“There they are.” Curtis’s cheek rubs against mine as he points to the tables in the back.

Pretending I didn’t spot them first, I break from the contact and smile. “Great.”

I fixate on Tanner until I glance to Bea, noticing her eyes bouncing between Tanner and me as Curtis and I approach the group.

Turn away, and look somewhere else, I think in my head.

But I can’t.

Tanner has consumed my mind lately, and the fact that he peeked up at the door when I walked in, gives me more pleasure than it should.

“About time, girl.” Bea hops off her stool, and her arms wrap around me.

“He’s been waiting,” she whispers. “Ouch!” she shrieks. She backs up, holding the side of her stomach. “You pinched me.” Her eyebrows scrunch together.

I can’t stop the giggle from her reaction, but it has to end. “Stop it,” I whisper, turning around to find Curtis shaking hands and introducing himself to everyone.

“What?” She inches closer.

I grab her hand, leading her to the restroom.

Unfortunately, after only two steps, Tanner steps in our path. God, he’s gorgeous. Even with his ratty old hat flipped backward, those emerald gems he calls eyes spark visions of them smoldering at my naked body.

“Rushing off already?” His arms cross over his broad chest, and his legs widen in a cocky stance.

“We’re going to the restroom.” I tilt my head with attitude.

His tongue sneaks out, licking his lips. He looks down at my body in a tormenting slow pace, picking up my heartbeat. When he finishes, his eyes bore into mine, and I swallow the last amount of saliva in my mouth.

“Love the dress.”

He sidesteps to allow us through, but my body numbly stands there. I’m like a geek in front of the starting high school quarterback.

“Piper.” Bea’s shoulder bumps mine, and she grabs my wrist.

I shake my head, and Tanner chuckles, knowing the effect he has over me. I hate my body for betraying me.

“See you when you get back.” He winks—fucking winks—taunting me.

He’s fully aware what that move does to me.

Bea yanks me, and my body stumbles forward. Once again, I’ve embarrassed myself. Bea and I escape into the restroom, and she positions me in front of her, her hands holding my arms.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Stop texting me about Tanner and another girl. Don’t tell me that he’s been waiting for me. Your words spur unresolved—I mean, I’m with Curtis.” My thoughts are jumbled, and my words randomly come out, making no sense.

“Okay, I can do that.” She reaches for my hands, pulling me into her.

I finally relax and welcome her comfort.

“From this point forward, Tanner doesn’t exist. Do you want me to body block him all night?”

I laugh into her shoulder. Bea truly is a great friend and there’s no way I could get through this wedding without her.

“I’m serious. You want me to be your bodyguard? I’ll keep the mofo out of your space,” she jokes.

Laughter erupts out of me.

“But, Piper”—her tone goes serious, and she pulls back, her hands gripping my arms again—“you have to do your job. You can’t look at him like you want to take him out back and hump him like a bitch in heat.”

“Bea!”

She giggles. “Come on. If you want me to protect you from his flirtatious ways, you have to help me out. Stick to Curtis’s side, for starters.”

“Okay, but it doesn’t seem to deter Tanner.” I turn to look at myself in the mirror. The torment screams in my brown eyes. How does Curtis not see this?

Bea follows my lead and weaves her fingers through her hair.

“Curtis’s dad wants me to get him a meeting with Tanner,” my confession rushes out.

Her head whips my way. “Seriously? That’s awkward.”

“Well, awkward for me, but they don’t know my past with him.” I swipe my fingers under my eyes to get rid of the smudged mascara.

“Imagine if they did. I have to think that Curtis wouldn’t give a shit who Tanner McCain signed with if he knew the two of you used to rock it and roll it under the sheets. Although, I’m starting wonder if the boy is blind. How can he not see the sexual tension between Mr. Olympian and you?” She raises her eyebrows at me.

“Curtis is all on board. I told him I don’t want to do it, but he guilted me by saying it would help him in the firm and with his dad.”

Bea’s the only one who I trusted with the secret from two years ago.

“So, they’ve never heard the rumors?”

She’s referring to what happened our senior year of college, and I shake my head.

“You know Coach kept the incident quiet. No one will ever dig it up.”

“People like Curtis and his dad have ways, Piper. If they wanted it, they’d get it.” She washes her hands and keeps the paper towel.

“They see him as a big paycheck. That’s all,” I assure her.

She cocks her head. “Just keep those walls up with Curtis for a little while longer. There’s something weird going on.” She grips the handle and pulls the door open.

“You trusted Tanner and look what he did,” I say as I sneak through the opening.

“Tanner made a mistake. Curtis is like a cheetah in the grass, ready to sneak up on his prey.”

I stop in my tracks and turn around to face her. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours. I’m always on your side. But if you really want to know which guy—”

“I don’t.” It’s not hard to figure out whom Bea likes.

In the past five months, she hasn’t shied away from her opinions on Curtis. She believes the money, expensive gifts, and charity functions are all a show. It seems she hasn’t trusted him since their first meeting at the corner coffee shop by her apartment. She’s my best friend, so she’s kept her criticism to a minimum for my benefit.

When I turn the corner, not much has changed. Brad’s at the bar with a few friends, and Bayli’s gossiping with two of her friends in a booth. Dylan and Curtis are talking at the table I whisked Bea away from earlier. The only difference is that Tanner’s missing.

I search the bar but come up empty. Bea walks by me, and I watch her sway her ass toward Dylan. Even when she approaches the table, Curtis’s vision never glances my way, wondering where I could be.

“Looking for me?” Tanner’s chest pushes against my back.

My voice constricts. “No,” squeaks out in a soft voice, holding no conviction.

“Don’t lie.”

My eyes flick to Curtis, who is still enthralled in some conversation with an unenthused Dylan. But I don’t move, even with my brain screaming at me to get the hell out of dodge.

“Why? You’re pretty good at it.”

He doesn’t back up from me, and I can smell the cologne he used to wear.

“If you’d talk to me, I’ll explain.” His fingers graze down my back, goose bumps following his path.

“You’re ready to finally talk?”

“I’ve always been ready, but you’re the one who kept running. This isn’t the place though, not with Mr. Stick Ass two feet away. Here’s a truth though. I’ve waited all night for you to walk through the door. When you did, you didn’t disappoint, except for the scumbag next to you. You’ll always make my heart react when you walk into a room.” His hand molds against my hip, gripping it in his palm.

I suck in a breath while my sight stay glued to Curtis, waiting for him to notice Tanner’s hands on me, the heat radiating between us.

“Save your bullshit for someone else.” I begin to walk away, but his hand grips my wrist and pulls me back into the dark hallway.

His body shelters mine in a tucked away corner by the exit door to the alley. I desperately wish he’d sneak me through the door and slam me against the alley wall. His arm rests above my head while he peers down at me.

“I’ve never bullshitted you, Piper.”

God, my lips tremble, wanting his on mine.

“Stop acting like my presence alone doesn’t make you yearn for my touch. You’re transparent, I know you still want me.”