Free The Bridesmaid's Best Man by Susanna Carr

the memory of Cole’s mouth against hers. The kiss started out soft and teasing. She tried to hold back but then his kiss grew demanding. Or maybe she had demanded more. There was a moment when she wasn’t sure who was in charge. She had tried to resist, but his kisses were better than she remembered. His touch still excited her. She never responded as wildly with another man.
    Tim blocked her and Angie shook her head, trying to get her head back into the game. She dodged and Tim tried to grab her oversize shirt but failed. She wasn’t as tall as her basketball buddies, but she made up for it with speed. “C’mon, Steve!” she yelled as she ran next to the basket. “Give it to me.”
    â€œI’d throw it to you,” Steve said as he tried to set up a difficult shot from the three-point line, “but I’m afraid you’ll break a nail.”
    Angie smiled as the other guys laughed. “Why don’t you come a little closer and I’ll show you how strong my nails are.”
    â€œYeah, right— Hey!” Steven complained as Patrick stole the basketball. “Foul!”
    Angie watched as her best friend sank the ball in the basket. She groaned and dropped her shoulders in disappointment. “Steve, next time throw me the ball.”
    â€œIt’s much more fun teasing you,” he said.
    â€œBe careful,” Angie warned. “You and I are walking together at the end of the wedding. I just may trip you.”
    Steve’s eyes widened with horror. “You wouldn’t dare.”
    She pushed her finger against his chest. “Don’t tempt me.”
    â€œYou don’t have anything to worry about,” Tim told Steve. “Angie has to wear high heels. She’ll be too busy clinging onto you, never mind trying to trip you.”
    â€œClinging? Not going to happen,” Angie insisted as she made a face. “I’ve worn heels before.”
    Tim and Steve gave each other a look of disbelief. “She’s going to take the whole procession down,” Steve predicted to Tim. “It’ll be one big pileup.”
    â€œA stack of dominos,” Tim decided.
    â€œI’m not listening.” She pressed her hands over her ears. “La-la-la-la.” She wouldn’t tell them that the heels were a concern. She actually followed her mother’s advice and had been practicing walking in her bridesmaid shoes. They were taller than anything she’d worn and she wasn’t as graceful as she wished.
    â€œHey,” Patrick said as he bounced the ball to Angie and jerked his head to the park entrance. “Is that Cole Foster?”
    Oh, damn . She winced as she slowly turned to where Patrick indicated. Cole was walking through the city park and heading to the basketball courts. Her heart gave a jolt. He was dressed in a hoodie and jeans, warding off the cool Seattle breeze, but she remembered how strong and lean his body felt against hers.
    â€œYeah, that’s him.” she answered weakly as pleasure, dark and heavy, settled low in her pelvis. How did he find her? It wasn’t as if he would remember her schedule.
    Patrick placed his hands on his hips. “What is he doing here?”
    â€œYou want us to get rid of him?” Tim offered.
    â€œUh...no.” Angie pressed her palms against the basketball. She dreaded having to tell her friends about Cole. They knew how much she had suffered when Cole left. She didn’t talk about it but they had tried to keep life normal for her. They probably wouldn’t believe she was back with him, but she couldn’t tell them the whole truth. That this was merely pretend. Or at least, it was supposed to be. That kiss sure felt real.
    â€œReally?” Steve asked. “We can do it. It’s three of us against one of him.”
    â€œNo!” she said sharply and gripped the basketball tighter. She knew Cole could handle any situation but she still felt