“What the hell was that all about?” Tammy asks startling me out of my shocked stupor.

I blink at her trying to clear the fog from my mind. I can’t believe that just happened. I let that happen. I wanted it to happen. It’s like once his lips touched mine, I lost complete control of my rational brain.

Tammy snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Peyton.”

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Pey, I’m worried about you. You’ve been weird all day and now I find you locked in a bathroom with Kingston. The same Kingston that’s treated you like crap since the day you met him.”

I sigh, not really knowing what to say. Obviously, the truth is out of the question. I can only imagine. ‘I had a drunken one-night stand with Kingston. Oh yeah, and we got married.’ That would be about the time her head would explode. I hate lying to Tammy, but I don’t have any other options.

“It’s nothing. Kingston is just planning a surprise for Theo and wanted my opinion.” I paste on a smile and cross my fingers that she doesn’t catch me in my lie. She looks at me skeptically, then nods. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“It’s not a stripper, is it? You know Jill would freak out if she found out.”

I laugh, knowing my sister, she would probably scalp the stripper then cut off Theo’s balls. For as sweet as she is, she can be vicious when she wants to be.

“No, not a stripper. He knows better,” I say. “We better get back out there before they send in a search party.”

“Yeah, Dickhead Troy is getting impatient. He wants to find himself an, and I quote ‘easy piece of ass with fat tits.’”

“Ugh,” I groan. “I really can’t stand that guy. Remind me to remind you to punch Charles when we get home.”

“Done.”

* * *

When we walk into the club, it’s a bit overwhelming with the flashing lights, thrumming music, and wall to wall people. I’m ready to go before we even get five steps inside the door. I like to dance, but this is crazy. We slowly wind through the crowd to the VIP section that Theo reserved for the night. I’m so focused on following my group that I don’t see the drunk guy stumble until it’s too late and I’m teetering on my heels. Knowing there is no way I can stop my fall, I close my eyes and wait for an impact that never comes. I slowly pry one eye open, then the other to see who my rescuer is…

Kingston.

Of course, it would be him. He seems to be everywhere. As he holds me in his arms, surrounding me with his strength, I can hardly remember why Kingston is a bad idea. His dark eyes study my face as his hand cups my cheek. The way he’s looking at me makes me feel like he’s staring straight into my soul.

“You okay, baby?”

His gruff voice makes my heart skip a beat.

I stupidly nod because I seem to have forgotten how to speak. He quirks his lips up in a devil may care smirk that says he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. My traitorous body is more than happy to be so close to the man, even as my brain is yelling ‘Danger, danger.’

Kingston steadies me on my feet, then looks me over from top to bottom, eyes lingering a little longer than necessary. I feel a full body flush when I remember that he never returned my panties after he went down on me at the restaurant. I wonder if he’s thinking about the same thing when he gives me a knowing smile.

I’m captivated by that smile and can’t stop imagining what those lips felt like against mine. The way he took without remorse. I find myself licking my lips and swaying toward him without a conscious thought to do so. I’m completely lost in the moment—the crowd, the music, the lights—everything fades away until it’s just Kingston and me. I’m so close now that I can feel his breath on my face, I close my eyes anticipating the moment our lips will touch. My heart pounds in my chest and my breath becomes ragged until I’m practically dizzy.

But our lips never meet because from one breath to the next he pushes me away. A wave of disappointment and embarrassment floods through my body and I feel tears prick my eyes. I’m not a crier, so the fact that twice in one day I’ve nearly cried over a man, not just any man, but Kingston fucking Barrett pisses me off. I’m ready to lay into him for this insanity until a set of warm arms wrap around me from behind and the comforting scent of Theo’s cologne fills my senses.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Theo asks from over my shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I turn and smile, but it’s strained. When Theo doesn’t say anything I’m grateful, but he’s shooting daggers at his brother over my shoulder and the tension between the pair is palpable.

“The girls are looking for you. Let’s go get you a drink,” Theo says as he guides me toward our reserved table, never once moving his arm from around my shoulders.

* * *

“This is the best bachelorette party I’ve ever had!” Jillian yells over the music as we make our way back to the table from the dancefloor.

“It’s the only bachelorette party you’ve ever had,” I yell back.

I link my arm with hers when she stumbles. We’re both laughing when we practically fall into our seats. Theo places two glasses of ice water in front of us and kisses first Jillian’s cheek then mine.

“Are my two favorite girls having fun?” he asks.

“Hey, what about me,” Tammy slurs.

He laughs, then concedes. “Okay, my three favorite girls.”

“Damn straight we are!” Tammy throws her arms over her head and nearly topples off her chair. She plays it off by hopping to her feet and shaking her ass. We all bust up laughing at her antics.

It’s then that I realize Kingston is missing. I look around the VIP section but don’t see him anywhere. Begrudgingly, I admit I’m disappointed that I don’t see him anywhere. I hate myself for even looking for him and I hate myself even more for being disappointed that he’s not here.

“He had to take a call,” Theo says quietly enough that the girls don’t hear.

I shrug my shoulders, trying to play at nonchalance and failing miserably if the look Theo gives me is any indication. And now I hate myself because I’m being so obvious about whatever this is that’s happening between Kingston and me.

When the waitress comes by with another round of shots, I quickly down mine and the one that was left for Kingston. Theo looks at me with a worried frown, but I give him a bright smile. The liquor goes straight to my head and I fully embrace the blissful numbness that accompanies it. I decide right here and now that once this whole mess of a weekend is over, I’ll file for an annulment and put Kingston Barrett behind me for good.

“Let’s go dance!” Tammy shouts excitedly.

Dirty Mind pounds through the club and Tammy grips my hips, pulling me close and we start our usual bump and grind, losing ourselves to the beat. At some point, she abandons me for a cute guy who looks like he’s barely legal. She gives me an apologetic look, but I give her a thumbs-up and continue dancing on my own. I close my eyes letting the music and the anonymity of being on a full dancefloor erase my worries, at least for now. I know they will all be waiting for me tomorrow, but for tonight, I’m going to let loose and have fun.

“Wanna dance?” a masculine voice slurs in my ear from behind.

I turn and face the man, taking in his appearance I find myself noting all the ways he’s not Kingston. Too thin lips, crooked nose, too short, not as muscled, and the list goes on and on until I’m mentally kicking my own ass for going there. What is wrong with me? So instead of saying no like I want to, I nod my consent and find myself in the arms of a not-as-handsome-as-Kingston stranger. Not wanting to continue comparing him, I turn so that my back is to his front and let out a sigh of relief when the guy doesn’t complain.

As we dance his hands grow more and more bold. First, he was just holding my hips, but then he wrapped his arms around me, pulling my body flush against his. I went with it because it was harmless enough, but then his hand starts inching up my body until it’s practically cupping my boob. Again, I just go with it because as long as I’m dancing with him, my mind isn’t on he-who-shall-not-be-thought-of. After a few more songs, I don’t even care how handsy he’s getting or the fact that he’s kissing my shoulder and neck. In fact, I tilt my head giving him access because I’ve somehow convinced myself he’s the cure for my Kingstonitus.