Bedding The Best Man (Bedding the Bachelors Book 7) (7 page)

“Yes, but what? It’s got to be something different, maybe something that hasn’t caught on here yet.”

“That’s it, keep those thoughts coming. I knew when I saw that faraway look in your eyes that something spectacular was coming.”

“Something fresh, sophisticated but unexpected. Something European?”

“Like socialized health care and not shaving your armpits?” Evie joked.

“I beg you to stop helping,” she moaned.

“Sorry,” Evie said with a grin. She leaned forward and rested her chin in her hand. “But what?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Brianne said, deflated once more. She picked up a pencil and drummed the eraser against the wooden surface. “Something glamorous. Think shopping in Paris, or the theater district in London,” she muttered, more to herself than to Evie. “Something cosmopolitan, but with an American lean…something, something like…,” she muttered, trailing off.

Evie jumped as Brianne slammed her palm against the desk.

“Holy hell, what was that for?”

“I’ve got it. Camping!” Brianne cried.

“Whatever, ‘cause that is just so glamorous!” Evie said, annoyed. “We have to be serious here.”

“I am serious!” Brianne insisted. “Okay, not camping, but glamping. Glamorous camping, hence, ‘glamping.’ This could work, this could really work.”

“Glamping,” Evie said slowly. “The trend
has
been on the upswing. Even so, I haven’t heard of a glamping event being done on such a high publicity level before. Only…”

“Only?”

“Only it’s camping. In the outdoors. And you…”

“Crap,” Brianne said, slumping back to her seat as simple reality kicked back in.

“Yeah, you hate the outdoors,” Evie pointed out.

“It’s not that I hate the outdoors,” Brianne protested. “It’s that once we move beyond the beach at a swanky resort, well….the outdoors kind of hates me.”

“To be fair, I think you both have it out for each other. Remember that time Eric took you camping and you freaked out because you thought you got poison ivy but really just brushed up against crabgrass?”

“Hey! I’d never seen crabgrass in my life. My parents were meticulous about our lawn. Or at least, the gardener was. But you know what, it doesn’t matter. If I have to go glamping to beat Leland, I’ll gladly do it.”

“It is a pretty cool idea,” Evie admitted. “So it’s like really fancy tents and catered meals and air conditioners and gas fire pits, and stuff?”

“It is indeed, and huge cushions and comfy beds and twinkling lights and lots of bunting! We could hire different entertainers for the night, and have themed parties. Oh Evie, this could be really incredible,” she said. “Let’s start researching it right away!”

Evie winced slightly.

“What?”

“It’s just…I’m supposed to go out with Jake, remember?”

“Of course. That’s right! I completely forgot.” Brianne made a shooing motion with her hand. “You have a fun time!”

Evie pouted. “And leave you here, working into the wee hours all by yourself? No way! Come with us!”

“Oh no. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“But I am worried. Come on, Brianne. You need a night out.” She moved to the side of the desk and leaned against it. “Jake and I were going to go out tonight anyway. You should come.”

“And be a third wheel? No thank you. Kind of you to offer, though.”

“Aw, don’t be difficult. You wouldn’t be a third wheel and you know it. The idea is, maybe we can find you a fourth wheel, and you can go burn rubber together.”

“That was the worst analogy ever,” Brianne grumbled as she looked at the lascivious grin all over her assistant’s face.

“Whatever,” Evie said, undaunted. “You need something to kick-start your personal life, something to get you revved up. Find some hot guy who means nothing and get him to bang your brains out. That’s a lot better than a lobotomy,” she said, with a knowing nod.

Brianne stayed silent, staring into space while Evie looked at her expectantly. Maybe a one-night stand was all she was really capable of. Since the wedding she had all but convinced herself she was not relationship material. She figured she would have probably screwed it up with Eric no matter what—Gabe or no Gabe.

But the thought of picking up some guy in a bar was not exactly her idea of fun. And, even worse – what if she couldn’t even snag a one-night stand? How bad would that be for her ego? Then she would really need some sort of psychiatric intervention.

“I don’t know, I don’t think I’m ready for that yet,” she hedged, wrinkling her nose. The more she thought about it, though, the less of a bad idea it seemed. Maybe she did need some hot, anonymous sex to prove she’d just needed to get turned on by someone new. That would prove that her attraction to Gabe wasn’t personal, that she was simply not ready for marriage because she still wanted to sow her wild oats.

“Oh, come on, come on, come on!” Evie said, bouncing against the desk, knowing she was getting through to her boss. “I’m not going to stop asking until you come with us. So you may as well give in.”

“Oh, fine! But only because you’re going to drive me batty,” she said with a sigh.

“Great! We’ll pick you up at eight. Dress for casual sex.”

Brianne snorted. “Sounds like it’s going to be a wild night!”

“Start your engine, my friend,” Evie grinned, and clapped her hands.

* * *

The pounding music and the flashing lights were giving Brianne a headache. She really wished she hadn’t allowed herself to be so easily led. She took a gulp of her vodka tonic and hoped the alcohol would help mellow her out, or at least numb the pain.

Evie and her boyfriend Jake were out on the crowded dance floor. Her diminutive assistant was wearing a maroon mini-dress that showed off her delicate curves and made a dramatic statement against the pale beauty of her hair. She was moving sensuously and gracefully. Jake was doing his best to keep up with her, but few could. Brianne smiled as she watched the two of them. They clearly enjoyed each other’s company and were having a good time together. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

She tossed her drink back in one gulp and stood up from the bench seat of the corner table they’d been sharing. Maybe she should hit the dance floor, too. No sense in being a wallflower, after all.

Gabe had implied that she needed to take control of her own life and make things happen.
Well, life, here I come
, she thought, as she forced her feet forward through the pulsing crowd. She was wearing an outfit she hadn’t worn in ages, a sparkly halter top, black miniskirt and black stiletto gladiator sandals. Her dark hair was in loose curls on top of her head and she’d been liberal with her dark eye makeup and red lipstick. She knew she looked good, but couldn’t help feeling a little bit exposed and unsure. She looked like she was ready for some casual sex, as Evie had suggested.

She just had to pretend she felt that way until maybe she actually did.

When she finally squeezed her way over to where Jake and Evie were dancing, it didn’t take long to throw herself into the beat of the thumping techno track. She started to move to the music, smiling at Evie and surveying the dance floor. There were lots of couples, as well as a few groups of women dancing together, dressed as if they were on the prowl for a man just like she was. As she swayed and twisted, her eyes skimmed the tables that ringed the floor. More groups, more couples, and then—oh my, oh my!

A classy looking, seriously hot guy at ten o’clock! He was alone, as far as she could make out. He had thick, blonde hair that he wore swept back off his face, perfect bone structure, and a brooding look. Totally the kind of guy she could go for. And he was checking her out, too.

She turned to see if Evie was watching, but she and Jake were nowhere on the dance floor. She finally spotted them at their table. Weaving her way back through the crowd, she saw Evie frowning over her phone, the screen lighting up her face in the dark room.

“What’s up?” Brianne yelled over the noise.

“I’m not sure,” Evie hollered back. “I gotta go make a phone call.”

Brianne nodded and watched her friend thread her way through the crowd to find a quieter place to make her call. Left alone with Jake, she tried to make small talk, but the noise of the club was too much to take. Finally, they both lapsed into silence, focusing on the fresh drinks the waitress brought them.

Brianne swallowed hers down in a few gulps, wanting the buzz to take over. The headache was still pounding away at her temples. After a minute, she felt a pleasant tingling in her legs and chest that meant the vodka was doing its job, and she smiled. Hopefully it would find its way upwards soon, too.

She swayed in her seat to the music as she waited for Evie to come back, and Jake scrolled through messages on his phone. Brianne had just ordered another drink when Evie appeared back at the table, frowning.

“What’s going on?” Bri asked, concern clear in her voice as Evie slid onto the leather seat.

“My sister was in a car accident,” she said, her face pale.

“Oh my God!” Brianne touched a slim hand to Evie’s arm.

“Is she okay?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, she’s fine,” Evie said, clearly still not entirely believing it. “Totally unscratched, apparently. But her car isn’t, and she needs us to come pick her up.”

Brianne was relieved that everything was okay. Cars were replaceable; sisters weren’t.

Evie turned to her. “We can drop you off on the way, Brianne. The accident wasn’t too far from your place.”

“Don’t worry about it, I can call a cab. Besides, I may stay for one more drink.” Brianne felt oddly reckless. Evie’s sister’s brush with mortality had stirred something in her, or maybe it was just the vodka. Either way, she was determined to live her life a little more adventurously from now on.

“Are you sure?” Evie asked, surprise written all over her face. “I hate to leave you here by yourself.”

Brianne smiled confidently. She didn’t want Evie to worry about her when she had family problems. Plus, she was just tipsy enough to start thinking a one-night-stand really was a good idea.

The waitress appeared with her new vodka tonic. “See, I just got a new drink. I’ll be fine. I got all dressed up and want to put the outfit to the test,” she joked. “Besides, I don’t want you to have to deal with taking me home. We all know that nothing is ‘just right by’ anything else in LA You would probably have to go 45 minutes out of your way. So please, forget it, I can get a cab later on.”

Evie looked reluctant, even as she stood to go. Jake came to her side and slid an arm around her. “I don’t like leaving you.” She gave Brianne a hard look.

“Really. It’s fine. I am fine. Now go!” she insisted, sipping on her vodka tonic.

“Will you text me when you get home?” Evie asked, as Jake started to guide her toward the entrance to the club.

“Of course I will! I promise to give you a full report. It won’t be too late. I’ll be fine. Hug your sister for me.” She smiled as she waved away her friend.

Evie gave Brianne a last concerned look over her shoulder.

“Go!” Bri waved her off.

Finally, Evie let Jake lead her out of the club. Brianne noticed that she wasn’t the only one watching the pretty blonde walk away; a table full of guys were practically drooling as they watched Evie go from the club.

Then they trained their gazes on Brianne.

Chapter Five

Brianne gulped the rest of her drink, grabbed the small black clutch that she reserved for nights out and slid out of the booth. The alcohol was hitting her system and she needed to hit the bathroom to freshen up. When she slid back into her seat a few minutes later, happy that her little corner hadn’t been taken over by someone else, there was a new vodka tonic sitting on the table. She gestured to the waitress, who came over.

“Thanks for keeping me wet,” Brianne joked.

“Don’t thank me, thank him,” the waitress grinned, and leaned back to point out a man sitting at a table by the dance floor, alone—the very same guy Brianne had been eyeing appreciatively while dancing.

She wasn’t sure how to respond. It had been so long since a man had bought her a drink in a club out of the blue. Eventually she slowly raised her hand and wiggled her fingers in a wave to the man, who nodded and smiled back.

“He’s a real hottie,” the waitress said enviously. “Lucky you.”

He was most definitely a fine figure of manhood, that was for certain. That thick blonde hair, the cheekbones, and though Bri couldn’t see his eyes, she was sure they were a beautiful blue. He had the good looks of a model, and there was no denying that he was looking at her with interest.

She felt dizzy, from both the alcohol and the possibilities. He was perfect one-night stand material, at least from the looks of him; good looking, willing, alone. After all, that’s why she had come out with Evie, wasn’t it?

But now that she was here, and allowing herself to envision it, the thought of getting into a car with him and going to her apartment, stripping down to nothing and touching him all over and everything else that came with anonymous sex…well, she just didn’t know if she could do it.