I glanced around the bar, seeing we were now the center of attention. “Your parents are staring at us.”
“So?”
“So, take your hand off my ass.”
“No.”
“No?” I said, trying hard not to laugh as the music continued.
“No,” he said, taking a firm hold on my butt with both his hands.
This time, I couldn’t keep myself from laughing. I swatted his shoulder. “Where’s my scared wimp?”
“He grew up. Now, when he wants a woman, he goes after her.” Drew looked down at me with those deep, ocean blue eyes, and I was immediately lost. His lips landed on mine, softly, sweetly. “And I want you.”
Oh, God, a man saying he wants you was second only to a man saying he loves you. But there was a nagging voice in the back of my head wondering how long he wanted me for—the night, the week, the holidays? I didn’t have the greatest track record with men, but I kissed him back just as sweetly as he kissed me, hoping to buy myself some time.
“Want to get out of here?” he asked.
Guess I bought myself all of two seconds. “You just got here,” I said. “You haven’t even talked to your family.”
“That’s the point. I’m trying to avoid them.”
I stepped back, forcing him to release me. Guess he was too good to be true. I wasn’t going to be used. He was clearly trying to escape from something, and I wasn’t going to be his excuse to avoid whatever it was.
“Piper?” he said, reaching out for me.
“I’ll talk to you later.” I turned and walked off the dance floor.
*
DREW
I wanted to kick my own ass. I didn’t know why I’d said that to Piper. I made it seem like I was using her to avoid my problems. Real romantic, idiot. I had to go after her and explain. Glancing through the crowd, I saw she hadn’t left. She was simply sitting at the bar, but her eyes gave everything away. She looked so disappointed, and I couldn’t stand it. I started towards her, but my parents were gawking at me. They quickly tried to busy themselves with the pretzel baskets, but they weren’t exactly subtle. I really wanted to go to Piper, but she’d made it clear she wanted me to talk to my family, so maybe it was better to get that out of the way. I took a seat between my parents, kissing my mom on the cheek.
“Where have you been all day?” my mom asked.
“Last minute Christmas shopping?”
“For anyone in particular?” she asked, smiling like only a doting mom can.
“Piper’s a nice girl,” my dad added.
I looked at Piper on the other side of the bar. She was the last thing I expected to happen on this trip. “She is.”
“Pretty, too,” my mom said.
“Yep, that, too.” I agreed. There was no use denying it. Piper was a total knockout, and I’d just openly groped her, so I didn’t see the point in lying.
“Are you two a thing now?” Dad asked, throwing some pretzels in his mouth.
“From Mom, I expect this, but not you, too, Dad.”
My dad looked at my mom and shrugged. “I tried, Gwennie.”
She laughed and threw her hands up at him. “Like you tried to have ‘the talk’ with him. A football analogy didn’t quite cover all the bases,” she said.
I busted out into a huge laugh, remembering my father trying to explain that sex was like football—telling me that the quarterback is like a penis, and he needs his protective padding. My mom had been so mortified that Dad slept on the sofa for a week. “I need a drink for this conversation,” I said.
“I’ll get it,” Rob said, walking over. “What’re you having?”
Shit! Why did he have to come over here? Why couldn’t I just have some time with our parents without him? I hated him. He had ruined everything. I’d always thought we’d run the bar together, live close, be best friends, but Rob had blown that dream to pieces. “A Lemon Drop,” I said, knowing that was a bitch of a drink to make, if Rob even knew how to make it.
“A little girly, don’t you think?” Rob asked.
“It’s for a girl.”
“Piper likes Blue Moon beer.”
The sound of her name coming out of my brother’s mouth made me see red. I felt my whole body tense. “You don’t need to worry about what Piper likes.”
My mom put her hand on my forearm. “Please don’t do this.”
“It’s not my problem Rob doesn’t know how to make a simple drink. There’s more to tending bar than beer and whiskey.”
“There’s more to life than holding on to something that happened six fucking years ago, too,” Rob barked.
“Can you make the damn drink or not?” I got to my feet and leaned over the bar, getting into Rob’s face.
My dad pushed us apart, his teeth gritted together. “This is not the time or place for this.”
“Stop babying him,” Rob said. “He’s got his own business and a shitload of money. He can live wherever he wants, and I’m. . . .”
Did Rob really expect me to feel sorry for him? He’d be waiting until hell freezes over. “Forget it, Rob. Guess you’re as shitty a bartender as you are a brother.”
Every muscle in Rob’s body tensed. “Handle the bar,” my dad said to Rob, who shook his head and walked around to serve some other patrons.
My mom looked like she could cry, and my dad started talking about the importance of family and forgiveness for the millionth time. It was Christmas Eve, after all. I glanced over at Piper. She was doing her best not to look at me, but there was an electricity shooting between us, tying us together, even if she was trying to fight it. But damn if there weren’t at least a half dozen guys around her. Now I understood why she went to Hank’s. No one bothered her. This place was like a meat market, and Piper seemed to be the main course, but she didn’t appear upset by it. She was laughing and smiling. I wouldn’t say she was exactly flirting, but the attention didn’t look unwelcome.
My mom patted my back as my dad finally ended his speech. “Carl, go change the music, would you?” My dad kissed her cheek, patted my back, and walked towards the office that held the sound system.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. Let’s have a good time,” she said then nodded towards Piper. “You remember those guys, right?” I looked harder, now recognizing them, and nodded. “Their wives are friends with Piper. They’re more like her big brothers.”
I looked down, grinning. My mom was the absolute best mom in the world. She actually scoped girls for me. She nudged my side, and I looked up, seeing a couple women had joined the group. I normally wasn’t a jealous guy, but I’d suddenly become one. I didn’t want anyone else to know about my “bad girl.” Not how she tasted, not how she kissed, or what her skin felt like. It had only been forty-eight hours, but I already considered her mine. Maybe part of me always had.
“That’s Piper’s good friend, Sabrina. They teach together.” I looked over, seeing a stunning young woman sitting alongside Piper with a familiar looking guy standing behind her bar stool.
“Is that Matt?”
“Yep.” My mom smiled. “He was always such a nice boy. Sabrina and Matt have been married a few months now.”
Matt had been one of my closest friends in high school. He’d dated Ellie’s best friend, and the four of us were inseparable. We lost touch in college after he went to play minor league ball, and I divorced McAdenville.
“Now that one,” my mother continued. “I’m not sure what’s going on there.” I looked up, seeing a man had joined them and moved beside Piper. He was currently leaning down whispering something into her ear. He was way too close to her. “Davis Boyd,” my mom said, wrinkling her nose.
I looked again. “Davis Boyd? The running back when Rob played football?” My mom nodded, and I felt my heart rate spike.
“Yes, and he’s running for mayor,” she informed me.
“Is he married?”
“No, baby. Afraid not.”
I could tell from their body language they were close. The way their bodies leaned into each other’s, the way they smiled at each other. I hadn’t asked about other men in her life. That had been naive. “Mom, please tell me they aren’t a thing.”
“I don’t think so, but they spend time together. I know Piper’s been his date to some political functions.”
“Date?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
PIPER
I knew Drew was watching my every move. I could feel the intensity of his stare, but I willed myself not to look over at him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“Seems like we’ve attracted a little audience,” Davis whispered in my ear.
“It’s fine, just ignore him.”
Sabrina looked over at Drew with about as much subtlety as an earthquake. “Damn, girl, you weren’t lying. He’s a total hottie. And from the look on his face, he has a total heart-on for you.”
“Don’t you mean hard-on, sugar?” Matt asked.
“That, too,” Sabrina said. “But he’s got love in his eyes, not just lust.”
“Who we talking about?” Matt asked, looking around the bar.
“Drew Landon,” Davis answered for me.
Matt’s face lit up as he finally spotted Drew across the bar. “Damn, Drew Landon, haven’t seen him in years.” He took Sabrina’s hand. “Come on, sugar. You’ve got to meet Drew. He was my best friend in high school.” They got up and started towards the other side of the bar.
Davis took the seat beside me, placing his hand on top of mine. He really was the picture of a clean-cut politician with his freshly shaven face and perfectly cut black hair, his brown eyes looking so trustworthy. “Is there something going on with you and Drew? You can tell me.”
“I hope so. I don’t know.”
“You’re still my date for New Year’s, right?” Davis asked.
“Of course.”
“Does Drew know that?” Davis glanced at Drew across the bar. “Because it looks like it might be a problem. We can call off our little arrangement anytime, you know. This was never supposed to be serious or keep you from seeing other people.”
“I know that.”
“Does Drew know about our arrangement?” Davis asked, picking at the label of his beer bottle.
“No, of course not.”
“Ok, just give me a heads up if you tell him.”
I nodded that I would. Davis started talking about the New Year’s party, but I couldn’t pay him any mind. All my attention was centered on Drew. As much as I wanted to keep my eyes on anything else, I couldn’t help but look over at him. He was smiling and laughing with Matt. It seemed like they’d fallen right back into their friendship, and God help me, he looked so good, so happy. I could feel his energy fifteen feet away. Sabrina looked my way and gave me a thumbs-up in her not-so-subtle way, which caused Drew to flash me that smile that melted my panties every damn time.
Davis waved his hand in front of my face. “Piper?”
“Sorry,” I said weakly, turning my eyes back to Davis.
Davis cupped my face in his hands. “You all right? Drew’s got some baggage to work through.”
I hadn’t considered that they knew each other. Sometimes I forgot I was living in Small Town, USA. I wasn’t sure if I should ask what Davis knew that I obviously didn’t. After all, if Drew wanted me to know, he’d tell me. But my curiosity got the better of me. “What do you mean?”
Drew slipped his body right between me and Davis. “You ready to get out of here yet?” he asked, his voice a low, hungry growl.
“Drew Landon, I heard you were back in town,” Davis said and patted his back.
Drew took my hand, helping me up before sliding his arm around my waist. “Just visiting for the holidays. And. . . .” He flashed me that sexy little grin of his, and I felt my cheeks flush.
“How long you staying?” Davis asked when it was clear Drew wasn’t going to continue.
“New Year’s Eve, I think.”
I felt my heart sink a little bit. Of course I knew Drew was only visiting for the holidays, but hearing it out loud caused my heart to ache. I was letting myself get carried away with him. He wasn’t staying in McAdenville. In fact, he seemed utterly miserable here. The only place our relationship was going was a one-way trip to a broken heart. “Thanks for the talk, Davis.”
“Anytime, you know that.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. I felt Drew’s hand tighten around my waist. “Just let me know about New Year’s,” he whispered before stepping back. “Nice to have you back in town, Drew.”
“Good to be back. There’s a few things I’ve missed.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
Davis smiled and patted my arm. “Take care of her. She’s special,” he said before he walked off.
“You two seem close,” Drew said, turning me to him.
“We are.”
“How close?” he asked, not trying at all to hide the jealousy in his voice.
“What are you asking me?”
“You know what I’m asking.”
“Davis is a close friend.”
“A friend with benefits?”
I squeezed my hands together, wishing I could hit something. This was ridiculous! Did he really think I’d keep it a secret if I was involved with someone else? “He gets the benefit of my company, isn’t that enough?”
“So, you aren’t screwing him?”
Wow, he had some nerve. I couldn’t believe he’d ask me that. I threw my hands up, and Drew captured them.
“What about New Year’s? You have a date with him?” he prodded.
Damn, I wish he hadn’t heard that. “He asked me to go with him to some party he has to attend on New Year’s Eve. It’s not a date.”
“Sounds like a date.”
“Sounds like you’re jealous,” I said, giving him a little smirk.
He smirked back. “That sounds about right.”
I couldn’t believe he’d just admit he was jealous so easily, or that it didn’t bother me. I liked his little jealous streak, so long as it didn’t turn into a big jealous streak. I reached up and ran my fingers through his brown hair, trying to reassure him. “It’s not a date. I’ve gone with him to these things before. He doesn’t want to go alone, and we’re friends.”
“So you keep saying. Why doesn’t he take a date?”
“He. . . .” I stumbled, looking for an excuse, but Drew’s blue eyes boring into me were distracting. “He doesn’t want romantic hassles.”
“Well, who the hell does?” Drew asked.
“I’m kinda hoping you do.” I bit my lip, knowing that was a risky thing to say.
His arms slid around me, and he pulled me close. “I certainly do.” He kissed me tenderly then lightly nibbled my bottom lip. My whole body started to tighten in need. I almost forgot what we were talking about. “So, he’s not an ex, either?” he asked.
“We’re only friends. I promise.”
“Ok, I believe you. But how many ex-boyfriends will I have to beat off?”
My stomach did a little flip flop. I wasn’t sure why he suddenly had so many questions. “None, slim pickings. This town has a lot going for it, but hot, single men isn’t one of them.”
“No dates in a year?” Drew asked.
“Lots of first dates. But no second dates.”
“My “bad girl” is celibate?” he asked, raising his eyebrow at me.
He said it in a playful way, but I knew he wanted to know. I couldn’t help but laugh, and I had to cover my mouth so I didn’t spit at him. “Dammit, my bad girl reputation is falling apart.”
“I think I like the good girl even more.”
My heart melted a little but then tightened. “But you’re leaving in a few days. I don’t want to get hurt.”
“It’s less than three hours to Raleigh,” Drew said.
I guess he’d given this some thought, too. That was heart-warming but didn’t make me feel completely better.
“Yeah, but if it’s so close, why haven’t you been home in six years?”
“I’m surprised no one in town has told you. Was the biggest town gossip for years.”
“Well, it must be old news now, because no one’s told me.”
“It is.” He cocked a smile then leaned his head down and whispered, “Don’t put the brakes on right when we are just getting started. I really want to see where this goes.”
I wanted him to open up to me, but I knew now wasn’t the time—in a crowded bar. I’m not sure if it was his cute smile, his sweet words, or pure desire, but I wasn’t going to miss this chance. I kissed him softly on the lips. I let my mouth linger close to his, and his lips parted, but he wasn’t saying a word.
Matt slapped his back, forcing us apart. “Let’s get together while you’re in town.”
“Definitely,” Drew said.
“Great, we’ll double date,” Matt said and wrapped his arm around Sabrina’s waist. “Just like old times.”
No one else probably noticed, but I felt Drew tense. “That sounds like fun,” I said, hoping that Drew’s tension wasn’t because of me.
“Maybe New Year’s Eve,” Sabrina said, clapping her hands a little.
Kill me now! Either Sabrina was a piss-poor excuse for a friend or she’d totally forgotten I was going to spend New Year’s Eve with Davis. I knew it was the latter, but that didn’t help the steam I saw coming out of Drew’s ears. He was about to blow a gasket. “Drew will be back in Raleigh by then,” I said, trying not to sound upset.
Drew tilted his head slightly, his blue eyes studying me. “Piper has a thing with Davis that night, anyway.”
This time I wasn’t the only one picking up on the tension or the sarcasm falling off his tongue. He hated the idea of me with Davis. “We should get going,” Matt said, kissing my cheek before shaking Drew’s hand.
Sabrina hugged me tightly and whispered, “Sorry.” Then she hugged Drew, and I heard her whisper to him, “They’re just friends.”
He gave her a slight nod, then they walked out, leaving Drew and I to stare at each other. “They’re great together,” I said, hoping for a nice, safe conversation.
Wrapped in Lace Page 6
