Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts Page B

freaking football player. Everything a girl could want in a wild one-night stand. And…he might as well have been a rip-out poster for all the desire he brought out in her.
    Zilch. Nada. Zip.
    She was half tempted to kiss him anyway, just to see if she could pretend enough to have a little fun, but wasn’t that beside the point of actually having fun? This was supposed to be her opportunity to cross another item off her list. She was supposed to have a make-out session with this guy in the elevator. Maybe even more, if it went well.
    But all she could think about was Tyler .
    Finally, they reached the lodge.
    “So, Christine.” Joe smiled at her. “Would you like to get a drink with me?”
    She should say yes. She should take him up to her room and lose herself in his touch. Forget all about Tyler Dresco. But she couldn’t. It felt…wrong. Forced.
    Dull and boring.
    “I think I’ll just crash. I have a headache.” It wasn’t a lie. She had a headache, and its name was Tyler. She forced a smile to lighten her rejection, pressing her fingers against her temple. “Good night.”
    “Oh. Yeah, sure.” He dug in his pocket for his room key, and held open the door. Once she passed through, he gave her an awkward hug. Yep. Nothing. All those muscles pressed against her did less to stir her emotions than a cocky smirk from Tyler did. “Catch you later, Christine.”
    “Thanks again for walking me back.”
    “Anytime,” he vowed, his eyes trying to catch hers.
    Christine smiled, even though it felt fake, and wrapped her arms around herself. The dude gave up on flirting with her and left. She sighed and looked over her shoulder, not sure what to do with herself now that her plan to get it on was ruined. Broken. That’s what she was. Or maybe not. Maybe her problem was Tyler and the way he made her feel. He made her feel like he was the one.
    He wasn’t. He never had been.
    So why couldn’t she get him out of her head?
    She headed toward the elevator door. A footstep squeaking on the floor was her warning she wasn’t alone anymore. She turned around, eyes wide when she saw who stood there. “What are you doing here?”
    “You told me to come find you. I did.” Tyler’s face seemed deceptively calm. But she could see the irritation bubbling beneath the smooth surface. He was angry. Or was he…jealous? No. Not possible. “According to you, that means you’re mine now.”
    She shook her head. She hadn’t been planning on him actually finding her. He was supposed to be at the dinner party, damn it. “Excuse me? I don’t remember—”
    “‘You want me? Come find me, Doc,’” he said, his voice low and dangerous-sounding. “Well, I found you. Now I’m prepared to collect.”
    She backed off a step, her heart racing way too fast. Sure. Now she got turned on. Son of a mother’s hairy knee. “That’s not quite what I meant.”
    “Where were you?” he asked, crossing the foyer. “And who the hell was he?”
    “None of your business.”
    He stopped in front of her, his gaze dark. “Who was that man?”
    “None of your business,” she repeated, heading for the elevators one backward step at a time. He sounded jealous. God, that was so freaking hot. “Good night, Tyler.”
    Tyler growled and caught her elbow. “Not so fast. Tell me who that was and what you were doing. Did you kiss him? Did you let him touch you?”
    “He just walked me back.” She watched him through her lashes, inspiration striking. “Or maybe he was my lover, and we stole away for a few minutes of privacy. Which do you think it was?”
    His eyes darkened. “I think if it were me you left with instead of him, I would’ve buried my cock inside of you until you were too tired to stand, let alone leave with another man again.”
    Oh my God. Her knees weakened, and her stomach twisted with desire. He said the boldest things to her. Dirty things. Was he like this with everyone? “How come everyone says you’re so sweet and kind