Page 3 of The First Best Man

“Excuse me. Kate Reid?”

I spin around toward the voice, and Tucker merely glances over his shoulder before facing forward to politely mind his own business. A man I don’t know stands there, his eyes moving over my body as his lips turn down into a frown.

“Sorry, do I know you?” I ask, pulling his gaze back up to my face.

“I’m Alex. Kaylee Harper’s cousin from San Diego.”

Um, okay.

“Hello, Alex, Kaylee Harper’s cousin from San Diego. How can I help you?” I ask, and I hear Tucker snicker quietly though he keeps his gaze forward.

Alex’s eyes roam over me again, his frown deepening. “Kaylee said you would be here, and that I should come meet you.”

“Oka-a-a-y?” I say, drawing the word out like a question.

“Kaylee said you’d be down for a hookup, but…” His words trail off as his gaze skates over my body for a third time, his frown deepening like he’s disappointed in what he sees.

Kaylee said what?That bitch.

Steeling my spine as Tucker spins around on his stool to pin Alex with a withering glare, I tilt my head to gaze at him with a studious expression. “Well, tell me, Alex, what are your qualifications?”

“What do you mean?” he asks, looking confused, to which I only shake my head and shrug.

“It’s simple, really. If we’re going to ‘hook up,’ as you call it, I need to know what I’m in for, first. Are you a clean kisser, or do you get all slobbery and gross? Areyou more dominant, or do you want your women to slap you around a bit? Oh, and how big is your cock? I won’t entertain anything less than a full five-and-three-quarters inches.” I let my gaze drop to his crotch before arching a brow. “I can’t tell in those loose pants you’re wearing. Maybe you should just show me, first. I’m thinking you probably don’t meet my qualifications.”

Though he tries to cover it with a cough, Tucker’s bark of laughter is obvious to me…and to Alex, too.

That one stiffens to his full height before spearing me with a nasty frown. “You should be so lucky, you fat bitch.”

“Oh, you wound me, Alex,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

I barely get the words out before Tucker launches himself off his barstool to loom over Alex. My dinner partner towers several inches over the little weasel, but Alex surprisingly stands his ground without flinching.Much.

“I think you owe Kate an apology. Two actually. One for approaching her the way you did, and another for that last comment,” Tucker says with a tight jaw and thinned lips.

Obviously more of an idiot than I’d previously assumed, Alex only puffs out his chest and says, “She should apologize to me for her big mouth. Smart ass whale.”

What in the actual freak? Whale?

Unbidden, my gaze drops down and travels over my lap, hips, and thighs, which are encased in tight denim. Sure, I have some extra padding and curvededges, and I have to shop in the plus-size section at clothing stores, but awhale?

No way am I taking this sitting down.

Before I can slide off my stool to confront Alex on my own two feet, Tucker’s hand shoots out. At first, I think he’s going to hit the little creep, but he only clamps a hand around the back of Alex’s neck. Alex yelps and tries to pull away, then goes completely still as Tucker’s hand tightens visibly.

“Get the hell out of here,” Tucker growls, using his strong grip to shove Alex toward the exit.

The asshole barely manages to get a hand up to push the door open before his face slams into the glass. Tucker gives him a shove before releasing him, then spins around and moves back toward me while his fingers straighten his bright blue tie.

I melt right there on my stool as I watch him head my way. Apparently, that whole protective vibe is my jam, and I never knew it.

I never knew “swooning” was an actual, real thing until this very moment. Becauseswoon.

My whole body heats as he slides back onto the stool next to me and offers me a boyish grin. I can’t help but return the smile, and Tucker’s eyes drop to my mouth. My lips part as I suck in a ragged breath, and my heart starts to pound.

Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to?

Yes.I really freaking do.

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