Play Date (Play Makers Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

immediately swarmed with attention, rather than to be noticed from afar by guys, sometimes groups of guys, who were intrigued but had no intention of acting on it.
    Give it up, Rachel, she mocked herself as she wandered back to her seat on the low wall, ready to get back into the spirit of things, to enjoy the toasts, and then hopefully reach her only feasible goal for the night and score a huge slice of cake.
     
    • • •
     
    Erica McCall Spurling stepped up onto the dais, gazed at the churning throng of partygoers, and smiled in rueful satisfaction. She had wanted a medium-sized gathering of friends and relatives but had ended up with a mob scene dominated by strangers and vaguely familiar celebrities. She couldn’t hope to meet each of them and knew it would bother her later when she watched the wedding videos and didn’t recognize half the attendees.
    But for now, they were having a great time. Wasn’t that what really mattered? She was obnoxiously, supremely happy, and it made sense to share it with as many folks as humanly possible.
    “Hey, beautiful.” Johnny wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Sorry about the clusterfuck. I know you wanted it to be perfect.”
    “I love this clusterfuck, Mr. Spurling. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
    He grinned down at her. “It’s like someone cloned a thousand Bannermans and set them loose at our wedding. Did you see that idiot in the fountain?”
    “It was hilarious. I hope the videographer caught it for posterity.” Her mood grew wistful again. “I feel like we’re neglecting some of the real guests, though. Like Carlos and his date. And Helmut. And most of all, Sean’s date. Especially because he’s neglecting her too. Did you notice?”
    “You’re asking me if I noticed a good-looking, neglected blonde? As Deck would say, any answer I give is gonna be wrong.”
    “So you do think she’s good-looking?” Erica arched a playful eyebrow. “There’s still time to keep that blind date. We haven’t consummated this clusterfuck yet.”
    “Good point. Let’s sneak away for a few minutes. Just to make it legal.”
    “If only.” She touched his cheek. “There’s something about her, right?”
    “Who?”
    “The schoolteacher. She seems so—well, I can’t pin it down, but it’s something. Ephemeral, maybe?”
    “Yeah, like an angel.”
    She grimaced. “And now I am jealous.”
    “Trust me, you don’t want to be an angel. At least, not on the honeymoon. I wouldn’t be able to do half the stuff I’ve got planned.”
    “Interesting. That’s what Sean said, too. That he felt like he was defiling her.”
    “Why are we talking about Deck’s love life?” he demanded with a frustrated grin. “How about something for me?” When she pretended not to understand, he growled, “You know what I want, Mrs. Spurling.”
    A buzz of excitement shot through her. Because she did in fact know what he wanted. So she stepped back and pulled the three diamond-studded clips out of her hair, allowing the locks to spill over her bare shoulders and back. Then, after flashing her wildest smile, she shook her head so that the whole mess spilled over her again.
    His blue eyes blazed with arousal, and she knew he would have kissed her if a huge roar of applause hadn’t risen from the crowd.
    Embarrassed but also laughing, she gave his hand a squeeze, then smiled at the well-wishers, who continued to cheer and clap while best man Bannerman shouted, “Take it off!”
    “I’ll kill him,” Johnny muttered.
    She laughed again, then decided it was the right moment to throw the garter, so she told her new husband, “Want to fondle my leg? For a good cause?”
    He stared for a second, then got it and grinned. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
    As he dropped to one knee, she lifted her skirts high on her thigh, provoking more catcalls from Bannerman, echoed this time by Jake “Dub” Dublin, Sean, and her new brother-in-law Jason.
    “Make sure Sean catches