“Fuck, baby,” he growled. “Those shoes and that dress—you look amazing,” he drawled. He walked toward the door where she stood, soaking up his praise. As soon as he got his hands on her, she leaned into him. “Wear those shoes tonight, baby, after we get back here. In fact, wear those shoes and nothing else.” He nibbled her exposed neck and loved the way her skin turned pink. He loved her blush—found it sexy as hell.
Drew cupped her ass in his big hands. “Baby, your ass looks amazing in this dress.” She sighed and wiggled her butt in his hands, causing him to chuckle. Drew nibbled back up her neck and saw that she was only wearing light gloss on her lips. He wanted to lick the gloss off those lips. He kissed her, soft nibbles at first, and when she cuddled into him tighter, he couldn’t hold back. He devoured her lips, licking into her mouth. He left her lips swollen and sexy from his kiss, making him want more.
“We are already so late,” she whispered. “We need to get you to the rehearsal dinner. I don’t want anyone to think that I was the one keeping you from your best man duties.” Karlie looked so unsure. Drew worried that she was getting herself intosomething she wasn’t ready for.
“Are you sure that you want to do this? No one would blame you for missing this whole wedding, baby. No one would think less of you,” he promised, rubbing his knuckles down her soft cheek.
Karlie huffed out her breath as if she didn’t believe him. “They already talk about me. From what I hear, I’m the gossip of the town. I don’t care what they say or think about me. When this is over, I’ll go back to Atlanta, and the gossip won’t be able to touch me again.” His heart sank at the mention of Karlie going back to her life in Georgia. He’d have to work hard to convince her to stay with him. He was hoping he’d be able to tie her to him somehow, show her that they fit, and Drew was starting to see that he was going to have his work cut out for him.
∞
When they got to the restaurant, Karlie started to rethink her whole stupid fucking plan. She didn’t even want to get out of Drew’s truck. Her dad had texted her again and told her to just meet them at the restaurant. Her father didn’t seem too pleased that they had missed the actual rehearsal, as if it were her fault that she got a flat tire. If she had her way, she and Drew would be back at his house, preferably naked and in his bed. Sex with Drew would be mind-blowingly amazing, and Karlie needed something like that. She needed something to take her mind off the evening she was about to face.
Drew grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together, and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb, instantly calming her. She hadn’t realized that her heart was racing until that moment. Karlie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on just getting her heartbeat and breathing under control. When sheopened her eyes, Drew’s face was right in front of hers, his hands caressing her cheeks—so sweet, so comforting. How could she feel so safe and comforted by him after only a few hours together? Technically, she had known him since high school, but she never really talked to him until today. Now, she couldn’t imagine him not talking to her or touching her, and especially not kissing her. They hadn’t even had sex yet, and still, she felt so connected to him.
“You ready for this? Just say the word and we’ll go home,” Drew offered. She knew he was referring to his home because her home was in Atlanta now, but that still sounded better than walking into the shitstorm that surely waited for them in the restaurant.
“No, I’ve got this.” She thought she sounded convincing—not too shaky. But judging by the knowing smirk on his handsome face, Drew didn’t believe a word she was saying.
“Let’s do this, then. Just stick to me and I’ll get you through,” he promised and followed it up with a short kiss. Karlie smiled, trying to silently thank him for everything, but not having the words at that moment.
She checked her makeup and spiky hair in the rearview. “As good as it gets,” she whispered to herself as Drew rounded his pick-up to help her out of his truck. Drew was at her door, and just behind him, on the curb, stood Jake. Judging by the angry look on his face, Drew wasn’t too happy to see her ex. Jake, the sleazebag, was just staring at her with a nasty sneer on his smug face. Karlie fought the anger roiling in her gut. It took everything in her not to walk right up to Jake and punch the smug look right off his face. Drew opened Karlie’s door and reached a hand in for her. The sooner they got into the restaurant and made their rounds, the sooner they could leave. She knew that Drew couldmake her forget all about the asshole staring at her right now.
“You okay, baby? You with me?” he asked. Her gaze flew to his face, and instantly, she felt better. “Don’t even look at him,” Drew said. “Hell don’t even talk to him. I’ll take care of Jake. Just be here for your family and sister this weekend.” He seemed so protective, but she wanted to protest and tell him that she could handle herself. Karlie knew Drew was capable of annihilating anyone who tried to even come near her, but that wouldn’t help her situation. He helped her out of his truck and pulled her to his side.
“Well, well, it’s about time you showed up,” Jake said. “This one keeping you too busy to fulfill your obligations, Drew?” He eyed Karlie like a panther surveying its prey. His ugly sneer was plastered back on his face. “You look nice, sweetheart,” Jake said and bent toward Karlie for a kiss. Drew blocked Jake’s access to Karlie with his body, shoving her behind him.
“She’s not your sweetheart anymore. That’s something you’d do well to remember if you’d like to keep that face all pretty for your wedding to Karlie’s sister tomorrow,” Drew growled, keeping his smile mean. “Karlie is here to support her sister and her parents this weekend. You don’t get to talk to her, touch her, or look at her. If you ever try to kiss her again, I’ll make sure your lips don’t work for your honeymoon. We clear, chief?” Drew asked.
Jake just laughed and shook his head. “Well, isn’t this cozy. You’ve been back in town for a total of ten minutes, and here you are all snuggled up to Drew. You knew he had a thing for you, and you just decided to use that to your advantage, huh? I always knew you had it in you to be a slut, just like your little sis—” Jake didn’t get the chance to finish his ugly sentence since Drew had him flying backward, hitting the brick wall to the restaurant.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear, you son of a bitch. You don’t talk to her—ever.” Drew wrapped his hands around the collar of Jake’s nicely pressed dress shirt, and Jake chuckled like he didn’t give a shit.
“Yeah, man, I get you. You’re her knight in shining armor now. Fucking let go of me or we will be doing more than talking.” Jake tried to pull off nonchalant, but Karlie could see the fear in his eyes.
“Drew, everyone is watching us,” Karlie whispered. “My dad doesn’t look very happy either. We should just go inside.”
“Yeah, Drew, you should just go inside. You don’t want to mess up Bob’s new son-in-law and the father of his grandchild. He might not take too kindly to that.” It made Karlie sick to hear Jake refer to her father by his first name. He never had respect for any other human being besides himself. Drew slowly released the asshole and took Karlie’s hand into his own. They just needed to get this over with and finish what she foolishly started. If not, her entire trip home would have been for nothing, and Karlie wouldn’t let that happen.
Chapter Three
Karlie wasn’t sure how it was possible to feel so out of place at her own sister’s rehearsal dinner—but she did. These people were her family and friends, she had known her whole life, yet she felt like a complete outcast. After they’d gone into the restaurant, everyone had acted as if the horrific scene out in the parking lot hadn’t happened. Her mom and dad kissed her cheek, and her dad firmly shook Drew’s hand. Everyone gave her a warm welcome—everyone except Jenna. She ran past Karlie and Drew to Jake, who entered just behind them, and put on a big, loud show about Drew being a bully and Jake being the sweetest fiancé on the entire planet. She whined on, questioning how anyone could be such an animal at another man’s rehearsal dinner until Karlie’s mom stepped in, soothing Jenna with terms of endearment that made Karlie’s stomach bile rise.
“Really, Mother, I am just so furious that Karlie came here to ruin my day. I thought you said that she would act like a grown-up. How could she do that? She made a scene and destroyed my special dinner.”
“Jenna,” Karlie said, feeling that she had to at least try with her sister. “I’m sorry that you had to witness all of that in the parking lot, but I didn’t do anything to provoke the fight.” They had been so close before that fateful night, best friends even. Karlie was ready to try with Jenna; she just needed her to meet her halfway.
“Then why were two men fighting over you in front of the restaurant?” Jenna questioned.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now, it’s over. And they weren’t fighting over me.” A little lie to save her sister’s feelings might be in order. “They were just having a disagreement.” Yeah—that was lie number two.
Jenna turned to Jake, “Then what were you fighting about? Why did Drew attack you? He’s supposed to be your best man.” Karlie wished Jenna could just let it go, and they’d be able to move on, but that wasn’t her sister’s strong suit.
Jake started to speak, but Drew put a hand on his shoulder, effectively stopping him. “Jake and I are good now, Jenna. I apologize for ruining your night, but Karlie had nothing to do with it.” Both Karlie and Jake looked at Drew. Karlie couldn’t believe what Drew was doing, lying for her to spare Jenna from her soon-to-be husband’s stupidity. Grateful to Drew, Karlie slid closer and into his arms.
“Thank you,” she whispered for only him to hear. “I owe you.” She smiled up at him and found herself rewarded with one of his sexy smiles.
“It’s okay, baby,” Drew whispered in her ear. “I’ll collect later.” The light kisses he placed on her neck gave her shivers down to her toes. He laughed, drawing attention back to them, but she didn’t care about the disgruntled onlookers or what they thoughtof the two of them together—she deserved some happiness.
