Chapter 22

Cassie looked her over and then drained her glass. “I find it interesting that you have slept with an ex but not with your groom-to-be. Don’t you find Nathan attractive?” She didn’t answer and Cassie let the moment be drawn out before saying, “Or maybe he doesn’t find you attractive.”

Ainsley jumped to her feet, her face coloring, her fists clenched at her sides and her mouth screwed up in a scowl. She opened her mouth to say something back to Cassie but at that moment the door opened and the object of their discussions walked in. Ainsley’s face morphed into the adoring fiancée before Cassie’s eyes and she just shook her head.

“Lunch is ready,” Nathan said looking between his bride and Cassie, an odd look on his face. “Maree asked us to come and escort you ladies into the dining room.”

Ainsley smiled sweetly at him and took his elbow without sparing Cassie another glance. Cassie climbed to her feet unsteadily, swaying slightly as her head spun. Little balls of foil fell to the ground as she stood, the result of her chocolate binge. A strong hand grasped her elbow and helped her find her balance and a familiar scent enveloped her. She breathed it in and smiled up at the piercing green eyes that looked down at her.

“Irish,” she slurred, “we were just talking about you.”

“You were?” he asked, cocking that infernal eyebrow, his eyes crinkling in mirth.

Cassie leaned towards him to whisper in his ear. “There’s a rumor that you’re very well endowed.”

He made a choking noise in his throat and she just smiled up at him serenely.

“Let’s go eat,” he said huskily in her ear, “and then I’m taking you home.”

“To show me?” she asked giving him, what she thought was a seductive smile.

His eyes darkened and his nostrils flared. She shivered and brushed her peasant shirt out, releasing another whole clutch of chocolate wrappers. She watched as the brightly colored foil rained down around her feet. Brian followed her eyes and took in the wrappers and empty wine glasses.

“Food,” he said, steering her towards the doorway. “Now.”

She really did like it when he growled at her like that and took charge. She smiled and let him lead her into the dining room.

Cassie was drunk. She leaned heavily on him as he guided her into the dining room and sat her down in her assigned seat. He grabbed a bread roll from the basket in the center of the table and tore it in half, buttering the soft fluffy insides liberally with butter.

“Eat,” he growled into her ear, liking the way she shivered at the sound of his voice.

She broke off a piece and put it in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. He glanced around the table to see Ainsley and her maid of honor shooting daggers at Cassie. The other two bridesmaids were looking at her too, but more like they were waiting for the entertainment to begin. What the hell had happened in that room before he got there?

Brian took his seat beside Cassie, scooting his chair close so that he could keep her upright, she was leaning alarmingly to one side and he didn’t want to have to scoop her up off the floor. He reached for the jug of ice water and filled a glass for her, shoving it into her hands.

“Drink,” he said.

She gulped the water and then set it on the edge of the table, and he managed to rescue it before it toppled off and drenched them both.

“So bossy,” she said. “Eat, drink. I’m not Alice.”

“What?” he asked looking at her, puzzled.

“You know, Alice when she follows the rabbit down the tunnel and finds herself in the house with the notes that say ‘eat this’ and ‘drink this.’”

He rolled his eyes at her. “Are you sure you’re not Alice?” he asked. “Because you’re certainly acting strange.”

“I think it’s the champagne,” she stage whispered, and bridesmaids Two and Three sniggered behind their hands. “Champagne makes me loopy.”

“And chatty, apparently,” he said. He should be annoyed at her, but hell, she was cute when she was drunk.

“Too chatty,” Ainsley sniffed.

O-kay. Cassie had obviously said something that the bride hadn’t liked. Cassie popped another piece of bread in her mouth and chewed happily.

“Are you sure you should be eating all that bread?” the maid of honor asked (God, what were those bridesmaids' names?). “Remember how Ainsley wanted us all on that cleansing diet so we fit into our dresses?”

Cassie shrugged one shoulder, “My man wants me to eat, so I eat. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” she said turning to him and smiling sweetly.

“I think it would be best for all of us if Cassie ate something if only to soak up all the alcohol she consumed.”

“Don’t forget the chocolate,” Cassie added. “I consumed, cons…, consumed a lot of that too.”

He had to bite back his grin at Cassie’s slurring. She was so fucking adorable and he couldn’t wait to hear what else came out of her mouth.

“Chocolate?” Ainsley asked. “You weren’t eating the chocolate hearts, were you?”

Cassie widened her eyes and covered her mouth. “Oops,” she said and then looked at Ainsley with a repentant look. “Was I not supposed to?”

Ainsley crossed her arms in a huff and stared daggers at Nathan who swallowed visibly.

“Now, now,” Nathan said, trying to placate his bride. “I’m sure there’ll still be plenty to go around.”

“No, Nathan, there won’t be,” the maid of honor said. “We only bought two hundred and fifty and we had to order them in specially.”

“We’ve still got a couple of days, I’m sure we can get more.”

“No,” Ainsley said, “it took two months to get them flown in from Belgium.”

“That’s why they were so good,” Cassie said. “Belgian chocolate is the best.”

Brian coughed to cover his laugh. God, Cassie was a menace and he loved it.

“It’s all right pumpkin,” Ainsley’s father said. “I’m sure we can get something to replace them in time.” He shot an accusing look at Brian. “Maybe your new brother-in-law could take it upon himself to fix it.”

Brian grinned. “It would be my pleasure,” he said gleefully. He didn’t care what it cost him, he was happy to pay it to see Nathan squirm and Ainsley stew.

Cassie leaned her head on Brian’s shoulder. “Isn’t he the absolute best?” she said dreamily. Her head popped up and she leveled a look at the two bridesmaids. “The rumors are true by the way.”

Their eyes widened and then they dissolved into laughter. Brian felt his cheeks flush as they gave him appraising glances.

“What rumors?” Nathan asked, looking between the four of them.

“The one about Brian’s—”

“He doesn’t want to know, Cassie,” Brian said cutting her off. He didn’t mind her substantiating the rumors of his manhood, but he didn’t want it done in front of his mother.

Thankfully the food was served and the conversation was interrupted before Cassie could say anything more. Nathan glared at him across the table as Cassie draped herself across him. He moved his arm so he could put it around Cassie’s shoulders and she smiled up at him.

“You have the most amazing eyes, Irish,” she murmured to him. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers.

“Thanks, Blue,” he murmured back, “I like yours too.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s cheating. You’re meant to compliment me on something else.”

“Okay then,” he said, dropping his head and whispering in her ear so that no one else could hear. “I love your hair and I can’t wait until I can wrap my hands in it and tug on it while I bury myself in you.”

She moaned and her eyes closed. “Fuck,” she whispered. “I want to do that.”

He grinned and then nudged her, “Eat,” he said.

Her eyes opened and she looked down at the salad in front of her. His plate held a nice thick steak, a baked potato, green beans, and mushroom gravy. She took a look at his plate and pouted.

“How come Irish gets steak and I have to eat rabbit food?” she whined.

“Irish?” Nathan asked. “Why do you call him Irish?”

“Because of his beautiful green eyes,” Cassie said, stabbing at her lettuce dolefully. “It was the first thing I noticed about him.”

“How did you two meet?” Patrick asked curiously. “I don’t think I’ve heard the story.”

“I was in a bar,” Cassie said, laying her fork down, “drowning my sorrows after a bad breakup. Irish came in and sat beside me.”

“I’d had a bad day at the office,” Brian took up the story, “so Blue and I cheered each other up with tequila shots.”

“There’s a story to tell your grandkids,” Ainsley said with a roll of her eyes.

“You have a Nickname for her too,” Nathan said through gritted teeth.

Brian shrugged as he put a piece of steak in his mouth and chewed.

“He calls me Blue,” Cassie added helpfully, “because of my red hair.”

The two bridesmaids cooed, the maid of honor thinned her lips, the bride rolled her eyes and Nathan scowled.

“That’s original,” Nathan griped.

“I like it,” Cassie said, stealing a bean off his plate. “It’s better than Bae.”

Whoa. The look Nathan leveled at her could’ve cut glass. She scored a direct hit with that comment and he couldn’t be happier.

Brian cut a piece of steak and offered it to her as a reward. She leaned forward and slipped her mouth over his fork while he held it and he had to bite back a groan. This was definitely not the place to be having those kinds of thoughts. She pulled the meat off with her teeth and grinned up at him. She chewed for a bit and then her face began to drain of color. Her hand clasped over her mouth and she shoved her chair back.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” she said before racing from the room.