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She blew out a deep breath. Patton was Zach’s brother? Meaning this whole nightmare scenario could get worse? It wasn’t going to end when the wedding was over. No, she’d be running into Patton at every get-together or holiday. Not the most relaxing way to spend her downtime. She sighed. Bianca was her best friend, but she was also Cady’s only family. And she’d be damned if this marriage changed that.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, her agitation increasing. She glanced at Patton again, wanting to say something witty. Big mistake. He was staring at her ear. She took another sip of her drink, resisting the urge to bite an olive off the toothpick. That would be wrong. Too much. A little cruel even. She stirred her drink.
“Having a good time?” Bianca asked, taking one of her hands and squeezing it.
“Yes, of course,” she answered too quickly. “I’m amazed at how everything came together so fast.”
“My mother. Once she gets her mind made up, there’s no stopping her,” Zach explained, slipping his arm around Bianca’s waist.
“Guess it’s a good thing she’s in favor of you two, then,” Patton murmured.
Zach laughed, nodding.
But Cady saw Bianca’s slight frown, her nervous glance between brothers. It was her turn to squeeze Bianca’s hand. She quirked her eyebrow, a silent question. But Bianca just smiled and shook her head.
“Hungry?” Zach asked, tugging Bianca’s arm through his.
“Yes,” she agreed. “Coming?”
Cady nodded, following behind them. She teetered once, but Patton’s hand steadied her. She shivered, the contact of his rough hand against her bare back stirring all sorts of delicious memories up. She kept her eyes front and center, torn between brushing his hand away and turning into him.
She picked up a plate. Patton didn’t.
“Not eating?” she asked.
He shook his head.
She loaded up her plate, trying to listen to Bianca but distracted by him. Patton hovered, steering her in the direction of their table, pulling out a chair for her, making his presence known. He sat across the table from her, against the wall. But his pale gaze always roamed the crowd, scanning, searching. What was he thinking? His face was blank, his eyes shuttered—the exact opposite of the Patton five minutes ago. There was no denying what he was thinking when he’d been looking at her. He wanted her with a ferocity that excited and overwhelmed her... Because she knew how good he was, what he could do to her with a simple touch. How the stroke of his fingers, his tongue, sent her over the edge. She pressed her legs together, throbbing.
“You’ll have to excuse my big brother,” Zach whispered, making her jump. “It’s a cop thing—always on duty. He doesn’t mean to be so...antisocial. Don’t take it personally or let Patton get you worked up, Cady.”
She stared at her plate, hoping it wasn’t evident how worked up she was. “It takes a lot to get me worked up.”
“Zach—” They were interrupted by well-wishers, who drew Bianca and Zach to their feet and animated conversation. Cady dropped the toast point she’d been fiddling with, trying not to look at Patton.
Patton was staring at her when she looked up. “A lot?”
She grinned her crooked grin and lifted her olive-laden toothpick to her mouth.
His nostrils flared and he stared up at the ceiling.
She couldn’t help it—she giggled.
He stared at her then, breaking into a smile that was startling. And utterly breathtaking. He seemed to relax when she put the toothpick back in her drink.
“How’s work?” he asked. “Still putting out fires?”
She shrugged. “Too many fires. Started by the boss’s son. You? Rounding up the bad guys?” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
His attention settled on her arms. “Be a hell of a lot easier if they’d wear black hats.”
She heard the frustration in his voice. “I know you’re a cop but...what division? Or is it department?”
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. “I work narcotics.”
“Drugs?” She sat back, crossing her arms over her waist. She knew the cable crime shows she watched when she couldn’t sleep at night didn’t compare to what the reality was like. But still. “So you must have a hell of a workout regime? Or some over-the-top hobby?” She watched him frown and explained, “To decompress? I’d imagine there’s a lot to decompress from?”
He tapped his fingers on the table, nodding once.
