“Excuse me, can I buy you a drink?”
While we’d been talking, Eden had slunk up behind Booker to purr in his ear. All five of us goggled up at her, a blonde angel gracing our table.
“Honey, you can do anything you want.” Booker sprang up to wrap her in his arms. He gave her an enthusiastic kiss that dragged on and on.
He didn’t need to go and show off like that. Everyone knew they were getting married.
My gaze drifted from the PDA over to the women clustered behind Booker and Eden until I found June. A slight smile touched her mouth as her eyes met mine, and my fool heart kicked to life like it’d just been waiting around for her to show up. The guys found extra chairs for the women, and before I knew it, she had scooted up right next to me. The smell of flowers filled the air every time she moved. Roses, maybe. Something soft and feminine, just like her.
I should have left this party when I’d had the chance.
Chloe bought another pitcher of beer while Eliza refilled the guys’ glasses with the last of the one on the table. Conversations buzzed around as new acquaintances were introduced and old friends reconnected. In a town this small, everybody knew pretty much everybody else one way or another.
My attention got stuck in sideways glances at June. Her hair had been a little tousled, her smile relaxed, her eyelids just softly drooping. She looked ready for bed, or like she’d just rolled out of it, I wasn’t sure which. The whole effect made her absolutely delectable. My heart ached against my ribcage, urging me to scoot my chair even closer.
“Hi.” She blurred the single word into multiple syllables.
Well, damn. She was a little tipsy. Maybe more than a little.
“Hello.” On the other hand, I sounded like an uptight idiot.
She leaned as close to me as she could without actually touching my arm, and I had the feeling she was about to say something wicked.
“Do you want to know a secret?”
Did I ever.
“What’s that?” I wished she would let her fall of dark hair play over my arm. It would have killed me, but I would have thanked her with my dying breath.
“Bachelor parties are supposed to be fun.” Her mouth quirked at her little jab.
I decided to play it innocent. “You’re not having fun?”
“You’renot having fun.” Thankfully, her voice came out too low for Booker to hear. Then again, with Eden planted firmly in his lap, he wasn’t likely to be listening in on what June had to say anytime soon.
“I’d guess you ladies have been having enough fun for all of us. What was your first stop?”
“Driftwood Day Spa.”
“I’ve never been to that bar.”
Her breath hitched in her throat, sending all sorts of delicious thoughts through my mind.
“That was a joke,” she said, sounding genuinely impressed. “Maybe you’re having a little fun, after all.”
“Maybe a little.” The night had picked up, that was for sure. Getting caught up in June’s smiles and hushed conversation was dangerous territory, but like she said, the night was meant to be fun. So I would have fun.
Within reason.
“We had foot soaks, and leg and scalp massages until we were all blissed out,” she went on.
Imagining June blissed out wasn’t helping me keep to mywithin reasonparameters.
“We had paraffin dips, and my hands are so smooth. Feel.” She held one hand out for me to inspect.
I didn’t know what a paraffin dip was, but I knew how to follow instructions. I ran my fingers over the back of her hand. Touching her velvety skin only kindled a desire to feel more of it. All of it.
Lord, I couldn’t keep my head on straight around her.
