Her cheeks turn as red as my lipstick, but she takes the opportunity that’s been given to her in grand fashion. She leans down to his hand, purses her lips, and blows… never once breaking eye contact.
“You didn’t want to blow the best man?” a low, husky, all too familiar voice sounds from behind me, and goose bumps flash over every inch of my bare skin.
“Nah, he’s not really my type,” I say, turning to face none other than Dean Langston.
The corner of his mouth hitches up into a crooked grin. It’s full of the same mix of mischief and quiet confidence I liked so much the first time we met. His perpetual five o’clock shadow is the right amount of rugged and delicious, which pairs well with his dark-washed Wranglers and the snug white T-shirt molded perfectly to his wide shoulders and work-honed biceps.
Now, him? He’s exactly my type. The kind of guy I swore I’d never want, because he’s so much like my brothers. Yet with one look, I was in lust.
“You done gawking, sweetness?” He cocks an eyebrow when my gaze returns to his after my open perusal.
I twist my lips into a wry smile. I’m not much for nicknames, but for him, I’d make an exception. “For now.”
He chuckles, tucks his hands into his pockets, and rocks back on the heels of his well-worn boots. “What are you doing in Vegas?”
I gesture to Bella and T.J. “My friends are getting married tomorrow.”
“No shit. T.J.’s my cousin.”
Well, imagine that. “Are you a groomsman?”
“Nah. Just here as family, seeing as T.J. doesn’t have a lot of us.”
Hot and sweet? Dang.
“How about you?”He dips his chin in my direction, both hands still stuck in the pockets of those Wranglers.
“I’ll be wearing pink, carrying flowers, and getting very drunk tomorrow.”
He huffs a laugh. “Does Holden know you’re in town?”
“Yep. I probably won’t make it to either of his events, but we have plans to meet up on Sunday before I head back to Colorado.”
“Nice. Alana came, too. She’s with him now, I think.”
A slow blush heats my cheeks. “I might’ve seen you two at the airport earlier.”
“Yeah? I thought I felt someone staring daggers into the back of my head.”
“Now, why would I do that?” I mean, I did stare, but I was obsessing over the coincidence. I wasn’t practicing mental voodoo.
“I dunno. Because you didn’t like me very much the last time we saw each other?”
“Oh, please.” I roll my eyes. He’s playing with me, and we both know it. I couldn’t have made my interest in him any clearer, but he had to be all righteous and act like he was too old for me. Probably because my brothers got to him before I could.
That lopsided smile kicks up again, and his hazel eyes sparkle with amusement. “Maybe I should call youtrouble.”
“Maybe you should.” Because I’m nothing if not determined, and I am very determined to at least get a kiss out of this man.
“Tessa, who’s your friend?” Bella calls.
Dean and I share a private smile before I turn back to the group.
“That’s my cousin Dean,” T.J. interjects, then to me asks, “You two know each other?”
I explain that Dean works for my brothers in Montana, and everyone comments about what a small world it is.
I don’t disagree, but I can’t help but think, once again, that running into him here like this is more than a coincidence. It’s probably wishful thinking, but I’ve never been one to sit back and let an opportunity slip by.
