That Thing You Do (Crystal Lake 2)

Beck ignored him. “Like I was saying, he took her out and then told a bunch of guys he’d…ah…that they’d…”

“Yeah, I see where this is going,” Nate replied darkly.

“Molly found out a few hours before the charity hockey game, the one we held to raise money for the new community center. Dan was the goalie on the opposing team, and Molly fired at least twenty slap shots at him, and you know the girl can shoot. The last one was so damn hard, it took off his helmet, and when he was in the corner trying to grab the puck to shoot up the ice, she and Zach checked him into the boards. Hard. I think he saw stars. Needless to say, Dan apologized.” Beck shook his head. “Don’t kid yourself. She doesn’t need you or anyone else, for that matter, looking after her. That is one lady who can look after herself.”

Nate slid off the stool. He wasn’t in the mood to go around in circles with his brother. Besides, he had to head back to the homestead, grab a quick shower, and be back at the golf course across the river in less than an hour.

“I’ll be in touch once I hear from Link.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Beck held out his hand. “Glad you’re back.”

They parted ways the same way they’d greeted each other. A slap on the shoulder followed by a fierce hug and a promise to get together properly.

The house was empty when Nate got back to his parents’ place, and there was a note left for him.

Golfing with the Andersons. Don’t worry, we’re at the public course.

He grinned and tossed it before jogging upstairs to his old room. Nate showered quickly, pulled on a pair of light gray Hugo Boss slacks, and paired them with a black short sleeve dress shirt. He managed to make it to the country club with five minutes to spare and was still the last one to arrive, or at least that was what the hostess told him as she led him to a private room in the back.

The room was full. There were at least thirty folks milling about, taking in the breathtaking scenery from the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the eighteenth hole, which in turn was set on a bluff overlooking the lake, and sipping on fancy cocktails garnished with fruit.

If only there wasn’t so much damn pink. Seriously. Zach’s fiancée had issues.

Nate was more of a scotch man, so he headed to the bar, where he spied Zach and Stu and the rest of the guys. He interrupted a conversation about the Bruins, gave his two cents on a couple of key players, and glanced around the room, looking for that one face he hadn’t spied yet.

He was just about to ask Zach where his sister was when he noticed a woman across the room. She stood with her back to him, so it was the hair that caught his attention at first. Long and shiny, it hung nearly to her waist. The dress was a simple black number that showed off one hell of a figure and at least a mile of leg. She was chatting with Jessica, and something about the way she held her head or the way she gestured with her hands made him take note.

Then something inside him stirred, something hot and fierce and kind of crazy. He gripped his glass tightly as his heart took off like a rocket.

He nearly asked Zach who she was, but then he stopped himself from looking like a complete idiot, because in that second, he knew. Of course he knew.

Jessica spotted him and waved, which in turn made Molly glance over her shoulder.

Their eyes met and held, and for one hazy moment, Nate felt as if he was looking at a complete stranger. The Molly he knew didn’t fill out a dress like that. Hell, she didn’t even own a dress like that.

Did Zach say something to Nate? Who the hell knew. He was already moving on. He crossed the room and gave Jessica a hug before turning Molly. That was when he noticed she was wearing lip gloss. The kind of shiny stuff that made her mouth look soft. Real soft. And then he wondered what it would feel like if he kissed her, which should have stopped him dead in his tracks, but instead, it made him think of that night in Vegas, which made him—

She said something, and he yanked up his head.

“What was that?” he asked, aware that Jess had just excused herself, leaving the two of them alone.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You have a funny look on your face.”

“I’m fine.”

She took a sip from the fancy cocktail she held. “Where’s Chess?”

“Why would she be here?”

“I assumed you’d bring her.”

“I didn’t know it was an option. Not that I would have brought her.” He cleared his throat and tried to sound normal. “Did you bring a date?”

She smiled at him. “Sure did.” Her voice was light, but the spark in her eye was something else. She turned slightly and smiled at the person behind him. Then she did something he’d never seen Molly do before. She stuck out her chest, which, to be honest, looked fucking amazing, and tilted her head in that way women did, the way that was kinda sorta provocative. When the hell had she learned that move?

“Nate.” Kyle slid past Nathan and handed Molly another cocktail. He slid his arm around her waist and grinned at Nate as if he’d just won the damn Stanley Cup. Then he whispered in her ear, and Molly giggled, she freaking giggled, and, with a quick little wave, they left him and headed over to her parents.

Nate wasn’t sure how long he stared at the four of them, but it was long enough for his jaw to clench and his fingers to cramp. He slowly transferred his scotch to his free hand and rubbed the back of his neck as he tore his gaze from Molly.