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A deep chuckle bubbled up his throat. “You might as well have hiked up your leg and marked me.”

Okay, that pissed me off. Even through my nice little buzz I had going on, he wasn’t going to throw around those kind of assumptions. “No, not even. I just don’t like presumptuous women that think they can march around flashing their assets and can get whatever they want.” I then added for good measure, “And I hate men that fall for it, even more.”

I was glaring at him, but it wasn’t even phasing him. His amused appearance remained. Before he could come back with something that I knew would cause me to give him a tongue lashing, Keegan came bouncing up to my side.

“There you are! I was wondering where you went.” She sounded out of breath, but she looked at Turner out of the corner of her eye.

I faked a smile. “Here I am.”

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” she asked.

I gestured to her brother in law. “I’m not by myself.”

Her smirk indicated she knew exactly why I was out here with Turner.

“I liked the song that came on, so I came out to do a little dancing.”

Her head tilted to the side. “Mhmm. And you dance?”

“Of course.” I twisted my hands together. “It just takes a bit for me to get comfortable.”

“Or a fruity cocktail.” Turner piped in.

Clever man. I bit my lip to hide my smile. I may find him slightly annoying, but his sassy comebacks were entertaining me.

Keegan’s eyes darted between Turner and me. “Uh, am I missing something?”

I shrugged. Turner put his arm around Keegan. “How about I buy you a drink, Beautiful.” He changed the subject.

“I could certainly use another one,” she said emphatically. Although I could tell she was three sheets to the wind and probably teetering on waking up with a killer hang over in the morning.

Turner flagged down a waitress. He handed her his credit card and said, “She’s closing out her tab, put all their drinks on this.”

I could have sworn she said she wanted another one. What was he doing?

Keegan placed a hand on his shoulder and got up on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek. “You’re sweet, Turner, but you didn’t have to do that.” Turner saw she’d reached her limit as well, and she was too drunk to even notice he didn’t buy her another.

Peering down at her endearingly he said, “If my brother just saw you do that, he’d have my ass, you know that right?”

She laughed. “Yep. But he’s not here, so it’s fine.”

He shook his head. “Alright, so enough sweet talk. I think it’s time to get your girls home.”

“Oh it’s okay, Annabelle is the designated driver tonight.”

At least I had the sense to look guilty. Turner cocked his head to the side watching me. “Hmmm, well, that might be a problem.”

Keegan’s glassy eyes were trying to focus on me. “Why’s that?”

“I may have pushed her over her limit,” he admitted.

“Hey, I’m a big girl, I could have refused the drink.”

He raised his brow. “You wouldn’t have.”

“Awfully sure of yourself.”

“Maybe, but I know women, Annabelle.”

His arrogant remark washed over me, reminding me just who he was, and what his last name was. The fun little charade was over, and I needed to remember that I wasn’t interested. Based on how he sank down into his shoes, I think he realized his comment may have come across more crass than he’d intended.

Too late.

“I think it’s time for that ride home now.” The coldness of my voice was heard loud and clear. He effectively categorized me with every other woman in here that had approached him throughout the night. I was ready for my pajamas and my bed.

I walked away from Turner and Keegan and went to the other girls who were now doing body shots off a girl that was lying across the bar. I told them we were wrapping up our night. The bride was done and needed to get some sleep. They bitched and moaned about it, but I refused to leave them here, and wasn’t going to stick around this place any longer than I had too. I’d taken one for the team, and then some. I’d fulfilled my bridesmaid duties and partied hard, but I was done.

When I stepped outside for some fresh air, Turner was following behind with a very inebriated Keegan. He leaned her up against a brick wall and told me he was going to get his truck. Glancing around at my surroundings, we were the only ones on this side of the building. The air was thick with humidity, and after being in an overcrowded room, the temperature felt about the same. I should have asked the bartender for a bottle of water before I left. Leaning against the warm stone, I reached over and brushed Keegan’s hair out of her face.

“You doing okay?”

“Yep.” She hiccupped.

I laughed at my friend. Despite how my night was closing, I was glad I had her, and that she asked me to come. I didn’t question though, that Camden would have had all of our asses if he saw her like this. The door that we’d just came out of flew open and a loud Macie, Erin, and Jordan all filed out with a couple of male tagalongs trailing. Oh if they thought they were all coming to my house, they would be sadly mistaken. Macie was about to dive into a heavy make out session with Surfer Boy, while the other man was sizing up which one of the other two girls would be a for sure deal for him. He was leaning toward Jordan when a black Escalade pulled up to the curb. Turner got out, and rounded the front of his vehicle.

“Ladies,” Turner stated, but was looking right at the one about to devour Macie.

She stopped what she was about to do and childishly stuck her tongue out at him. “Party pooper.” Clearly she heard the warning.

Rolling his eyes, Turner scolded, “Get in the car, Macie. I have a feeling my brother would rearrange that kid’s face if he saw what you were about to do. So don’t make me do it for him.”

“No fun.” She slapped his butt as she passed Turner, opening the back door, and falling inside.

The other two girls piled in, while Turner went straight for Keegan. He took her by her elbow and kept her balanced as he gently assisted her into the backseat. Looking around, I realized there was only room left for me up front with him.
I really should have drank more.
The two guys threw out a couple not so friendly words toward Turner before they disappeared back into the building. I stared straight ahead as he got into the driver’s side and we began moving forward.

“I’m going to need you to direct me. I don’t know where I’m going.”

I nodded, knowing he saw. I should have thought ahead and just called a cab. I didn’t like that Turner would know where I lived. I’m sure he wouldn’t just show up uninvited, but it still was an uncomfortable feeling.

“Go past the hospital and take your first right.”

The girls in the back were all giggling and talking about their night. I was glad they all had a good time, but I knew come morning, I’d be passing out aspirin like it was candy and bottles of water. One of the many reasons I didn’t care to go out and party. Clearly my buzz was gone.

I’d given Turner a couple more instructions before he pulled up in front of my house. He parked the SUV, and got out. I went ahead of him and unlocked the door, turning on all the lights and doing a quick check to make sure that everything was picked up. I was a fairly tidy person, but you never knew if I’d dropped a pair of underwear walking from the laundry room to the bedroom. As the girls all filed in, Turner came in last, escorting Keegan and sitting her down on the couch.

“You might want to make sure they drink plenty of fluids tonight so they feel halfway decent in the morning.”

“They’ll be taken care of.” I followed him back toward the door. The sooner he got out of my house, the sooner I could put my pajamas on and get out of this ridiculous dress I should have never worn. Plus he was making me nervous. Turner stopped just shy of the door and turned around, scanning my home.

“Nice place. How many acres is it?”

I tugged the hem of my dress, not hiding my unease. “Ummm, 4 acres.”

The corner of his mouth raised in a beautiful smirk. “Damn, the hospital must be paying the nurses well.”

“Oh.” I shifted. “This was actually my parents place. I inherited it after they passed. I wanted to live more in the city a couple years ago, but the house was paid off so I figured I’d stay.”

Way more information than he was asking for. When I saw the inquisition on his face, I knew the correct response should have been, “mhmm” and shoved him out the door. Clearly, I was a dumbass.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d lost both your parents.” He look genuinely sorry. But now wasn’t the time or the place.

“Thanks.” I was more snippy than I should have been but I was hoping he’d get the hint.

He did. “Bye, ladies. Have a good night,” Turner called over my shoulder.

I walked him the rest of the way out the door. I expected him to keep going ‘til he got to his Escalade, but for whatever reason he paused.

“Annabelle?”

I stood there waiting for him to say more.

“I apologize for my rude comment tonight. Call it foot in mouth disease.” He tried to laugh it off. “But you’re nothing like those girls back at that bar. I said the words before even realizing how they may have come across and that’s not what I meant at all.”

I crossed my arms over my chest protectively. “Then what did you mean?”

He looked down at his feet. Was I making him nervous? I bet he wasn’t grilled by many women. “It was just me being overconfident is all. Truly, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

I squinted my eyes at him, not sure how to respond. He was being sincere, but I didn’t really want to let him off that easy. I was having a good time. I’d allowed myself to relax a little, I’d let my guard down and accepted a drink from a man I hardly knew. That was so out of character. How quickly I let him have that little bit, and he had to blow it by saying something stupid. But I wasn’t going to make him suffer any longer. I understood what he was saying, and I just wanted him to go.

“Apology accepted.”

For what seemed like the millionth time tonight, Turner did something unexpected. He came towards me, pulled one of my hands away from my body, and lifted it to his lips. It was as soft as a brush of air, but I felt the warmth of the kiss all the way to my toes. No doubt my cheeks were red.

When he release my hand, he seared me with his blue eyes. “Goodnight, Annabelle.”

I swallowed, hard. “Night.”

I stood there unmoving as he hopped off the porch, and got into his vehicle. Even after his tail lights were out of sight, I still wasn’t heading into the house. Turner Brooks was shocking me left and right. The top of my hand was still tingling from his touch, and my mind was in a state of distress. When the motion sensor light that acted as my porch light shut off, I was blanketed in darkness. Letting it wrap around me, I closed my eyes and exhaled.

Indifference, Annabelle, indifference.

There was nothing special about that man besides his looks. He was not God’s gift to women, like every woman in a hundred mile radius made these Brooks boys believe. At least they weren’t anything that I found worth more of my time. Giving myself a couple more minutes, I shook off the edginess that was building inside me, and went back in the house. I sought the comfort of my friends, my surroundings, and of course my cat. Time to forget about my crazy night and be the babysitter I promised I’d be.

“Who needs Tylenol?” I said, stepping inside and wondering who was going to be up first to take me to get my car.

“WHERE THE FUCK DID
he put the ring?” I grumbled as I patted down Camden’s tuxedo jacket. I swear that kid would have lost his brain had it not been encased in his skull.

“What are you doing, man?” Camden stepped up beside me. “I said it was in my pant’s pocket. They’re over there.” He pointed at a pair of jeans strung haphazardly over the side of a chair. I walked over to them and plucked out the dainty, diamond wedding band that I was supposed to hold until the preacher asked me for it.

“Really, Cam? This could have fallen out. Ever heard of a ring box?”

“Relax, I’ve got this.” My little brother tipped his head back and took a shot of straight Jack from a flask. I could see the nerves settling in.