“T-Tyler Havenhurst. I think.” Tyler grabbed Derrick’s hand and shook it with great zeal. “My cousin talks about you all the time. He thinks you’re great.”
“Well, I’m honored to be your cousin’s best man, Tyler. Phillip’s been a good friend to me since high school, though we haven’t seen each other very much the last few years.”
“I’ve been dying to meet you. I think you’re great too.”
Tyler continued to shake Derrick’s hand. “You totally saved that last game. We were down for the count, and you came through for us. We owe you, man.”
Derrick gently drew his hand away and shrugged. “Happened to be a good night, I guess. I’ve had a few rough ones too. Trust me.”
Cassie sidled up next to me and giggled. “Ooh, if Derrick Richardson has any flaws, I don’t see them.”
I couldn’t really argue that point. Still, I didn’t understand why everyone seemed to be fawning over this guy. Except for the gorgeous physique, he appeared to be perfectly normal.
My father headed off to greet our new guest, then disappeared outside to tend to the meat on the grill. The yummy scent of barbecue permeated the house as the back door opened. Yum. I could hardly wait. Let the others make a big deal about the baseball player. I’d stay off in the shadows. That’s what the fifth-in-line bridesmaid usually did, right?
Phillip introduced Derrick to the rest of the group, and before long everyone was gathered around the food table, nibbling on appetizers. Derrick and I both reached for the nacho dip at the same time and our hands bumped.
“Oh. Sorry.” I pulled my hand away.
“No problem.” As he withdrew his own hand, his beautiful brown eyes locked with mine. “I would never fight with a girl over nacho dip. You go first.” He gave a funny little bow and flashed a boyish smile. Yep. Great white teeth. Definitely a shoo-in for a toothpaste commercial. Or maybe those teeth-whitening strips.
My heart did a funny little fluttering thing, and I released a slow breath. No way would I make a goober of myself over this guy like the other girls had done. Better stick to business.
“Thank you.” I grabbed the spoon and put a hefty scoop of dip on my plate. “And by the way, this is a very special nacho dip. I make it with spicy sausage. I’d be willing to bet you’ve never had anything like it.”
“Well then, forget what I said about not fighting with a girl.” He snagged the spoon from my hand. “Out of my way, Southpaw.”
“Southpaw?” I stared across the table, up into his eyes, feeling a little confused.
“Yeah. You’re a leftie, right?” He pointed to my hand, the one he’d pulled the spoon from.
I chuckled and pulled my hand away. “Yeah, I’m a leftie. But don’t hold it against me.”
“Hey, some of the best players I know are southpaws.” His face turned red. “Not that I’m calling you a player.” Now he shook his head and grimaced. “I’m always putting my foot in my mouth.” Derrick took a large scoop of my nacho dip and then stuck a chip into it. After shoving the chip into his mouth, a deliriously happy look came over his face. “Mmm.”
Okay, I had to admit, he looked mighty cute—er, handsome—standing there with a dribble of nacho cheese dip on his lower lip. I fought the temptation to reach up and wipe it off with a fingertip. Instead I pointed, and he reached for the napkin I offered with my right hand.
“Here’s something better you can put into your mouth.” My father plopped a large platter of barbecue onto the table in front of Derrick, who practically drooled as he stared at the burgers, chicken, steak, and sausage.
“Oh. Wow.” He wadded up the napkin I’d given him and reached for a fork. After loading his plate with enough meat to make a healthy carnivore swoon, he nodded and smiled at me before heading to the far side of the room to join the other guys.
Seconds later, the other bridesmaids joined me at the table, with Tyler tagging along behind them.
“Wow, Derrick talked to you.” Cassie giggled. “Lucky duck.”
I shrugged, still not understanding the swooning going on with the other girls. “Yeah. He seems really friendly. Normal.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing normal about Derrick Richardson.” Sienna giggled. “Nothing at all.”
“True. He’s way out of my league.” Brianna sighed and scooped some dip onto her plate.
“Not sure what we did to land him in this wedding party, but I could pinch myself. I get to walk down the aisle with him at the end of the ceremony!” Sienna pulled out her cell phone and snapped a photo of Derrick. From a distance, of course. Without his knowledge.
Crystal walked up, her eyes narrowing to slits as she glared at her best friend. “Don’t you dare post that, Sienna. We need to give Derrick some privacy. He’s just a normal guy, you know.”
“So that’s what normal looks like.” Tyler looked up from his plate of tortilla chips and sighed. “Bummer.” He stuck a chip into his mouth and walked away from the group, muttering something about how he’d never really wanted to be normal anyway.