Taking A Shot (8 page)

They moved into the restaurant for dinner, and he captivated her with his conversation, made her laugh with his stories about medical school and the horrors of life as an intern. He didn’t just talk about himself, though, but engaged her and asked her about herself and her family and her goals and dreams for her own future.

He was almost the perfect man.

After dinner she drove him around and told him about her favorite places. He seemed fascinated with the history of the city, then told her what he was interested in doing.

“Will you settle here?”

“I’ll be here for a few years. I don’t know where I want to end up.”

“Probably somewhere near your family, don’t you think?”

He pulled up in front of her condo, shut off the engine. “I’m a big boy. I don’t need to live so close to home anymore.”

She laughed. “I guess to me family is so important. I can’t imagine ever being far away from them.”

“That’s what makes people so different, Jenna. I like the freedom to live my own life. You like being close to those you love.”

“I guess you’re right.”

Then the conversation was over, and he leaned in.

She waited for the swell of heat, the explosion of sensation.

His lips brushed hers and he enveloped her in his arms. She went willingly into the kiss, tangled her fingers in his hair.

His tongue swept across hers.

It was…nice.

Dammit. It was nice. Pleasant. No fireworks. Nothing in her body was going off like a rocket.

This guy was gorgeous, successful, funny, and she’d just had a great night with him.

And there wasn’t a single hormone in her body that wanted to jump his bones.

How disappointing.

He broke the kiss and smiled at her. “Who’s the guy?”

She blinked. “What?”

“Who’s the guy you were thinking about when you were kissing me?”

“There is no other guy.”

He gave her a look that told her he wasn’t buying it. “I’m a doctor, Jenna. I might not know everything, but what I do know is biology and basic chemistry. You and I got along great.”

“We did.”

“But when I kissed you just now, you didn’t feel it.”

She looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry.”

He tipped her chin with his fingers. “Don’t apologize for something you just don’t feel. It’s either there or it isn’t, and you can’t manufacture chemistry. I had a great time tonight. Thanks for showing me around.”

He opened the car door and went around to open hers, then walked her to her front door.

She turned to face him. “I really wish there’d been something, Joe.”

“Me, too.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you at the bar.”

She watched him walk away and knew Joe would never step foot in Riley’s again.

Even worse, she still didn’t have a damn date for the wedding.

She turned around and went inside.

THE WEDDING CEREMONY HAD BEEN BEAUTIFUL. THE church had been decorated with white calla lilies and ruby roses with baby’s breath and assorted greenery Jenna knew nothing about. It was beautiful. Seeing Tara walk down the white-carpeted aisle in her dress had made her breath catch. She’d looked stunning. Mick had tears in his eyes. Her big, tough-as-nails brother had shed a tear.

Her brother Mick was a married man now. Jenna still found that hard to believe. Her big brother, who had teased and tackled her and looked out for her when they were kids, had found the woman of his dreams and married her. And he had a teenaged son who he was going to officially adopt. Nathan was going to become a Riley.

Sometimes the world moved at such a fast pace it made her head spin.

Jenna had stood on the altar and listened to the priest perform the ceremony, truly listened to the words as Father Abrams told them about love and faith and finding that one person you were meant to
be with. As she watched her brother and Tara look at each other, she knew for a fact that two people couldn’t possibly love each other more.

Shockingly, she’d cried. She’d never thought it would happen. Strong and stoic were her fortes. But she’d stood on the altar with tears rolling down her cheeks as Mick and Tara recited their vows.

She’d have to work harder at her intestinal fortitude before Gavin and Liz’s wedding.

After the ceremony the wedding party hung behind at the church to take pictures in multiple shots. Jenna had to admit that had been fun. Sometimes family could be overwhelming. Today, she couldn’t get enough of them.

When there was a spare moment in between photographer shots, she hugged her brother.

“I’m so happy for you.”

Mick grinned and put his arm around her. “Thank you. I’m a lucky guy.”

“You are. Take good care of her. She’s special.”

He squeezed Jenna’s arm. “I know.”

The day turned out glorious. Cold, but bright and sunny. A perfect day, without a cloud or raindrop in the sky.

The bride and groom were happy, Jenna’s parents were beaming with joy, and that’s all she could ask for.

And the bridesmaid dresses didn’t suck—thank you, Tara—so Jenna would survive the day.

She’d given up on finding a date for the wedding after that disastrous episode with Joe. The poor guy. She’d felt awful about it. No more dating for her. Not until she found someone who knocked her socks off.

Correction. Someone who didn’t play sports who knocked her socks off.

That might be a tall order, but she knew he was out there
somewhere. And right now she just didn’t care. She had enough to deal with today, and a man wasn’t even on her radar.

Okay, one man was.

Tyler.

She’d noticed him sitting in one of the pews at the church when she walked down the aisle, couldn’t help but catch sight of his dark hair as he stood and watched her, his gaze riveted to hers.

Butterflies. Giant butterflies in her stomach when she looked at him.

She’d quickly looked away, focusing on the altar instead. Today was about Mick and Tara, not her conflicted feelings about Tyler Anderson.

The wedding had been smooth and beautiful and had gone off without a hitch, allaying Tara’s last-minute jitters.

Now if she could get some food and a drink, this day would be perfect.

They piled into the limos and made their way to the reception hall. The guests were already gathered there, so the wedding party was introduced, then the bride and groom to thunderous applause.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Riley. Jenna still couldn’t get used to that, but she already loved Tara like a sister, and Tara’s son Nathan like a blood nephew. It didn’t matter that Mick wasn’t Nathan’s real father. He was family to the Rileys and always would be, from now until forever.

Nathan looked so handsome in his tux. Nearly seventeen, he was going to be one serious lady-killer someday. He definitely fit in with all the Riley men. Both her brothers looked gorgeous as did her dad. Jenna couldn’t help but grin. She was going to have to order a lot of pictures from the photographer.

As the bride and groom took to the floor to have their first dance, Jenna’s ridiculous waterworks started up again.

Good Lord, was she a basket case today or what?

“I see you’re full of tears today, too.”

Her mother wrapped her arm around her. Jenna leaned against her and laughed.

“I can’t seem to help myself. They’re so happy, Mom.”

“I know. And they deserve it. I’ve never seen two people more in love.”

Jenna could only nod as Mick led Tara around the floor. Tara was breathtaking in her cream and pale pink strapless ball gown, a true vision with her blonde hair pulled up, diamond drops in her ears and across her throat—a wedding gift from Mick.

“She looks like freakin’ Cinderella.”

Her mother laughed. “She’s stunning. And so are you.”

“Thanks, Mom. But no comparison. This is Tara’s day.”

“You’re gorgeous, Jenna. The ruby red dresses Tara chose bring out the blue in your eyes and make your hair stand out. And what they do for Maggie and Elizabeth’s hair—I’m telling you, she chose the best dress for all of you.”

“She did.”

It was the bridal party’s turn to dance, so Gavin danced with Maggie as best man and maid of honor, Liz danced with Mick’s cousin Cole, and Jenna got to dance with Nathan.

“You look all grown up.”

Nathan grinned. “I kinda feel that way. And sometimes I still feel like a kid.”

She laughed. “Enjoy the feeling-like-a-kid moments. They’ll be gone before you know it.”

“I know. I’ll be off to college soon. Only one more year of high school after this.”

“I’m not sure we’ll let you leave us yet.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be ready to go.”

“Oh, trust me. You’ll be ready. Too much of the Rileys can be suffocating. You’ll have your bags packed and sneaking out the door in the dark of night so we can’t tie you to us.”

He squeezed her hand. “I like having you all for family, Jenna.”

“We all like you, too, Nathan. A whole lot.”

He turned her so they were facing Mick and Tara. “My mom and dad look happy.”

“They are. And they will be. Forever.”

She felt him relax.

The night flowed smoothly. She ate, finally, so she was content. Everyone danced, and she wandered around to greet the guests.

“Hello, gorgeous.”

She was picked up and whirled around. When she was set down, she whirled around with a glare. She rolled her eyes when she saw her cousin’s smug grin.

“Cole. Don’t you know it’s impolite to annoy the crap out of a lady?”

“First, you’re not a lady, you’re my cousin. And second, annoying the crap out of women is what I do.”

Her cousin Cole was and always had been a big pain in her ass, second only to her brothers in that department. A jock just like Mick and Gavin, Cole played in the NFL and was one of the best wide receivers currently playing for Green Bay. And he had the giant ego to go with his giant talent. But she loved Cole nearly as much as she loved her brothers, despite all the years he’d spent tormenting her when she was a kid.

Her uncle and her dad must have been a hell of a duo when they were kids, because they sure passed it on to their sons.

“Shouldn’t you be off doing shots with the guys?”

“On my best behavior tonight. I promised my mother and Aunt Kathleen.”

“And when have you ever kept a promise?”

“Never. But since they’re both here with their eagle eyes, I don’t have much of a choice.”

“Aren’t you just a boy scout?”

“Yeah, until about midnight when I ditch this shindig and head to a club. I’ve got some babes waiting for me.”