Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,31
tipped his hat at her as Denise said, “I need a drink.”
She walked away from him, and Blaine went after her. Tam had given him explicit instructions to make sure Denise didn’t get drunk today, and Blaine had a suspicion the next three hours were going to be trying. So trying, he’d want to drink to forget them.
He arrived at the bar with Denise and waved away the bartender’s question as to what he wanted. He leaned against the counter and faced his date. “Tam told me you get three drinks today.”
Denise turned toward him, and while she wasn’t his type, she was pretty. She had long, dark hair she’d clipped back on the sides, and big brown eyes that could probably devour a man with a single look. “What?”
Blaine smiled at her and leaned closer, having spied the groom as he came out onto the patio. Having a wedding outside in July was ridiculous, but Blaine could ignore the sweat running down his back. “The good doctor is right behind you.”
She tensed, but she didn’t move. Blaine put his hand on her hip and smiled as if she’d just told him something he was thrilled about. “Three drinks, Denise. For the whole party. You can have them all now and then hang on my arm until you can walk on your own. Or space them out.” He chuckled and leaned even closer, his mouth right against her ear. “It’s up to you, but I’m not arguing with you about it. Now, put your hand on my shoulder or my arm.”
Denise placed her hand on his bicep, and that got her to relax and lean toward him too. “Thank you for doing this, Blaine,” she said.
“Sure,” he said, though he hadn’t been as agreeable until that moment. “Just so you know, Denise, you don’t have anything to prove to him.”
“I know it’s stupid,” she said, but the anxiety still lived in her expression.
“Denise?”
Blaine looked up at the groom, and he slid his arm around her as she turned toward him too. “Oh, hey, David,” Denise said, her voice falsely bright. She stepped into him and hugged him, and Blaine just watched.
She returned to his side and indicated him. “This is Blaine…” Her eyes widened, and pure panic filled them. “My boyfriend,” she finished.
“Nice to meet you,” Blaine said, extending his hand for David to shake. “What are you a doctor of?”
“I have a PhD in Health Sciences,” he said.
“I have no idea what that means,” Blaine said with a chuckle.
“No one does,” Denise said, laughing afterward too.
Dr. David Frank did not laugh, and he looked around like he’d rather be anywhere else. “Excuse me,” he said. “Lovely to see you again, Denise.” He strode away, and Denise turned to watch him go.
She sagged into Blaine afterward, giggling again. “I have a PhD in Health Sciences,” she said in a deep voice, and they laughed together.
“You sure you’ve only had that one drink?” he asked.
“He’s such a tool.” Denise sipped her drink and stared after David. “I don’t know what I saw in him.”
“Sure you do,” Blaine said. “He’s tall and good-looking, for one. He’s probably employed, and he’s educated. He has money, and you know, those two first names.” Blaine shrugged, watching the man smile falsely at a pair of people a generation older than him. Probably his bride-to-be’s parents.
Denise laughed again, though Blaine felt a bit bad for poking fun at the man’s name. He couldn’t help that.
Tam approached, and Blaine cleared his throat and straightened. “What are you two giggling about?” she asked, her eyes glued to him.
“First,” Blaine said. “I don’t giggle. Second, you owe me a year’s worth of work on the ranch for this.”
“Come on,” Denise said. “You’re having fun.”
“Not because of you,” he said. “I actually am having fun. I just mean because of this heat. Who gets married outside in July?”
“Abby’s been praying for a cold spell,” Tam said.
“She didn’t pray hard enough,” Blaine said dryly.
“Maybe the Lord won’t listen to her, because she steals people’s boyfriends,” Denise said. Tam gasped, and Blaine turned to stare at her too.
He reached out and took her still half-full glass of wine from her. “I think you’re done, Denise.”
She let him take the glass, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes,” Tam said with a small squeak. Her blue eyes danced, and she grinned like a wolf who’d just found his next meal. “Yes, you did.”