“Huh?” Jake stopped walking.
“Grandma listening to Jimmy Buffett or the fact that she’s drinking nine hours before the pleasure party.”
“Her costume may be a lamp shade,” Jake agreed. “But you heard the woman, and what she says is law.”
“So maybe being eighty-six won’t be so bad.” Char laughed.
“Live by her rules.” He pointed to the kitchen where Grandma was pouring herself a healthy drink. “And I’m sure it won’t be.”
Chapter Forty
“Open the door, Char. It can’t be that bad.” Jake knocked for the tenth time and waited. Char swore on the other end. “Char? I’m waiting. We’re the hosts of the pleasure party.”
“Don’t say it like that.” She said from the other side of the door.
“How do you want me to say it?”
With a groan, she pulled open the door. “Don’t laugh.”
Laugh? Was she insane? She looked like a hotter version of Britney Spears, before the crazy. Her long chestnut hair was straightened and hung past her breasts. She had on a leather hat that matched her short leather dress. She put her hands on her hips; they were covered with lace gloves.
“Get in the bathroom,” he growled.
Char’s eyes widened as she backed up.
Jake kicked the door closed just as his mouth found hers. He lifted her onto the counter and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Damn, you look good.” He kissed her exposed neck. She tilted her head back and let out a soft feminine sigh as her fingers dug into his back.
“It’s time!” Someone banged on the door.
“No it’s not,” Jake argued, not taking his lips from Char’s neck.
“Oh, but it is.” The door burst open, revealing the lady from the store. “Trying out some products, I see? The costumes do it every time.”
Jake jerked away from Char and cursed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“It’s your turn.” The lady handed an outfit to Jake. “Everyone’s ready but you.”
“Right.” He took the outfit. “Thanks for reminding me.”
She stood there and waited for Char to leave before the door clicked shut again.
Char’s outfit had been something out of his wildest fantasies; his couldn’t be that bad, right?
*
“Have you seen Jake?” Jace asked as he took a seat across from Char. “I’ve been meaning to ask him about his toast. I kind of want to do something tomorrow night, too; that is if he’ll pull his face out of his ass long enough to talk to me.”
Char offered a polite smile. “I haven’t seen him yet, but I’m sure he won’t mind.”
“He’s not worth it, you know,” Jace said in a voice so low only Char could hear him.
“I’m sorry; what?” Char took a sip of wine and smiled as friends poured into the large living room.
“Jake.” Jace moved to sit next to her on the couch. “He’s a player. The man’s good at what he does, but he doesn’t do commitment. You should know that.” Jace sighed. “Things with him… relationships with that type of guy… They’ll always be difficult to manage. And in the end there’s always a fifty-fifty chance your heart will get broken.”
“Thanks for your concern.”
Jace winked. “It’s selfishness on my part, purely selfishness. I think you’re beautiful. I’ve only known you for a few days but I’d love to take you out on a date.”
“Well, um, Jake and I, you see, we’re—”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the best man has offered to do a dance for us!”
Offered my ass, Char thought. He’d probably been probably coerced; either that or drugged.
The lights were lowered and then a spotlight went on in the hall. “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” by Big and Rich started to pound through the sound system.
Jake appeared in leather chaps, with something resembling euro shorts underneath but no shirt. No worries there, though: He was wearing a lace tie and a black cowboy hat.
Hot damn, the man looked edible.
Clearly, the sales lady had wiped some product on him by the looks of it; he was glowing with some sort of oily liquid all over his chest. Char’s mouth dropped open when his eyes found hers. With a purposeful strut, he made his way toward her.
Dollar bills were stuffed into his pants as he crossed the living room.
Stopping in front of her, he leaned down low and then straddled her lap. Holy crap, holy crap—she looked around for help. Was he really going to give her some sort of cowboy lap dance? Magic Mike style? In front of the entire wedding party? And Grandma?
With a wink, he began to move across her lap. He mouthed sorry when he elbowed Jace in the face as he did a body roll.
Move over Channing Tatum. Holy crap, she was going to have a stroke.
The chorus hit and everyone joined in on the song. “Save a horse, ride a cowboy!”