Page 24 of Without a Hitch
Eli: Is he hot? If he owned your body, would you like it?
Hadley: Eli! Not helpful!
Eli: If you’re into him, go for it. Men do it all the time. Be a boss bitch of your body, baby!
Tilly: I’m going to do it.
Hadley: Don’t you dare.
Eli: If you get more than two orgasms, he’s a keeper.
Delaney: Eli!
Eli: If you don’t get any, run as fast as you can.
“Pepper?” His close proximity and breath on my ear cause me to jump in my seat and I bobble my phone.
“Jesus, Blaine. What the hell. Warn a girl! And my name is not Pepper.”
“I know. It’s Abby, but tonight? You’re my Pepper. Want to know why?”
Desperately!I want to scream, but force myself to swallow the word since my mouth is unhealthily dry.
“You’re fiery, Pepper. Sprightly. A sassy little pixie who gets shit done, and I find that sexy as fuck.”
It’s like he’s seen past the façade I present to the world in a misguided attempt at protecting myself. I’m not sure how to feel about that. No one ever sees me, not really anyway. I also think I might whimper a little when he says the word fuck. My lady bits are one thousand percent dancing a jig. He has a lilt to his voice that reminds me of London but is mostly Americanized, and I cross my legs to ease the tingling it causes in my panties.
“I’m curious,” he drawls. “How did you draw the short stick?”
The low rumble of his voice shakes the cobwebs from my brain. “Excuse me?”
“Well, it seems like someone’s trying to take a piss out of the wedding, and they tasked you with babysitting her.” He raises his brow toward Olivia, and I flinch.
Crap. No one’s supposed to know I’m babysitting the baddie!
“You hide it well, Pepper. But I’m paying attention.”
“To what?” I gasp. My heart speeds up like it’s the lead car in a NASCAR race, and I feel slightly lightheaded.
“You.”
Amusement and heat shine from those knowing blue eyes. This man sets me on edge and sets me free at the same time. It’s a heady combination, and for the first time in my life, I’m feeling truly confident in my own skin.
“If you were paying attention, you would have noticed that I’m just a good friend who intends to make sure this wedding is perfect.”
“Why?”
Why? Is he serious? It’s like he lit a fire under me, and I’m about to give him the happily-ever-after education of his life!
“Why, what?” I nearly spit. I blink a few times at the vehemence in my tone while straightening in my chair to collect myself. He sits calmly and waits for me to continue, and I have the ridiculous urge to ruffle him.What would it take to make a man like this lose his cool?My cheeks burn, and I force myself back on track.
“It’s a wedding, Blaine. The most magical day in a girl’s life. Literally what all our fantasies are made of since the time we’re ten. Okay, maybe since I was ten, but most girls have a dream wedding, and my friend paid a lot of money to be a princess for a day. I’m just making sure nothing messes it up.”
“Because you want your friend to have the best day?”
“Because I think everyone deserves to have their happily ever after and not worry about a spoiled brat ruining it,” I say with a huff.
“Do you believe in all that?” His tone has gone soft, almost uneasy, like he’s disturbed by my answer.
