Tempting the Best Man - By J. Lynn Page 0,43

endings—but she had no other choice.

Chapter Ten

Avoiding Chase had been successful through most of the rehearsal. Up until they lined up for the bridal procession. She hadn’t been alone with him yet, but there was no escaping him now.

Madison fidgeted with a strand of her hair, desperately going for the unaffected look, but Chase’s presence beside her was like standing next to the sun, too hot not to feel and too powerful not to look upon.

Staring straight ahead, she pretended to be engrossed in what Sasha was saying to Chad. It had something to do with safe words, and she really wished she hadn’t heard any of that. The funny thing about Chad and Chandler was how she did see them as brothers of sorts. Hearing that kind of stuff made her want to gag, but Chase was different. He’d always been different.

“We need to talk,” Chase said quietly.

She feigned innocence. “About what?”

His brows slammed down, and she knew right then that he saw through her. He knew her too well. “You know exactly what.”

Madison didn’t really want to get into the why behind the reason he left her this morning, moved out of the cabin before she even opened her eyes. And if he offered an apology for last night, she would hit him. Seriously.

Crossing her arms, she refocused on the back of Sasha’s platinum hair. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Bullshit.”

At the sound of Chase’s growl, Sasha glanced over her shoulder, brows arched, but Madison pretended she hadn’t heard anything.

Chase shifted closer, lowering his head as his fingers cupped her elbow. She jumped at the unexpected jolt that sent heat zinging through her veins. Against her will, her eyes found his, and she caught his smug grin.

“That’s what I thought,” he said.

She didn’t move, couldn’t or just plain wouldn’t. “Thought what?”

When he spoke, his voice was a whisper against her cheek. “You’re pretending like nothing happened, that you’re unaffected, but I know better.”

Madison bristled and shot him a glare. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t pretend now. You’ve been hiding from me all day like a little coward—”

“A coward? God. You—”

Up ahead, the wedding planner cleared her throat, interrupting what would have been an epic tirade. “All right, we are going to run through the bridal party,” the planner said, voice clipped and as professional as her tight ponytail and crisp pants suit. “At the start of ‘Canon in D,’ the first couple will lead off and I will give a signal to each additional couple.”

Couple? Madison jerked her arm free.

Chase smirked.

The classic instrumental music keyed up, and the first of the procession started forward, arm in arm.

Madison fixed an icy glare on Chase. “You’re an arrogant ass,” she finished. “I’m not caught up in you as much as you think I am.”

“Says the girl who smacked me yesterday and then screamed my name as—”

“Shut up,” she hissed, cheeks flushing,

Sasha and Chad went next. The bridesmaid was clinging onto Chad’s arm as if she feared he was about to run off. Smart move.

Chase offered his arm. “M’lady?”

Rolling her eyes, she debated ignoring him, but that would draw unnecessary and unwanted attention. Several eyes were already on them. So, okay, more attention.

Begrudgingly, she placed her arm in the crook of his. “We’re not going to talk about last night. It is what it is.”

He stared. “You make no sense.”

“And I drive you crazy. I get it.”

“Miss Daniels and Mr. Gamble,” the planner called.

Together, they started forward stiffly. It had to be obvious to everyone present that something was going on between them. Chase looked like he wanted to strangle her. and she had the wide-eyed, deer-in-headlights look. When they reached the end of the aisle, they parted ways. Taking her spot beside Sasha, she glanced over at the groomsmen.

Chase watched her with an intensity that both unnerved and kindled excitement inside her. Betrayed by her heart and now her body, she forced herself to look away. Confusion swept through her like a cold splash of water. Chase didn’t understand her? Well, they were two peas in a pod, then, because he’d made it clear yesterday he’d only been interested in a one-night stand. And he’d gotten it.

Unease replaced the confusion rising in her like wisps of acrid smoke.

After Lissa made her entrance, the practice run went smoothly and quickly. Dinner was being set up in the nearest dining hall, and although she was hungry, her stomach roiled. The air became stale in the lodge, and she felt as if she couldn’t get a