She swung her eyes around the courtyard for someone to talk to and spotted Dylan waiting at the bar. He hadn’t brought a date, which was unlike him. She couldn’t remember an event where Dylan didn’t have a new woman on his arm. Last summer, she’d tagged along with Cat to a charity softball game that Josh and Dylan’s architecture firm had sponsored. Dylan spent the entire time either on the field or in the dugout, but by the time it was over, he’d somehow snagged three women’s phone numbers.
At a softball game.
His dating success wasn’t a mystery. Dylan was six feet of lean muscle and had that deadly combination of a boyish smile and a tattooed chest. It made it easy to overlook his overgrown frat-boy persona.
She had to admit, he looked especially tall, dark, and handsome in that suit. The blue tie made his mossy eyes look sort of emerald actually, and she’d never found a reason to complain about the way a nicely-pressed dress shirt showed off his narrow waist. She allowed herself the indulgence of checking out his ass as he leaned his elbows on the bar.
But when she dragged her eyes back up his body, he was staring back.
Oops.
Dylan cocked his head to the side, his smile smug. Heat slapped her cheeks. No doubt about it, she’d been caught. There was nothing left to do but own it. Besides, flirting with Dylan might be just the thing she needed to get her out of this sentimental mood she’d found herself in.
Now if she could just walk over there without swaying.
“Hey,” she said, bumping Dylan’s upper thigh with her hip. He had a good five inches on her even in her heels. “Order me one, will you?”
Dylan’s lips curved into a grin. “Sure thing.”
He held up two fingers to the bartender and the kid pulled out a matching glass. Dylan turned back to her, his eyes dancing as he swiped a thumb over her cheek. He held it up, and her face flushed again.
Frosting. Great. So much for owning it.
He licked the frosting off of his thumb, watching her closely. “You sure you need another drink, Dani-pie?”
“Yes, Dylan. And don’t call me that.”
“It’s your Instagram name.”
“Stop stalking me on Instagram.”
“Never.” The bartender slid two shots across the bar. Dylan tossed a few bills into the tip jar and balanced them both in one hand. “Trade you yours for a dance,” he said. “Unless you’re afraid you might turn to mush when I get my hands on you.”
“I’m not sure you can keep up with me on the dance floor,” she said, ignoring the fact that she knew he could. She also knew she was pleasantly buzzed and feeling more than a little emotional. Bad combination when you’re thinking about pressing yourself to another warm body. Especially a hard one like Dylan’s.
Dylan’s chest puffed predictably. “I guess I have something to prove then.”
“Fine.” She held out her hand and he placed one of the shots in it. She could behave herself for a dance.
“So here we are,” she said, wrapping one arm around his neck, the other clutching her shot. “Officially the last ones on the singles cruise.”
Dylan’s hand landed on her waist. “We knew it was coming.”
“We did.”
“You remember the first night we all met?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically nostalgic.
“I do.”
“It’s weird, right? One minute you’re on vacation trying to get laid, and the next your best friend meets his future wife. Sappy fucker.”
Dani laughed, nearly spitting out her tequila. She wiped at her lips, then took a proper sip. “Don’t act like you don’t love your boy.”
“I love him,” he said, looking over the top of her head. “Everyone does.”
She caught something in Dylan’s tone that surprised her. Not envy, but a comparison nonetheless. She followed his gaze across the dance floor, seeing Josh and Cat still cuddled up. “They are a little sickening,” she said.
“Right?”
“Don’t forget I was there for that magical moment. You’d have thought the heavens had just opened up and choirs of angels were singing.” Dani batted her eyes and swooned in her best Cat and Josh impression.
Dylan laughed into his tequila. “Foolishness.”
“Gag-worthy.”
His arm tightened around her, turning them, and another whiff of that cologne, salty and fresh, swarmed her senses. He smelled delicious. She imagined running her tongue along the razor edge of his facial hair, and then mentally slapped herself for it. So much for behaving.
She gulped the rest of her shot and was about to suggest another when a petite woman with greying black hair and olive skin tapped Dylan on the shoulder. He turned, the tips of his ears going red.
“Dylan, sweetie, I’m going to head out. I’m exhausted.” The woman turned to Dani, flashing a pair of familiar green eyes. “Hi, I’m Irene. Dylan’s mom.”
Oh wow. He was the spitting image. This was priceless.
“You’re Cat’s best friend, right?”
“Dani. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you too!” Irene’s eyes dropped to Dylan’s hand on Dani’s waist and her grin pulled wider. “Well, I just love Cat. She’s darling. Have you known each other long?”
Dani glanced at Dylan and winked. He was hating this. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
“Just like Dylan and Josh.”
“Even younger,” Dani said. “We met in middle school.”
Irene clasped a hand over her heart as if that were some sort of sign from God, and Dylan’s eyes closed like he was praying for strength.
“Oh! Well, that’s just adorable,” Irene cooed.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll see you later. You sure you’re okay to drive home?”
“Yes, of course, Dylan. I’ve been drinking coffee all evening. I’m going to say goodbye to the newlyweds. I love you. Call me this week.”
“Bye, Ma. Love you too.”
She tapped his cheek and floated off in a cloud of Chanel.
Dani’s lips twisted from holding in a laugh. “Such a momma’s boy,” she teased. “I never would have thought.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He tugged her wrist until she was looking at him again. “I think I deserve another dance since she interrupted us.”
“No. My feet hurt. Let’s take a walk.”