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“Once again, I’m shocked.”
“So what are you doing here?” I questioned. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the guys right now? Weren’t you supposed to be fishing or whatever you’d planned?”
“We cut it off early. Turns out getting on a boat first thing in the morning after you got wasted the night before isn’t the best idea.” His lips twitched. “I think Connor and Ari are still puking.”
“You’re a very sweet friend.” He shrugged off my sarcasm before coming closer, and oh, God, I wished he wouldn’t, even if every atom of my being screamed for more. He smelled like musk and sunshine, making my muscles freeze in apprehension and anticipation at the same time.
What would I do if he reached out and stroked my cheek the way I’d seen Barrett do to Lourde countless times? Probably melt into a puddle or burst into flames.
It’s never going to happen. I wasn’t the girl men pursued. Not men like Magnus. I was only a joke to him if he paid attention to me at all. So, although goose bumps pebbled my entire body and I had to remind myself to breathe, I pretended his closeness meant nothing, even when he leaned down to read the back cover of the book I’d picked out.
“Sounds spicy.” He glanced at me, brows raised, and my insides clenched. We had never been this close, and it was doing things to my body. To think, he hadn’t put a hand on me, and I was ready to melt. “So, is this what gets you going? Historical bodice rippers?”
“How do you even know what a bodice is?”
“I’ve heard the term.” His lips lifted in a smirk. “Would you prefer the word smut instead?”
“It’s historical fiction.”
“It looks sexy.”
It did, sort of, based on the cover art. “I enjoy history.”
“How was it described?” He leaned in again to read the text. “Pulse-pounding action and adventure that could leave two hearts united… or destroyed forever.” He quirked that perfect eyebrow of his. In fact, everything was perfect about him. It was infuriating. “I didn’t think you had it in you. Maybe there’s more to you than meets the eye.” He punctuated his statement with a snide laugh.
The laugh was what did it. What reminded me who I was, who he was, and why it was a good idea for us to avoid each other at all costs. “Isn’t there some girl who’s too young for you walking around somewhere, waiting to be picked up?”
He checked his Rolex and chuckled. “Now that you mention it, I’m sure there is. I need to solidify my post-bachelor party entertainment plans.” With that, he winked an impossibly blue eye before turning and sauntering away. He even had the nerve to whistle.
It was official. I was going to have to kill Magnus before the week was over.
Otherwise, I would have to climb his muscular, divine body like a tree, and I knew what an impossibility that would be.
The ringing of my cell couldn’t have come at a better time. I assumed it was Lourde or maybe Barrett. The sight of my doctor’s name on the screen set my heart racing instead. “Hello?”
4
MAGNUS
“To the happy couple.” Connor held up his glass, cueing us to do the same. “I hope you have nothing but years of happiness ahead of you. And although I was against this in the beginning—”
“That’s an understatement,” I muttered before coughing to cover it up.
“As I was saying.” Connor shot me a dirty look before continuing, “I was wrong. I know that when I see the two of you look at each other. I’m so happy you’ve reached this place together. And Barrett?” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do I have to say it? Hurt her, and you’re dead.”
“What a sweet ending to your toast,” I snarked, but Lourde looked like she expected nothing else from him. We all toasted to their happiness, and they kissed before the other happy couples did the same.
The only two people who weren’t in the middle of kissing happened to be me and the girl sitting on Lourde’s right-hand side. Like she felt me thinking about her, Evelyn glanced my way from across the round table. As soon as eyes met, she looked away before lifting her glass to her lips.
“Evelyn has a big announcement too.” Barrett beamed over at her, and I watched as her cheeks went red.
Did he notice the way she closed up when he mentioned her? It was obvious she didn’t like the attention.
“What’s up?” Olivia leaned in, her brows lifting.
Evelyn cleared her throat. “It’s really not that big of a deal.” She shot a panicked look at her brother, who was so busy being happy he was completely oblivious.
“You don’t need to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I offered, and Barrett scowled at me when all I was trying to do was help the girl out. Just because she was a bitch on wheels didn’t mean she deserved this embarrassment.
