Jules Bennett - From Best Friend To Daddy

He had such amazing, loyal employees at his bar who would work any venue when he asked. Honestly, they could run the whole place themselves and probably didn’t even need him around.

Damn it. He was out of things to do other than watch Bryan try to hit on Kate again. Didn’t the guy take the not-so-subtle hint from the rehearsal dinner?

Gray had been jealous last night, but seeing him make a play again tonight had him feeling all sorts of rage. Which was absurd. Kate was a grown woman and they were just friends. They’d slept together and now he was letting that incident cloud his judgment.

Actually, he didn’t care. Kate was better than Bryan and Gray didn’t like the way the guy kept looking at her.

Gray walked around the perimeter of the country club dining area and glared at Bryan as he stepped in behind Kate on the dance floor. What the hell was wrong with that guy?

Kate turned and glanced at Bryan, then shook her head and held up her hands as if to ward him off. Bryan smiled and reached out to touch her bare shoulder. Seeing that man’s hand against Kate’s creamy skin had Gray making his way across the floor.

The jerk stepped into her when a slow song started and the tension on Kate’s face made Gray’s anger skyrocket. He was sure his face showed his every emotion but right now he didn’t give a damn who saw him or what others thought. He was putting a stop to this now.

“Go have another drink, Bryan. This dance is mine.”

Gray instantly wrapped an arm around Kate’s waist and took her hand in his. From the corner of his eye, Gray saw Bryan still standing there. Spinning Kate in a circle, Gray stepped on Bryan’s foot and was rewarded with a grunt.

“Still there?” Gray asked over his shoulder.

The guy finally disappeared through the crowd of dancers.

Kate’s eyes were wide, but Gray would rather she be uncomfortable with him than with some idiot who didn’t know what a treasure Kate was.

“He’s harmless.”

Gray narrowed his gaze. “And I’m not?”

She merely tipped her chin in defiance. “I could’ve handled it myself.”

Gray offered her a smile. “You always say that.”

“Because I can.”

“I’m aware.” He spun her around again, keeping his firm hold on her. His Kate was extra prickly today. “But we haven’t danced yet and I had a few minutes to spare.”

Her eyes continued to hold his. “And what were you doing those few minutes you were glaring this way?”

Damn if she wasn’t adorable when she was fired up. “Some people take a smoke break. I don’t smoke, so I take a glare break.”

Kate stared for another moment before she finally shook her head and let out a soft laugh. “You’re incorrigible. You know that, right?”

A bit of tension eased from his chest at her sweet laugh. “It’s only because I care and Bryan is not the guy for you. Not even as a dance partner. Hell, he’s not even your drink provider.”

Kate arched a brow. “So now you’re screening my guys?”

Screening them? Hell, if that was a possibility he damn well would be first in line to sign up for that job. If he hadn’t been overseas during her ill-fated engagement, perhaps he could’ve prevented her heartache. But Gray hadn’t even met the ex because he’d come and gone while Gray had been serving. So, yeah, perhaps he was looking out for her. Isn’t that what friends did?

“Maybe dancing with a guy like Bryan made my list.”

Here she went with that damn list again. He’d like to see exactly what was on that thing.

“Tell me more about this infamous list.”

He spun her around again, slowly leading the way toward the edge of the dance floor, where there weren’t as many people. He found he didn’t want to share Kate right now. He wanted to keep her talking, keep her dancing. Though dancing wasn’t his thing, it was an excuse to get her in his arms.

He glanced around as he led her. He recognized many people from town. The St. John brothers and their wives were all dancing. Several other couples who frequented his bar were also dancing and having a good time.

Gray actually hadn’t seen the bride and groom for a while, though. Perhaps they’d already slipped out once the bouquet and the garter had been tossed. Most likely they’d been in a hurry to get to their honeymoon.

“I’m keeping my list to myself for now,” she replied.

Gray stared down into her blue eyes. She hadn’t brought up last night and he wasn’t about to, either. They hadn’t wanted things to change between them, but the tension had become palpable and he wasn’t sure how to erase it.

Eventually they would have to discuss what happened. Might as well be now, while he had her undivided attention. Maybe having everyone around would help ease the tension. If they were alone again and trying to talk, Gray wasn’t so sure he could prevent himself from touching her again. Touching her now was safe, smart.

“About last night—”

Kate’s eyes widened a fraction. “I need to find Tara,” she said, breaking from his hold. “We’ll talk later.”

And then she was gone, leaving him all alone with a slew of couples dancing around him. Gray fisted his hands at his sides. He hadn’t expected Kate to run. He hadn’t expected their night to scare her away. She’d always been comfortable with him.

But then he’d turned into the guy who had sex with his best friend on top of a bar.

Raking a hand through his hair, Gray left the dance floor and went back to what he could control. The alcohol and the servers. Right now, Kate was utterly out of his control. Perhaps they needed space. Maybe she needed a breather after what had happened.

One thing was certain, though. He’d had her only one time and he knew without a doubt he wanted more.

* * *

Kate sank onto the chaise in the seating area of the women’s restroom. She slid out of her heels and resisted the urge to moan. Between all the food she ate and dancing and the lack of sleep, she was ready for bed.

It was that whole lack of sleep—or the reason behind it—that had her escaping to the restroom to hide for a bit. She’d known Gray would bring up their situation, but their friend’s wedding was sure as hell not the place she wanted to hash things out.

She couldn’t think when he was holding her, because now that they’d been intimate, any type of touch triggered her memories...not that the images of last night had ever faded to the background. Would they ever?

Besides, Kate had no clue what she wanted to say anyway. Did she say thank you? Did she compliment him? Or did she broach the fact that she’d had her first taste of alcohol and it wasn’t that bad? What exactly did she lead in with after such an epic, mind-boggling night?

The bathroom door opened, but Kate kept her eyes in her lap, not wanting to face any guests.

“Who are we hiding from?”

So much for not facing anyone.

Kate glanced up to see Tara and Lucy holding the skirts of their gowns and coming in from the madness and noise outside. Once the door shut, her friends waited for her answer in silence.

“Tara—”

“Is it Bryan?” Lucy asked, rolling her eyes. “I swear, he and Noah are close, but I had no idea how annoying that man could be when presented with a single woman. Guess he thinks he has a chance with you.”

Kate blew out a sigh. If her only problem involved a man who was a complete goober and found her attractive, she’d be golden and certainly wouldn’t be hiding in the bathroom.

No, her issues came in the form of a six-foot-four-inch bar owner who could make her tingle just from the slightest brush of his fingertips.

“This isn’t about Bryan. I’m just taking a breather,” she told them, which was the absolute truth.