An irresistible woman. An undeniable proposal.
Even the unthinkable can sound reasonable when you mix alcohol, sexual
frustration, and a bachelorette party—especially a bold proposition. Now
in the light of day, Naomi’s hung over, horrified, and anxious about
facing this complicated man again and the unexplored feelings their
encounter brought with it.
She called, he came, but Ryan didn't exactly conquer. Is it too much to
hope that Naomi will give him a do-over? She can’t avoid him, not when
he’s walking her down the aisle. But who ever heard of a bridesmaid
getting cold feet?
Excerpt:
“I really need to get laid,” slurred Naomi, sagging drunkenly against her friend Becky.
The
entire table fell silent and stared at her. Every squeal over the
upcoming honeymoon, every gush over the bridal gown came to a screeching
halt.
Becky turned on her, aghast, then shoved Naomi upright in her chair again. “What the hell?” she hissed under her breath.
Naomi
scrunched up her brow, perplexed as she weaved and wobbled, trying to
focus on all the faces swimming in front of her. The female half of
tomorrow’s wedding party. Each of them decked out and tarted up for
tonight’s bachelorette blow-out.
“What?”
Naomi asked, stupefied by the wide eyes directed her way. “It’s been
six months. Six damn months!” she added in a woeful tone. “Who wouldn’t
have boner on the brain?”
Two
of the women across the table started to laugh behind their hands, but
Becky shot to her feet anyway and grabbed Naomi’s arm, hauling her up
too.
“Sorry
about this.” Becky gave Melissa, the bride, a pained and apologetic
smile. “I think someone’s had one too many appletinis.”
Becky
grabbed both purses and slipped them over her arm and dragged Naomi
through the crowded club and out to the sidewalk. She caught the eye of
the first valet she saw and handed him the ticket. He dashed off to get
their car.
“He’s kinda cute,” said Naomi, swaying on her heels, her eyes fixed on his back as he disappeared into the night.
Becky gritted her teeth. “Would you stop?”
“Stop what?” Naomi blinked, nonplussed.
“The horny talk. It’s embarrassing.”
Naomi frowned. “Is it? I’m sorry. I just need sex. I really want it, Beck. I want it bad.”
“So I gather. No alcohol for you tomorrow.”
That comment earned a snort. “Who cares about alcohol?”
“It makes you weird.”
“Don’t I know it!” Naomi nodded sagely. “Beck, I’m getting the strangest ideas.”
“Yeah,
I noticed.” Their car pulled up and Becky caught hold of Naomi’s upper
arm and steered her to the curb. A second valet came forward to open the
passenger door while the first man got out and waited for Becky on the
driver’s side.
Naomi
gave the guy holding her door a sweet smile and cupped his ass before
dropping gracelessly into the passenger seat. One of her shoes fell to
the pavement next to the car. The guy bent down and picked it up. He had
a funny little smile going, and if she wasn’t totally mistaken, he was
chuckling.
“Like
Cinderella!” Naomi laughed when he handed it to her then stuck her bare
foot out the open door at him. “Don’t you want to put it on me?”
Becky snapped at her from the driver’s side, “Naomi! Shut the hell up and let the guy close your door.”
Naomi snickered and rolled her eyes at the valet, making a joke of her uptight friend. “Guess it’s time to go.”
He closed her in with a nod and a wink. She gave him a little wave that he returned as Becky pulled into traffic.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?” Becky asked, blowing her bangs out of her eyes.
“She’s
in here somewhere.” Naomi drooped onto her door and squinted at the
strobing lights coming right at them. “Did you notice Ryan at dinner
earlier tonight?”
Becky glanced sharply at her friend. “Is that what this is all about?”
“Hmm?”
“Never mind. Let’s get you home, dump a ton of water into you, and put you to bed. You need to be in good shape by tomorrow afternoon or Melissa’s mom is going to kill you, and Melissa is going to be the one handing her the cake knife she’ll use.”
Naomi
laughed as she pictured the mother-of-the-bride wielding the special
cake knife with color coordinated ribbons fluttering from the handle.
“That’s not gonna happen,” she assured Becky.
“Of course it’s not. Because you’re going home and I’m putting you to bed.”
Naomi gave a deep and disappointed sigh. “Party pooper.”
“And whose fault is that?”
Naomi shrugged then drifted off to sleep. She didn’t revive until the car pulled in front of her duplex.
“We’re here.” Becky gave her shoulder a shake. “Wake up. Are you awake?”
“Yeah.” Naomi blinked and rubbed her temple. “Where’s my purse?”
“On the floor, by your feet.” Becky hopped out and walked around the car. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”
“I’ve
got it.” She shoved her shoulder against the door and nearly tumbled
out. Luckily Becky was there in time to haul her back before she did a
face plant on the driveway. “Thank you.”
Beck held out her hand. “Give me your damn purse. There’s no way you’re going to be able to unlock the front door yourself.”
Naomi
didn’t argue. She took another stab at getting out and managed to close
the car door without catching any body parts in it. Weaving on her
feet, she clomped up the driveway, her gait even more ridiculous because
she was still holding the one shoe the valet had given her at the club.
Becky
had already gotten the door open and the inside lights turned on by the
time Naomi made it up the three concrete steps, grabbing hold of the
wrought iron banister to keep from staggering backwards on her way up.
“Should I brew a pot of coffee?” Becky asked, coming back from putting Naomi’s purse in her room.
Naomi
yawned and mussed up her hair, destroying all the hard work she’d put
into getting the big silky curls just right earlier that evening. “No, I
can manage. Thanks for bringing me home.”
“Should I stay?”
“No. I’ll be fine.”
Becky eyed her skeptically. “You’re sure? You weren’t yourself tonight.”
Naomi
covered her eyes with both hands and expelled a big alcohol infused
breath. “I know, Beck,” she peered out, pouting at her friend. “I’m
sorry if I embarrassed you tonight.”
“I guess we all have our off days. This was yours. I’ll get over it. It’s not like you do this kind of thing, well ... ever.” Becky laughed and came over, giving Naomi a hug goodnight. “So I’ll see you in the morning?”
“At brunch.”
“Eleven. Don’t forget to set your alarm. Something tells me you’re going to need it.”
“I got it. I got it.”
Becky kissed her on the cheek, uncertainty in her eyes as she peered at Naomi one last time. “You sure I shouldn’t stay?”
“Very sure.”
“Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sounds good.”
Naomi
limped to the door and locked it behind her friend. As soon as Becky
had backed out of the driveway, Naomi kicked off her lone shoe, raced to
her bedroom, and dumped the contents of her purse onto the bedspread.
“Oh
yeah!” she cheered. Grabbing the phone, she went immediately to the
wedding party contact sheet on her dresser and followed down the line of
ushers for Ryan’s name.
He answered after two rings. Even tipsy she could hear the question in his voice. “Naomi?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
“At the bachelor party. Why?”
“Here’s
the thing. I know you had a problem with me dating Sam. You were his
friend and I created a lot of tension between you two. I get it. But I’m
guessing some of that attitude was just bullshit. I caught you.”
“You caught me?”
“Yes, I caught you; watching me, looking at me. I could tell you were covering.”
“What’s this all about, Naomi? What’s your point?”
“If you want me, I’m yours. I’m putting on sexy lingerie right now. You have fifteen minutes to get here. You know the address.”
Naomi cut the call and eased open the top drawer of her dresser.
I write stories I like to read--contemporary romances with identifiable
characters and themes. Life is hard. Love makes it bearable. If you
enjoy stories with heat and humor, I have a title for you.
I'm a pampered wife, lucky mom to three amazing sons and one wonderful
daughter-in-law, and I recently became a very young grandma. I should
probably underline the word very. Oh heck, why not the word young too?
Nah, you get the picture. I'm also the daily monitor of one naughty
dog with attitude.
Join Tara Mills on September 28th at 5PM EST over on facebook at Crimson Frost Books Discussion Group for a live chat.
Tara Mills is giving away 5 copies of If You Want Me.
Tour Dates September 23rd - October 4th
This Tour is for Spotlights only!
September 23
September 24th - October 4th
9/24 - Bookworm's Bridgette World9/25 - Kristy Centeno
9/26 - Corey's Book Reviews
9/27 - Sexy Between the Covers
9/30- Rose & Beps Blog
10/1 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
10/2 - Find Your Next Read
10/3 - A Little Fiction of Every Flavour
10/3 - Indy Book Fairy
10/3 - P.T. Macias
10/3 - Musing From An Addicted Reader
10/4 - Viari Rose
