gave her a narrow-eyed look. “That’s not a good enough reason.”
“It’s the only reason you’re going to get,” she snapped.
He moved closer and she took a step back. Something about his demeanor made her feel…uncertain. He was confident. In control. Her pulse fluttered.
“You’re coming to the wedding,” he said firmly.
“Levi, no. It would be a mistake. You and I should not be doing…this…whatever.” She waved a hand.
He stepped closer and again she tried to move back, but found herself against the wall. He crowded her, pressing his big body against hers.
“Not here,” she whispered.
“I’m not going to fuck you here in your office up against the wall,” he growled. “Although maybe I should. Maybe you’d like that.”
She moaned.
“I just want you to be honest with me. What’s going on?” His lips nipped at her jaw.
“Nothing!” God, he smelled so good, and his big muscles made her pussy quiver. She turned her face away from him.
“That was my sister.”
She went very still. His sister. She swallowed. She mentally sorted through how she wanted to respond to this news. Heat swept down through her. There was no good way. She was an idiot. She’d made a fool of herself. Anger at herself made her push at Levi. “Move away.”
“Fine.” To her surprise he stepped back. But then he further shocked her by lifting a hand to her face, cupping her cheek and turning her head to meet his eyes. “You’re coming to the wedding.”
She held his gaze, her chest going hot and tight at the undeniable command in his tone. “Fine,” she said shortly.
They’d arranged to try on and pick up their tuxedoes for the wedding Thursday at noon. All five guys—the groom, Jacob, best man, Levi, and the three groomsmen, Tucker, Luke and Jacob’s brother Daniel—were there. Levi, Daniel and Tucker were on their lunch break. Luke was an ER doctor and had a day off. Jacob had taken vacation time because Tara had him running all kinds of errands and driving visiting family members around all week.
“I’m not saying she’s Bridezilla,” Jacob said as one of the sales associates in the store checked the fit of his trousers. “But she’s got this wedding app on her phone and she’s keeping track of everything. Including RSVPs. By the way Levi, she wants to know who you’re bringing to the wedding. She doesn’t believe you’re actually bringing a date.”
“I am.” Levi frowned at the rental tux jacket as he put it on. He owned a perfectly good tuxedo, but had to rent this one because Tara had to have all the guys in matching suits, vests and ties.
“Who is it?”
“Sloane Granderson.”
“What?” Jacob’s head whipped around. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.” Levi had mentioned her a couple of times to Jacob, once when they were working out at the gym, another day when they’d had beers after work.
He was still confused about what had gone down Tuesday when she’d tried to get out of coming with him. Intuition told him that it had something to do with her seeing him with Essie, and probably jumping to the conclusion that he was screwing around with another woman. But if that was the case, why hadn’t she just said that?
Because she was jealous. And either she didn’t want to admit it, or she didn’t even recognize it as jealousy.
The last time a chick had been jealous of him, he’d run…fast. Because that meant she was way too serious and no woman had any claim on him or right to be jealous, and he’d see whomever he wanted to see. Those were his rules. But now, the idea that Sloane was jealous at seeing him with another woman, even though it was his bossy older sister, made his masculine pride puff up. That was the confusing part.
“I thought she was a ball breaker,” Jacob said.
He frowned. “She’s a strong, assertive woman.”
“Ball breaker.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes at him. “Why do I have the feeling you’re keeping shit from me?”
“Because I am.” Levi grinned. Yeah, they talked about women and sex and any kinky things they’d been able to get away with—their first blow jobs, first bondage, first butt sex. But he’d noticed that when things got serious with Tara, Jacob had stopped spilling details. And now he found himself in the same weird boat. Talking about the things he did with Sloane just seemed…wrong.
“So you two are dating?”
“I wouldn’t call it that.” He adjusted the tie in the mirror. “Are we done here? I have to get