But, any idiot could see the hurt underneath the mask of determination. Then again, Drew saw a lot when it came to Abby. Or, he was delusional. That option was always on the table, especially when it came to her.
When his cousin Greg had popped the question, so long ago, it seemed Drew was the only one to catch on to the stark raving fear in her eyes, not tears, like a normal reaction.
And therein lay the problem.
He could always see past the hard-edged veneer. He wished he didn’t. Like every one else, when Drew looked at Abigail he wanted to see the militant-straight ebony strands, the sharp cheek bones and chocolate-brown eyes, all telegraphing back the hell off. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
He stared at her for another second, hoping his reaction would ease, but his heart refused to slow. Drew had prepared himself to see her. Not today, but soon. He’d wanted to take one look at her and feel nothing but disgust and loathing. That would be easier. He sighed.
No loathing or disgust, so Drew smiled and ran a hand down the starched-white shirt. The duck tails of the jacket bounced against his legs as he continued down the hallway. It took huge balls to face Greg’s mother and not bail. But the stubborn chin was up, delicate shoulders back and, from the glint in her brown eyes, Abby wouldn’t back down now either. She would see this wedding to the end.
“Abby!” He widened his arms. “You came.”
He vaguely remembered the two knockouts standing on both sides of her. They donned all black. He’d bet money it wasn’t to make sure they didn’t out-show the bride.
“And you brought friends.” Drew wagged his brows as he came to a stop in front of the guards.
Nadine stood at the church’s inner doors, arms crossed. The burnt orange dress suit creased from the stance. “You invited her? I should have known.”
The disgust he should have felt marred his aunt’s beautiful face. For a woman closer to sixty than fifty there were only a smattering of wrinkles around her mouth and eyes. At the moment, those wrinkles deepened with anger. “For the life of me I don’t know why my Greg wanted you as best man.”
Drew shrugged but smiled at Abby. The fire behind her gaze aimed at Nadine turned in his direction. The burn of the glare made his smile widen into a grin. “He was thinking of his bachelor’s party.”
“You would have strippers on speed dial,” Abigail muttered.
He held back the laugh. “And yet I chose you and your two beautiful friends as my date, Abby.” The smile held at her flinch, but she got the not so subtle cue: shut up and go with it.
Nadine’s head looked as if it was about to explode. She sputtered, “Is he the reason?”
“No.” Abigail shook her head. Her friends drew closer when her voice wobbled with unspent tears. “No.”
Nadine’s anger deflated. “If you so much as cough during the service…” Maybe only a little deflated.
“Yes, ma’am,” Abigail answered.
“Fine.” Nadine transferred the anger from Abigail to him. “Don’t think I’m not talking to your father, nephew.” The last word could have been exchanged with a choice curse word. She waved a hand at the security guards and they left. “Back row,” she said to Abigail.
Greg’s mother stepped aside to allow them in. Seeing a chance to annoy Abigail, he slipped between the friends and encircled her waist with one arm. One curvy hip pressed against his leg and the other filled his hand. He had to curtail the urge to tighten his grip because good God she was soft.
“Let me show you the way.” His voice could have been made of silk from the slickness of the tone.
Surprise took hold when she placed a hand on his chest, plastering all that softness against him. Drew’s brain misfired and snagged on a hope he’d buried deep. How many times had he imagined this reaction? Up until now it would have been wrong. It would have been a million other things, but her against him now felt right. She stood on her tip toes, brushed her mouth against his earlobe. A groan escaped from his lips. His fingers twitched, wanting to cup her ass and palm the rounded flesh to hold her closer.
She whispered in his ear, “I’m going to break your arm off and beat you with it, later, for touching me.”
The threat dragged him back to reality. The words still filled him with warmth and made his cock thicken. How sick was he? Very. Yet, a keen sense, honed over years of portraying the man a woman didn’t even tell her friends about, allowed him to hear the challenge underneath.
Or, maybe there was simply something wrong with him, because that was always an option. Pants still a bit snug from the sensation of her lips on his earlobe, Drew said with sincerity, “Looking forward to it, Abby.”
Coming Soon
Table of Contents
Double Dare, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 1
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Acknowledgments
Bio
Other Titles by Melissa Blue
Twice Smitten, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 2
Table of Contents
Double Dare, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 1
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Acknowledgments
Bio
Other Titles by Melissa Blue
Twice Smitten, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 2
Double Dare Page 22
