Tempting the Best Man - By J. Lynn Page 0,15

was no way that was going to happen. And he doubted Mitch would be so supportive if it became reality and one took into consideration Chase’s track record with women and the DNA he shared with his father. Mitch’s suggestions weren’t a green light.

Folding his arms, he ran his gaze over the sea of faces laughing and drinking around him.

There she was, by the benches. She had to be on her fourth glass of wine by now due to the amount of empty ones sitting around her, and if she was still anything like he remembered, this was going to be a long, albeit interesting, night.

Maddie.

Little freaking Maddie…

When he’d kissed her earlier… God, he didn’t know a more responsive woman. The way she arched into him… The breathy feminine sound she made had nearly undone him, and that had been his wake-up call, but she had been so damn hot.

She was still too damn hot.

Chase widened his stance, biting back a growl. What had happened this afternoon, like what had happened that night in his club, had been a mistake. A mistake he enjoyed, but something that couldn’t happen again. That was his best friend’s sister…

Who was now standing on a bench, a half-empty wineglass hanging from her slender fingers as she swayed her hips to the light thrum of music coming from inside.

God. Damn.

One of Mitch’s work buddies stood below her, grinning like he just won the fucking lottery or something. Or, as she raised her arms and her body moved in sensual curves to the rhythm of the music, the guy was thinking his chances of getting laid tonight were pretty high.

Without thinking, Chase pushed off the railing and took a step toward them. Seconds away from walking right up to her and pulling her off that damn bench, he forced himself to stop. What the hell was he doing? She wasn’t his problem.

But damn if a part of him wanted her to be his problem.

Going back to leaning on the railing, he clenched his jaw shut so tightly that his teeth ached. Who was that tool talking to her, coaxing her off the bench? Robby? Bobby? Some dickhead name like that?

Whoever he was, he reached up, placed his hands on her hips, and lifted her down onto the floor. Her soft laugh travelled across the deck, and every muscle in Chase’s body locked up.

“What crawled up your ass, bro?” Chandler demanded.

Chase ignored him, unable to look away from the situation unfolding before him.

His oldest brother followed his gaze and chuckled. “What is little Maddie up to over there?”

“Nothing but trouble,” Chase muttered.

Chandler laughed. “She’s just having fun. There’s nothing wrong with her dancing with some guy.”

He so did not agree.

“She ain’t a kid anymore,” Chandler added, like Chase needed help realizing that.

Anger pricked at him. “She doesn’t even know that guy.”

“So?” And then he seemed to understand. “Aw, man, you’ve got to be shitting me.”

Chase’s head whipped toward his brother. Any other man would’ve cowered away from the dangerous look on his face, but not his brother. Nothing scared Chandler. “What?”

“Don’t even try to pretend.” Chandler shook his head and then laughed. “You’ve got it bad for Maddie.”

He scowled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.” Chandler propped his hip against the railing and glanced over his shoulder. “Mitch will probably beat the shit out of you.”

Like I don’t know that already, but thanks for pointing it out. Chase’s gaze swung back to Maddie. There was still some space between her and the tool, but she was smiling at the guy—the kind of smile that was innocent and sexy as hell all at the same time, and Chase’s gut clenched.

Chandler clasped his shoulder. “But I think after he knocked the crap out of you, he’d probably thank you.”

Doubtful. “For what?”

His brother stared back at him like Chase was an idiot. “Maddie could end up with someone worse.”

“Wow. Thanks.” A wry grin tugged at his lips.

“You know what I mean. Once he gets over the idea of you and her, he’d be more than happy about it. He knows you. Trusts you.”

Yeah, and that was the bitch of it. Mitch trusted Chase, so doing anything with Maddie was spitting in Mitch’s face, ’cause there was no doubt in Chase’s mind things would end badly. “Yeah, it’s not going to happen,” he said finally.

Chandler was quiet for a long moment as his gaze fixed on the swaying grape trees. “You want to tell me why?”

“Do I need to?”

There