Sullivan knew everyone from being the bar owner.
“She’s… different,” Axl said. He meant it in a good way. She seemed delicate, like his grandmother’s tea set. Look, don’t touch. It wasn’t that she was waifish. She was actually sporting a true hourglass figure, which he thought was sexy as hell. His hands had felt enormous on her tiny waist and she had been substantially shorter than him, but that full chest had been a thing of beauty. Damn. Axl searched the room for her and found her sitting next to a skinny guy with shaggy hair and glasses. Maybe that was her boyfriend. More her type than he was, probably, not that he was thinking anything in that direction.
Not much, anyway.
She just had him curious. That was all. Not much changed in Beaver Bend. Not many new faces. A new resident was note-worthy. Especially one with an unusual name, wearing a pastel cocktail dress in Tap That.
Lilly, Kendra’s best friend, sat down on the stool next to Axl. “Who are we talking about?”
“Leighton. The girl I was dancing with. Who is she?” They hadn’t been dancing so much as he had been holding her up. She had been on the verge of a panic attack. He recognized the signs. His best buddy in the marines had endured them frequently after their deployment.
“She’s part of the crew for that TV show, Wedding Crashers. Winnie won a wedding makeover.”
So not a new resident then. He had vaguely heard something about that, but to be honest, weddings didn’t interest him, so he’d zoned out on the details. “How long are they in town?”
He shouldn’t ask. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself. For some reason his mother’s text popped into his head. Maybe you’ll meet a nice girl. Leighton looked like a nice girl. With a body built for sin.
“Until the wedding next Saturday. I imagine they leave on Sunday. Gives you eight plus days.” Lilly gave him a sidelong stare. “Got the hots for the California girl, huh? Doesn’t seem like your type.”
“What is my type?” he asked automatically because he didn’t really have one, he didn’t think. But what he did know was that girl did not seem like a Hollywood type. She had been genuinely scared to be thrust up on stage in front of everyone. It was classic stage fright.
“Outdoorsy. Athletic.”
Axl reflected on that. “Guess I can’t argue that.” He loved camping, fishing, boating. Anything that allowed him to be outside. He’d always been into nature, even more so now that he’d come home after his enlistment. Walls closed in on him. He needed to see the sky. “So, like you?” he said wryly. Lilly was a guy’s girl. Everyone’s buddy. She liked to push herself physically and
took no shit from anyone. Except Sullivan. She had a soft spot for that idiot.
Lilly cracked up. “Yes. But no. We’re like brother and sister. I just see you with a woman who can share your hobbies, that’s all.”
“I see him with no one,” Sullivan said, giving him crap. “When was the last time you had a girlfriend? Senior year in high school?”
“Last year, dickhead. I’m selective.” He let that hang there for a second. It was no secret Sullivan had been less than picky in who he had sex with since Kendra had died. He maintained it wasn’t his fault that women came in, drank too much, and wanted to bang, but Axl had known the guy a long time. Since fourth grade. Sullivan was numbing his feelings. Kendra had been his one and only. His first—and what he had thought would be his last—love.
Axl had never had that kind of connection. He had experienced what he would deem nice relationships. Two very pleasant, one a little tumultuous. But not crazy passion or deep, endearing love. Just… nice. A lifelong marriage didn’t seem to be in the cards for him, and he knew it was his fault. He struggled to make deep connections with women, and he spent a lot of his life trying to convince his family and friends there was nothing wrong with that. Not much, anyway.
Sullivan gave a snort. “You’re boring. That’s what you are.”
“Guys, guys, knock it off.” Lilly eyed Axl. “So are you going to make a move on Cali Girl? If so take her a glass of rosé. It’s the in wine right now.”
“I thought only my ancient great aunt liked pink wine. That’s a thing now?”
Lilly nodded and patted his arm. “It’s a thing. I promise. But I don’t expect you, the hockey player turned marine turned cop to understand anything that isn’t laden in testosterone. Don’t worry, I have your back. Pour, Sullivan.”
Axl eyed the glass of wine Sullivan handed him dubiously. “Do I trust her?” he asked.
Sullivan shrugged. “I mean, women drink it here. But do Minnesota tastes reflect California? Fuck if I know.”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But give me a beer too.” He didn’t drink a lot but he was thirsty and a cold beer sounded perfect for the moment. He had put his shirt back on but hadn’t bothered to button it up. He took the time to do that now because he felt like a douche going over there flashing chest. That was more their buddy Rick’s style, not his.
He went over to the table crowded with women and the lone guy, who Axl realized now had a camera sitting in his lap. He knew nothing about weddings but from the manic excitement on Winnie’s face, winning whatever she had won was a huge score. One of the women at the table was Sloane O’Toole, Sullivan’s sister. She worked at the groomer’s with Winnie. He said hi to her then gestured for her to give up her seat for him. She was in the chair to the left of Leighton.
Sloane raised her eyebrows. “I have no idea what that weird expression you’re making means,” she said. “And that wine better be for me.”
“That’s Rick’s job to fetch booze for you, not mine.” Sloane was two years older than the guys and she had been annoyed by all of them in their growing-up years. They were loud, rough and tumble, and then later, they’d all been a little in awe of Sloane, the hot older cheerleader. But none so much as Rick. It had taken him a dozen years but he’d scored his fantasy girl and they really seemed like an awesome couple now. Axl was happy for both of them. “But I can give you this beer if you want. I haven’t even sipped it yet.”
She reached her hand out then paused mid-reach. “Wait. What do I have to do in return?”
He leaned over and murmured so only she could hear him. “Give me your seat so I can talk to the TV chick.”