Page 4 of Fall From Grace
Needing a distraction, I glance toward the back of the bar into the private party room. We built a larger reception venue on the edge of town, where we hold the bigger parties, but for smaller parties of fewer than 50 people, we still use the private party room in the bar. I notice Tessa in the room, talking to someone just out of my view.
“What’s Tessa doing back there?” I ask Tanner. It’s still early enough in the day that only our regulars are in the bar, giving us a chance to restock for the busy night ahead.
“Oh, that’s right. You had already left the other night when Tessa announced to the table that she and Grace plan to hire a male stripper for Sky’s bachelorette party tomorrow night. They're holding auditions as we speak.”
“Grace is back there with male strippers?” Jealousy, like I’ve never felt before, roars through my body at the thought of Grace and male strippers.
“I know, right? The girls seem excited about it. They say they’re just doing it to help promote Tessa’s new wedding planning business.” Tanner snorts. “It’s a good thing I’m planning the bachelor party.”
“Let me guess, we’re going to spend the night at your place playing poker.” Tanner is so predictable.
“Hey, my poker parties are legendary. Plus, we’ve got some new blood joining us. I met the new doctor the other day—all the women are crazy over him. He seems like a decent guy. Since he’s new to town and doesn’t know many people, I invited him.” Tanner glances at his watch. “He’s actually supposed to stop by sometime today.”
I want to ask Tanner more about the auditions happening in the back room, but I bite my tongue, not wanting to reveal that I still have feelings for Grace. As far as my family is concerned, I’m over her. “I thought the best man was supposed to throw the bachelor party,” I say instead.
“Yeah, right. Like I’d let you plan the bachelor party—you’d have us all sitting around grumbling about women.”
“True story. He’d have us so depressed, it would be the worst bachelor party ever.” Great, now Turner’s arrived to add his two cents. “Look, Travis, you used to be fun, but ever since you and Grace broke up, you have been a grumpy jerk. We had hoped that when you saw Grace again, you would patch things up and get back together. We hate seeing you like this.”
Is he right? Have I been a grumpy jerk since I lost Grace?
“Screw that. I’m the best man. I’ll be the one to plan the bachelor party.” The look of panic on Turner and Tanner’s faces is priceless. Let them think I’m a grump—I’m going to prove them all wrong. I take one last look at the back room and catch a quickglance at Grace, who is now standing by the open doorway. My party is going to be so much better than Tanner’s stupid poker party. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have a party to plan.”
“Wait!” They call after me, following me out of the bar and leaving Jake to tend the bar alone.
four
Grace
So far, the searchfor a male stripper for Sky’s bachelorette party has been cringe-worthy. The guys have either been too old and creepy or too young, making us feel old and creepy.
“Are you sure we need a male stripper?” There has to be some other entertainment we can plan. “How about a spa day?” I search for fun things to do for a bachelorette party on my phone.
“Boring. Look, Sky deserves something wild and a little crazy before she’s stuck with my brother for the rest of her life.” Tessa says it like it’s a bad thing, while I think it sounds amazing to be with the same guy for the rest of my life, as long as it’s Travis.
“How about we compromise—just one more male stripper audition. If he isn’t the right fit, we call it quits and stop the auditions.”
Tessa rolls her eyes before finally giving in, “Fine, but I have a feeling about the next guy. It says he’s a professional male stripper, formally with the Thunder from Down Under.” She holds up her phone showing me a text.
“In Montana?” I snort. “Where did you find these guys anyway?”
“I posted in the Wintervale Facebook Group.” She shrugs like it’s something she posts daily.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I think about all the hot men in Wintervale, but I still can’t imagine any of them besides Dale actually going through with stripping for money in the same small town they live in.
“I’m kidding.” She bursts out laughing. “You should see your face. It’s priceless. Of course, I didn’t post in the Wintervale Facebook Group. Do you really want to have to look our male stripper in the eye the next time you want your tires rotated or your carpet cleaned?”
I don’t get a chance to answer Tessa before a gorgeous giant of a man walks through the door. He must be at least six feet four inches tall, like Travis and his brothers, with dirty blonde hair, a slightly darker beard, and muscles for days. If I wasn’t already in love with Travis, I would definitely be all over this guy.
“Hi, I’m looking for Tessa. The bartender said I’d find her back here.” Even his voice is sexy.
“I’m Tessa.” Tessa steps closer to the newcomer, extending her hand. “And you are?”
The stranger hasn’t even noticed that I’m still in the room as his gaze sweeps over Tessa’s curvy figure as he clasps her hand in his much larger one. “My friends call me Mac.”
“Is that like a stage name or something? Like Big Mac?” Tessa’s eyes drop below Mac’s waist, taking in the impressive bulge I also happened to notice. I might be taken, but I’m not dead.
It’s getting a little hot in here. I need to give these two some privacy, so I slip out of the room and close the door behind me without either of them noticing.
