He was a magnificent specimen, standing there shirtless, his body tough and rugged. She could well imagine her sisters’ reaction to him. Lili would blush. Natalia wouldn’t. She rarely blushed over anything.
And suddenly Annie was grateful Nat wasn’t here to bat her long lashes, and that she alone could look at this man.
He had a streak of dirt over one rock-hard pec and a bruise forming on his equally rock-hard jaw. She had a terrible urge to touch it.
“Well, I’m not interested, either,” she said to him. A big, fat lie, but she had no qualms about speaking it, not when her own pride was at stake. “I don’t covet other people’s fiances. Not one little bit.”
Confusion flickered over his face. “What?”
Annie had plenty to say on the matter, but she didn’t want to hear what a fool she was, so she whirled on her feet, taking herself and her destroyed bridesmaid’s dress right out of his presence.
And this time, luckily, both nipples stayed where they belonged.
5
THE LAST THING Kyle wanted to do that night was play dress up again, but as the best man, he had little choice.
It was bachelor-party night. A time where grown men made utter fools of themselves, all in the name of wedded bliss.
Only a few more days, he told himself, and then he’d be finished with all wedding duties. Not that he didn’t feel happy for Kevin, but who’d have thought having his brother get married would be so torturous-on
“Uh, Kyle? There’s something you should know about tonight.” Kevin pulled into the restaurant parking lot where the party was to take place, turned off the car and looked at him.
Uh-oh. Kyle leaned his head back against the headrest of Kevin’s car and reminded himself that he loved his brother. “Why does the tone of your voice make me quiver in fear?”
“Hey, after facing Jimmy Tarintino, anything else should be a breeze.”
Kyle studied Kevin’s smile and decided it was a fake one. “What the hell have you done?”
“Oh. Well.” Kevin looked straight ahead and shrugged. “It’s no biggie, really.”
“Then why are you sweating?”
Kevin let out a little laugh. “Have I mentioned I love you, man?”
“Spill it.”
Kevin took a deep breath. “Lissa really wanted to be with me tonight.”
“It’s called a bachelor party, Kev, not date night. No fiancees allowed.”
“Yeah.” Kevin bit his lip. “She didn’t want any strippers.”
“Which is why we didn’t get any.”
“She wanted me to get a good night’s rest before the wedding.”
“Which is why we’re doing the bachelor party tonight, two days before the wedding.”
Kevin closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands. “She really wanted to come.”
“Yeah? So did Mom.”
Kevin was silent.
And Kyle’s stomach sank. Kevin had done something stupid, he could feel it. “Tell me you didn’t invite Mom.”
“Worse.”
“You told Lissa she could come.” When his brother just groaned, Kyle sent his gaze skyward. “Terrific.”
“She invited herself,” Kevin said into his hands. “All the bridesmaids are coming, too. It’s a bachelor- bachelorette party.”
“Funny, Kev. You’re a funny guy.”
“I’m not kidding.”
“Ah, hell.” Kyle closed his eyes and pictured the scene perfectly. Lissa would be there.
Which meant so would Annie.
“Let’s look at the bright side,” Kevin said from behind his hands.
“There is no bright side.”
Kevin dropped his hands and stared at him for a moment, then let his shoulders sag. “You’re right. There is no bright side.”
KYLE ENTERED the restaurant, expertly dodged the crowd that immediately swallowed Kevin, and headed straight to the bar.
The bartender was drying a glass as he eyed Kyle’s maneuver. “You’re good.”
“Yeah. Something stiff. Straight up.”
The bartender’s brows lifted. “Buddy, maybe you’d better rethink this getting married thing if you’re stressing already.”
“I’m not the groom, I just look like him. If I was the groom I’d have hung myself by now.”
The bartender slid him a drink.
Kevin came up and sat next to Kyle. “Hey, Kyle, I thought you stopped drinking after Uncle Joe tossed back one too many and wrapped himself and your beloved Jeep around a tree.”
“I’ve gotten over both losses.” Kyle slid his fingers around the cool glass and thought of the evening ahead.
Lots of required smiles.
Required politeness.
And worse, lots of Annie. He took a long swallow.
Kevin stared longingly. Lissa had asked him not to drink tonight, so they’d have clear memories to last them a life time. Kyle shook his head in disbelief.
Clear memories.
Why anyone would want clear memories of getting locked to another person was beyond Kyle.
Besides, he wanted some help forgetting the events of the day. How he’d nearly bought it. How he’d nearly bought it for an innocent-irritating-woman with the biggest, most expressive gold eyes he’d ever seen.
Kyle went utterly still and ran that last thought again. Yep, he’d just been waxing poetic over a pair of eyes.
He tossed back the rest of the drink and waved for another, which came promptly. He lifted it to his lips but Kevin was just sitting there, looking a little regretful that he’d promised Lissa he wouldn’t quench his thirst.
And with a regretful sigh, he passed the glass to Kevin. “Be quick about it, and don’t tell her I gave it to you.”
His brother put a grateful hand to Kyle’s shoulder and took the drink in one swig. “Oh, yeah.” He put a fist to his chest. “That’s going to do the trick.”
“Doubt it,” Kyle muttered.
“Well, look who’s here.”
Kyle didn’t turn because he knew that slightly nasal, slightly whiny voice. Lissa. The woman his brother had decided to marry. The woman bound and determined to set up Kyle to the same fate.
“Hey, baby,” Kevin said with a smile. “You look real pretty tonight.”
Lissa beamed. “It’s my prewedding glow.”
“No, it’s you,” Kevin said, and slipped his arms around her.
Kyle looked away and tried not to puke.
“Well, well, well,” Lissa said to Kevin. “You’re sitting next to the man who single-handedly destroyed one of my bridesmaid dresses.”
He could feel her dark eyes boring into the back of his head and wished he had his drink back.
She put her face in front of his and he prepared to die.
