It wasn’t real. She’d played the part of the vixen while he’d pretended to be…whole, complete. Two things he could never be. He wasn’t built that way.
Last night was a mistake. He’d given in to that little voice inside of him that yearned for more. He wasn’t capable of giving a woman his heart—if he even had one. Thanks to a miserable childhood void of warmth and kindness, the only connection he was capable of was the one forged with the Abbotts.
And it didn’t matter if Bridget “Birdie” Dasher was the most alluring and disarming woman on the planet. He wasn’t about to lose them. They were the closest thing to family he’d ever known.
This was war. And thanks to a career spent callously dismantling companies, he’d allow that side of him to take the Dasher sisters down and put the brakes on Tom’s wedding.
Bridget cleared her throat. “I don’t think I heard you correctly, Dan. It sounded like you said that Soren and I will be sharing a room.”
That’s what he’d heard, too, and also could use some clarification. He took in the crowd, watching their exchange, and forced himself not to react. He had to play it cool.
“That’s exactly what I said, Birdie. There are five guest rooms in the mountain house. Tom and Lori are sharing room one. Denise, Nancy, and the children are in room two. Grace and Scott have room three, and the judge and Russell are in room four. That leaves room five which—”
“Which was going to be for Garrett and me,” Bridget replied in a tight whisper.
Irritation pricked through his body at her response. “Is that his name? Garrett?” he asked a little more forcefully than he’d intended. Why did it bother him that some asshat cheated on her? What was it to him? But that didn’t stop the drive to want to kick the guy’s ass.
“Yes, I guess everyone knows why he’s not here. I’d forgotten about the room situation. Everything’s changed so fast,” she said, trailing off, her gaze awash with bewilderment.
No shit, life had changed fast! Since meeting her, his entire life had turned upside down.
She caught his eye, and the woman looked as disoriented as he felt. But, damn, if he didn’t want to kiss her until her eyes gleamed with unbridled passion like it did last night.
Enough! He could not let his mind go there.
Russ shuffled forward. “Scooter could room with the judge. I’d be happy to take one for the team and bunk in room five with Birdie—on the sleeper sofa, of course,” Russ offered with a casual wave of his hand, but the guy’s eyes were trained well south of Bridget’s face.
He stared hard at the man. He’d always liked Uncle Russ. The guy was clueless and got shot down by women left and right, but he was harmless. Except now, the thought of Bridget sharing a room with him made him want to kick his ass—after he finished kicking the ass of her ex-boyfriend.
Jesus! He’d known Bridget for a day and already had two asses to kick, and he didn’t even like the woman!
“No, I’ll bunk with Birdie,” he said in his best do-not-fuck-with-me voice.
“You will?” Bridget asked with that adorable crinkle to her forehead.
He had to stop noticing everything about her. It didn’t help that he’d spent the better part of an hour watching her sleep last night. And then, did it again in the car before, like a total sleep-deprived sucker, he’d fallen asleep with her in his arms.
He schooled his features. “It’s like you said. The best man and maid of honor duties start now, right? It’ll be easier to get things done if we’re in the same room.”
She narrowed her gaze, sizing him up. “True.”
He glanced around the group to find all eyes still trained on them.
“It’s settled. Bridget and I will take room five,” he said, hoping he looked decisive and not like a sap who’d spent twenty minutes cataloging the adorable smattering of freckles on her nose.
Dan clapped his hands. “It looks as if everything is coming together.”
That was an understatement.
He did his best to appear like someone not plotting to ruin a wedding. “Dan’s right. Let’s get this day started. Have fun on the slopes. Birdie and I will take it from here.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this arrangement, Birdie?” Lori asked with a brow crease that matched Bridget’s.
The women did some weird eye thing before the hint of a playful grin