Instead, I take my driver and head to my cart. What I don’t expect is for Stewart to follow and slide into the passenger seat. “You okay, man?” I ask him.
“Perfect.”
I study him for a minute before I release the brake and head toward the tree-lined area where my ball is. He stays in the cart, which is fine with me. I step on a couple of twigs and move the brush away from my ball, so I have a clean shot. However, I take my time. Not because I’m trying to win, it’s because I want to think about Hope and what she’s doing right now. If I remember correctly, Hannah told me the bridal party had appointments at the spa today, which makes me incredibly jealous of whoever is rubbing Hope down. I want to be the one to pour oil on her skin, to knead her flesh with my fingertips.
Wouldn’t you know it, it’s not my club that I have to worry about, but a legit fucking boner while I’m trying to hit the damn ball out onto the fairway. “Mother fucker,” I mutter to myself as I swing. I don’t even check to see where the ball lands, Stewart is anal enough to watch it for me. I go back to the cart and slide my iron back into my bag and get behind the steering wheel. “Where am I?”
He points and tells me one of his co-workers has to hit next. Of all the men, I’m the only childhood friend of Stewart’s. The rest are co-workers, cousins, and family members from Hallie’s side. Their wedding is enormous, ten bridesmaids and groomsmen. I think, if they had their way, Hallie and Stu would’ve had fifteen or twenty standing next to them. Their wedding is going to be one for the record books.
Everyone in the wedding party takes their turn. However, by the fourth hole, some of the guys are drunk, I’m frustrated, and Stewart is upset. I decide to call it a day and do my best man duties and make sure everyone can get to the house safely. I don’t want to remind Stewart that I thought a game of putt-putt would’ve been better for something like this, but the words are sitting on the tip of my tongue. Especially after the jabs he took earlier when I was late.
I end up with four guys in my car, yammering away about some case they have. I’m certain they shouldn’t be talking about their clients, but what do I know. These guys are loud and a bit obnoxious, and it’s evident they need to get out more.
When I pull into the driveway of the Coldwell family home, there is a line of cars. Stewart’s parents have hired a valet for the weekend, which I don’t exactly understand, but whatever they can do to show the guests they have money.
Tweddle Dee, Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest stumble out of my car and head toward the house. Me, I linger because Hope is across the way, dressed in a short, black evening dress, and helping her mother with bags. She slides her long, wavy blonde hair over her shoulder, exposing her bare skin, and all I want to do is kiss every square inch of her. I have every intention of going over there, but I want to watch her first for a minute. Fuck, she’s perfect, and I’m not saying this because we slept together. I’ve thought of her this way since high school, but she’s always been out of my league. Blue and white collars don’t always mesh well.
As I walk toward their car, Hope sees me and smiles. I take this as a good sign. I lean into her, kiss her on the cheek, and then make a big show when I greet her mother. “Mrs. Dunn, there is no way you’re Hope’s mother. You don’t look a day over twenty.”
Mrs. Dunn blushes. “Oh, stop, Kellan.” She hands me a couple of boxes to carry. “How are you?”
“Doing well,” I tell her.
“How’s work?” she asks, without looking at me. Hope and I are, however, gazing at each other. I wink, and she smiles. Color me naïve, but I think there is something between us.
“Work is great. I hope you’re happy with my services.”
Hope looks at me, wide-eyed, and then at her mother. “You use Kellan for investments?”
Her mom smiles. “I had some money to invest, and Kellan works on Wall Street. Win-win.”
“But he does hedge funds,” Hope points out.
“I can handle investments too. Those are actually easier because I don’t have to constantly watch the market.”
“A man of many talents,” Hope says.
Once again, I lean into her. “I’d like to show you a little more,” I whisper. She turns her head slightly into me. I use this to my advantage and press my lips to her skin. I move away quickly when I hear Mrs. Dunn scream, “ouch!”