Ducking out onto the beachside terrace just outside the banquet hall, I welcomed the break from having to constantly defend my lifestyle. The chilly North Carolina air wrapped around me as I watched the waves dance in the moonlight.
“That was some speech,” a voice called over.
Turning around, I was greeted by the smiling face of one of my tablemates as he carried a coat over to me.
“Thanks,” I muttered as he wrapped the warm fabric around my shoulders. “Logan, right?”
He nodded before taking a long swig from his rocks glass. “Having a good time?”
I shrugged. “It’s a gorgeous wedding. I’m really happy for them.”
“It’ll be nice to not hear Wilson talk about wedding crap in the locker room for a change.” Logan smiled to himself before leaning on the railing next to me. “So, what’s your deal, Ari? Why are you the last Owens standing?”
Not this again.I rolled my eyes. “I could ask you the same question. Why is a successful, attractive athlete like you going stag to a buddy’s wedding?”
“Touché.” He rubbed the back of his head for a second. “I guess I just don’t like wasting anyone’s time. Most women who want to date me only want to do so because of how many yards I can run, not for me.”
“That honorable, I guess.” The awkwardness of the conversation made me want to find another hiding place.
Without warning, chapped lips landed on mine with a sloppy thud. Taking a sharp step back and consequently ramming my back into the guardrail, I planted my palm right in the middle of Logan’s rock-solid chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hissed, venom in my tone as the words spewed from my tongue.
“Wasn’t it obvious?” he teased, taking a cocky step forward with a smug, crooked smirk.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone who is a cliché, and frankly, I’m not going to be branded as one ofthosebridesmaids.” Turning my nose up as he tried to widen his grin, I couldn’t help but notice how adorably lickable he looked in the moonlight and that perfectly fitted tux.
“You must forgive my naiveté, but what do you mean bythosebridesmaids?” The air quotes he put around the last two words were laughable.
“One of those desperately depressed spinsters who hook up with vulture bachelors at weddings just because they’re jealously love drunk from the evening’s festivities,” I scoffed, damning him for how trapped he had made me so abruptly.
“Now, you really think that highly of me, do you?”
Fuck he’s hot.
Not at your sister’s wedding, Ari.
“Jumping to conclusions is a talent of mine, a honed skill from years of dealing with these awful affairs.” My wit with a subtle hint of bitchiness didn’t seem to throw him off.Impressive.
“Next you’re going to say I’m a good-for-nothing jock who doesn’t know Seuss from Poe or a kindergartener’s watercolor from a Rembrandt.” His teasing was welcomed. I was a sucker for good banter.
“And now you’re going to wow me with some bullshit from the few cultural classes you were forced to take while getting a full ride for being able to run fast with a ball clutched in your grasp.”
He chuckled for a minute before retorting, “Would it impress you to know that the Ivy League schools don’t give out athletic scholarships?”
“Good for them?” I crossed my arms over my chest as my resolve to resist the bearded hunk in front of me started to dwindle.
“I guess you’re right—it is good for them—but you didn’t answer my question about you being impressed or not.”
“Only if you know that lovely little factoid from experience.”
“Bow, wow, wow,” he chanted loudly as his chest puffed out with pride.
“So you’re telling me the North Carolina’s Hogs’ most valuable player, the one who scored the game-winning touchdown only a month ago, is a Yale alumnus?”
“Impressive, isn’t it?” The alluring simper returned as he killed the rest of his drink.
While he clinked the ice around in his empty glass, I grabbed the sides of his face and crushed my lips to his.