Page 42 of Bridesmaid for Hire
I’m glad I was able to seize this one.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BRODY
HOW DOES SHE DO IT?
How does she become the center of attention without becoming the center of attention?
Her conversation skills are unmatched. Her ability to charm is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.Yes, I can admit she’s charming as fuck.
And that smile. Everyone is captivated by it…even me.
She has taken center stage at this mimosa party and yet, she’s still able to make it all about Haisley and Jude.
Not sure I’ll ever understand it.
Maggie leans into me as we rest on a lounger together. That’s another thing. She makes it so easy to be friendly with her when all eyes are on us. In the bungalow, when she’s swatting my hand away, that’s a different story, but this girl must have been an actress in a former life because even her body language is breathing truth into the false story we’re projecting.
Still leaning in, she places her hand on my thigh and tilts her head onto my shoulder. She’s total girlfriend material right now and I’m relieved that she’s so fucking good at this that no suspicions are raised—but it also freaks me the fuck out, because I like it.
I like the way she smiles up at me.
I like when she casually drapes her hand on my leg.
I like when she leans into my chest and uses me as her own backrest.
Because I get to smell the sweet scent of her hair and be the recipientof the smile thatdidcapture me on her twenty-first birthday. The very day I decided there was no way I’d ever let myself get close to her, because she was danger. She was addictive. And I wasn’t going to fall for that addiction. There’s the unwritten code that you don’t go after your best friend’s sister, mainly because if that relationship goes sour, how are you supposed to be friends after that? You can’t. And Gary is my man, so like I said, I wasn’t falling for that temptation.
But, fuck, Gary’s wedding was a weak moment for me, a slip of my resolve, but the moment I realized what I was doing, I backed away. I did everything possible to ensure I was never in close proximity to Maggie again. I fucked other women.Moved onfrom the attraction that could go fucking nowhere.
And I was doing pretty damn well, until she showed up at the same resort as me.
Now…fuck.
Nope, not going there. Keeping this completely platonic.Deflect, deflect, deflect.
“Ooh, you’re Bobbies fans?” Maggie says. “Uh-oh, did you hear that, Brody? The enemy is sitting across from you.”
Hardy, the easygoing one says, “Don’t tell me you’re a Rebels fan.”
“Guilty,” I say, lifting my champagne up to my lips.
“Come on.” Hardy tosses his hands up. “Here I thought you were going to be a good guy and you throw that down on us. How can you possibly like the Rebels when the Bobbies have the dynamic duo?”
“Two words.” I hold up two fingers. “Maddox Paige.”
Hardy rolls his eyes. “Jesus, that’s all you have?”
“Jason Orson,” I counter.
Hudson shakes his head. “The only thing Jason has going for him is his potato salad.”
“Potato salad?” Maggie asks next to me. “Oh wait…is that why you take potato salad to my brother’s house every time he hosts a party?”
“You take potato salad to parties?” Hardy asks. “Is it homemade?”
Before I can answer, Maggie says, “You have to understand something. Brody and my brother, Gary, bonded over the Rebels from the very beginning. They have rituals that they perform before every playoff season. The potato salad is just the tip of the iceberg.”
