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Ethan swiveled his head around and grinned at the girls. “Mind if I steal Becca for the rest of the afternoon?”
“Of course,” Katrina chirped. Then she frowned. “Wait, she’s our designated driver.”
Gabrielle jumped in. “Tina can drive. She hasn’t had anything to drink yet.”
Before Tina could argue, Ethan wheeled Becca toward the door. “You’re a lifesaver, Tina. See you girls later.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ethan pressedhis hand to the small of Becca’s back as they headed down the street. She let out a laugh and glanced over her shoulder at the dress shop.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m rescuing you.”
She laughed again, spinning around as she did. Her hand slipped into his. “When I told you that you could crash the party, I didn’t think you’d do something like this. You’re gonna make Tina so mad.”
Becca gasped, stopping so suddenly his hand ripped from hers as he continued walking.
Ethan turned to face her. “What?” He didn’t think her eyes could widen any more than they already were, but they did. She shot another look toward the shop even though they were too far away to actually see it, then she hurried toward him.
“We shouldn’t have left.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because Tina’s engagement was broken off.”
“Yeah, you said that.”
“I know, but think about it. Now that she doesn’t have a guy to worry herself about, what is she going to do?”
He didn’t have the answer to that question. He’d finally accepted he didn’t know Tina at all. He couldn’t predict what her next move would be if he had a crystal ball.
Ethan must have had really blank expression because Becca groaned with exasperation.
“If Tina doesn’t have a boy to brag about, how else is she going to get the attention off Katrina and onto herself? I bet you anything she pulls another stunt the closer we get to the big day, if not on the big day itself.” She smacked her head with her palm. “We have to do something.”
Becca spun around to charge back to the shop, but Ethan grabbed her wrist tightly, causing her to stumble back to him.
“Easy.”
She blinked at him. “Easy? How can you say that? We need to keep an eye on her. She’s gonna?—”
“She already had her engagement broken off. That’s gonna win her a decent amount of attention today. It might even last over the next couple days.”
Ethan waited for her reaction. While his excuse held water, he wasn’t quite sure how she’d feel about his real reasons for dragging her out of the dress fitting. But this morning had been somewhat of a wakeup call.
Becca had managed to get to him. He couldn’t figure out what it was exactly that had him so intrigued with her. All he knew was that it had been growing since the moment she’d pretended to date him.
All he knew was that he wanted more of it. More time with her.
She blinked once more. He could read the hesitancy plastered all over her face. But right there with it was something else. Could she be yearning for that same connection he’d felt in the early morning hours?
Ethan grinned. “How about you and I take the rest of the afternoon and let Tina have this one. Sure, Katrina’s wedding is around the corner, but it’s not today. We can do whatever you want. My uncle practically forced me to take a couple hours off.” His hand slipped down her wrist and connected with hers. Their fingers intertwined, he tugged her a step closer. “Besides, we have an image to uphold, don’t we?”
It was that last question that tipped the scales in his favor. A smile tugged at her lips, and she moved toward him without prompting.
“I suppose we could let Tina dwell in the mess she’s created for herself. Everyone deserves to have some fun. There’s going to be a wedding, after all.”
