she wasn’t wrong.
Liking Zander had never been the problem.
Liking Zander too much? Now, that was a problem.
The rest of the day was spent working on the dreaded seating chart and making sure the out-of-town guests were all accounted for. Marin had insisted on making these ridiculous welcome baskets for each of them, and we drove all over town, gathering items to put in them. In addition to all the rooms at the inn, one of Marin’s other new friends, Lani, had offered up discounted rooms at her upscale hotel as well.
Marin assured me that this was going to be a small affair, but it felt like the whole island had been booked up solely for this event. By the time we finished everything on Marin’s to-do list and ordered dinner, I fell asleep almost the second I got home and didn’t check in with the boys until the next morning.
“Rough night?” Hendrix grinned as I stumbled into the kitchen after the smell of coffee lured me from my bed. He was in a pair of loose pajama pants that sat low on his waist, and the black tank he wore clung to his muscles like a second skin.
“I didn’t see it coming, but Marin is a borderline bridezilla.” I set my phone on the counter as he handed me a mug. I grabbed it out of his hand like it was the holy fucking grail.
“Marin? Really? She comes off so chill.”
I turned to see Zander strolling into the kitchen. Shirtless.
I nearly dropped my whole damn mug right there on the tiled floor.
I want to trace those tattoos with my tongue like he’s a treasure map…only it’s not gold I’m seeking…
“Um, what?” Those were the only words I managed to get out before my brain caught up with my vocal cords, and I finally said, “Oh, yeah. You would think. But she’s about the details—centerpieces, floral arrangements, fucking seating charts.”
“Seating charts? Like we had in school?” Hendrix chimed in.
I leaned against the center island as Hendrix finished up his coffee, clutching my mug as I watched Zander open the fridge and check the contents before closing it again. “Sort of, but more strategic because you’ve got to figure out where to put Aunt Rose so that she’s close to the bathroom, but not anywhere near Uncle Leon because they’re not on speaking terms.”
He squeezed by me, and I felt his hand brush my bare thigh as he went to grab a mug of his own. Without even asking, Hendrix plucked it from his hand, filled it, and then handed it back to him.
I guessed he wasn’t a milk and sugar type of guy.
“That’s insane,” he said, stepping aside to allow me access to the coffeepot.
I didn’t miss the way Zander’s eyes tracked me.
I tried to ignore his heated gaze and focused on filling my cup. “If I ever get married, I’m never doing a seating chart. Ever. People can just sit wherever the fuck they want. It will be chaos, but who cares? Actually, you know what? I’m just gonna elope.”
“Sounds perfect.” A lopsided grin tugged at his lips before he brought his coffee cup to his mouth, and I watched his throat bob as he swallowed.
Why did my stomach do flip-flops when he did that?
My phone started vibrating on the counter, and Hendrix wordlessly handed it to me. I thanked him as I saw Marin’s name flash across the screen.
“I still have an hour,” I said the moment I answered, staring at the time on the microwave. Was it already eight thirty in the damn morning? I wasn’t sure if I should be proud of this new ability to sleep in or be slightly horrified. “I’m not late yet.”
“I know you’re not. That’s not why I’m calling.”
“Please don’t make me go buy you another matcha latte. They make my car smell like microwaved grass.”
The guys laughed.
Marin joined in. “It does not. And no. Although?—”
“No more caffeine!” I heard Macon yell in the background.
“This is what I get for being lazy and putting you on speakerphone.” She sighed. “Speaking of which, can you put me on speakerphone? I need to talk to you and Zander together.”
“ Okay .” The word was dripping with suspicion as I placed my phone on the counter and tapped the right button before turning to Zander. “Apparently, Marin would like to talk to us both.”
His brow lifted as he casually leaned against the counter, one leg over the other, looking effortlessly cool. “All right,” he said, taking a sip of coffee before he folded his arms across his chest.
“Okay, we’re both here,” I told her.
“Oh, okay. Great! Morning, Zander!” she said in a sisterly sort of way. A little annoying, kind of sweet.
“Morning, Marin,” he mimicked, a wide grin on his face.
Good God, that’s adorable.
“So, I wanted to run something by both of you.”
Our eyes met as we waited for her to elaborate. He smirked, and suddenly, my stomach felt like it was doing a cliff dive off the Empire State Building.
“Zander, I know you are taking Hendrix back today, right?”
“Yep,” he answered. “Leaving in about an hour.”
“Right,” she answered, and I swore I could feel her grin from here. “Well, Elena and I had planned on driving up the coast to pick up my wedding dress. And since you still need to get measured for a suit, I thought maybe?—”
“You want Zander to pick up your wedding dress?”
An amused expression painted his handsome face.
“No.” She laughed. “I want you to go together.”
“What?” I stared down at the phone like I expected her to pop right out of it and explain herself.
“This just makes sense, honestly. Zander’s already gonna be up that way, and Macon hates the idea of me being that far away from him?—”
“It’s a few hours up the coast,” I protested. “And doesn’t he travel all over the county for work?”
“He does, and don’t remind him. He’s already threatened to drag me with him the next time he boards that ferry.”
“It’s not a threat, Marin. It’s a promise,” he growled in the background, making me roll my eyes. “The swan quarter ferry takes two and a half hours to get back here.”
That man was going to drive her nuts through her entire pregnancy.
“ Anyway ,” she went on, “you’re the only one I trust to pick up my dress, and while you’re there, you can help Zander out as well.”
“I thought we were going to have a shopping day,” I complained.
Everyone needed one of those while on vacation, right?
Plus, what the hell? Who did she think she was? Marin the Meddler?
“I know.” She sighed heavily into the phone like breaking this news broke her heart. She wasn’t fooling me in the least. “But yesterday really wore me out, and it’s probably best if I rest. For the baby ,” she emphasized.
Man, she was laying it on thick.
It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. I looked up at Zander, and that same sly smirk was plastered across his face.
“No problem, Marin. We’ll take care of it,” he answered. “Go take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, guys.” She acted relieved. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
Marin hung up, and I grabbed my phone and finished the last sip of my coffee.
“Looks like we’re going on a road trip.” Hendrix grinned.
“And I’d better go get ready,” I added. “Don’t want to make you guys late.”
“You okay with this?” Zander asked as I set my coffee cup in the sink.
I placed my hands on the counter and turned to him. “Depends,” I deadpanned.
His eyes searched mine. “On?”
“Who gets to control the music?”
They both started laughing.
Do they think I’m joking?
“You know, I think I’m actually going to miss him,” I said as we headed back down the coast.
“But not more than you’d miss me though, right?” he teased.
“Eh.” I tried to keep a straight face but only lasted a second.
We’d said our good-byes to Hendrix at the airport, and even though Zander had made him swear to behave, he’d done the exact opposite.
“I can’t believe he picked you up.”
“And twirled me around. Don’t forget about that part.” He laughed.
“You two act like brothers,” I commented as I watched the trees go by the window.
“We are,” he said confidently. “As much as Macon and I are. Maybe more so.” I could tell admitting that came with a little guilt. Maybe some leftover anger. “Isn’t that the way it is with Marin and you?”
I nodded. “Yes. I mean, not enough to get Mueller tattooed on my body, but they’ve always been good to me.” Better than my own family.
He grew silent for a moment before he finally said, “I didn’t even know that was Marin’s maiden name.”
“She hasn’t used it in years,” I told him.
A heartbeat later, he tapped out a beat on the steering wheel. “Just makes me realize how much I’ve missed.”
“There’s a lot to look forward to though,” I reminded him.
He looked briefly in my direction, and I saw doubt lingering in his eyes. Suddenly, I was on high alert. My nerves twisted as I feared the worst.
“Please tell me you’re not leaving again, Zander.”
“No,” he said firmly. “No. I just…” He breathed out in frustration. “My job is chaotic. So fucking chaotic, and I worry I’ll still miss everything and let them down. I can’t decide which is better—to be the forgotten brother or the disappointing one.”
“You were never forgotten,” I assured him. “There’s a reason Marin recognized you the second you showed up at that door. And honestly, you’re starting at ground zero as far as your brother is concerned. So, you can really only go up.”
My attempt at humor lightened his mood instantly.
“So, what you’re saying is, the standards are low?”
I grinned. “Very.”
“All right. I can work with that.”
Our conversation just flowed from there, and I realized how easy it was to talk to him. Since that moment we’d shared in the water, things had been easier between us. I stopped trying to ignore him, and although the sexual tension was still through the roof, I was glad I could finally talk to him again.
I’d missed that more than anything.
We made good time and arrived at the bridal salon around mid-afternoon. Thankfully, since most rentals emptied out on Saturdays, the traffic gods had been on our side.
The door dinged as we stepped inside. The air smelled sweet and floral, and although the decor was tasteful, I remembered why I’d hated this place the last time I was here. Everything was understated yet somehow over the top at the same time with accents of gold and muted shades of pink. It screamed feminine, which was usually my jam, but this just felt nauseating.
I knew a lot of women dreamed about their wedding from a young age, but I hadn’t been one of them. Don’t get me wrong; I loved fashion, shoes, and makeup as much as the next girl. But the idea of a traditional wedding with the white dress in a stuffy church with a bunch of people staring at me sounded more like a nightmare than a fairy tale.
Maybe it was First Communion flashbacks. Maybe it was a fear of commitment. Maybe I just really hated tulle. I had no idea.
“Whoa. That’s a lot of white,” Zander said, holding a hand to his eyes like he’d been blinded.
I laughed. “They should really give you sunglasses before you come here.”
He glanced around, his tight black Metallica shirt and fitted jeans a stark contrast to all the frilliness that surrounded us. “I feel like I’m walking into someplace I shouldn’t, like that time I accidentally walked into the girls’ restroom on a field trip.”
I snorted, grabbing his hand and pulling him forward. I tried to focus on the warmth of his skin or how his fingers intertwined with mine. “I’m not a fan of this place either,” I whispered like I was keeping a secret from the walls themselves.
“Yeah?” That seemed to perk him up.
“Yeah. I mean, why white?” I said, looking around. His brow lifted. “Okay, I know why . But if I were to get married—which I’m not saying I am.”
“Course not.” He humored me.
“But if I were, I wouldn’t want to dress up like some virginal sacrifice. It’s an outdated tradition, and besides, I look horrible in white.”
“All right. So, what color would you want?”
A ghost of a smile played across my lips, but before I could answer, a woman came from the back. She was around my mother’s age, but far more stylish. Her gray hair was swept back in a low bun, and she wore a pink tailored pantsuit.
Of course.
“Hello!” she greeted us with a wide smile. “I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting.” Her gaze drifted down to our still-linked hands, and I noticed she softened a little. “Oh my, what a beautiful couple. What can I help you two with today?”
“Oh.” I blushed, instantly turning to Zander as I began to pull away. But before I could, his grip on my hand tightened, locking me in place.
“Thank you.” A wicked grin spread across his lips as he pulled me closer. I had to hide the sharp inhale as my back collided with his chest and a firm hand snaked around my waist.
What the hell is he doing?
“We’re actually here for two reasons,” he told her. “My brother is getting married in a few weeks. I’m the best man, and my girl here is the maid of honor.”
His girl? The fuck?
“Oh, that’s lovely.” The woman’s eyes were as round as saucers as she gobbled up his bullshit.
“So, the first order of business is picking up the bride’s wedding dress, and then since I got into town late, I need to be fitted for a suit.”
“That’s simple enough,” she said. “My husband usually handles the suit and tuxedo side of things but I’m sure we have everything for the wedding party on file. What else?”
“Well…” His hold around my waist tightened, and my belly started to flutter as he leaned forward. I felt the tip of his nose brush past my ear and down the nape of my neck. He barely touched me, but the act of it felt incredibly intimate and sent shivers down my spine. “We haven’t told anyone because we don’t want to steal my brother’s thunder—hence the lack of a ring—but I just asked this beautiful woman to marry me, and she said yes!”
What?
I faked the biggest smile I could manage while I quietly plotted Zander’s murder.
“Oh, how wonderful!” The woman was so far under his spell that she was nearly jumping up and down in joy in her pretty pink pumps.
“Now, we’re not one for tradition,” he told her, and although I couldn’t see him from this angle, I could just feel the panty-melting smile he must be broadcasting across the room ’cause the poor woman looked like she was about to overheat. “So, we’re not planning on doing a big wedding like my brother.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” she said, making a gesture with her hand like her entire life didn’t depend on people doing that very thing.
“But that doesn’t mean I want to miss the opportunity to see her in a wedding dress, you know?”
“Oh, absolutely!” she agreed, eyeing me from head to toe like I was a giant Barbie doll.
“You think you could help us out with that? I’d love to see her try a few on.”
I looked up at him, intent on glaring, but when I saw the heat in his eyes, all I could do was stare.
“Don’t worry about a thing, honey. I’m sure we can find something perfect!”
I double-blinked, turning back toward her.
So, this was happening then?
“Excellent,” Zander replied.
The woman introduced herself as Gretchen. She was also the owner, and her enthusiasm told me she’d clearly picked the right career path. She ushered us deeper into the lion’s den to begin our search. She was so excited about the dresses that she suggested we do everything else after I played dress-up.
Fan-freakin’-tastic.
I would have felt bad for pulling this woman’s chain, but she looked so damn thrilled about the whole thing that I was pretty sure Zander had actually made her day.
“Do you have anything in mind?” she asked, making me blanch.
We were surrounded by tulle and lace and so much white . I caught Zander absently leafing through dresses like he was flipping pages of a book.
“Didn’t you tell me once you had a specific color you wanted, babe?” he said, squeezing my hand before looking up at me and smirking.
“Color?” Gretchen questioned.
“Um, yes,” I answered in a steady voice. “Black.”
“Black?” Gretchen tried to hide her surprise, and Zander had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face, like I’d just made him the happiest boy in all the land.
“It’s a family thing,” I explained quickly, feeling slightly exposed. “My dad’s family is from Spain.”
My abuela and many generations before her had always been married in black, which symbolized the bride’s commitment.
Till death do us part.
She’d obviously known of my father’s transgression and never treated me differently because of it. When she’d shown me family photos and the many brides dressed in black, I knew it was the one family tradition I’d want to uphold if I ever got married.
Especially when I found out my mother had been the one to break it when she married my dad.
I also happened to look fucking hot in black.
“Is that going to be an issue?” I asked, hoping I’d just found a snag in Zander’s ridiculous game.
“Oh, no,” she assured me with a bright smile. “I actually have a few in stock, and many of the dresses on the floor come in black or ivory. I don’t have many brides requesting that color.” She clapped her hands together. “How exciting!”
Yay me.
Zander followed us around as Gretchen helped me pick out several dresses. He seemed to take a step back, and I wasn’t sure if it was because he felt out of his element or if he just enjoyed watching me squirm.
Either way, once I had a good selection, we headed to a massive dressing room, and Gretchen gave me a robe—pink, of course—to change into and told me she’d be back. I stared at myself in the mirror for a moment while I removed my sandals and shorts, thinking about my conversation with Marin regarding Zander.
I did have a million and one excuses when it came to Zander, but not a single one of them had anything to do with liking him.
In fact, liking him was the sole reason this whole thing was so fucking complicated. If I’d just found him attractive, he’d be easy to pass up. Hendrix was hot as fuck, but I didn’t want to rub myself all over him like a damn cat in heat.
So, did that mean I wanted more? And an even bigger question…did he?
And if so, what did that even mean? A few hookups until the wedding? A long-distance nightmare?
I let out a sigh just as Gretchen called out from the other side of the dressing room door, asking if she could enter.
“Yep,” I answered. “All ready.”
Or at least as ready as I can be for…whatever this is.
I’d obviously never tried on a wedding dress, but I’d been here a few months ago when Marin picked out her first gown—Gretchen must have been out that day—so I knew what to expect.
When it came to putting on a dress of this magnitude, you had to be prepared to leave your modesty at the dressing room door. I took off my robe and proceeded to stand there in my black lace panties and bra while Gretchen helped me step into a mermaid-style gown with a plunging neckline and gorgeous beaded overlay. She had to cinch it slightly at the waist with clips, but when I looked at myself, I nearly gasped.
“Would you like to show him?” she asked, a knowing smile on her face.
I nodded, still staring at my reflection.
She patted me on the shoulder. “It’s okay, honey. Most brides are a little emotional when they see themselves in a wedding gown for the first time.”
Her words shook me out of whatever I was feeling, and I waited for her to grab the train before I opened the door.
“Your bride, sir,” she said as if announcing a queen.
I felt all sorts of ridiculous as she placed me up on a large pedestal like a prized hog.
But then my eyes met his, and suddenly, I didn’t feel quite so ridiculous anymore.
In fact, I watched him stare at me in the reflection of the mirror as he sat, one booted foot over the other, like he’d just been handed the keys to the kingdom.
I felt powerful. Sexy. Special.
His gaze raked over every inch of me, lingering on the curve of my hips and the valley between my breasts as he leaned forward and dragged a single thumb over his bottom lip.
Gretchen finished primping the skirt as he continued to watch. “You could easily add a veil to this or go without.” She stepped back, obviously happy with her work. “It’d go beautifully with a—oh!” She startled as Zander rose from his seat and hopped up on the pedestal behind me.
I caught the sight of her eyes widening just as his arm snaked around my waist.
I didn’t think she was used to men in her domain. And I didn’t think anything could have prepared her for Zander Green.
“You look stunning,” he whispered in my ear, making my knees weak. “I want more.”
Why did I feel like he wasn’t just talking about dresses?
“Thoughts?” Gretchen managed to say. She sounded out of breath as she looked at him.
Join the motherfucking club, Gretch.
“What do you think, babe?” he asked as I looked at us in the mirror.
His tall frame was curled around me like he’d done it a million times. That possessive hand splayed across my stomach made a statement— mine —and my traitorous body liked the sight of that a bit too much.
“I don’t think this is the one,” I said, never taking my eyes off his. “Too formal?”
Not sure what the dress code was for our nonexistent wedding, but I’d had to say something.
“Yeah, I agree. You look like a bride, but not my bride,” he said with a cocky grin.
He placed a soft kiss on the hollow of my neck before returning to his seat. I felt it all the way down to my toes, and I couldn’t tell if he’d done it for the sake of appearances or if he’d just wanted to.
It was all I thought about as Gretchen helped me off the pedestal and back to the room. I replayed it in my mind, like a damn VCR tape, over and over as she helped me out of the dress and into a new one.
When I came back out in a gauzy A-line number and watched him do nearly the same thing, my hopes began to dwindle.
Maybe it was all just a game for him.
As we headed back to the room for the last and final gown, I tried not to think about it and just focused on the dress. I saved the best for last after all. It was black satin and had a slit all the way up the way up my damn thigh. The A-line waist and the corset-style back made my boobs look fucking amazing.
It wasn’t even in the realm of traditional, and I felt like a pure badass in it.
Gretchen gave me a motherly sort of smile and a moment to admire myself before scooping up the back of the skirt and helping me out the door.
I heard Zander before I saw him.
“Fucking hell.”
I looked up to see his eyes drinking in every detail—from the high slit to the tight waist and silky fabric. We got to the pedestal, and just as Gretchen was about to help me up, Zander was there.
“May I?” he asked.
A blush tinted her cheeks, and she nodded.
Somehow, I thought this woman would allow him to get away with just about anything at this point.
He held out his hand and offered me a lopsided grin. Biting my bottom lip in an attempt to keep from laughing, I took it as he helped me up. His hungry gaze lingered on my bare leg as I stepped onto the pedestal.
He took over for Gretchen completely, walking around and adjusting the skirt with precision. He was very dedicated to his task, and I watched as his eyes roamed all over me, making me instantly flush. I felt like I was being prepped for a meal, and God help me, I couldn’t wait to be eaten.
When he got to the front, he even bent down and positioned the fabric at just the right angle. As he rose, his hand slid up my bare thigh, his thumb barely grazing my tattoo.
I was so turned on by the tiniest touch of his hand; it was embarrassing.
“What do you think?” My voice sounded a little breathless.
“I think I want to marry you in this dress,” he said, his eyes unfocusing for a moment, as if he was a little shocked by that statement.
Maybe he just realized we’d have to pay for it…
“But we don’t know when that will be yet,” I said, directing my words toward Gretchen.
“Oh, that’s no problem,” she scoffed. “No problem at all. We can work all those details out later.”
I turned back to Zander, who was still looking at me with that Zander brand of intensity. He hopped off the pedestal and whispered something in Gretchen’s ear. That blush came roaring back to her face, and then she nodded before walking away. Zander proceeded to walk toward me and offer me his hand.
I cocked an eyebrow at him, but he just smirked, so I took it. It was then that I realized he was the one who was escorting me to the dressing room.
Gretchen had walked away.
My heart started to beat wildly in my chest. Was he going in there with me?
I stepped into the lavish space, the other dresses now gone. All that remained were my own clothes that I had neatly folded on a chair in the corner. I looked up at the mirror and watched as he stepped in and closed the door behind him.
Okay, that answered that question.
I started to turn around, but his hand curled around my waist, and I was pinned against his chest.
“What the hell are you up to?” I asked, still entranced by the sight of him. Of us.
His large body made the once-spacious dressing room feel incredibly small.
And hot. So very hot.
“I told Gretchen that I needed to educate myself on the logistics of my bride’s gown.” He grinned.
My mouth dropped open. “And she just agreed?”
“I can be very charming,” he whispered next to my ear. “And she’s a romantic.”
“And what if I’m mad at you?” I asked, eyeing him curiously. “For putting me in this in the first place?”
“I don’t think you are.” His voice was so fucking sexy.
His fingers found the strings that tied the corset, and he slowly began to pull. I let out a gasp.
This was definitely not a game anymore.
The bow came loose, and he tugged the satin laces free. My breath grew ragged as I watched him, his eyes never leaving mine. With his arm locked around my middle, he kept the dress in place as the bodice began to loosen. I could feel his hard body against mine. His need for me.
He spun me around to face him. We were so close; I could feel his heart beating in his chest. He kept one hand firmly around my waist, still keeping the bodice pinned to my body, which surprised me.
I was supposed to be undressing after all.
His other hand drifted back up my leg, thoroughly enjoying all the other benefits of this dress.
“Seems like you are more than capable of untying a few laces,” I quipped.
“Turns out, they aren’t that different from shoelaces.”
“So, what you’re saying is, you really didn’t need to come here at all.”
“Oh, no.” He grinned. His eyes seemed almost brighter under the fluorescent lights. “I definitely did.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I needed to do this.”
His mouth closed over mine, and I let out a gasp. Or maybe it was a groan. All I knew was that my body felt like it was going to combust if I didn’t get more of him.
Nothing should feel this good.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he parted my lips with his tongue. My hands dived into his hair like it was my last dying wish. That hand of his that had been hanging out on my thigh suddenly started climbing, digging into my ass as he hoisted me up. My legs curled around his waist just as the dress shifted, and the thigh slit suddenly took center stage, parting the dress like the Red Sea.
At least my lace panties matched the dress.
He pushed me up against the mirror as his fingers dug into my waist. My thighs tightened, and I could feel him, hard and ready beneath his jeans.
Zander kissed like a fucking pro. Like a man who knew exactly what to do with his mouth. He scattered kisses down my neck, along my collarbone, until we were both nearly breathless.
His forehead rested against mine. “I should have never come in here.”
I stiffened at the sound of his words. What?
He looked up at me and smirked. “I don’t think Gretchen would approve of all the things I want to do to you in that dress.”
My heart stuttered as he slowly pulled back and my feet touched the floor.
“And if I don’t leave, I’m pretty sure she’ll find out.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You think I’d let you fuck me in a dressing room?”
He chuckled, and the sound of it was like a warm caress over my skin. “Ten seconds ago, I’m pretty sure you would have said yes to anything.”
He’s not wrong.
But like hell I was telling him that.
“Are you always this cocky?”
He grinned. “Yes,” he answered. “Especially when there’s something I want.”
“And what do you want?” I asked, my mouth mere inches from his.
“You, Louie,” he breathed out. “I want you.”
And then he stepped out of the dressing room, leaving me with one single question.
But for how long?