Free Just Perfect by Julie Ortolon

glanced back and forth between him and her. Too bad it was a bachelor party and she couldn’t join them.
    Actually, her saner half argued, it was probably a good thing she couldn’t join them. A few minutes of flirting with Alec was one thing, but sitting with him would be too much like a date, which could lead to who knew what.
    Trent rose unexpectedly and cupped his hands to his mouth. “Christine!” he called over the music. Then waved for her to come over.
    Uh-oh
. Now what should she do?
    Going over there was a really bad idea. But if she refused, she’d embarrass Alec in front of his friends— a fate worse than death for most men. She couldn’t do that to him, could she? Even Maddy and Amy would agree with that. She had no choice, she assured herself as she slipped off the bar stool, none at all.
----
Chapter 6

     
    In order to win, first you have to stay in the game.
    —
How
to
Have a Perfect Life

    Yes! Alec nearly shouted aloud when Christine headed over.
Thank you, Trent
.
    He rose as she neared the table. “Sorry,” he said, not the least bit sorry. “They insisted. Really. I had nothing to do with this.”
    “I thought this was a bachelor party.” She smiled at the men. “I hate to intrude.”
    “You’re not,” Will assured her, his speech slightly slurred. “As long as you’re not a stripper who’ll get me in trouble with Lacy, there’s no problem.” He squinted at her. “You’re not a stripper, are you?”
    “Shut up, Will.” Alec scowled at him. “Does she look like a stripper?” Of course they all had to give her body serious consideration after that. “Never mind. Let’s see, introductions.” He pointed around the table, calling out names. The men all waved a greeting in return, except for Brian, who asked if she still needed lessons.
    Grabbing an empty chair from a nearby table, Alec set it next to his own and held it for her. He sat facing her, his thighs straddling her chair. “Ignore them,” he told her. “They’re all idiots. I have no idea why I hang out with them.”
    “Ah, come on, you know you love us, man,” Eric said with enough fake emotion to have Brian snickering. “Ouch!” Eric jumped. “Who kicked me?”
    “Oh, was that your shin?” Lt. Kreiger glared at him in one of his attempts to teach the “young pups” manners.
    Alec propped an elbow on the table and shielded his face from his friends so he could speak to only her. “Meeting these jokers probably isn’t going to help my cause, is it?”
    “Probably not.” She smiled as she said it, though, and looked right into his eyes. “But then the cause was already lost.”
    “No it wasn’t.” He resisted the urge to trace her cheek with his fingertip. “Never give up, that’s my motto. Besides, you were weakening. I could feel it.”
    “Maybe.” Color rose in her cheeks as she sipped her beer. He smiled in satisfaction.
    “So, Will,” Steve said, “any second thoughts about locking on the old ball and chain?”
    “Absolutely none,” Will answered, grinning broadly.
    “I don’t know. I’m with Alec on this one,” Brian said. “I can’t believe you’re moving to Ohio to work for your dad’s insurance agency. I wouldn’t do that for any woman.”
    “But that’s just it.” Will leaned forward, serious now. “When it’s for the right woman, it’s not a sacrifice. For me, Lacy’s the right woman.”
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought about Judy,” Steve grumbled. “Until she busted my damn nuts in the divorce.” The minute the words left his mouth, he flashed a sheepish look at Christine. “Pardon, ma’am.”
    “No problem,” she assured him, looking amused.
    Considering the language that frequently came out of her mouth, Alec found Steve’s embarrassment pretty amusing too.
    “Don’t listen to him,” Kreiger said in his gravelly voice. “I had thirty-six years with Mai Tien before I lost her to cancer. When it works, it’s the best thing that can happen to a