Seducing the Best Man

She opened her eyes. “Are you up for another round?”

He laughed. “Give me...twenty minutes.”

She glanced at the clock, grinning. “I’m timing you.”

“Have any other ideas for the wedding shower?” he asked, his fingers stroking along her spine.

“For wrecking it, you mean?” She sighed.

He looked down at her. “Having second thoughts?”

“I don’t want to hurt Bianca,” she explained. “I mean, that’s the point, right? To prevent her from getting hurt?”

“Yes. Not just Bianca, though. This wedding affects more than just the two of them.”

Her gaze lingered on the bullet scars on his chest. “Why don’t you ever try to protect him? Zach, I mean? You’re his brother. Shouldn’t you jump to his defense?”

“I love Zach.” Patton’s voice was low, thoughtful. “But he’s had a lot of girlfriends.”

“Like how many?”

Patton shook his head. “A lot... And some not so long ago.”

“Did he ever bring these girls home?” Cady asked.

Patton shook his head.

“Did he ever say he loved them?”

Patton shook his head again. “I’m not saying he doesn’t care about Bianca. I think he does. But marriage? No.”

Cady watched Patton’s face, hesitating before she asked, “Is this because of your engagement? That you’re not a fan of the whole weddings and marriage thing?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “No.”

She waited but he just looked at her. “O-okay.” They didn’t need to bond over their thoughts and opinions on marriage, they just needed to work toward the common goal. “So, the shower. It can’t be too overt. I don’t want this to all fall apart and lose my best friend in the process. And I’m pretty sure you want to piss off as few people as possible.”

He nodded. “Will your parents come?” he asked.

Where did that come from? “I hope not.” She shook her head. “They’re not invited.”

There was no denying the surprise on his face. “They’re not?”

“I haven’t seen my parents in a few years...” She thought about it. “They stopped in Dallas for a layover and we had dinner.”

“You had dinner? A few years ago?” he asked. “I have dinner with my entire family once a week. And when I mean entire I mean anyone who can claim any distant sort of relation gets fed.”

Cady believed him. “We’re more the drop-me-a-postcard-when-you’re-coming-to-town type.” She shrugged.

His gaze searched her face, the scrutiny a little too intense for her liking.

“We’re different,” she added. “Not all families like to get together, Patton.”

His gaze didn’t waver, and he still didn’t say anything.

“I had unlimited funds and a great boarding school education, but I never had parents. They were always off, having great adventures, together or with whoever they were seeing at the moment.”

Patton frowned. “Why not divorce?”