Indiscretion

“I think I might have to wrap you in bubble wrap until after the ceremony.” Lily shook her head watching me peel dried mud from my dress in the ladies’ room of the restaurant.

“I feel terrible about the cast. I think we can find creative ways to hide it in most of the pictures.”

Lily waved me off. “I couldn’t care less about the pictures. All I want from tomorrow is to marry Ben.”

Her answer made my heart swell, because I knew she really felt that way. The two of them were ridiculously in love. Seeing the way they looked at each other almost restored my faith in relationships. Almost, but not quite.

Lily leaned against the sink and caught my eye. “You and Dawson seem to be getting cozy.”

“What makes you say that? Is it his black eye from our first encounter or him helping me up when I fell in the mud that gives you the cozy vibes?”

She laughed. “I noticed him checking you out when you were getting in the golf cart after the rehearsal.”

I wiped the last of the dried flakes from my dress. “He’s easy on the eyes, but I’m not interested.”

“Why not? You said recently that you missed sex.”

“I do, but that man is gorgeous and cocky. That spells trouble.”

“Are you still texting with Simon? The dentist you went out with in college?”

I nodded. “He’s away on the mission trip he took. But I think we’re going to get together next time he’s back. Maybe he can help me with my dry spell. We had pretty good chemistry back in the day.”

Lily smiled. “You’ll break your dry spell when you’re ready.”

“I hope I still remember how to do it by then. It’s been so long.”

Lily laughed. “It’s like riding a bike, or maybe a horse.”

I thought back to the way Dawson looked naked. That would be some horse to ride. Still, my gut told me he would be a bad idea. A fun one probably, but still a bad idea. “I think I’m going to look for a pony this time, rather than a stallion.”

***

Speaking of men hung like horses…

Dawson was talking to another groomsman as I approached my seat. But his eyes latched onto me and didn’t let go. Every step I took left me feeling warmer under his gaze.

“Are you here?” He pointed to the chair next to him.

“I am.”

“Excuse me.” Dawson abandoned the conversation with the guy he’d been talking to and stood, pulling out my chair.

“Thank you.”

He sat and stretched his arm along the back of my chair, nodding to the table. “The menu with the dinner choices is there. They’re coming around to take orders now. There’s an eggplant dish. Ben mentioned you’re vegan.”

I lifted a brow. “Do you speak about me often?”

“I mentioned you since I had to explain the black eye I had when I showed up at his door this morning.”

I smiled. “Can you believe that was only this morning? It seems more like three days ago.”

“I feel the same way.”

The rehearsal dinner was in a private room at a local restaurant. There were probably about twenty of us seated at one long table. It was pretty, but there wasn’t a lot of room, so we were tucked in almost shoulder to shoulder. This close, I couldn’t help but notice how handsome Dawson really was. His angular jaw, straight nose, and blue eyes were impossible to miss, even from a distance, but his skin was beautiful too—sun kissed and smooth. It made me wonder about his heritage and if he got facials. He also smelled really good.

I got lost in the moment, only to blink and realize Dawson had just watched me check him out.

He smirked. “I think you’re pretty hot, too.”

My jaw fell open. “Who said I think you’re hot?”

“You just did. With your eyes.”

“I was looking at your black eye. And stupidly feeling bad about it again. Apparently, I shouldn’t.”

His smirk widened. “Uh-huh.”

“You’re pretty full of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Just being real.”

“Real full of yourself.”

“I don’t attract women because of my sparkling personality. I tend to be a dick.”

“Oh, at least we agree on something.”

He nodded. “That I’m handsome.”

“God, I was really on point when I told Lily you were cocky.”

He leaned back, and his already big smile grew smugger, if that were possible. “Talking about me to your friend. Nice.”

“For the same reason you were talking about me! I was telling her what happened.”

“I’d already told Lily what happened this morning.”

“We were discussing it.”

“You told her how good I looked naked then?”

My face heated. “No!”

“But you thought it?”

“I definitely understand why you don’t attract women with your sparkling personality.”

He leaned in and lowered his voice. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. I’ll admit I thought of you in those pink pajamas more than once today.”

Gah! I hated that I felt butterflies in my belly. But the huskiness in his voice was something else. I was pretty sure it wouldn’t have mattered what he said. The man could read the phone book, and I’d be turned on.

I was grateful a waiter walked over and interrupted the moment. He held up a bottle. “Would you like wine?”

“Definitely,” I said. “And a generous pour, please. I’m seated next to an egomaniac.”

I knocked back half the glass in one big gulp before Dawson even got his. When he lifted his wine to his mouth, I noticed he had a bracelet on his wrist, along with a sexy, chunky watch. I’d noticed the bracelet when he drove me to the hospital too, but it was the first time I realized it had letters.

“Is that a friendship bracelet? Are you a Swiftie?”

“Definitely not.”

“What does it say?”

He held it out for me to read. A-S-S-H-O-L-E. I laughed. “I’m pretty sure you don’t need that thing. People figure it out pretty quickly on their own.”

He smiled. “Ben mentioned you used to work in the DA’s office in Virginia.”

My face fell. “What else did he tell you?”

“Not much, other than you recently moved to New York. Are you thinking about working at the DA’s office with Lily?”

If he thought the DA’s office there would hire me, Ben hadn’t told him much. I shook my head. “I think I’m done with government work.”

“I keep trying to get Ben to leave. He could make twice the salary in private practice. Probably more.”

I was anxious to change subjects. “Did you hear anything from your assistant about a place to stay?”

“Not yet. She was looking at hotels but couldn’t find anything available. There’s not too much close by. That’s why I’d booked the Airbnb. I usually try to avoid them because they can be inconsistent. I’m sure she’ll find a place on VRBO or one of those sites by tomorrow.”

I sighed. “Okay, well, let me know.”

“Are you offering to share your bed with me if nothing pops up?” He winked, and my stomach did another stupid little flippity flop.

“I was thinking more like you could sleep in your car.”

“Ouch.”

I laughed. “I can probably get one of the ladies in the wedding party to let me bunk with her if you don’t find anything. Hannah is here alone. Her husband is a cardiology resident, and I don’t think he was able to get off work.”

“She was the one in the last golf cart, right? With the red hair?”

I nodded. “She’s Lily’s cousin.”

Dawson lifted his chin, motioning to the other end of the table. “Then I hope her husband’s schedule changed.”

I turned to find Hannah now sitting with Rob, her husband, his arm around her shoulder. “Oh. I guess he was able to get off after all.”

“Maybe I’ll get to see those pink pajamas I couldn’t stop thinking about all day after all…”

“I’m sure you’ll find a place. I wouldn’t start packing your PJs so soon.”

“I won’t. But that’s because I don’t need ’em. I like to sleep naked.”

***

The following morning, Lily asked me to stop by Ben’s cabin. He’d put her grandmother’s pearl earrings in his suitcase, and she planned to wear them as her something old, but she didn’t want to see the groom on her wedding day until the ceremony.

Though it wasn’t the groom who answered the door when I arrived. Dawson was shirtless and sweaty. The other night, I’d been so startled that I didn’t get a chance to fully appreciate the man. His handsome face had caught my attention, and then when the towel came off, I had other bulging things to look at. But I wasn’t surprised to find he had carved muscles everywhere. It sort of went with the rest of the package. Still, my eyes snagged on the thin trail of hair that ran up his glistening torso.

I swallowed and turned my head, diverting my eyes to anywhere but Dawson. “Hey. I’m here to pick up earrings for Lily.”

He opened the screen door and stuck his head out, looking to the left. “What are you looking at?”

“Oh. I, uh, saw a rabbit.”

Dawson scrutinized my face before opening the door the rest of the way. “Uh-huh.”

“I did. He just hopped away.”

“If you say so. Come on in. Ben went to the store, and he didn’t mention any earrings. But he should be back in a few minutes.”

I hesitated.

Dawson smirked. “I’m not going to bite. Unless you want me to…”

I rolled my eyes, but dammit if those stupid butterflies didn’t flutter in my stomach upon hearing that deep, throaty voice again. Or maybe this time I felt the activity a little lower. My body seemed to have a mind of its own when this man said certain things.

He looked me up and down, eyes lingering on my chest before lifting and meeting mine. “You wear a lot of pink.”

“And…?”

He shrugged. “And nothing. Just pointing it out.”

“I believe in chromotherapy. Dressing in bright colors can help improve physical and mental health.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Orange promotes kindness. Perhaps you should try wearing it sometime.”

His eyes sparkled. “It looked like your mood improved just fine seeing flesh color when you walked in.”

“God, you’re such an ass.”

He chuckled and stepped aside. “Come in already. We’re letting the mosquitos in.”

Inside the house, a pull-up bar was jammed between the hallway walls. Dawson grabbed a towel from a chair and wiped the back of his neck. “I was trying to get a little exercise in, in case you decide to invite me for that sleepover.”

“Don’t tell me you couldn’t find a place?”

He shook his head. “Closest thing my admin found was an hour away. I even looked myself this morning. I’m just going to crash in my car and go home early tomorrow.”

“Shoot.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I can’t let you do that.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is. And the cabin is rightfully yours. We can share it.”

Dawson grinned. “Are you soliciting me to sleep in your bed, Ms. Heart?”

“No! I meant…you can have the bedroom, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Nah.” He waved me off. “I was just busting your chops. I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m insisting. You’re not sleeping in your car. Besides, I would never be able to sleep if you did. And I really like my sleep.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It is to me. We’re both adults. The cabin is big enough for both of us for one night.” I wasn’t sure that was true, but we were going to have to make it work. “It’s fine. We’ll share it.”

“Are you sure?”

No. “Definitely.”

“Alright. But you’ll take the bedroom, and I’ll take the couch. I have to get on the road early tomorrow morning anyway, and that way I won’t wake you.”

“Works for me. I like to sleep late.”

“And you’re going to have to wear clothes.”

“That’s fine too.” I shook my head. “Wait. Of course I’m going to wear clothes.”

He grinned. “I guess one of us should.”

“We’re both going to wear clothes and behave ourselves.”

He pouted. “That doesn’t sound like fun.”

“Don’t make me give you another black eye.”

“No worries. I won’t try to sneak into your bed again.”

“Good.”

“Though I will come when you beg.”

Beg. So throaty and sexy. It should be illegal to have a voice like that. “I won’t be doing any begging.”

Dawson’s eyes sparkled. “We’ll see.”