Hothead (Irresistible 4)

28

EVIE

“To be fair, it’s really pretty,” Aly giggled as we sat at the end of the table together, our seats all rearranged.

At one point, we were seated with all the couples next to each other, but after three courses and more than a few rounds of champagne, it was musical chairs.

And by now, having sat a solid hour next to Aly, I knew exactly how many facets were on her massive rose cut diamond, exactly how the proposal went down - Emmett surprised her while they were spooning in bed this morning - and the fact that I was going to be her maid of honor.

So now, we had moved onto gazing at my big fake rock.

“I mean it looks insanely so real for being fake,” she whispered, peering up to make sure Keira was still in the bathroom.

“No, no, it’s not really fake, it’s a real diamond,” I giggled. “I just mean it’s sentimentally fake. Iain chose it.”

“Ohhh. So you chose this ring Iain?” Aly whisper-yelled across the table. The damned near death look we got from him made us burst into giggles. “I apologize. What I meant to say,” Aly started at full volume this time, “was that you did a beautiful job, Drew. I mean she’s always preferred princess cut, but it’s cool. What’s done is done.”

“Yes. I did my best,” Drew said, as unamused as Iain. To his left, Emmett wore a crooked grin while mouthing for Aly to behave, and as Aly and I snorted, I groaned inwardly.

Ugh.

I hated myself for wishing this moment were real. But it was just so hard not to.

It was my best friend’s real engagement, and this felt like such an otherwise perfect moment. Aly was dressed to the nines in a glittery champagne colored dress, I was wearing a backless cap-sleeved lace number I was obsessed with, and the guys all looked so absurdly handsome in their sleek suits and ties. They looked like a fucking cologne commercial.

And Drew... God.

I’d actually never seen him in a full suit and tie before and it was killing me. He looked like such a perfect gentleman that it somehow turned me on just to know that he was hiding a whole sleeve of tattoos under there.

“Here,” Aly said, taking an empty bowl and holding it under my chin.

“What?”

“You and Drew are doing sexy eyes across the table at each other and it looks like you’re going to drool onto your dress.”

I grabbed the bowl and practically tossed it back on the table.

“Shut it. It’s not easy resisting him when he looks like that.”

“I bet. I can comfortably say this now that I’m engaged to the love of my life, but Drew looks absurdly good tonight. He looks like a Viking that you tamed and wrapped in a Tom Ford suit.”

“Tamed my ass. Also, are you trying to make it worse for me?”

“No, if I was, I’d tell you that he’s looking at your back right now like he wants to lick it from you neck to your ass.”

“Jesus, Aly.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot of sex and champagne today. I shouldn’t even be in public.”

I managed a laugh with her but I was actually relieved when she had to get up and show her ring to someone she and Emmett knew that worked at the restaurant. Of course, the relief was short-lived because the second she was up so was Drew.

“Hey.” He pulled the chair next to me even closer and sat down. I had barely looked over before he took my hand and held it in my lap as he kissed me. I wasn’t prepared for it, so when he pulled away, I was dizzy. “I can’t stop looking at you tonight, Evie. Iain and Emmett are giving me shit because I haven’t listened to anything they’ve said in an hour.”

When I peered up across the table, I spotted Iain talking to Emmett, who caught my eye, smirked and made a heart sign over his chest with his hands. I narrowed playful eyes at him, not entirely sure what he was saying but pretty certain I didn’t like it.

“You look good too,” I finally returned, letting our legs mingle as Drew sat closer. Maybe it was the champagne, but when he touched my cheek, I let myself close my eyes and lean into his palm.

But before I could relax too long, I heard the return of Keira’s raspy voice with that permanent tinge of mischief.