Unwrapping the Best Man by Rachael Stewart

Author:Rachael Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-09-03T18:49:47+00:00

* * *

Ash and I watch as the ladies walk off and I have to keep my teeth glued together to stop myself gawping. Ash is too busy grinning like the cat that got the cream to worry about gawping.

‘Take it you approve of the get-up?’ I say, turning to the bar and motioning to Bates for two shot glasses and the vodka I favour.

Ash joins me, his elbows leaning on the bar as he cocks his grin to one side. ‘Hell, yeah, don’t tell me you don’t?’

I shake my head. ‘Fucking hate Christmas.’

‘Yeah, yeah, I know, but when Christmas comes a-knocking like that...’ his laugh is a deep rumble ‘... I’m behind it all the way.’

‘You don’t mind that your wife is out and about like that?’

He shrugs. ‘Hell, no; it’s me she comes home with.’

I shake my head and give a nod of gratitude to Bates as he slaps down the bottle and two glasses.

‘You’re only pissed off because Caitlin’s free to do what she likes.’

I pour the drink, all the while giving him the evil eye. ‘That isn’t funny.’

‘I didn’t say it was.’ He takes up one of the glasses and raises it to me. ‘It’s the truth though; you have it bad, and the sooner you realise it and do something about it the better.’

A laugh erupts. I fucking did that and look what happened.

His eyes narrow. ‘Got something to tell me?’

I ignore the question and clink my glass against his. ‘Cheers.’

We knock them back, his eyes not once leaving mine and I go to pour another, anything to avoid his probing stare.

‘Not for me.’ He covers his glass with his hand. ‘Driving.’

‘Fair enough.’ I still pour myself one and knock it back. It doesn’t help. Nothing helps and drinking isn’t the answer. If anything, it’s only going to make it worse. But seeing Eliza, having her in the same room as Cait...

The woman I wish I could forget, and the woman I wish I could be a better man for...

‘So, what did she want?’ Ash gestures to the exit and I know he means Eliza, his thoughts shifting into the same territory as mine and I grimace.

‘She wanted to catch up.’

‘Catch up?’

‘Yeah. I saw her last week in Berlin. She and Damien were there, checking out the same hotel.’

‘The one you’re looking at buying?’

‘The very same.’

‘Seems very coincidental.’

I shrug. ‘Not really, not when you consider what a hotspot Berlin is for those wanting some X-rated fun. It’s perfect for an enterprise such as this with the added benefit of accommodation... Not that German law requires you to have a bedroom to screw in,’ I add lightly, trying to brush the whole conversation off. I don’t want to think about Eliza any more than I have to.

‘Surely you did enough “catching up” then?’

‘Did you just do finger quotes at me?’ I stare at him, dumbfounded.

‘Oh, God, I did, didn’t I?’

‘Jesus, man.’ I laugh, good and proper. ‘Is that what marriage does to you, turn you into one of them?’

I gesture to the ladies’ room and Ash laughs too.

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