The sexy, dark-haired stranger was right—no amount of alcohol would make her forget about the gaping, Grand Canyon-sized hole in her self-confidence. The three shots of Jose should’ve loosened her up, but it was like they’d gone down her throat and poured right out of her stomach, making her feel....nothing. Nothing but stupid.
She hurried across the glossy, white marble floor of the lobby, her sights set on the convenience store, so she could grab a couple bottles of water to wash the pointless booze out of her system. She was stowing her purchases in her purse on her way to the bank of elevators when she ran smack into a tall, hard wall of muscle that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“Whoa, baby, sorry about that.” The guy from the bar gripped her upper arms, steadying her on her feet. Not only was he even better looking up close and personal, he smelled amazing, too. Bastard.
“Are you really? How do I know you didn’t follow me and purposely stumble into my path?” She tried to shift out of his hold, but he held on tight, his mossy green eyes searching her face.
“Hey, I know you,” he slurred and her eyes slid down to the fullness of his bottom lip. Fullness that guaranteed he’d be a great kisser. Jerk.
“You do know me. From the bar about ten minutes ago, remember?”
He shook his head. “No, I mean, you’re from Nebraska, right? River Bend?”
“Um....” There was no way he could know that, unless... “Are you friends with Sean and Russ?” she asked, referring to Mark’s Army buddies who’d come to the wedding earlier.
“Who?” Finally releasing her, he stepped back, his face pinched. Dammit, he had those chiseled cheekbones she liked, too. Ugh. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but I know Josh and Tony. I’m Brody Nelson and, if I’m not mistaken, you’re Reed Fletcher’s girl.”
Oh, hell no. “That I am not,” she snapped, pulling her shoulders back and eyeing the elevator just a few feet away.
“Yes, you are.” He gave a brusque laugh. “I just saw you a couple month’s ago when I was in town for Tony’s birthday.”
So maybe his name sounded familiar, but that didn’t mean she owed him any more of her time. “You might be right, but look...I’m tired and it’s been a long day. I just want—”
“Yeah, yeah. Me, too. I’m headed up—”
“Hey, sexy. There you are.” The blonde from the bar appeared out of nowhere, her creeper focus narrowed in on Brody like a heat-seeking missile. Another blonde, this one shorter, curvier, and dressed in a slinky, black dress, accompanied her. She, too, couldn’t take her eyes off of the man. Sure, he was good looking, but he was also drunk and having a hard time standing up straight. If they wanted in on that, more power to them.
“Uh...” Brody stammered and the ghost touch of his fingers grazed down Jenny’s forearm. A discreet plea for help? From her? Ha. Good luck with that. “Didn’t realize you were looking for me,” he muttered.
“No, probably not. You’ve had a lot to drink.” The bartender smiled deviously and her friend laughed. Jenny’s eyebrows lifted. These two gave on the prowl a whole new meaning.
“You know what that means, right?” the more petite woman asked, her teeth scraping all coy and stupid-like over her bottom lip as she stepped forward, her boobs jiggling under a low neckline. “You’re gonna be a hell of a lot of fun.”
Unless I want to get sucked into some weird fuckfest, that’s my cue to leave. Jenny stepped aside, removing herself as the barrier between the barracudas and the meal they clearly intended to devour.
“Where you going?” Brody snagged her hand and, though he didn’t tug her back into his space, he did blink down at her, his dark eyes both hazy and wide at the same time. “I thought we had plans.”
Uh...what? “Pretty sure you have other things to do. Since it’d be rude to keep these lovely ladies waiting, I’ll just get out of your way.” She nodded toward the elevator and made to leave again, putting a solid ten feet between them.
“Come on, sugar. Don’t be like that,” he tried again and she had to give him an A for effort. Or desperation. Still, she kept walking. The faster she got to her room, the faster she could put this weird scene and this icky restlessness behind her.
“You’re really gonna walk away like—” Brody stopped short when a beefy hotel security guard rounded the corner with a scowl on his face.
“Macy,” the big man rumbled, his chin to his chest and his dark eyes piercing right through the smaller blonde. She looked between the uniform-clad man and the bartender, her mouth opening and closing like a guppy for long enough to be obvious. She was up to no good and she’d just been busted.
“H-hey, baby,” she finally squeaked out. “What are you doing in this part of the hotel?”
“I saw you walk in on the security camera. Saw you go straight to the bar, too.” He flicked a dismissive glance at the bartender, who smirked. Then he swiveled a hard glare, complete with a grunt, at Brody. “You planning on fucking my girl, man?”
The elevator opened, but Jenny didn’t move. How could she? Now if only she’d grabbed that popcorn she’d seen in the store downstairs...
The bartender crept away from the scene, but her friend moved closer to Brody, whose glazed eyes and fogged brain still looked to be processing the situation.
“Nothing wrong with having a little fun, Ray.” The little blonde, Macy apparently, put a hand on Brody’s chest. “You do it, too.”
“I don’t even know you,” Brody mumbled, his words sliding out of his mouth without control. He followed the plea with a stumbling side step and had to use the wall to keep himself upright.
“You sure about that?” The guard took two steps forward and reached out for the front of Brody’s shirt.
“Whoa!” The interruption erupted from Jenny’s lips on its own accord and she flinched. Damn do-good conscience. Damn sympathetic side for men who didn’t deserve it. “Listen, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Over Brody’s shoulder, the guard shifted his focus to her and a small smile softened the hard line of his lips. “You in on this playdate, too?”
Is that what they called orgies in Vegas? Jesus. She shook her head. “No. I mean—”
“I’ll let her do you.” He winked. “But only if I get to watch.”
“What the fuck, man?” Brody shook loose from the guy’s hold, but lost his footing and almost uprooted a potted plant when he tipped toward it. Jenny wrapped an arm around his waist before he made a fool of himself and a mess.
“Sorry, but we’re not into that kind of thing,” she explained to the guard, as Brody slipped an arm across her shoulders and leaned into her. Cripes, he was heavy. “We’ll just be on our way.”
“Yeah,” Brody yammered. “On our way. To our room. Alllll the way upstairs.”
Please, God, let him at least remember what floor he’s on.
The guard laughed, while his girlfriend pouted behind his back. “Y’all have a good night.”
“Oh, we will.” Brody pressed a smacking, lingering kiss to her temple and she bit back a groan. Just get him in the elevator.
She steered him toward the glossy steel doors with a sigh. “Come on, big guy. Let’s get you to your room.”
“Or yours. Whatever.” A low laugh vibrated from his bulky body to hers and he leaned in again, sniffing her hair. “Mmm, you smell like flowers.”
“Oh, good. That’s my stealth asshole defense system kicking in. You’ve got about five minutes until you can’t feel your dick. No promises on your ability to breathe, either.”
He snorted as the doors opened and his feet got tangled up beneath him. Instead of reaching out for something stable to keep him upright, his free hand somehow landed on her boob. He grinned as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist and promptly removed the big paw.