Page 6 of Blame it on the Kiss
Bryce heard the words “toilet paper” and “bride,” and Julia handed him his very own roll as the party guests got into two groups. Sophie’s cousin stood poised to be the bride in his group. Honor had been chosen in the other group.
He knew because as hard as he tried, he couldn’t pull his eyes away from her. His other best friend Danny and a couple of Zane’s surf buddies couldn’t either. And their hands were all over her. Using the toilet paper as an excuse to touch her shoulders, waist, the back of her neck. Honor laughed at something one of the guys said and Bryce’s stomach knotted.
“Thanks for the help, bud.” Zane bumped his elbow.
Bryce looked down at the full roll of TP still in his hands. Glancing back up, he found Sophie’s cousin wore toilet paper from her chest to her knees.
Zane’s gaze flicked to Honor and back. “Dude, what are you doing?”
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ bullshit me. You were checking out Honor. I thought that ship had sailed.” Why he’d told Zane and Danny about his botched one night stand, he didn’t know. But when he’d learned that Payton had passed away, they’d plied him with beers to make him feel better and he’d talked.
“It has.”
“Might want to tone down the possessive glare then.” Zane put a hand on his shoulder. “Besides, I doubt Danny copped a feel. Honor would’ve kneed him in the balls if he did.”
“You’ve gotten to know her pretty well.” Bryce squeezed the Charmin, a double dose of curiosity suddenly coursing through his veins. “What’s her deal?”
“She’s been a great friend to Sophie. And she’s opening up a new shop on Main Street. Something to do with Payton, actually.”
Bryce’s chest constricted, for Honor this time. He’d heard the pain in her voice earlier, and knew he’d be wrecked if something happened to either Zane or Danny. He also remembered Payton mentioning a dream she and Honor shared. They’d wanted to go into business together.
“Does it have to do with Payton’s list?” he wondered aloud, trying to make sense of that new piece of information.
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Nothing.” Bryce shook his head. Had Honor confided in him something she hadn’t shared with Sophie or anyone else?
Unconsciously, his gaze moved to her again. Her arms were spread wide and she twirled, giving her group a good look at their work. A smile lit up her face, playfulness sparkled in her eyes. She was so different from Payton. In looks, in temperament.
He wondered when Payton had written her list. Had it been after she’d dumped him or before? Finding out she wanted a one night stand reopened the crater-sized hole she’d drilled through his heart. He rubbed his chest and turned his back to Honor.
For the next three days he’d do the best man thing and keep Honor at an emotional distance. He’d offered to be friends, but knew that was impossible given her connection to Payton and the wounds not quite healed inside him. Problem was, he’d had his hands and mouth on his ex girlfriend’s best friend and forgetting those images was proving difficult. Which put some very unfriendly—and unwelcome—thoughts in his head.
Being attracted to Honor when a part of him couldn’t bear to be around her was a burden he wished he didn’t have to deal with. She was nothing but trouble to his closed-off heart, and he’d be damned if he forgot that.
Payton flattened you, dude. Don’t think for one second her best friend isn’t capable of doing the exact same thing.
Chapter Two
“Looks like you’re stuck with me,” Bryce said in Honor’s ear. Despite their best efforts to keep some distance, once again fate had other ideas.
She twisted and narrowed her eyes. “Lucky me.” Her sardonic tone brought an involuntary grin to his face.
“You took the words right out my mouth,” he fired back, and her gaze dropped to his lips before flying somewhere over his shoulder.
They stood with everyone else in the kitchen, pairing off for the last game of the night. The guys had each picked a partner’s name out of a hat and he’d chosen hers.
Julia handed a sheet of paper and canvas bag to each couple. “This is a sexy treasure hunt. You’ll see what I mean by reading your list. Some of the hunt items are named, but I’ve upped the challenge for a few and put clues instead. The team that finds the most items wins. You’ve got thirty minutes. Go!”
Honor looked over his shoulder at the typed list. “Start in the middle?” he asked, thinking everyone else would start at either the top or bottom.
“My thought exactly.” She tugged him away from the others, down a narrow hallway toward the maid’s quarters, before snagging the paper out of his hands. “Made in haste, you’ll love the taste,” she said.
“Sounds like we should’ve stayed in the kitchen,” Bryce said.
“Nope. I’m thinking ‘made’ as in ‘maid’ the person, so that’s this way.” She pushed open the bedroom door and hit the light switch. “See?”
