Page 48 of Her Movie Star's Secret Plan

Chapter 11

Owen walked down the line of antique cars. The antique car show in Maple Creek was minuscule compared to the shows he was used to attending in California, but he never passed up an opportunity to spend time checking out old cars. Especially when they were fixed up. There was something fun about seeing people he grew up around with their cars, rather than a bunch of strangers.

Chase ate from a bag of popcorn he’d bought from the stand near the entrance to the show. They’d invited all the other groomsmen to the show.

Kane snatched the bag from Chase and dug his hand inside. Chase gave him a dirty look. “You could have just asked. You think I want it back now that your gross hands have dug around inside there?”

“Come on, guys,” Benson said. “Don’t act like a bunch of animals.”

“So says the jock,” Chase said.

Benson had always been a jock. He’d been the quarterback of Maple Creek High’s football team, and he landed a scholarship to Virginia Tech to play football. Then the New York Giants recruited him after two years of playing college football.

“You know you’re more of an animal than any of us, Benson,” Owen said.

“Me? Just because I play football doesn’t make me an animal.”

“Yeah, right,” Kane said. “Football is full of violence.”

“And you think you’re any better standing up in your skyscraper? I’ve seen the way you work the room at parties.”

Kane was an executive at his grandfather’s high-level real estate company in Manhattan. He and Benson often brushed shoulders at parties filled with New York City’s elite. Kane’s dad had married a girl from Maple Creek, and she’d convinced him to let them raise their son in her hometown. When Kane graduated from high school, his parents moved to New York, and his father took a position at the family company. Kane graduated at the top of his class from college and joined the business by his father’s and grandfather’s sides. He was the only one of the group to get married, but from what Owen understood, the marriage was on the rocks.

“Just because New York is full of animals doesn’t mean I’m one of them.”

“No, you just grab my popcorn like an animal,” Chase razzed him.

“Is it weird for you guys to be back here in Maple Creek after all these years?” Benson asked.

“I’ve gotten used to it by now,” Chase said. “But, it was super strange for me at first.”

“But you stayed away more than the rest of us,” Owen said.

“I haven’t been back much,” Benson said.

“Neither have I,” Kane said. “I’ve only been back a few times to visit my grandparents.”

“My parents aren’t here anymore,” Benson said. “They moved to New Jersey to live closer to me.”

“You got your eyes on any of the bridesmaids?” Owen asked Benson.

“I know you have your eyes on the groom’s sister,” Benson said.

“What’s this?” Chase said, giving Owen a questioning look.

“I saw him at Hadley’s the other day all snuggled up with Alexis.”

“Dude? Do you have to rat me out like that?” Owen said to Benson.

“You were snuggled up with my sister?” Chase asked.

Owen silently cursed. He should have been more careful. He’d forgotten about Chase’s stance on him putting moves on Alexis. He’d gotten too distracted by Alexis’s kisses and gentle touches. And he’d had plenty of those lately. Chase would be furious if he knew how much he’d had his hands on Alexis.

“I told you she was off-limits.”

“She’s a big girl who can choose for herself.”

“You’re going to end up smashing her heart. And then I’m going to be the one who has to help put her back together.”

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