Torch (Wildwood 3)

But he chose to ignore the mocking tone. “Shouldn’t we just make them happy?”

Those pretty blues went from wide to narrowed in a few seconds flat. “So

you want to try out being a couple just to make them happy?”

“I have a feeling I could make you pretty happy too, if you know what I mean.” He smiled. She frowned. But he caught a flicker of something in her eyes, something that looked suspiciously like . . . interest.

But any hint of interest was gone in an instant. “You’re incredibly arrogant.”

He shrugged, said nothing. But deep inside his heart thundered, and nerves ate at his gut. This girl set him on edge. He told himself to stay away, yet here he was, like he couldn’t help himself.

Which he sort of couldn’t.

Besides, their friends actually wanted them together—at least, the women did. It was obvious. He was on board with the idea—as long as she didn’t expect anything serious.

Not that Wren seemed to expect much of anything when it came to him. She flat out didn’t like him. He didn’t get it. Could it be brotherly influence? He thought he was friends with both Lane and West, but maybe they hated the idea of him dating their baby sister.

“I’m still mad at you, you know.” Her sweet voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to look at her.

“For what?” he asked, taking a swig from his beer. He was always pissing this girl off, so what else was new?

“For the mockingbird bit. When you sang me the lullaby.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, plumping up her breasts, and his gaze dropped as if he had no control. When it came to Wren, he was learning that was pretty much the truth. And damn, she was really giving him an eyeful. “You blew your chance.”

Tate wondered if she’d blow him. Hell, he wondered if she’d be up for him sliding his cock between her perfect tits. Had she ever let a guy do that to her before?

Something stirred in his belly at the possibility, and he shoved it away. Jealousy had no place here.

None.

“Eyes up here, jackass,” she muttered, and he jerked his gaze from her chest to find her watching him with a scowl. “Did you even hear what I said?”

He was about to take another drink and he paused, lowering his beer. Yeah, he’d heard her. “Blew what chance?” he asked carefully.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” It was her turn to lean in close to him. She dropped her arms, her right breast rubbing against his chest, and he wondered if she did that on purpose. “I was a little drunk that night. And to be honest, I was also perfectly willing. Right until you sang the stupid song.”

Perfectly willing. Perfectly willing. Those two simple words were on repeat in his head. Perfectly willing for what? Anything? Everything?

She must’ve seen the questioning in his eyes, because she smiled smugly, her delicate eyebrows rising. “Yes. Whatever you were up for, I would’ve done. But now you’ll never know, right? You seriously blew it.”

And with that, she turned and walked away.

WREN WAS SHAKING, her stomach twisting into knots as she made her way across the room, never once looking back to see if Tate was watching.

But she could feel his eyes on her and knew without a doubt that he was most definitely watching her. She made sure she put some extra sway in her step, hoping like crazy that her words had filled him with total regret.

She was still mad about that night. That he sang that stupid song and ruined her mood. For the way he made fun of her yet somehow made her feel sexy, all at the same time.

His gaze had been appreciative when he looked at her, and he’d straight up ogled her chest just now. She acted like she hated it, but really?

Damn it, she’d freaking loved it. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had looked at her like Tate just did. Her skin had grown warm and her nipples hard beneath the dress. She wore no bra, so she could only hope he hadn’t noticed.

But knowing Tate Warren? He totally noticed.

“What did you just say to him?” Harper asked when Wren stopped to stand by her side. “He looks like he just swallowed his tongue.”

“Nothing much.” Wren shrugged. She couldn’t tell Harper what she said. It was bad enough how hard their friends were pushing them on each other. “I can’t believe you did this, by the way.”

The innocent look on Harper’s face was a bit much. “What are you talking about?”