by Yvette Hines
Bedding the Best Man
(Stir Sticks & Stilettos)
Yvette Hines
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission by the author.
Bedding the Best Man
Copyright © 2013 Yvette Hines
Proof Editing: Bernadette Schane
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to eStore and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Series Note:
I hope you enjoy another short story edition of the “Stir Sticks & Stilettos” series. These little nuggets of erotic shorts are meant to excite you, at the same time, give you a little happiness at the end. Stay tuned for the next stories to follow.
All’s fair in love and war…
“Kamari, how handsome is Travis in that tux?”
“I don’t know, Aunt Renee, how handsome is he?” I didn’t even look in the direction my aunt indicated. Travis Huffman, my older brother’s best man, a.k.a his best friend, had been a thorn in my side since middle school. I had my eyes set on Patrick Rockell. A sexy doctor and groomsman number three.
I had begged my new sister in-law, Faith, to pair Patrick and I together down the aisle. I was all about the man getting a reality check of how good we would look going down the aisle side by side—as man and wife.
Since Ronnie and Faith were now married, I was the last one in my family unmarried—single. At twenty-seven, I was already hearing comments at every family get together about my status. Being the youngest of six had its perks, but it also had drawbacks. I was considered the spoiled one of my family, the wild child without direction, and rightfully so. I knew I’d earned my titles through high school and my first couple years of college. However, an arrest for playing a silly prank when I was twenty was a wake-up call. Especially when my father refused to bail me out until morning. Even after the cops told the parents none of the students would be charged for the streaking as long as our parents picked us up.
So, I learned to straighten myself ass out. Seeing the disappointed look in my father’s eye wasn’t worth it. My career as a product analyst was on track and I just needed the last piece, a family. Patrick was the start.
Even now, he was standing across the room talking with a group of fraternity brothers and giving me the eye. I knew he was talking about me because I occasionally noticed a few of the other men glancing in my direction—trying not to be obvious.
Oh, I could have this in the bag tonight.
Smiling to myself, I knew there was one last trick up my sleeve to secure this catch.
“Ow.” I turned to my aunt, who had just given me a pop on the arm like I was a child instead of a grown woman. “What was that for?”
“Kamari Jenson. You’re not listening to a word I’m saying.” Placing her hand on her hip, she gave me an evil eye like only older women in a family can effectively pull off.
Gritting my teeth, I swallowed down the retort I wanted to give her. Aunt Renee was my mother’s older sister. She was bossy, nosey and always had to get her way.
“Now that you’ve bruised me, you have my full attention.” I rubbed my arm, still stinging. Curse Faith for going for the sleeveless gowns. I couldn’t stay angry for long with my brother’s new wife because I did look good.
“Could you just look at Travis, please. And stop ogling Mr. Nothing.”
“He’s eyeing me, too. Besides he’s a doctor.” I reminded her. Hell, what woman didn’t want to land a doctor.
“Ha!” Aunt Renee cackled. “He’s an eye doctor. That’s why he’s staring.” She laughed harder.
I shook my head and allowed myself the pleasure of an eye roll.
“Now, Travis. He owns his own company.”
“Yeah, some kind of programming or software business. I don’t know…that just screams geek.” Travis was smart, very smart. I really didn’t hold that against him much. He’d helped me not only pass calculus in high school, but when I was struggling in college, at the risk of my GPA dropping, my brother had orchestrated Travis’ help. Travis had showed up and spent spring break of his senior year tutoring me, again.
“But still a man running things.” My aunt surmised.
Huffman Cloud Programming was the name of his company. I knew he was one of the early developers of cloud systems. I was familiar with the fact that his company ran clouds in multiple tenant environments, even managed the one my employers used. However, I kept what I knew about Travis to myself. Ronnie went on frequently about his best friend’s successful business, so much that at times I wanted to scream.
Knowing my aunt would not let it go if I didn’t give Travis a moment of my time, I turned and said, “Okay, Auntie, where is he?”
Smiling, she pointed across the room. “Over by the punch bowl talking to Howard.”
Of course, Travis wouldn’t be hanging out with the frat men, because unlike Ronnie and Patrick, Travis hadn’t pledged. “Figures, he’s talking to dad. Bet they’re going on and on about business and network systems. Notice, no one else is around them. He’s boring, Aunt Renee. Is that what you want for me?”
Looking up at me, from her five-four stature, my aunt gave me a small smile. “No, sweetheart, I just want you to be happy. A man who is grinning in the face of every woman at the wedding reception is going to be nothing but your heartbreak.”
Not if I keep him satisfied. “Not with the right woman. Which I am.”
“Yes, you are. However, he is not the right man for you. Let Serita have him.”
“Serita?” She was my first cousin; my mother’s brother’s daughter. We had gone to college together and had been fighting over men since Ken Barbie. The salon owner had already been married once and divorced two years later. She had her chance. “Why aren’t you talking to her about Travis?”
“They wouldn’t fit. We all know Serita isn’t ready to settle down, again. She likes keeping a string of men. Patrick and she would do well, if they haven’t already done it.”
I covered my laugh with my hand, trying not to draw attention to my loose-tongued aunt. “Oh, Auntie. The things you say.”
Holding my stomach, I took a few breaths to calm myself and glanced back at Travis. I had to admit that Travis had changed since college. His physique was noteworthy in the tuxedo. He had always been tall, but the skinny boy with shoulders that looked like a coat hanger beneath his shirts now was broad shouldered and filling out the suit nicely. He’d had a head full of unruly curls even in college, but his coal black hair was now shorter and tapered.
My father must have said something humorous because Travis tossed his head back and laughed. The smile showed off perfect white teeth. I remembered he was still sporting braces during that spring break, which he hadn’t even gotten until college sometime.
As if feeling someone staring at him, Travis turned his head and looked directly at me as he listened to my father. My heart leaped.
What the hell was that?
Even from the other side of the room I could feel the intensity coming from his eyes as he looked at me.
<
br /> Feeling flustered I looked away. I didn’t want him to think I was checking him out, even though I was. Only because your aunt demanded you do it, Kamari.
“Okay, I looked. Done. He’s passable,” I mumbled, still feeling a little out of sorts.
My aunt pursed her lips, as if she were disappointed in my assessment. “Really, Mari, sometimes I think I should have Dr. Rockell check your vision.”
“Did someone call my name?”
I turned and discovered mister hottie doctor standing behind us. “Patrick.”
Aunt Renee had both hands on her hips now as she began, “Nobo—”
“Are you enjoying the wedding reception?” I spoke over my Aunt Renee. When she didn’t care for someone, my aunt had no problem telling them. I wasn’t going to have her ruining my chances with Patrick.
“It’s great. You know what they say ‘you been to one wedding, you’ve been to them all’.” His grin was tilted to one side, and seemed a little cocky to me.
Self-assured, Kamari. There’s nothing wrong with a man who knows he looks good.
His comment about weddings didn’t sit well with me either, but I pushed it away; most men didn’t find weddings romantic.
“Can we help you with something?” Aunt Renee asked.
“I was hoping that Kamari would dance with me. I love this song.” He nudged his head in the direction of the dance floor where a lot of people were moving to the new release of a popular female rap artist.
I hated the song and I wasn’t one for rap music, but I didn’t want the doctor to think I was lame--unexciting.
“Absolutely.” I gave my aunt a kiss on the cheek and left with him.
Moving alongside me, he led us into the crowd of dancers. I kept my moves sexy but tamed, I was on a dance team in college and I knew how to work the floor, but with all of my family around, I wasn’t going to embarrass them, or myself.
Patrick had moves, too. I enjoyed dancing with him.
When the song ended, the wedding coordinator was at the microphone announcing it was toasting time.
We cleared the dance floor with everyone else.
“Thanks for the dance.” I gave him my best smile, hoping he was getting the message that I was interested in him.
“My pleasure.” He winked at me. One of his frat brothers called out to him and he excused himself.
I wasn’t concerned, there were plenty more dances tonight. I hoped our next one would be a slow song.
Moving to the head table, I took my seat between the bride’s cousin and her little sister, whom I’d had a chance to get to know during the week leading up to the wedding.
The coordinator called Sara, the maid of honor, to the stage. I took the glass of champagne the waiter held out to me as I listened to her talk about being there when Faith and my brother first met. The woman was funny in her speech and had everyone laughing.
When Sara was finished, we all raised our glasses and toasted the couple. I drank some of the expensive bubbly.
The maid of honor handed Travis the microphone. He stood center stage looking comfortable before the large audience. I always pictured him in a dark room only illuminated by the glow of several computer monitors. A social phobic like the movies always portrayed. However, that’s not what Travis exuded. I shoved aside the image of the teenager I knew and looked at him with the eyes of the other women in the room who didn’t know anything but the man that stood before them.
His voice was deep and smooth. I could imagine a voice like his whispering naughty things to a woman at night. It would be as inciting and intoxicating as aged scotch. The thought caused my body to heat up as if I’d actually drank some of the potent alcohol. I crossed my legs and sipped more champagne.
“Ronnie and I have been friends for years. We met in the seventh grade. I’ll say we were a pretty odd pair. He’s black, I’m white. He was a star community basketball player and eventually at our high school too. Me, I was a little nerdy.”
A sharp laugh broke from my lips. Everyone turned to me. Shocked at my outburst, I slunk low in my seat.
Damn it. I could see my mother at the parent table shaking her head at me. I could almost hear her thoughts ‘Don’t embarrass us, Kamari.’
Looking away from her disapproving gaze, I focused my attention back to Travis, hoping the rest of the guests would do the same.
Travis had a small smile on his face as he looked at me. I was glad he didn’t look offended; I wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings.
“No worries everyone. Kamari knew me then and is just verifying that my words are true. Ronnie and I are different. However, Ronnie looked beyond all of that difference and accepted and supported me. I’m not a woman, but if he isn’t the kind of guy that will make a perfect husband for Faith, I don’t know what is? I hope when I finally have the woman I love, I’m half the man he is.” Travis shifted his gaze from the crowd to my brother and his bride. “So, Faith, you have a stand-up guy who is dependable and kind hearted to a fault. Blessings and best wishes on your future.”
“To the Bride and Groom!” The room cheered as they held their glasses high.
I found myself gulping down my drink. Travis’ speech had caused my body to start tingling all over and my heart was racing. Something about his sincere honesty about who he was and his relationship with my brother had me close to tears.
In my angst against the nerd he was, I forgot he was a really great friend to Ronnie. When Ronnie had broken his leg in high school and was out of school for weeks, Travis was the only friend who came by the house. He not only brought my brother’s school work every day, but Travis hung out with Ronnie. None of my brother’s team mates ever once darkened our doorstep.
I saw Travis take the stairs off the stage and head toward his seat at the head table as the music started up again. Maybe I’d been a little small minded about him.
When he passed his seat and continued toward my end of the long table, I sat up a little straighter. Oh, Lord, he’s going to call me to task for laughing at him.
“Look, Travis—”
“Kamari, how about another dance.” Patrick stepped into my line of sight, practically cutting Travis off in the process.
However, Travis was still two bridesmaid’s seats away from me. Hell, I didn’t even know if he was coming to me.
“Um, sure.” I rose and gave the man before me my full attention. “Yes, I mean. Sorry, I was lost in my own head for a moment.” I pasted a big smile on my face so I wouldn’t scare off the man whose attention I was attempting to have solely on me all day.
“Alright, let’s do this.” Patrick waited on the other side of the table until I came around.
I purposely didn’t look at Travis. Not understanding the odd feelings I was having about him, I wanted to keep my distance.
Back on the dance floor I wasn’t happy that it was another fast song, but at least it wasn’t rap. It was a Top 20s hit I frequently sang and rocked to in my car.
The first song flowed into another chart topper and I found myself enjoying my time on the floor with Patrick and had almost completely dismissed Travis from my mind. As the song began to fade, I could hear the notes of a slower tempo song coming up.
Yes, finally.
“Excuse me, Patrick, I’ll take the next song with Kamari.” Travis stepped between us and pulled me into his arms.
Before I could even say anything or Patrick could object Travis had me whisked to the other side of the smooth wooden floor. Patrick’s form blurred as I was turned and pressed tightly to Travis’s hard body.
A little breathless from the fast movement and excitement of Travis’s bold manner, even though I didn’t want to admit the last part, I said, “I pegged you as a lot of things, but rude wasn’t one of them.”
“Sorry. I can be a little impatient at times.”
I leaned back and glanced at his face. “A little? Patrick was trying to dance this song with me.”
He gazed a few inches down at me. The hee
ls I wore gave me more height, I was six one now to his six four.
This close to him, I took in the color of his eyes. They were so clear blue; they reminded me of a cloudless sky on a perfect spring, amazing.
“He had two. He’s good. Unless there’s something more between you all than I or your brother knows about,” he challenged.
Damn it. There wasn’t a secret that could be kept in my family and I was pretty sure that Ronnie shared everything with Travis.
“That’s not any of your business.” I glanced away, but continued to sway to the song. The music relaxed me. I loved classic love songs and All the Man That I Need by Whitney Houston topped it for me.
I couldn’t help being caught up in the song and enjoying the strength of the man who held me. His hands were low on my waist, but a respectable distance from my ass.
His scent enveloped me. It was a combination of mellow/masculine suede with the metallic honey scent of saffron; an herb I loved. I couldn’t imagine another man being able to carry the blend as well as Travis. It was his uniqueness.
I didn’t want to lean in or feel secure in his embrace but that was exactly the emotion cloaking me. Resting my head on the back of my hand, resting on his shoulder, I closed my eyes and let myself take in the moment.
“When we were teenagers, I remember hearing this song blaring from your room when I was hanging out with your brother.”
I’d forgotten how often I used to repeat this song on my classic love song compilation CD I had. He remembered? “Oh, goodness. That seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Time has flown by. I think we have both evolved and matured into effectual adults.”
His words grabbed something inside me and tugged. Leaning back, I gazed up at him again. “Thank you for saying that. With my family I always feel like I’m performing against my old record.”
“You were quite the tempestuous girl. Ronnie and I would place bets on what you would get into next.”
