Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters (58 page)

He sipped his drink, waiting patiently as Hayley talked with an older lady who was...who was she again? The groom’s mother? No, the bride’s. He’d gotten so used to seeing Hayley in her dusty work clothes and boots that he’d damned near swallowed his tongue when she’d opened the door earlier. Instead of having her hair pulled back in a ponytail, tonight her hair pinned up in some fancy do that she’d explained was a trial run for the wedding the following weekend. Even in the dim light of the hall, it shone like spun gold. Her white silk top had peek-a-boo lacy inserts along the sides that showed off her curves to perfection. He allowed his gaze to slide down over the curve of her ass and down to a pair of sparkly high heeled sandals.

He shifted, attempting to discreetly adjust the fabric currently strangling his dick. Man, he hoped she didn’t want to stay too late. Anticipation was all very well, but he was going to end up with the world’s worst case of blue balls soon.

Hayley touched the older woman’s arm, and the two exchanged one of those air kiss moves that had always mystified him. When his mother met someone she liked enough to kiss on the cheek, you knew she’d kissed you.

“Sorry about that. Mrs. Demetrios was asking me about some mutual friends of ours and then she got on the subject of Sophia’s wardrobe for the honeymoon...and once she got started I couldn’t get her stopped.”

He liked Sophia, the bride-to-be, and he understood why Hayley liked her, but holy hell the bride’s mother was one of those bridezilla types who had talked incessantly about the two bridal gowns she’d arranged for her daughter to wear, one for the wedding, one for the reception. Both of which were being held in Casa-freaking-Loma. If they weren’t even leaving to go from one place to another, why the hell did she need two wedding dresses?

Max envied the easy way Hayley moved through the never-buy-domestic-cars-or-booze crowd. Not that he cared a damn what they thought of him, but he wondered if Noah might have been a better choice to accompany Hayley. Which perhaps she’d thought too when he’d offered to be her date. If he hadn’t been watching her carefully, he might have missed how her eyes flickered to Noah before she’d nodded. And wondered again if there’d been a hint of disappointment within them.

Hayley sipped from the wine that Max thought was completely overpriced, and eyed him over the rim. “How long have you known Noah?”

Damn it, she was disappointed Noah hadn’t asked first.

“Since high school—we went to the same boys’ school.” Her eyes widened in surprise when he named the school. “I got in because my mom worked a secretary there and finagled my tuition as part of her salary.”

The upper-class kids had not accepted the ‘scholarship candidate’ as part of their ranks—all except Noah who hadn’t cared how big his parents’ bank account was. Or wasn’t. It was only Noah’s friendship that made him go back each day and not beg to be transferred back to the public school system.

“Why do you live together? I mean, he’s
Charles McNaughton
’s son. He could afford to live wherever he wanted, but he stays with you.”

“It’s a long story, but his father got pissed off when Noah announced he wasn’t planning on following dear old dad into the family business. Next thing Noah knows is his trust fund is cut off and his father’s kicked him out of the family. So me and my family are all he has now.”

The DJ changed from some fast rap number that no one could dance to and look dignified to Norah Jones’
Come Away with Me
. Talk about a perfect distraction. Max held out his hand. “Want to dance?”

Aware of heads turning to watch their path, he led her onto the teeny dance floor wedged between the tables. She felt right in his arms—her curves and valleys hitting all the right places.

Max rested his cheek on her hair and breathed in her scent—there was a hint of perfume, probably something expensive, but he liked it. It was subtle and spicy, which suited her perfectly. Between her scent and the way she snuggled against him as they danced, Little Max rose to the occasion. Great, just what he needed—the song would end and she’d pull away revealing his erection.

Dipwad was there, circling the fringes, eyeing Hayley.
Suck it, asshole. She dumped your sorry ass. And if I have anything to say about it, you don’t get a do-over.

The song ended too soon, replaced with yet another of those head-jamming numbers.
Yeah totally not making a fool of myself trying to dance to that.
Max led her off the dance floor. “Want another drink?”

“I’d love one.”

“Why don’t you go grab our seats and I’ll bring it to you.” Max headed to the bar where he asked for a glass of red wine for Hayley and given he’d had a Molson earlier and would be driving later, switched his order to a bottle of water, non-sparkling please.

When he returned to the table, he discovered the other couples they’d been seated with had disappeared, and the seat he’d previously claimed was now occupied by Dipwad himself.

Max hesitated, torn between wanting to protect Hayley and giving her privacy. Not that Darrell was threatening her at all but it bugged Max that he’d have the stones to go anywhere near her.

He jabbed a finger directly at Max, as if there was any doubt as to who he was talking about. “He’s not your type, babe. Trust me. And when it’s all over, no one will see you as someone they want to bring to their family. Not with the reputation you’ll end up with.”

While he wanted to get married one day, saw himself with kids, Max knew Brooks was right—Hayley was too good for him—but not for the reasons Brooks thought.

Oh sure, maybe she’d enjoy one night, a memory for those days when she was president of the PTA with a husband and two point one kids with a house on the Bridle Path or Forest Hill. Which Noah could give her, but Max? Nope. He didn’t run in the same financial circles, and even though he had a good nest egg already put aside, and owned his own house, he sure as hell didn’t want to play in the same sandbox of Dipwad and his friends. She deserved someone better. Which was the only reason he didn’t grab the asshole’s finger and break the sucker.

Maybe Hayley sensed his doubts because she placed her hand over Max’s and squeezed it. “I trust Max way more than you ever deserved. Now why don’t you get back to your date. I’m sure she’s not happy about you spending so much time worrying about me instead of her.”

A dark-haired guy Hayley had introduced earlier as the bride’s brother Nicolas approached. “Hayley, is there a problem? Is Brooks here bothering you?”

“Not at all,” Hayley assured Nic. “Darrell was just leaving. Weren’t you, Darrell?”

Brooks hesitated, his gaze bouncing between Max and Hayley. Eventually he nodded. As he left, he bumped his shoulder into Max, and muttered, “I’m watching you, Moretti. Hurt her and I’ll ruin you.”

Despite how much he wanted to change the direction of Dipwad’s schnoz from its current north-west orientation to the planet Jupiter, he had to respect that the guy seemed genuinely concerned about Hayley. Then again maybe the guy was a controlling asshole who had mastered the art of manipulating her while presenting a reasonable façade to the rest of the world.

Either way neither of them had any say in Hayley’s decisions. If she wanted to date him, or Noah, the choice was all hers.

Hayley squeezed Max’s hand and tugged him into his recently-vacated chair. “I’m sorry about that.”

“No apologies necessary.” He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “Why is he even here anyway?”

“He’s the groom’s second cousin.” Nic pulled up a chair and joined them.

Max grunted. “So he’s family.”

“Yup, and it’s hard to uninvite family, even when they’re total assholes.” Nic eyed Hayley. “Whatever it was he said, forget it. Sophia’s furious at him for the way he treated you, and frankly, I’m not impressed either. You’re better off without him.”

Max decided he liked the guy. They sat and shot the breeze, discussing the upcoming wedding, Nic’s hole-in-one in his latest golf tournament that had got him into the playoffs—turned out the guy was a pro golfer, Hayley’s upcoming projects and a couple of houses she was contemplating buying before Hayley touched Max’s wrist. “Do you want to leave?”

Max debated for a moment, wondering whether to ask her to dance again simply to needle Dipwad who was still eyeing them. Nah, that was something he would have done ten years ago. It wouldn’t hurt that their disappearance would bug Dipwad even more because then he’d wonder if Max had taken her back to his place, or stayed the night at hers. Which suited him just fine. “Let’s go.”

The humidity that accompanied the latest July heat wave blasted them both as they walked from the over-air-conditioned venue. Hayley clung to his arm as they walked across the cobblestones drawing his attention down to the fuck-me heels she’d worn. Damn, he wished she wore a skirt on the job-site every day instead of hiding those fantastic legs beneath her jeans. Because it turned out in addition to being the breast man he’d always thought of himself as, her smooth expanse of thigh and curvy calves were a helluva turn on too. Especially when he imagined them wrapping around his waist.

As they got within sight of his truck, he hit unlock on the key fob. He’d intended to reach past her to open her door, but instead he found himself leaning in, lowering his head until their foreheads nearly touched. The perfume she’d put on earlier had nearly worn off, but the hint of it teased his nostrils, as did the view of a lacy pink bow on her bra.

Her breath hitched and heat poured off her, the air between them crackling. She flattened her hands over his chest, sliding one slim finger through the opening between buttons. “Do you know how often I’ve fantasized about doing this?”

Oh really? The idea that she might have been picturing him instead of Dipwad sent a blast of pleasure through him. “Yeah?”

“For months.” Her tongue made another appearance and her lids fluttered down, hiding her eyes. “How come you’ve not even kissed me yet?”

It was the
yet
that had Max threading his fingers through her hair to cup the back of her head. The
yet
that had him capturing her lips. Her breath was warm on his cheek as she sighed and sank into the kiss, opening her lips, allowing him entrance. She tasted of merlot and the apple crisp they’d served for dessert, but beneath it was a promise of something more. Of acceptance, of love. A promise that he vowed he would not let slip through his fingers.

Max placed his hands on her hips, and slid one hand beneath her silk shirt touching the bare skin of her midriff. “Did you imagine me touching you like this?”

“Yes.” Her answer came out on a sigh as her eyes fluttered closed. “And more.”

His touch moved higher beneath her blouse, until he felt the underswell of her breasts. “Have you fantasized about this,
bambina
?” He’d never in his life used that term with a woman, but after hearing Darrell calling her babe, he didn’t want to use that generic term. Plus it felt right as it tumbled from his tongue. “Have you been wondering what it would be like when I take off your clothes, and put my mouth on these beauties?”

What color were her nipples, he wondered, though he hoped that he’d soon discover the answer. She’d be responsive too, if the way her breathing kept hitching was an indicator.

“Get your hands off her, Moretti.” Something—or someone—yanked on his shirt, pulling him backward. He was slammed into the truck’s door, an arm across his throat. “Hayley, are you okay?”

“Of course, I am. Now let him go. Right the fuck now, Darrell.”

Darrell released his hold and immediately caught Hayley in his arms. “Look at me, let me see your eyes.”

“What the hell?” Hayley shoved him away. “What is your problem, Darrell?”

“I wanted to make sure Moretti hadn’t slipped a roofie in your drink.”

“What?” Max’s jaw dropped. “I don’t need to drug my women to get them to kiss me.”

Hayley slapped Darrell’s chest. “I’m not drugged. Jesus, do you really think that’s the only reason I’d be interested in kissing someone? Or was it more that it was because I was kissing someone who wasn’t you?”

“The Hayley I knew wouldn’t have been caught dead kissing me out in public like this. She would have had more respect. More decorum.”

“That’s rich coming from the cheater who ended up on the Jumbotron kissing someone who wasn’t his girlfriend.”

“This is Moretti we’re talking about, Hayley. Everyone knows he and that buddy of his share their women. You’re destroying your reputation even being seen around him. But if people see you kissing him like that? They’re going to think you’re a whore. You realize he’s probably heard about you wanting to have a threesome and figures you’re ripe for the picking.”

Shit. He thought they’d kept their threesomes discreet. How the hell had Brooks found out about them? And Hayley wanted one? An already erect Little Max perked up in interest.

“I asked Max out, not the other way around. And neither Max nor Noah have ever been anything but a gentleman around me.”

“That’s part of their plan. They sweet talk you and make you think they’re stand-up guys, but the only reason they’re hanging around you is get into your pants. Once they’ve got you into their bed, they’ll move on.”

“No, that’s your specialty, Dipwad,” Max snarled.

Dipwad didn’t back off. “Listen, I totally get that you’re pissed at me, but when we broke up, you said we were still friends, right? Well, now I’m warning you about him as a friend. Have your fun with Moretti and that other guy if you must. But when you’re done, you’re going to be looking for a long-term commitment. Marriage, kids, the whole shebang. I’m telling you, babe, you’re not going to get it with
him
.”

“Like you were such a catch, Brooks?” Max shot back. It gave him an added layer of satisfaction when Brooks sputtered, waved an arm and walked away.
Score one for Team Moretti.

CHAPTER THREE

Neither of them spoke as Max pulled a louie in the middle of Parliament Street to get them heading back north. Darrell had departed, but it left Hayley wondering about Max and Noah’s reputation. Did they share their girlfriends?