Best Man Under the Mistletoe

“My vows are done,” Shane replied, pulling Gabe’s attention back to the conversation. “Brandee is a little stressed.”

Shane sank onto a bar stool and ordered another bourbon. “I told her so long as the minister shows up, nothing else matters. That was the wrong thing to say.”

Gabe laughed as he leaned his elbow on the bar. “Chelsea and I have everything covered. You two just show up and worry about remembering those vows you’re preparing.”

Shane’s brows shot up. “How is Chelsea? Brandee said she wasn’t too talkative over the past couple days. Her texts are to the point and only about wedding details. Would you have any idea what’s up?”

“Not a clue.”

Shane took the tumbler from the bartender and swirled the amber liquid around. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“Actually, I’m an exceptional liar and my bank account proves it.”

Being in the security field occasionally had him going undercover in disguise. He was a remarkable actor, if he did say so himself. But there were just some aspects of his life he wasn’t ready to share and Chelsea was one of them.

Shane tipped back the bourbon and finished it in one long gulp before setting his glass down and motioning for another. “Fine. But you can’t lie to me, and I know something is up with the two of you. She’s beautiful and you’re, well, you. Might as well tell me what’s going on.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I’m me? Are you calling me a player?”

“Calm down. I just meant you two have been spending quite a bit of time together over the past several weeks.”

Before Gabe could defend himself, Daniel Hunt walked in the door. Seeing Chelsea’s brother, Gabe felt a momentary pang of guilt. But he shouldn’t feel bad about whom he wanted...and whom he’d had. Chelsea was a big girl and she had come to him—then left in the middle of the night.

He wasn’t sure if he was more upset about her silent departure or relieved that she’d held up their agreement to keep things simple. Although he had to admit, just to himself, he wished she’d stuck around because there was nothing he would’ve liked better than to roll over and feel her by his side in the morning.

Which was precisely why it was good she had left. A woman like Chelsea could make a man forget all about reality. Gabe was growing his business, doing damage control where needed, and the last thing he had time for was a relationship.

“Hey, man,” Shane called to Daniel. “Didn’t know you were in Royal.”

Daniel came up to the bar on the other side of Shane and nodded for the bartender. “Erin wanted to do some shopping for Christmas and insists on the local shops here rather than Seattle. She said she wants to stay through Christmas because she loves this small-town feel and wants to experience her first Christmas here. Plus, she didn’t want to miss the wedding or the annual candlelight and caroling ceremony on Christmas Eve.”

Gabe raked his thumb over the condensation on his glass of beer and wished he’d ordered something stronger and stayed home.

“How’s the wedding coming?” Daniel asked then leaned around to glance at Gabe. “You and my sister have everything covered? Knowing her, she’s taken control.”

An image of Chelsea straddling him last night when they’d finally made it to his bed flooded his mind. She’d taken control, all right, and he’d been more than okay with relinquishing the reins.

“It’s more like divide and conquer,” Gabe replied, refusing to say much more.

Shane threw him a glance, but Gabe merely picked up his beer and drained the glass. “I need to head out,” he said, pushing away from the bar.

“Stay,” Daniel said. “Next round is on me.”

Tempting as another drink was, he didn’t want to sit around with his best friend who knew too much and the overprotective brother of the woman he was sleeping with. He could think of a hundred other things that sounded more appealing.

“I still have some work to tend to this evening.” Not a total lie. He was always checking on his clients and staff. “And tomorrow is an early day for me.”

Actually he had nothing planned, but it sounded like a good excuse. Besides, there was always something to be done and he was always up early and hitting work hard.

“I wanted to ask you about the Maverick case.”

Gabe stilled. “Sheriff Battle said there are no new leads as to who helped Dusty. I’ve had my team working on this, as well. The security cameras outside the gym locker room had been tampered with.”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “This is absurd. I don’t know what I’ll do when I get hold of the person who made my sister’s life a living hell.”

Gabe was right there with him, but best not to say that or to express too much interest in Chelsea. Daniel was definitely the overprotective big brother. What Daniel didn’t know was that Gabe had also appointed himself to that role.

“I’ll be sure to keep you informed,” Gabe assured Daniel. “I’m hoping this is wrapped up soon and we can all move on for good.”