The Billionaire Matchmaker Test (Billionaire Online Dating Service #5) - Elle James Page 0,41

be at all self-conscious in front of Tag. He’d seen her without makeup and her hair pulled back in a ponytail more times than she could count. He’d come over often when Randy was alive to watch the Aggies football games and grill steaks.

Something about the kiss the night before set Leslie on edge. She felt like she needed to look her best around him.

For heaven’s sake, it was Tag. Her best friend.

Her potential lover…

That thought hit her square in the gut. The man who’d been her friend since forever. And she was thinking about getting naked with him and…and…

She pressed a hand to her belly, her core so hot she might have to take a cold shower before Tag arrived to collect her for the wedding.

Too keyed up to relax, she put on her athletic shoes and went for a walk around the neighborhood. After a mile, she’d calmed enough to return to her house.

Tag arrived shortly afterward.

Leslie had been watching through the window and didn’t wait for him to come to the door. As soon as he pulled into the driveway, she left her house, locked the door and hurried toward his truck.

He saw her coming and got out to open her door. “Hey,” he said, a crooked smile on his lips.

“Hey.” Leslie ducked her head and climbed in, careful not to touch him, afraid the sparks would set off an inferno inside her. She had a wedding to get through. Now wasn’t the time to get all hot and steamy about her best friend.

Once she was in her seat, Tag closed the door, rounded the front of the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. He sat for a minute, hesitating before starting the engine.

Leslie clenched her hands in her lap.

Please, don’t say anything, just drive.

Then he glanced at her. “Look, Leslie, about last night—”

“Don’t.” She raised her hand. “Please. Let’s not discuss last night. Today is Emma and Coop’s wedding. I want to focus on them.”

He opened his mouth as if to say more. A moment later, he shut it and nodded. “Okay.” He started the engine, backed out of her driveway and headed for the little chapel in Hellfire where the wedding would take place.

Leslie sat silent, staring out the front windshield, afraid that if Tag spoke to her, she’d blurt out something she wasn’t ready to say. She felt as if she sat on pins and needles, her entire being on edge and ready to erupt into…something. What, she wasn’t sure. But it all had to do with Tag…and that kiss.

* * *

Several times along the drive out to the wedding venue, Tag nearly pulled to the side of the road to have it out with Leslie. He was past ready to declare his feelings and get them out into the open. He’d held back for so long he didn’t think he could do it for much longer.

However, the longer she sat on her side of the truck without saying a word, the harder it became to strike up a conversation, especially when all he wanted to say was, I love you, dammit!

When they arrived at the wedding venue, Tag parked in the shade of an oak tree. Before he could get out of the truck, Leslie shoved open her door and slid out.

She disappeared into the manor house where the ladies would prepare for the wedding. The men would be in the carriage house on the other side of the chapel.

Tag wanted to go after her, grab her arm and force her to look at him. But she was gone before he could. He grabbed the tux hanging in the back seat and headed for the carriage house.

Coop, Gage, Moose and Sean were inside, along with Emma’s brothers Ace, Dillon, Brand and Colton. They were arguing over the remote control in Coop’s hand.

The poor man was still dressed in his jeans and a T-shirt, his hair standing on end, and his eyes a little wild.

“About time you showed up, Tag,” Sean said. “We were just having a friendly little discussion about what game to watch on the big screen television.”

Tag’s brow wrinkled. “What discussion? The Aggies are playing. End of discussion.”

“So are the Longhorns,” Ace said. “The Aggies don’t know what a football is, much less how to play.”

Coop shook his head. “I didn’t know I was marrying into a family of Longhorns. This could be a deal-breaker.”

“Perhaps we should get Emma over here to settle this,” Colton said. “Does she know you’d