Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men 9)

“Because she hates it,” I muttered right back. “It’s fun to piss her off and watch her blood pressure boil.” And seriously, it was. Knowing I could make such a flawlessly controlled woman like her come unhinged was an adrenaline rush every time.

On any other night, I would’ve loved nothing better than to go bug her and watch her lose her shit. I always felt the need to flirt and smile at her every chance I got. But the truth was I don’t think anyone had ever hated my personable, charming personality or adorable grin as much as she did. And tonight was not a good night for me to take on that kind of abuse. I needed a pick-me-up, so I had other plans, like hot wedding hookups and complete, drunken misbehavior.

Babysitting my brother’s not-even-ex was not on the agenda.

Brandt didn’t seem to care. “Then go piss her off like you do. Just...anything to keep her attention away from me. Shit, I thought she was over me. She said that ship had sailed. Doesn’t that mean the woman’s lost interest?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, you moron. It means she’s trying to save face and make you think she’s lost in

terest because she knows you already have. Jesus, it’s like you don’t understand women at all.”

“Shut up, asshole.” He smacked me on the back of the head. “I understand Sarah, and that’s all I need to understand. Now go over there and make Juli forget I even exist.”

I glanced longingly at the opposite side of the room. “But I was going to try to hook up with Remy’s cousin Carmen tonight.”

“What the fuck ever. You don’t stand a chance with Carmen. Go talk to Juli.”

“And you think I have a chance with Juli?” I snorted.

When pigs flew. If she were a five-star restaurant, then I would’ve been that questionable hot dog stand out back, manned by the greasy dude with sweaty armpits.

“Dude.” Asher shook his head. “You don’t have a chance with either.”

This time it was my turn to say the affronted, “Hey.”

Yes, I was offended, even if it was true.

Brandt sighed. “You’re not trying to score with Juli, dipshit. You’re just keeping her company so she’ll stop staring at me.” When I wrinkled my nose at such a task, my brother grabbed me by the lapels of my jacket and jerked me right up into his face. “Do you want your new sister-in-law starting her marriage with any kind of self-doubt, especially when there is no reason for her to have any?”

Groaning at his over-dramatization, I rolled my eyes. “Sarah knows better.”

“Yes, she does. But I still don’t want to take a chance of anything upsetting her. Anything, got it? Now get your ass over there.” He let me go hard enough that I tripped away from him in Julianna’s direction. I had been going to go, anyway, but then he added, “You owe me.”

Well, shit.

I gulped and nodded before lowering my gaze.

“Fine. All right, I’m going.” I backed away from him, my hands held up in surrender.

I owed Brandt a hell of a lot more than distracting a pretty girl for him. But when I turned away to stalk toward Juli, I paused, nauseous from the whole you-owe-me thing.

I thought he was over that. He’d said he was over it. He’d even asked me to be his best man to prove it was water under the bridge. It still haunted me, yeah, but at least I’d been comforted by the knowledge he was past it.

Except how could he be past it if he was bringing it up now?

Damn, he wasn’t over shit.

Gulping, I glanced blindly around the reception hall at all the family and friends I knew so well. Since moving to this town when I was eight, I’d made a home here. It was my place of comfort and support, my safe haven. Yet as my gaze shifted over the familiar faces, I couldn’t help but wonder what they really thought of me now that they knew, which I’m sure most of them did. Nothing stayed secret long in our group.

I wanted to slink away somewhere quiet and lick my wounds, but a dance song thing started, and the crowd cheered when Brandt led Sarah to the edge of the dance floor so he could dance for her. Watching him, I remembered my mission and reluctantly returned my attention to Julianna.

I could hide my own misery behind my flirty smile and carefree attitude. It was what I did, what I excelled at. So it was what I’d do now too. Brandt needed me here, with her, so this was where I’d stay.

Julianna was watching him again, smiling in the saddest way as if she loved what she saw and yet it hurt her to keep looking at it. Misery etched every inch of her features. The rigid set of her shoulders didn’t even appear as poised and polished as they usually did. It was as if she was trying too hard, straining at the seams and about to burst any second.

With a sigh, I shook my head. Poor girl. I actually felt bad for her. She was a hot mess, and she didn’t even know it.

She really did need me to save her.