Best Man Under the Mistletoe

Gabe raked a hand over his face and blew out a breath. “I came here to tell you that I’m not going to coddle you. You’re a strong woman and you don’t want pity over what happened. I get that you want to be respected, and I respect you. So if anything happens from here on out, it’s your call.”

Chelsea opened her mouth then closed it.

“Speechless?” he asked with a slight grin. “That wasn’t the reaction I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

?

??Well, you didn’t slam the door in my face, so I’m already a step above where I thought I’d be.”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling, but failed.

“And a sexy grin? Hell, I better leave while I’m ahead.”

Chelsea tucked her hair behind her ears and took a step back. As much as she wanted to invite him in and take him up on what he was offering, she also had to be smart. She’d never been a woman to just sleep with someone for the sake of getting it out of her system. Then again, no one had ever tempted her the way Gabe Walsh had.

“Do you want me to do anything for the wedding?” he asked, his tone softer as he stared into her eyes. “I have a few hours free tomorrow if you need anything.”

“Well, I’m almost done with the arch. I’ve planned for the steaks to be delivered the day before the bachelor/bachelorette party, so if you want to call and make sure the club has all of the staffing covered for that night, that would help. I just don’t want them to be understaffed, because we’re expecting quite a few people. The bartenders need to be the best, too. Make sure Tanner and Ellen are on the list to serve.”

Gabe nodded. “I can do that. Didn’t you message me about some chair covers you wanted picked up?”

Chair covers, yes. She’d forgotten all about those. Maybe it had something to do with the man who stood before her because the past couple of weeks he’d been consuming so much of her time, both in person and in her thoughts. But they needed chair covers for the party. Something elegant, yet something that would fit in at the club with all its dark wood and trophies.

“I can pick them up,” she told him. Silence stretched between them and the tension stirred deep within her. “Is that all?”

He flashed her a devilish grin. “Unless you’re ready to invite me in now and let me unwrap you.”

Oh, she wanted to be unwrapped. Gabe could tempt a saint into stripping and doing naughty deeds.

Chelsea laughed and poked at his chest until he stepped back. “Good night, Gabe.”

When he leaned in, Chelsea stilled. His lips feathered across her cheek. “Good night, Chels.”

He turned and walked away, bounding down the steps and heading toward his truck. Chelsea closed the door, turning the dead bolt back into place, and rested her forehead against the wood.

What was she going to do about that man? He purposely kept her on her toes and tied up in knots. Part of her loved this catch-and-release game they were playing, but the other part didn’t want to play games anymore. She wanted to know for sure that she could trust him. But how? How could she be certain?

Chelsea flicked off the light and headed for bed, knowing full well she wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.

Seven

“What do you think?”

Chelsea stood back and stared at the archway that was covered in sheer, pale gold material, twinkling clear lights and delicate white flowers.

She then glanced over at her friend, who stood there staring and silent. Okay, maybe it didn’t look as great as Chelsea had thought. This wasn’t exactly her area of expertise, but she’d like to think it wasn’t horrendous.

“It will look better at night for the ceremony when you can see the lights better,” Chelsea rushed to say when the silence became too much. “I mean, I can change whatever you want. I’m not really a decorator, but I can look up other ideas—”

“It’s perfect.”

Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief. She’d honestly had to look at so many wedding planning websites, at images of elegant arches and Christmas-themed weddings just to piece together everything her friend would want. The expression on Brandee’s face made all of that digging worth it.

Because Chelsea had hated every second of searching through blissful pictures of couples deliriously in love. Not that she wasn’t happy for Brandee and Shane, but part of her truly didn’t believe in the hype of marriage or love. All of that had to be built on trust. But trusting someone with your whole life? No. That just wasn’t going to happen. Not for her. And she was okay with living alone.

Chelsea ignored the niggling ache in her heart. Okay, maybe it would be nice to find someone to share her secrets with, to lie with at night and talk about absolutely nothing, to go on trips with and see the world. But all that would require her to fully open up and expose a part of herself she’d shut off far too long ago.