Christmas With the Best Man Read Free Page A

have a way of twisting words to your favor.”
    “That’s not it at all. I’m always right, no twisting needed.”
    Laughing, Jasmine shook her head. Right or not, he always got the last word.
    They made small talk while they ate, then sat sipping ale. Jasmine was definitely in no hurry to go back to their room. No cell service, no TV, and she hadn’t noticed any books or games or even a deck of cards to keep them from dying of boredom. She could only read on her phone for so many hours a day.
    The piped-in music ranged from typical Irish music to modern pop, adding to the lighthearted feel of the pub. A few young people danced in the clear space in front of the fire. One tall, blond young man came to their table and spoke to Joey. “Do ya mind if I dance with your girl?”
    Jasmine laughed, her sinuses burning when the ale nearly came out her nose.
    Joey leaned back in his seat, motioning toward her. “Go for it.”
    She was surprised that he didn’t make it clear she wasn’t his girlfriend.
    “I’m Colin,” the blond said over the noise of the pub.
    “Jasmine,” she replied.
    “Where ya from?”
    “California. Oakland.”
    “What brings you to Kilmore Quay at Christmas? Do ya have family here?” He swung Jasmine around to dance.
    “Just a vacation.” She wasn’t going into the whole wedding and avoiding paparazzi deal, nor the lack of transportation to London. For one thing, she wouldn’t “out” Joey. For another, this guy wasn’t someone she’d ever see again.
    That might be kind of sad. His blue eyes held such laughter, he was probably a blast to be around. He was bound to be better company than Joey. Although Joey definitely had Colin beat on the hotness scale.
    ~*~
    Nursing his ale, Joey watched the dancers. One dancer, truthfully. He’d seen Jasmine bouncing around with Kenzi and Bree—the third member of their little circle of friends—in the front row of Marino’s concerts. Those moves were nothing compared to what she was doing with that body now. Sensually swaying her hips with fluid grace. Laughing at something her partner said, her face lighting up.
    An urge struck him to cut in. She didn’t know this guy. Joey was the only person she knew in the entire country. He needed to watch out for her. Like a big brother. Yeah, that’s it. A big brother.
    Who was he kidding? He was actually jealous.
    What a joke. She irritated the hell out of him. She spent so much time with the band, when they were in Oakland, at least. And on holidays she went wherever Kenzi went, which was wherever Chaz was.
    And wherever Chaz was, so was Joey.
    Maybe that’s what he needed to change. He had a house in Austin that he rarely saw. The band traveled half the year, and recorded for months at a time. In his spare time, he and Chaz wrote music.
    His big house felt like a cavern when he was there. Even when he brought a girl home for the weekend, the place seemed empty. He’d hired an interior designer to furnish the large house. He didn’t care what it looked like. One day he would care, when life on the road had grown old. But that was some time off.
    Jasmine’s laughter made him look her way again. The guy was twirling her under his arm. They were line dancing. Jasmine sashayed a bit harder than the other girls, shaking her ass like a mating call to the guys dancing with her.
    Unable to take any more, Joey slammed back the last of his drink. He strode to the dance floor and lined up between Jasmine and the blond. He caught the beat right away but fumbled through the first moves.
    Then he put his heart into it. He didn’t dance much while playing bass on stage, but he could move when he wanted to. When he caught Jasmine’s astonished look, one side of his mouth pulled back in a grin. Astonishment was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
    The next song slowed things down. Joey grabbed Jasmine’s arm before anyone else could. “My turn.”
    She tipped her head to one side, studying him. “Okay.” She