“Not to worry,” Kevin said as he sat on the loveseat next to her, keeping his gaze on Josh. “You’ll get to see them all again on Saturday.”
“Saturday?” Megan asked before going in for another swallow of the fruity drink he’d brought her.
“Your wedding?”
Oh, shit. She choked on the drink and spit it out all over the front of Josh’s shirt.
His eyes widened in surprise, but then he started to laugh.
“I’m so sorry!” Megan gushed, starting to reach for his shirt before remembering she still had her drink in hand. She finished it off and handed the empty glass to Kevin. “I’m going to need another.”
Josh downed his and handed his glass to Kevin as well. “Make that two.”
“I’m gonna expect a huge tip.” He got up and headed down the steps to the patio.
Megan used her left hand to pat at Josh’s chest. “I am so sor—”
He cut her off, reaching behind her head and pulling her mouth to his. His kiss was soft and tentative, as though he expected her to pull away. She leaned into him instead, sliding the hand pressed to his chest up to the side of his face. His tongue ran along her lower lip, and she gasped.
“Megan!” her mother called.
Josh lifted his head. The candlelight shone in his eyes, and she was grateful for the blatant desire she saw there. This wasn’t for show. This was real.
“Your mother’s calling,” he murmured.
Megan closed her eyes for a second and groaned. “I just want this party to be over.” She lifted their still-joined arms. “And for us to be untied.”
He chuckled, then leaned in to kiss her again. “Being tied to you has been an interesting experience.”
“Megan! Come say goodbye to our guests!” her mother shouted from the other side of the pool.
Megan took comfort in the fact that her mother’s gaze was swinging around the yard in an attempt to locate them. She didn’t seem to notice them tucked into the corner.
“She expects us to interact with people while we’re tied up like this?” Josh asked, incredulous.
“I suspect she’s already forgotten that we are.”
“So what are the chances of hiding out here?”
“Not so great, since Kevin’s about to give us away.”
Sure enough, her brother, who was on his way back to them with two more drinks, had stopped beside their mother and was motioning to them. He gave Megan a huge grin.
“That sadistic bastard,” she mumbled.
He continued toward them, still grinning.
“Thanks for selling me out,” Megan grumbled, snatching a glass out of his hand. “What was that about?’
He put Josh’s drink on the table and leaned back, observing them for a moment, his smile having slipped away again. “I’m going to be brutally honest.”
Josh picked up the drink, then said wryly, “I’m glad you decided to give that a go.”
Megan had hardly eaten, and the drink she’d guzzled down had already gone to her head. She giggled and Kevin shot her a dirty look.
“I don’t like you, Connors.” Kevin jabbed his finger into Josh’s chest. “You’ve treated my sister like shit for too long, and I’ve decided that I’m going to stop this wedding.”
Megan shook her head to clear it. “What are you talking about?”
“He’s a cold-blooded prick who doesn’t give a shit about you. I should have said something months ago, but I’m saying it now.”
“Kevin!” she said, standing up and pulling Josh with her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know all too well what I’m talking about.” He stood. “I told you—Gram and I have been talking. We know what he’s like.” He waved his hand haphazardly toward Josh. “I know he ignores you most of the time in Seattle. I don’t know what this little display of affection is all about, but your audience here in the corner is practically nonexistent. Save the show for when it counts.”
He turned on his heels and stomped off.
“I’m so sorry,” she said for the umpteenth time. “He had no right to do that.”
He was silent for a moment, then turned to her. “Yes, he did.”
“Why would you—”
“Megan,” he said quietly. “From what little I’ve gathered, Jay did treat you like shit.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“More reasons than you can guess.” He moved closer to her, lowering his voice. “I’m glad your brother is looking out for you. Too little too late, as far as I’m concerned. Still . . .” His voice trailed off.
“But he thinks you’re Jay.”
He shrugged. “Part of the gig.”
Which made her question once again the real reason he was doing this. Karma and fate felt like bullshit answers. Still, it wasn’t fair for Josh to pay for Jay’s crimes. “Maybe we should break it off now.”
“What? Why?”
“Before you get hurt.”
He snaked his left arm around her back and pulled her close, his face inches above hers. “I’m not going to get hurt. I’m a big boy.”
“But Kevin . . .”
His breath was warm on her face and her skin flushed. “Kevin’s not going to hurt me.” He kissed her gently, then sucked her lower lip between his teeth.
Every part of her combusted and a bolt of desire shot straight to her groin.
“Don’t break up with me, Megan,” he whispered against her mouth. “Not tonight.”
He kissed her, his tongue licking her lip again before it slipped into her mouth, coaxing her tongue. When she responded, he lifted his mouth inches from hers. “Promise me no more talk about breaking up tonight.”
“Okay,” she said breathlessly.
His mouth claimed hers again, demanding and insistent. She tried to press closer to him, but their bound hands got in the way.
“Where’s Libby?” she groaned.
He murmured his amusement against her lips.
“Megan!” her mother shouted again.
Megan pulled away. “I’m going to tell her that we’re exhausted from the time change and we need to go to bed.”
He shook his head in confusion. “But it’s two hours earlier in Seattle.”
“Trust me. She always gets the times mixed up when we try to plan phone calls.” She tugged him across the deck until they were standing in front of her mother.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “You’re still wearing your bindings. That’s so sweet.”
“Mother,” she said through gritted teeth. “We can’t get them off.”
“I think that’s a good sign.” She turned to the woman next to her. “Don’t you?”
Megan took a deep breath, then offered her mother and her guest a tight smile. “Josh and I are exhausted from the time change. We’re going to head to bed. I’ll help clean this up tomorrow.”
“But—”
“Good night, Mom!” Megan called over her shoulder as she pulled Josh through the back door.
They found Libby in the kitchen sitting on a barstool as she sipped a glass of water and snacked on a plate of fresh carrots and celery. “You’re still into bondage, I see. I hope you two have discussed a safe word. Personally, my current favorite is Ferris wheel.”