Page 143 of Bridesmaid for Hire
He rubs his jaw. “Didn’t expect the week to end up this way, that’s for damn sure.”
“Neither did I. Although, I did find that guy in a Speedo.”
He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Want me to wear it later for you? Do a little pelvic thrusting your way?”
“You’re an idiot.”
He laughs and squeezes my hand. “And yet, you choose to claim me as yours. Can’t be that much of an idiot.”
“No, you still are.”
“Is that what attracted you to me?”
I step over a shell and say, “Weirdly, yeah. I liked how fun you were, and I was kind of jealous of Gary getting to have all the fun with you.”
“Jealous of your brother? Ooh, don’t tell him that. He’ll never let you live it down.”
I poke his arm. “I’m counting on your discretion.”
“You don’t need to worry about me saying anything. I know the repercussions won’t be good for me if I divulge such secrets. But seriously, you were jealous?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always had so much fun with Hattie, but when I saw you with Gary, you guys were on another level. You were fun and exciting, and I just wanted to be a part of it. And of course, I thought you were my brother’s hot friend, a hot older guy, and that didn’t hurt the image of you I had in my head.”
“Tell me more about that.”
I nudge him with my shoulder. “I’ll pass. Your ego is big enough.”
“You’re right. If it gets any bigger, it might not fit on this island. Might knock Daddy Reggie right into the lagoon with it.”
“And I think he’d be more pissed about your ego knocking him into the water than you scaring his fish away.”
“Daddy Reggie scared that fish away himself the minute he aimed that spear at my junk. No way in hell was I going to be quiet.” He leans in close and says, “Maggie, my nuts were almost his own personal kabob. I can handle screaming over a bush cutting my leg, or having a ball being thrown at my junk at warp speed, but Jesus Christ, testes on a fishing spear? That’s where I draw the line.”
I laugh. The joy he brings me is so freeing, like all the stressors and deadlines that I have to deal with just float away. And that joy is ever-present now that we’ve dropped the frustration between us. It’s almost as if he’s a different person from the man who ran into me by the resort pool earlier this week. The frustration of holding back feelings and not being able to truly express how we felt for each other created an animosity between us, and now that it’s gone, I feel like a new person.
“I’m glad you have your limit—I was starting to question you for a moment,” I say.
“I’m all about climbing the ladder in business, but testicle-piercing is a hard no from me.”
“Seems fair.”
We pass a couple who are sprawled out on a towel, making out very aggressively. He’s on top of her, hand on her breast, her legs are spread and there is no doubt in my mind why he’s on top—to conceal the obvious boner the man must have. Inappropriate for public, but also kind of hot.
“Check out that tongue action,” I whisper to Brody.
He glances at the couple, and I watch a slight smile tug at his lips. “Elegant and a bit slutty. I like it.”
I chuckle. “How would you rate our tongue action?”
“Hmm, great question.” He looks out toward the lagoon, his eyes squinting against the sun’s reflection off the water. He left his sunglasses in the cabana and I’m happy about it—I love looking at his beautiful eyes. “Well, the night of Gary’s wedding, there was tentative tongue action with a hint of desperation. I enjoyed it immensely. Made me hard as a goddamn stone and left me craving so much more.”
“Same,” I say as I smirk up at him.
“And now…well, I wouldn’t say eloquent at all. I don’t think there’s anything fancy about us when it comes to our mouths molding together or our bodies jostling.”
“Oh my God, don’t say it that way.”
“Theyjostle, Maggie, that’s what happens when people are ravenous for each other. Which means only one thing. Our tongue action, well…it’s horny.”
