Vivian Arend: Wolf Tracks

He strummed a few chords before slipping into a simple melody, fingers picking individual notes to accompany his rich tenor. Their gazes met and he sang to her. Pam’s throat tightened. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she listened to the lyrics. It was all so airy-fairy and impossible and yet—something deep inside wished it was possible for a love like he sang about to be real.

A love that lasted forever? Fresh each morning?

Bullshit.

Pretty sad thoughts to be entertaining while at a wedding.

She dragged her gaze off TJ to where Maggie and Erik sat staring into each other’s eyes. For what it was worth, she wished them the best. Maggie deserved to be happy, and hopefully Erik was the guy to make it happen. Well, he’d damn well better or she’d rip him a new one for hurting her best friend.

Pam sighed and leaned back in her chair. She closed her eyes and let the music swirl around her. TJ’s mellow voice touched her places she didn’t want to think about. Places she’d closed the door on, and she’d never been one to linger over the past.

Nope, get over it and go on—that was her motto. Life was for living to the max, enjoying every experience as much as possible. One day at a time. She sat straighter and resolutely faced the singer who made her belly quiver with each new note he sang. TJ’s fingers caressed the strings and she pictured him touching her with that same intensity, same attention to detail, and the pulse between her legs kicked into high gear again.

Holy Toledo, she was getting turned on watching the guy play his guitar.

What the heck had she been drinking? There was something going on, the way her gaze kept being drawn back to TJ, the way his voice tickled in her ears and made her skin burn. The urge to go for a little tumble while she was here increased. Maggie wouldn’t mind.

Besides, it wasn’t like she was leaving in the morning. She had her adventure trip scheduled to start in a couple days. A few nights’ excitement could be what she needed to make this a very memorable holiday.

He sang the final notes and let the tune fade away. The rest of the guests clapped and whistled in appreciation. TJ finally broke eye contact with her and smiled out at the crowd, before motioning for a few others to join him. They picked up instruments and the group hit into a lively tune. Chairs and tables were dragged aside, and the hall became a bustling hive of noise as everyone stepped in to rearrange and make space for dancing. Pam moved a couple chairs before realizing she was more of a hindrance than help. She snuck to the side and watched in fascination as the room transformed before her eyes. Up on the stage TJ and another guitarist strummed something with a hard-rock beat, and the rhythm pulsed in time with her heart. His dark hair shone in the light as he rocked, and she wondered if it would feel fine or coarse if she ran her fingers through it.

“Did you enjoy that?” Maggie asked.

Pam jumped a little, then let out the breath she’d been holding. “Hey. Fabulous ceremony, and the meal was delicious.”

Her friend nodded in agreement. “It was good, but I meant the singing. I didn’t expect TJ to share a song he’d written himself. It was beautiful.”

“He’s got a great voice,” Pam admitted. Maggie smiled past her and Pam glanced over her shoulder to see Erik hanging back. “You guys taking off soon?”

Her friend nodded. “I wanted to make sure everything was kosher with you. We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon, and have some more time to visit before you take off on your excursion and we leave on our honeymoon.” She wrinkled her nose. “You going to be okay with us leaving you? Because I could—”

Pam slapped a hand over her friend’s mouth for a second. “Oh no, girlfriend. You weren’t about to suggest you’d stick around on your wedding night to babysit me, were you?”

“Hell, no.” Maggie grinned. “I was going to say if you wanted to you could go home early and hide. I’ve got all your favourite videos and there’s microwave popcorn in the cupboard.”

Pam deliberately glanced around, eyeing the smartly dressed men before turning to smirk at Maggie. “You think I want to go watch Serenity for the millionth time when you’ve got this kind of a smorgasbord laid out for me?”

“They are kind of tasty, aren’t they?” Maggie turned and they both gazed out into the room.

It was a little annoying that the first place her gaze went was to where TJ stood. Shoot . Pam ignored the blatant interest running on a constant loop in her brain and grinned evilly. “Oh yeah, and there’s one in particular who’s been making me drool all afternoon.”

“Really?” Maggie leaned closer and whispered. “Who?”

“That one.” Pam pointed at Erik and laughed out loud when Maggie elbowed her.

“Hands off, sugar, get your own Friendly Giant.”

The music started again, a slow tempo this time and Maggie pulled Pam in for a hug. “Time for the first dance, then Erik and I are going to sneak away. I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow, okay?”

Pam kissed her cheek quickly. “Don’t worry about me. It’s not like you’re throwing me to the dogs.”

Maggie snorted loudly. “At least you know how to handle them.”

“Trust me, I can handle the two-legged variety as well as I deal with the four-legged. Now go on, your big brute is waiting and even though I still think I could take him down, I’m going to be nice and not hurt him before you get to enjoy tonight.”

Erik held out his hand and Maggie joined him with a laugh and the two of them spun off onto the dance floor. Pam let out a long, slow breath. It was clear they were very much in love. Maybe it would work out. The lights of the hall dimmed and a disco ball turned on. Pam fought back a snicker as sparkles danced over the walls and the lone pair in the spotlight.

Someone stepped in behind her, the heat of his solid body hitting her back as he wrapped his hands around her waist and gently nestled them together.

TJ.

Cocky bastard, really. She debated slamming a heel on his instep, or flipping him over her shoulder, just to teach him a lesson, but watching Maggie and Erik float around the floor had mellowed her too much.

“You should be careful putting the moves on a girl like that. You might lose something important,” she warned.

He ignored the threat and rested his chin on her shoulder. The heat radiating between them tempted her. “They fit awesome together, don’t they?”

His breath brushed her cheek, warm and sweet smelling. Her mouth watered, but she didn’t want to talk romance with him.

“They look…unbalanced. What was Maggie thinking getting involved with someone so much taller than her?”

He hmmed . “They were probably thinking that when it’s right, there’s no denying you’ve found the one you want.”

Oh lordy, his thumbs stroked her waist, and he nuzzled under her ear. Did she want this? Heat flushed her. She had to decide, and quick. She could lead him out onto the dance floor and enjoy his touch in public, or they could find a dark corner and see what else came up.

So to speak.

He tugged her backward and her body overruled her mind. They slipped into the shadows at the side of the hall, ducking behind a room divider. He pressed her against it, his solid body very, very warm. Her heart rate increased, as did the tingling sensation between her thighs, and she squeezed her legs together to stop the ache.

Man-oh-man, his eyes were so incredible she swore he was using some kind of hypnosis. Turning away was impossible as he stared at her, tracing her hair, her face, one finger outlining her lips before he slowly lowered his head and brought their mouths together.