Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts Read Free Book Online

said, turning back to her martini. She hoped she looked cool and calm in the face of his interest—but she was far from it. At best, she was a hot mess.
    He shrugged. “You know, I thought about leaving you alone tonight. Not flirting with you for the rest of the week, even, after I got that text.”
    “But you didn’t.”
    “Right. I came in and saw you sitting over here, looking drop-dead fucking gorgeous, and I realized something.” He reached out and tugged on a curl, sending tingles across her scalp and desire coursing through her blood. “It would be pointless to even try to avoid you. In the end, we won’t be able to stay away from each other. Last night proved that.”
    Her jaw dropped and she yanked her hair free. A mixture of rage and desire warred within her, making for a deadly cocktail. “It’s been eight years since we last talked, if you ignore the awkward ‘hi’ we shared at graduation. I’d say we’re pretty freaking good at staying away from each other.”
    “That was only because we weren’t in the same zip code all that time.” He pressed his fingers against his mouth and inhaled deeply. Why did something so simple turn her on and make her palms get all sweaty? Why did she want to rip his fingers away and kiss him properly? Damn him. “But when we get too close…sparks fly. Inevitably, you end up pressed against a wall with me in between your legs. Mexico. Last night. Tonight…”
    God, he was so freaking cocky. Of course, he totally pulled off the sexy confidence that seemed to come so easy to him, but she wasn’t about to admit it. It would only go to his head. “You sound like a Taylor Swift song,” she said, laughing uneasily. “‘Sparks fly?’ Really?”
    “What can I say? You make me poetic.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Sure I do.”
    “Want proof?”
    “You gonna write me a poem now?”
    “Nope. I’m going to sing you a song.”
    Her eyes widened. “No, you’re not.” When he opened his mouth, she covered it again. “Don’t you dare .”
    He pulled free and belted out a few lines of the Taylor Swift song. She punched his arm and looked over her shoulder, making sure no one noticed. Everyone nearby looked over, in various shades of interest, trying to figure out who was singing Taylor Swift.
    “Stop it,” she whispered.
    He ignored her, and she buried her face in her hands. But when he held a note so long that even the bartender stared…she couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter and waved her hand frantically. “Oh my God, you win. Please. Stop singing to me.”
    He cut off instantly. “Are you sure? I could keep going. I know the whole album by heart thanks to a teen I once took care of in Europe.”
    She dropped her forehead into her palm. “Please no.”
    “Fine. Want me to stop?” He shifted his weight and leaned on his knee. “Tell me about your list.”
    He was awfully interested in her little sex list. She grinned and shook her head. “Nope. Not happening.”
    “Fine…for now.” His lips twitched and he tugged on her hair again. “I heard a rumor you girls all picked groomsmen to seduce.”
    She studied her drink, not sure where he was going with this line of questioning. “Who told you that?”
    “Kady, of course.”
    “She never could keep a secret,” Christine muttered.
    He pressed a hand against her lower back and moved closer. Her stomach tightened at the innocent touch. Tiny little electrical sparks seemed to shoot from her scalp straight down to her belly, setting her on fire. Damn Taylor Swift and her songs. “Did you pick one?”
    She didn’t even attempt to pretend not to understand his question. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
    His gaze darkened. “Did you? Tell me, or I’ll force it out of you with another kiss, or even worse? A song.”
    God, yes. She’d love another kiss. Wait. No, she wouldn’t. He was garbling all her thoughts with those eyes of his, and those soft touches he kept torturing her with.