“Scandalous?” He ran a hand through his hair and then laughed again, shaking his head before glancing at me. “If you think that’s scandalous, you really don’t want to hear some of the other suggestions I’ve got. For interest’s sake, when you say a while, you don’t happen to mean since high school, right? Other men have made scandalous suggestions to you?”
I stared up at him, feeling my cheeks heat for a whole different reason this time. “Of course, they have. Just none quite as scandalous as you. That’s just the thing, though, isn’t it? You’re different than all the other guys in this town.”
A slight furrow appeared between his brows as he stared back at me. Then he suddenly held out his hand toward me again. “Dance with me.”
“That didn’t sound like a question.”
“It wasn’t.” He shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with two people who are part of the wedding party dancing together, right? That wouldn’t be scandalous. For the record, I don’t really think watching a game together in our underwear would be that scandalous either, but what do I know?”
A lot.“Nah, you’re probably right. On all counts, so let’s dance, then.”
Without waiting to lead me onto the dance floor, he took my hand right then and there and pulled me into him. Eventually, we made our way into the crowd, but I hardly even noticed there was anyone else in the room with us.
Colt was looking deeply into my eyes, his body melded to mine, and his big warm hand held on to me like I meant something to him. My entire world narrowed, and as my silly hormones flooded through me again, making me want him more than I ever had anyone else, I felt that he was just as into it as I was.
Before I could ask him if I was right or if it was a purely physiological reaction caused by the way our hips were moving together, everything went sideways. Reece appeared, already falling-around drunk. He crashed into a group of people near the door, and Colt let go of me immediately, his gaze darkening as his focus shifted to his friend.
“I fucking warned him about his drinking after he and Caitlin had that fight,” he grumbled in a low, dangerous voice. “Give me a minute.”
Scott and some of the others were closer and reached him first, helping him to a booth while Colt raced toward the bar. He came away with a glass of water and I focused on damage control, encouraging people to ignore him and keep dancing.
By the time I finally made it to them, Reece was refusing to leave—even to get some fresh air—and Scott stared at him helplessly when he pulled out his phone and started yelling into it. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it was Caitlin on the other end, and their argument quickly picked up momentum.
When I heard her shouting even above the music, I decided that enough was enough. I yanked the phone out of his hand and tossed it to Colt without warning. He saw it coming, though, catching it in mid-air like he’d been waiting for it and sliding it into his pocket.
On account of all the yelling, we’d drawn people’s attention again and I looked around, realizing that I needed to break the ice. Again.
“Tonight is a no-drama party,” I announced at the top of my lungs, and a loud cheer went up. Someone cranked the music and the party carried on.
As soon as everyone started dancing and having a good time again, though, the main door into the bar opened and Caitlin walked in. My stomach and my heart sank to my shoes. I was fresh out of ideas and patience, and when I glanced at Colt and saw him notice her too, it became crystal clear to me that he felt the same way.
17
COLT
Just my fucking luck.As soon as I’d finally found a way to get Emma in my arms, Reece had come in and snatched the opportunity away from me, and when I’d thought we might get back to it, lo and behold, Caitlin made a fucking appearance.I just can’t seem to catch a goddamn break.
Caitlin was obviously completely oblivious to the fresh hell she was putting me through by making it impossible for me to finish what I’d started with Emma on the dance floor. She stormed in and planted her hands on her hips when she reached the booth we’d put Reece in.
“I won’t let you blame me for all of this, you asshole,” she fumed, loudly unfortunately. “It’s not my fault, Reece. It’s on you. All of it.”
“On me?” He scoffed as he stumbled to his feet, his eyes hazy but his voice clear. “How is it my fault when you’ve been cheating on me for months?”
A collective gasp was sucked in when everyone who’d been around the last few days finally realized what it had all been about. Myself included.Jesus. It’s no wonder he’s been such a prick recently.
He looked around, as if the sound of the gasp had made him realize that they weren’t alone. Incredulous, humorless laughter tore out of him as he made eye contact with his audience and nodded. “That’s right, folks. My lovely fiancée here has been fucking another guy, and not just once. Apparently, he loves her. He wants her to be with him instead, and you know what?”
On the last word, he spun back to her and shot her a condescending glare as he pointed at the door. “He can have you. Go to him, whore. Let him take your lying ass off my hands. The wedding’s off.”
Caitlin responded by having a fit, her eyes bulging as she screamed at him until she was red in the face. “Fuck you, you asshole. You’re not calling the wedding off, I am. This is bullshit. Bullshit, you hear me?”
Emma moved in beside her, linking her arm through the other woman’s and trying to escort her out. Caitlin wasn’t having it, though. She yanked her arm from Emma’s with wild eyes, pulling her hand back to take a swing at her.
Immediately lunging forward, I put myself between them and caught her tiny wrist, using it as leverage to swing her gently over my shoulder. She pounded at my back, still screaming as I carried her out of the bar.
“Let me go, Colt. I swear to God I’ll charge you with assault if you don’t put me down right this second. What the fuck do you think you’re doing, laying your hands on me?”
I let her bang her little fists as hard as she wanted, even making sure that the door didn’t bump her on the head on our way out. “Charge me with whatever you want. You’re making a fool of yourself and of Reece. I would chuck him out instead, but you’re lighter. Plus, it’s his brother’s bachelor party and it’d be inappropriate if you stayed instead of him.”