The bar where they were meeting for tonight’s bachelor party was dark, seedy, and loud—and pretty much everything you’d want for such an event. Over at one of several pool tables, their crew of five were already imbibing their third round of shots and pretending not to notice the covetous glances several women were throwing their way.

Boisterous and halfway to drunk, the guys were having a great time, even if the usual salacious entertainment common to these events wasn’t part of the itinerary. Knowing their limited options in Napa—and wanting to make sure the groom wasn’t suffering from a serious hangover in time to say his vows—Dax had already had his wild bachelor weekend in Vegas last month. Tonight was meant to be a final low-key heyday before he was officially a married man.

Nick raised his hand to the bartender and ordered a gin and tonic. Unlike the rest of the guys, he was forgoing the shots and keeping his drinks down to two for the night. Keeping his senses about him was a far better idea than having too good of a time, particularly since the more his guard was down, the more likely he might do something really stupid later on.

Like try to resume what he and a certain beautiful blonde had started today in that vineyard. He still couldn’t believe what had happened, how damn good it was, and how much he wanted more.

He’d known Anna was dangerous, but the reasons were more complicated than he’d first thought. Sure, she was a reporter and could cause a whole crap load of problems if she got it in her head to use his career and her insider knowledge to give herself a leg up. But for some reason, that wasn’t what he was worried about. She’d given him her word and somehow that was enough.

No, his concern was more about how he would ever stop wanting her. He had no doubt that having Anna in his life would be as addictive as any drug. Hell, she already was, especially as he thought about how pliant her mouth had been beneath his before becoming as fierce and demanding as his. Then there’d been her intoxicating scent, a scent that had stayed with him long after they’d ended their kiss.

The need and possessiveness that overcame him shook him to the core; it didn’t align with his carefully laid out ideals of his future wife. These emotions were dangerous, out-of-control feelings that led to trouble.

Nick had barely been able to speak two words as they drove the ten minutes back to the house. But words hadn’t been necessary as they sat in the car, the silence and tension thick between them, broken only by the rain still pounding the windshield. It had been good that he had tonight to get away from her presence and to get his thoughts together.

“Hey, Nick.”

He looked up, noticing Dax was standing next to him, trying to get his attention for who knew how long. Dax shook his head. “Man, you’re really out of it tonight. Any particular reason…or person?”

Nick ignored him and took a drink.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” Dax signaled for a drink, then rapped his knuckles against the top of the bar as he waited, a far-off look in his eyes.

“Janie’s going to love the place we found,” Nick offered in assurance, wondering if that was the reason for Dax’s sudden nervous energy.

“Yeah. That’s great.”

Nick studied his brother. “Hey, is everything all right?”

Dax forced a smile, his lips tight. “Yeah. Everything is great.”

“You’re going to have to do better than that.”

“It’s nothing. Only…have you ever made a bad choice in the past that you wanted to forget?”

“Too many to count.”

“Yeah. But what if one of those choices, you…you couldn’t get away from? And you wonder now if you should have handled things differently. Been more up-front from the start so it wasn’t hanging over you months and years down the line.”

Nick had an inkling that he knew what Dax was talking about. If he was right, then it wasn’t his place to bring it up now. It was on Dax. “You’re going to need to be more specific here. Is this something that has to do with Janie? With the wedding?”

There was a shout of victory, and Nick looked over at the pool table, where the game had ended, Jake and Chris congratulating themselves as the winners. Dax blinked a few times, as if clearing his head and realizing where he was, before giving his head a shake. He laughed and Nick could tell that whatever moment they were going to have had passed. “Nah, never mind. I’m just overthinking things. Must be the pressure of the wedding. You going to come join us?” he asked as the bartender delivered him his drink.

“On my way,” Nick said and grabbed his own.

“How do you think the girls are holding up?” Dax asked as they walked.

Nick smiled, remembering his suggestion to Janie about tonight’s entertainment. “We could probably see for ourselves if we wanted.”

“You don’t think that would be too presumptuous? Me crashing her bachelorette party?”

Possibly. But since all Nick wanted was to see Anna being forced to sing some cheesy country song in a horrible if not endearing off-key voice, he wasn’t sure he was the best guy to ask. Instead, he said, “She’ll think you missed her.”

Sure, Nick had just been congratulating himself on getting some time away from the woman to clear his head, but this was one act he couldn’t miss.

* * *

“Here we are,” Janie said, stopping on the sidewalk in front of a set of bright red doors. The “future bride” rhinestoned tiara that she’d been crowned with earlier that night sat a little askew on her head as she grinned back at her bridal party, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

Oh, Lord. “You’re not taking us to a strip bar, are you?” Anna asked in horror as images of Chippendale wannabes thrusting about in black bikinis flooded her mind.

Megan laughed. “You’re safe. We did that weeks ago.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll see soon enough,” Janie added mysteriously and opened the door.

Unlike the brightly lit, upscale pub where they’d eaten dinner, this place had a more local, down-to-earth vibe with its high blue ceilings, vintage photos that covered every wall, and sparse lighting. It wasn’t particularly crowded, which wasn’t unusual for a Thursday night. Anna took it as a good sign that there weren’t any errant poles or bikini-clad strippers.

After showing their IDs and confirming who they were to the guy at the door—as if their outfits of matching black tank tops that declared them part of the “bride squad” could leave any doubt—they were led to a table in the back.

Maybe the place wouldn’t be as bad as she thought, considering that, without the pub’s bright overhead lighting, she could finally sink into the background, using the time to think about what happened today. Something she had barely had a chance to reflect on since walking back into the Van Hollinses’ and being rushed upstairs with the other girls to get ready for the night. But the mood had been high and energetic and, combined with the swell of emotions still resonating through her from that kiss, catching. So she’d laughed and let herself enjoy the moment, the primping and hair fluffing, the flattery that filled the room before they’d filed onto the bus for more frivolity as they headed to dinner.

Now that she could finally catch her breath, Anna was ready to dissect every moment of her time with Nick. Every touch. Every smell. Every emotion that had flooded her as he held her tightly to him. Especially the one that evoked a memory, a dream if you will, of something that she’d never consciously remembered. Of kissing or wanting to kiss Nick St. Claire.

It was a crazy thought. She’d hated Nick back in high school. He was incredibly hot, brilliant, and ambitious, and the object of nearly every girl’s fantasy. Every girl but this girl. It was a source of pride to her. Or so she’d thought.

Had she pretended she was immune to Nick’s charms when really she’d been like every other girl in that school who had been drawn to that unexplainable something about Nick St. Claire had? Heck, could she be falling for the guy now, after all this time?

“Here you go.” It was their waitress, who came bearing a tray of shots that Janie had ordered first thing on arriving.

Anna grabbed one and threw it back, hoping the fire of the liquor might burn away every thought and memory that was now fresh and present in her conscious.

Nope. Still there.

The guy who’d escorted them to their table returned to speak quietly to Janie, who clapped excitedly at whatever he said. “Okay. Everything’s set,” Janie announced. “I want you all to know right now that participation is not optional.”

Why was she looking at Anna when she said this?

“Do you guys remember, back at Chi Omega, when we’d hold our own American Idol competitions? We had those little trophies made up and the winner would get to be queen for the week? Well, in the spirit of that, I thought, what would be better than to relive some of those great moments? We’re doing karaoke!”

Karaoke? Could it be a coincidence that Nick had joked about this very thing when they negotiated their deal?

“It’s already been arranged with the manager, thanks to Nick, our best man, who we’ll all need to give a big thanks to the next time we see him.”

Oh, Anna would be happy to tell him how thankful she was when she—

“Don’t look so alarmed,” Megan said from next to her, smiling. “We all suck, so it will be assured mutual humiliation.”

“Hey, speak for yourself,” Trish said, pretending outrage. “I do a mean Dolly Parton. Just watch.”

“What a great idea,” Sara said in a tone that suggested the opposite, just before waving the server over to place another order of drinks. “So, who’s going to go first?”

“It’s only fair that we give Anna some idea of the competition she’s going to be up against, which was why I thought that Trish, Megan, and I could get up and do that number, remember—”

“Oh, my God. I almost forgot!” Trish chimed in. “The Abba one.”

“Fun.” Sara was the only one who looked less excited than Anna, something the other women picked up on.

“Oh, come on, Sara,” Trish said and nudged her shoulder. “You could have been in Chi-O if you’d wanted, but you went with Pi Beta Phi instead. It’s not our fault you missed all the fun.”

“But never fear,” Janie added, coming to her feet. “You’ll definitely get your chance. I think there’s a Spice Girls number with our name on it. And Anna?” The mischievous grin Janie gave her told her she was in trouble. “I’ve got your number already lined up, too.”

“Actually”—Anna cleared her throat, keeping her voice low and husky—“I might be coming down with something, so it’s probably not a good idea—”

“Sorry. I’m not taking no for an answer. You have the next couple of songs to rest your throat and then you and me? We’re on.”

Good grief. Singing. In public.

In her book, it was right up there with stripping naked and gyrating on a pole, which, come to think of it, Nick had made a similar reference to—at least about being naked and singing. (The pole theme was entirely hers.)

The server had just arrived with their next order of drinks when the three sorority sisters took their positions in the front of their small audience and burst into song, their hands wildly waving around like bad spirit fingers. Anna grabbed one of the drinks and threw it back. She was certainly going to need it.

Only thirty minutes later, having been inducted into the karaoke family with hers and Janie’s duet to “You Don’t Own me,” then a rousing chorus of “We are Family,” where all the women joined in, followed by Trish, Megan, and Sara’s rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl,” Anna was finding that the horror of getting up in front of a room full of strangers to sing her heart out wasn’t nearly as daunting as she had once thought.

All right. She could admit that it was kind of fun.

She had even decided to surprise Janie with this next song, a solo that she was going to nail and would earn her the crown of Karaoke Queen for the night—along with the prize of a pair of Tiffany silver hoop earrings. In the meantime, maybe she’d better lay off the endless rounds of shots they’d all been drinking.

Anna again took her position in front of the growing crowd. “This next song I’d like to dedicate to my beautiful, sweet sister, Janie, who, although I might not have grown up knowing and loving, is fast becoming one of my best friends.”

Sheesh, she was being unusually sappy, but she couldn’t say she regretted it. The joy it evidently brought Janie, who wiped away what looked suspiciously like a tear before she blew her several air kisses, was worth it. Heck, maybe Anna had even meant some of it.

The beginning notes of the next song started, and she clutched the microphone, hoping she could carry a few of those challenging notes that she had so ambitiously thought she could when she selected it. Taking a breath, she belted out the opening words to her favorite song from Dylan Charles.

She smiled a little at the approving shouts from the girls when her voice actually cooperated and sang out the words loud and clear. After warming up to the song, she grinned, loving the words and how they evoked memories of a certain rain-soaked kiss under an apple tree, and of feeling an excitement and acceptance that she couldn’t remember feeling in a long time, if ever.

It was then that her gaze locked in on another person in the audience she hadn’t noticed before. A guy with dark, wavy hair, a cocky but breathtaking grin, and eyes that burned back at her with a familiar intimacy.

Her stomach did a healthy somersault, and she nearly lost her breath for the next line as she recognized him.

Nick. The teenage fantasy she’d never known she’d wanted.

* * *

Nick, Dax, and the other groomsmen had arrived almost ten minutes before Anna took the spotlight. They set themselves as far back from the other patrons as they could, enjoying the show but wanting to remain invisible for as long as possible.

To say the night had become infinitely more entertaining the moment they caught the women’s surprisingly energetic performances was an understatement. Dax had even managed to get some footage on his cell phone. For posterity’s sake, of course.

When Anna had sashayed up there, giving a surprisingly moving dedication to her sister before ripping out a number that showed off her low, sultry vocal skills he hadn’t known she was capable of, he—like every other warm-blooded man in this crowd—was entranced.

She likely had no idea how incredibly sexy she was standing up there, all eyes drawn to her. Her honey-blonde hair caught the light, her eyes shone with mischief, and those velvety-soft lips were red and luscious and crying to be kissed again. She was mesmerizing, and he was fast realizing that he was in serious trouble.

All Nick could think about doing was taking this woman somewhere private and quiet and showing her just how special and wonderful and infinitely beautiful and desirable she was.

When she met his gaze, he almost completely lost his composure. In that moment, it was as if everyone around them disappeared, and she was performing for him alone.

She smiled knowingly and unlocked her gaze from his, and he could breathe again. He glanced around at the other guys, wondering if they had noticed his reaction, but they were all nodding and smiling at Anna as she continued to sing.

No wiser to the fact that Nick’s whole life seemed to just shift. Everything he’d wanted and wished for himself changing so quickly and suddenly in the space of a moment.

The song came to an end, and instead of passing off the microphone to the next person, she held it. “It’s come to my attention that we have a few party crashers at our little sing-off tonight. Gentlemen?” she said and pointed to their table, all heads whipping back to see the crashers. “I think it’s only fair that you subject yourself to the same humiliation as us ladies and get your butts up here for the next song. Come on,” she said, moving to the karaoke machine to type something in.

“What do you say, guys?” Dax asked. “Should we show the ladies our boy band skills?” Dax asked.

“Hell yeah,” seemed to be the consensus.

On the way up, Janie grabbed Dax, and instead of appearing miffed at their spying, she planted a kiss on him. Dazed, Dax followed the guys and took the mike from Anna as everyone laughed.

Nick glanced over Dax’s shoulder at the screen, where the song they were going to sing was listed.

“I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story.

Funny.

Dax didn’t look shaken, though. “Challenge accepted. Ladies, prepare to be impressed.”