Seducing the Bridesmaid

Annoyed with herself all over again, she shoved off the covers and climbed to her feet. Her muscles tightened in protest, but they weren’t sore enough to keep her from the gym right now. She’d just take it as easy as possible while still burning away thoughts of a certain country boy.

Regan pulled on her last pair of shorts and tank top. If she kept this up, she was going to have to do laundry sooner rather than later. Putting the worry out of her mind—and wishing she could do the same with the rest of the thoughts circling her head—she pocketed her hotel key and marched down the hallway to the elevator. Unsurprisingly, there was no one up and about at this ungodly hour. If she was lucky, she’d have the whole gym to herself.

The elevator took long enough to get to her floor that she actually considered the stairs, but then she was on her way down. A little bit longer and the steady pounding of her feet would drive away everything pricking at her. She wished she could blame the edgy feeling making her twitchy on the scare during the scavenger hunt. It had been years since she’d set foot outside of a city, and she hadn’t been prepared for how much it would shake her. She’d thought she had a handle on her intense…dislike…of nature since she’d hit a few resorts, but a beach was a far cry from all those freakish trees.

The reminder of how easy it was to make her powerless made her want to lash out just to prove she wasn’t. It wasn’t a rational response, hence her repeated trips to the gym. A bout of sweaty sex would work even better for getting her back into fighting shape mentally, but every time she thought of it, her mind conjured up thoughts of Brock. Falling back into bed with him would cause more problems than it’d solve, so the gym it was.

She shuddered and pushed open the door, making it three steps into the room before she realized she wasn’t alone. Sophie was on the same treadmill Julie had taken yesterday morning, and the determined expression on her face made Regan wonder what she was running from—or running toward.

Maybe one day she’d actually learn to keep her nose out of other people’s business… But today wasn’t that day. Not when whatever Sophie’s problem was might detract from hers.

She waved and stepped onto the treadmill next to her. “Hey.”

Sophie did a double take. “Hey, Regan.” Her gaze coasted from Regan’s feet to her ponytail before she seemed to realize what she was doing and blushed. “You look different.”

Which was why she didn’t make a habit of socializing with people in gym getup. It wasn’t great for her image. This week, she’d already run into more people than she wanted to while covered in her own sweat. Brock hadn’t seemed to care, though. Hell, the look he’d given her before she walked away the last time had nearly curled her toes. And that was after a hard run.

Sophie turned back to her treadmill. “Sorry. That was rude. Forget I said anything.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m just in a weird headspace right now and not exactly fit for polite company.” She rolled her shoulders and keyed up the treadmill, setting it to a fast walk to warm up. Once her muscles got going, she’d see about actually running. “Besides, I’m not one of those smug bitches who gets done up to head to the gym. If you’re not sweating, you’re doing something wrong.”

A smile twitched the edges of Sophie’s lips. “I don’t think half the women at my gym got that memo.”

“Mine, either. I can’t figure out whom they’re trying to impress. Most of them have wedding rings.” And as soon as she’d started walking and chatting, the woman had relaxed a little. She still didn’t look completely comfortable, but she also didn’t seem like she was going to bolt out of the gym at the first sudden move Regan made. “I have a theory.”

“What’s that?”

“They’re not trying to impress men—they’re trying to prove they get banging bodies just by showing up. Women like that live on the shame of people around them.”

Sophie frowned. “That seems kind of harsh.”

“It is.” And she’d make no apologies for that. But it was obviously time to change the subject now that she’d gotten the woman talking a little. She shot a look over. “You know, I’d suspected you were hiding a banging body of your own under those artfully baggy clothes. I approve.”

She hunched her shoulders and then gritted her teeth as she seemed to force herself to stand straight. “I’m not quite there yet. Not like you.”

“Me? Honey, I’d kill for an ass like yours.” She grinned. “So, you were awful quiet the other night. Is there a groomsman you have your eye on? I think it’s pretty clear Reed’s spoken for thanks to our Julie, and I’m all over Bro—holy shit, I mean Logan, but that leaves two highly eligible bachelors.” Goddamn it. Had she really just said that aloud?

She blushed again and stammered, “I-I… Why would you think that?”

“Why wouldn’t I think that?” No need to mention that her response confirmed Regan’s suspicions. Shy little Sophie had her eye on someone. “Come on, spill. I can keep a secret.”

Sophie’s phone rang before she choked on whatever she was about to say and she practically dived for it. “Yes?” She frowned. “When? Oh crap, that’s not good. I’ll be right up.” She clicked off and gave Regan a worried look. “Christine and Tyler are missing.”

Regan looked at her phone, but it stayed stubbornly silent. By the time she glanced back at Sophie, she was off her treadmill and heading for the door. She turned back right as she pushed it open. “It was…nice…talking to you.”

“Yeah, you, too.” She heard the door shut, but she was busy picking up her phone. No missed calls, texts, or smoke signals. Why the hell had Sophie been called in to help? No offense to the woman—she seemed really sweet—but she wasn’t exactly toting around a Girl Scout sash full of survivalist badges. There was no way she was better in the outdoors than Regan.

But they’d called her in despite that.

She tried to be rational. Everyone and their dog knew how she felt about the woods. Obviously they wouldn’t want to waste the time holding her hand when they were looking for Christine. But… She could have sat back in the lobby and bullied up some hot chocolate and coffee or something. Though Julie had most likely already taken care of it. And Kady was no doubt spearheading the search with the same tenacity that got her the big accounts. Sophie… God only knew what Sophie was there to do.

They didn’t have a use for her.

It hurt, probably more than it should. Needing the distraction, she upped her speed until her tired legs could barely keep up the pace. Running herself into the ground wouldn’t solve the problem, but hopefully it would give her the emotional distance she so desperately needed.

…

The ringing phone brought Brock out of a really fantastic dream involving Regan, naked and desperate in his bed. He cursed as he rolled over and eyed the alarm clock on the nightstand. “Somebody better be dead for them to be calling me at six a.m.” He grabbed his cell phone. “What?”

“Tyler and Christine are missing. Reed’s out there with the maid of honor, Julie, right now, but we need all the manpower we can get on this.”

Instantly, he was awake. “How long have they been gone?”

He could hear the frustration in Colton’s voice. “We don’t know. Not everyone finished the damn scavenger hunt, so we just assumed they’d gone off to do their own thing. But neither of them made it to their rooms as of four this morning, and Kady is freaking out.”

“I’ll be in the lobby in five minutes.”

“Thanks, man.”

He hung up and reached for his pants. It took less than two minutes to dress and be out his door. He knew he looked a little worse for wear with his hair sticking out in all directions…and then cursed himself for caring. What did it matter if he ran into Regan? She’d already made her decision about them.

Colton met him in the lobby, Kady by his side, both looking worried. “Any word?”

“No,” Kady said. The phone in her hand trilled, and she nearly fumbled it in her attempt to get

it to her ear. “Yes? Oh, thank God. We’ll meet you in the lobby.” She ended the call. “Julie found them.”

“Good.” He hadn’t really had a chance to talk to Tyler, but the guy seemed decent, if a little overprotective. He could get that, though. He didn’t like the thought of anyone messing with Sophie.

Speaking of… Brock’s attention narrowed in on her as Sophie stepped out from the shadow of the hallway to the lobby. He frowned. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think she had the flushed look of someone who’d recently had sex. Yes, he could blame it on the fact she’d obviously just been in the gym…but there was a heavy-lidded look that only came from one thing. What the fuck? Who the hell was sleeping with Colton’s baby sister? He’d whup their ass.

He started toward her, but then Reed stormed into the lobby, quickly followed by Julie, the maid of honor, and Tyler carrying Christine.

Immediately, all hell broke loose.

Julie was trying to plan…something, at the top of her lungs with Kady, while Reed glowered at her. Uh-oh. Brock knew that look, and it meant nothing good. Then Christine struggled out of Tyler’s arms and nearly toppled when she tried to walk. He moved forward to catch her, but Tyler was already there.

Christ. Maybe he should just take a few steps back until this sorted out. He backed up and dropped into a nearby chair. There was still the question of who was desecrating Sophie, and that required his attention more than a couple of grown adults who seemed just fine, aside from Christine’s ankle.

Logan wandered over with an oversize to-go cup of Starbucks and took the empty seat next to him, wincing slightly as he settled into the chair.

“Buddy, you’ve been spending too much time behind your fancy desk if a scavenger hunt leaves you sore.” Petty, but he was feeling pretty fucking petty where Logan was concerned. What was so great about him that made Regan lose her damn mind whenever he showed up?