it myself, because he’s oh-so busy with whatever the hell guys like him do with their time.
Probably getting wasted, or banging some girl in the closet—that big-breasted bridesmaid, in fact, by the way he’s eye-sexing her.
The crowd quiets down.
Jax puts down his fork and smirks. “Finally. You guys are loud enough to put me to shame.” Shoots that charmer smile of his again and, of course, everyone laughs. I’ve been in Rock Bridge a total of four hours so far, and I’ve already heard all about The Legendary Jax Beckett. Man-whore extraordinaire, and co-owner of a bar appropriately called Outlaws, with older brother Smith and youngest brother, Asher, who’s sitting to Smith’s left.
Jax continues speaking as the laughter dies down. “Okay, we’re all here because tomorrow, my brother is marrying Aubrey, a woman who obviously has no idea what she’s getting herself into with our family.”
Aubrey rolls her eyes at his smirk and shakes her head. “Trust me, I know. We all do.”
The table gives another good-natured laugh.
Smith shoots Jax a heated glare, to which Jax chuckles and holds up a hand in defense. “Anyway, I never thought the day would come with the infamous Beckett bachelors would be saying goodbye to one of their own.” Something odd flashes in Jax’s eyes, but he blinks it away and makes his smile wider, teeth gleaming in the glow of the hotel restaurant lights. “Smith couldn’t have found a woman better suited for him though. Aubrey’s strong, caring, and anyone with half a brain can see how much she loves him. And I see firsthand the way her love has changed my brother from a man focused solely on work to a man living his life. Hell, it almost makes a guy like me want to settle down.”
Aubrey strokes the back of Smith’s neck and presses a kiss to his cheek. He turns and gives her a smile just for her. The heat between them is palpable and I feel myself blushing, just seeing what’s passing between them.
The bridesmaids all swoon at Jax’s words, a couple of them pressing their hands over their hearts and peering up at him.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes hard at them, at him. He’s saying the right words, seeming like the best brother ever, but it’s totally a veneer. Can’t these girls see that? This entire speech sounds like it’s been crafted to land him in bed with someone.
Jax goes on, talking about his brother and Aubrey’s future, cracking a joke or two, never forgetting to connect eyes with everyone at the table. When his gaze lands on mine, he pauses, blinks, and his smile grows slow and predatory as his eyes narrow.
God help me, I know better. I know better, but something about the way he’s looking at me, like he wants to devour me, makes my lower belly tighten in response. I force myself to give him a disinterested look in return.
He smirks, and I simultaneously feel the urge to kiss him and smack that knowing look off him. Damn him. I keep the blandness on my face, thinking about the most boring things I can—rice crackers, dry wheat toast, elevator music—until he slides his gaze down the line. Finally, Jax lifts his almost empty wine glass and says, “To Smith and Aubrey. May they know infinite happiness and love.”
The crowd applauds and cheers and toasts, and as Jax settles back into his seat, the girls across from him practically throw their clothes at him in an effort to praise him.
I purposely don’t look at him the rest of the dinner.
The wedding party has a block of rooms at a locally owned hotel on the edge of Rock Bridge. There’s a garden gazebo with an expansive, landscaped lawn and pristine lake, where the wedding is supposed to be held—assuming the weather holds the way it’s predicted to.
Then the reception dinner following immediately after the ceremony will be in the hotel’s large dining hall, which has already been decorated to the nines and is awaiting tomorrow’s festivities.
After the rehearsal dinner, I meander outside past the small cluster of smokers, cinching my light blue jacket a little closer around me, and step into the gardens housing the gazebo and lake. The spring night feels good, though a bit nippy.
Moonlight sparkles in the crisp black sky, and stars glitter above me. The sky is clear and perfect, and I can’t stop staring at it. I’m tempted to lie down in the grass and slide my