Page 56

CHAPTER FIFTY

carter

I shouldn’t have bought her that fucking dress.

When she stepped outside her apartment, her legs looking ten miles long in those strappy silver heels, my jaw almost hit the floor and shattered at her feet.

The hem of it stops a little above her knee, giving me a look at skin that I don’t often get to see unless she’s getting ready for bed, and my god.

She’s got freckles there, too. They kiss her body everywhere.

I had no words for her and she knew it. Her smile was confirmation enough that she was well aware of how good she looks. She pulled that shiny red hair back in a silver clip and let those wispy bangs hang loose in these big, voluminous waves.

I was leaning against my G-Wagon as she sauntered toward me, and I literally had to bring my fist up to my mouth and bite it to convey to her just how I felt about her entire fucking existence.

She looks that hot tonight.

She rolled her eyes and told me to get in the car .

Now, at Icebox , I can confirm that she’s the most beautiful woman in this room. Sweets looks great too, obviously. She’s the bride, so I can’t say she isn’t shining like a beacon of light, but Red… Fuck .

She is soul-destroying.

I watch people watch her. I watch their eyes linger on her face or trail down to her legs. It stirs up that temper I’ve managed to keep at bay lately. My whole body itches to put her behind me and step in the way of anyone who thinks they can give her the once-over like that while I’m in the room.

“Fork! What’s up, buddy?”

I break my gaze away from Arden, who is talking animatedly with Penny and Avery by the bar. Seth and EJ stroll toward me, and I break into a smile at the sight of them. I hold out my hand and Declan’s other best friend smacks his palm into mine.

Seth Tyler is a good guy. I’m not at all jealous that he’s the best man, I promise. One conversation with this guy and you’d get it.

I nod at EJ, who always looks like one of those guys who you’d see on the front page of a magazine directed at people with old money. If I didn’t know him, I’d expect him to say his daddy has a yacht, and for him to wear his sweaters tied around his neck above his luxury polos.

But I do know him. Pretty boy is a hard-working, back-breaking miner.

I smack my hand into his, too. He’s also good shit.

“The boys!” I say, smiling widely at them. “How’s it going?”

“Ready to get the night started,” EJ says with a nod, glancing around the room. “I can’t believe this is happening. Those two idiots are really tying the knot.”

“About time, huh?” I ask, bringing my Jager and Coke to my lips .

Seth lets out a small scoff. “You’re telling me.”

“How was the wedding, Tyler?” I didn’t get a chance to ask him the night of Lowesy’s proposal.

A lovesick look sweeps over him, and I see nothing but genuine happiness on that face. He shrugs, resisting the urge to glance back at his wife. “The wedding was incredible. The rest of my life has been even better.”

Well, fuck. See what I mean? Who says that kind of shit?

Seth Tyler was made to be a husband, a best friend, and definitely a best man.

If anyone were to beat me out for the job, I’m more than happy to concede to someone as infuriatingly likeable as him.

He takes care of my boy when he’s in Canada. I take care of him while he’s here.

“Happy to hear.” I nod toward the group of three girls. “Have you met Arden yet?”

I say it because I already noticed Dalton’s eyes on her. More than once.

Both guys glance over their shoulders to follow my gaze. When they look back at me, EJ is half a second slower. I catch that instantly. Don’t like it one bit.

My eyes burn into his face, jaw clenching, lead in my chest.

He’s pretty. He’s charming as all hell, too.

Not happening.

“No, but I’d like to,” EJ says, lifting his drink to his mouth as he eyes me over the rim.

Now, why the hell did he have to go and say that?

My smile tightens. I’m sure I look absolutely murderous. Dalton’s little smirk only grows at my response, making my grip tighten around my glass.

This is Lowesy’s engagement party. This is Lowesy’s engagement party! Do not make a scene. Do not hit his friend.

“I’m sure you would,” I say, clicking my tongue. I nod, a bit stiffly, and Seth slowly glances back to EJ with a curt shake of his head. “I bought her that dress. Make sure to tell her she looks good in it when you introduce yourself.”

Seth winces a bit but Dalton, that little fucker, just breathes out a laugh.

This is Lowesy’s engagement party. Do not hit his friend.

“Here.”

Caulfield enters the circle with a fresh beer and a rum and Coke.

He hands them to Seth and EJ, eyes catching mine.

He glances down at my drink with a sympathetic look, but I just wave him off.

Mine is still pretty full, but I’m going to chug this one in ten seconds now that Dalton has pissed me off.

“Does Lowesy need anything?” I ask.

Stop thinking about the smile on Dalton’s face.

I look at him anyway, because there is something neurologically wrong with me. EJ is still grinning, his hand buried in his pocket, studying my face with a knowing arrogance.

“Nah, P and Ave planned this thing down to the last, minor detail,” Wyatt says. He glances toward them at the bar. “There’s nothing any of us could do that wouldn’t just mess it all up.”

“Hm,” EJ says with a nod, but he’s still smiling, and I’m going to lose my fucking mind in ten seconds because I don’t know what it’s about, or what the fuck he’s insinuating, but I have never wanted to knock someone out more than I do in this moment.

I glance at Caulfield, down the rest of my drink, and show him the empty glass. “Be right back.”

Wyatt’s brow furrows, but he nods. “Alright.”

I make my way toward the bar, conveniently right to where Arden is standing with Penny and Avery. I glide my hand along the small of her back as I slide in next to them, just in case Dalton is watching, which I fucking know he is .

She melts into my touch, turning to look at me, and I thank the fucking gods for it.

Avery spins around, too. I’ve already seen her this weekend, but she smiles and greets me like I haven’t.

“You three together are bad news,” I tell them.

“Wait until Tiffany and Lauren get back from the bathroom,” Declan grumbles, entering our circle. He wraps his arm around Penny from behind, kissing her hair. Their eyes connect and he studies her face. “Hanging in there?”

“Our friends are drinking, and our families are eating. Couldn’t be going any better.”

He nods, leaning down to press his mouth to hers. “Then let's get you a tequila shot, baby.”

I feel Arden’s hand slide against mine. I glance down at her, watching her watch them with this love-stricken, enamoured look. She steps back until she is flush against my chest, and she feels good there. Right here. With me.

Eat that, Dalton.

“You are drinking slower than normal.”

I shoot Boston a look. “I almost got booted from the wedding party. I am on a mission to behave tonight.”

Boston nods, leaning forward on the bar with his elbows. The sleeves of his white dress shirt are pushed up his forearms. He places his empty glass on the bar as he waves the bartender over, asking for another for both him and Lemmy without a hint of a smile.

“How are things going?”

“Fine,” I say with a shrug. He thanks the bartender when a fresh whiskey and Coke is placed in front of him, and turns toward me, ignoring the champagne flute. Those green eyes are asking many more questions than he is. “Why? Expected me to shit the bed with this whole thing by now?”

“No,” he says. “Just checking in. The dress looks nice.”

I shoot him a look. I fucking know it does. My god, everyone in this room knows it does. Can they stop saying it to me like it’s something I’m unaware of? I have eyes.

“I have good taste.”

“Right.” He nods, gently scratching his full beard. “How is the shit going with your charges?”

I wince a bit, letting out a small breath. “Lemmy thinks it’s going to result in a big ass fine, paying off his medical bills, and maybe some community service. She’s been working with his lawyer to keep his public comments to a minimum, but we have a few weeks until I’ll know for sure.”

Boston dips his chin. “Could be worse.”

Understatement of the year. “Definitely.”

“You’ve been good lately.”

I glance at him, recognizing that little glimmer of a point in his eyes. “Thanks, Boston.”

“Staying out of trouble is hard for you,” he tells me. “Honestly. During these past few months, you’ve been a different man in that regard, Fork.”

I scan his eyes. “Right.”

“Any reason that might be?” he asks, finally. There it is. There’s his point.

“I preferred it when you were minding your own business,” I grumble, leaning forward on the bar.

I run a hand over my face. “This arrangement has an end date. I’ve told you that four hundred times.

I’m fine. I’ll be fine. I have realistic expectations when it comes to a relationship with literally no fucking intimacy beyond what we do for the cameras. Got it?”

My dick barely exists anymore. This can’t continue forever.

Either this arrangement ends, or I become one of those bald dudes who wear those cloaks in Game of Thrones.

Both options feel like the end of the world.

Unfortunately for me, and for my dick, Arden doesn’t want to cross that line.

It’s fortunate for all the animals in the shelter, though.

I should pretty much just buy that place at this point.

“Jesus, I was just trying to?—”

“Sorry to interrupt, I was coming to get a refill.”

My eyes flutter shut and my heart sinks. I swallow, dragging my eyes from Boston’s shocked face to the beautiful girl in the green dress who slides between us. Her glare is lethal as it locks onto my face, but she forces one of those tight, cold smiles as she places her empty glass on the bar.

I sigh, giving her a pleading look, but she turns her back to me and orders another glass of wine. When I touch the small of her back, she angles herself away to avoid my fingers. I drop my hand and my head at the same time.

The bartender hands her a new glass, and she glances over her shoulder to meet my eyes. She paints this mean little smile on her mouth, side-stepping my touch yet again.

“You don’t have to do that,” she says, narrowing her eyes and glancing around the room. “There aren’t any cameras around.”

She storms back the way she came and I watch her go. She rejoins Penny with her shoulders back and head held high, straight to the table where the rest of Lowesy’s friends sit. She slides into the booth next to EJ and turns her back toward the bar. Toward me. To sit next to him.

I grind my teeth, glancing beside me at the bearded idiot who is staring at the ceiling.

He still doesn’t look at me when he speaks, but he winces a bit. “I had no idea she was there.”

I lean forward, smacking him on the shoulder and squeezing tightly. “Fucking pay attention next time.”