“And the cruise we went on for my promotion?” Cady asked. “It lasted four days.”
“Two years ago?” Bianca sat back, crossing her arms. “Four days is really still a long weekend.”
“So long weekends don’t count?” Cady asked, looking at each of them.
“For a vacation?” Zach clarified, shaking his head. “Not really.”
Bianca smiled.
“Of course, he’s going to say that. He’s sort of required to take your side from now on.” Cady laughed then looked at Patton and arched a brow. “What do you think, Patton?”
Patton shrugged.
“You can’t ask him,” Zach interrupted. “It’s been more than four years since he was on vacation. But I’m not sure Russ’s death counts as a vacation.”
Patton’s hold on his beer bottle tightened, his jaw tightening. Someday it wouldn’t bother him to hear his little brother’s name. Someday, he’d think of him and not feel crushed by the weight of tangled emotions and regrets.
“Oh.” Cady’s voice was soft. “I’m sorry.”
Patton looked at her. Her brown eyes bore into his, the genuine sympathy on her face easing some of the tightness in his chest. He nodded, taking another long drink of his beer.
“Sounds like we could both use a real vacation,” Cady offered.
“See, it is a shame you two didn’t hit it off.” Bianca leaned into Zach. “You could have taken a trip together, somewhere way off the beaten path. A beach holiday—”
“A naked beach holiday. Talk about a stress reliever.” Zach raised his beer. “Sounds like a damn fine idea for a honeymoon.”
Patton tuned out for the rest of the conversation. He spent a few agonizing minutes thinking about the potential of a naked holiday with Cady. He suspected they’d both need a vacation to recover. He grinned.
“Earth to Patton,” Zach said. “Get lost over the whole beach vacation?”
Patton cleared his throat then shook his head.
“Man of many words,” Cady teased.
“Was he this chatty on your date?” Bianca asked.
“Hey—” he held his hands up “—I’ve never said my dating etiquette is up to snuff.”
The others laughed.
“When was the last date you were on, besides your date with Cady?” Zach asked.
Patton glared at his brother. “This is relevant to wedding planning?”
“It’s not,” Zach agreed. “I’m just giving you shit because I’m your brother and it’s what brothers do.”
Patton shook his head. “Lucky me.”
Cady and Bianca laughed.
By the time the meal was over, his patience was gone.
Cady enjoyed another Whiskey Special with extra olives, tormenting him to the point of injury. He wanted her so much it hurt. When his brother was saying a rather passionate good-night to Bianca on the sidewalk, he gave in to the urge to touch Cady. All night long, he’d remembered the silk of her skin under his fingertips, the warmth of her body cradling him deep inside her, the rasp of her breath on his bare skin... And now, with her big brown eyes looking up at him, he let his fingers trail the length of her neck.
Her shiver was the only response he needed.
When she drove away, he went home to a long, cold shower and a restless night.