Girl Least Likely to Marry Read Free

pretending to think. ‘I think Reese meant to keep you and I
apart.’
    Tuck shot her his best wounded look. ‘And why would she want to
do that?’
    ‘I think she was afraid you and I might come to blows.’
    He continued his faux outrage.
‘Over what?’
    ‘Over her recent…shall we say…split from the groom. Your best friend?’
    ‘Ah. Well, now, if Dylan’s unconcerned then there’s no good in
me holding a grudge, is there? Besides,’ Tuck said, pulling out his chair and
sitting, his knee protesting at the movement, ‘I can flirt just as well from
this side.’
    Gina laughed. She couldn’t help herself. The big blond
quarterback had an ego the size of North America. ‘You’re that good, huh?’
    ‘Darlin’, I am the best.’
    Gina spied Cassie in the distance, making her way back to the
table. She flicked her gaze to Tuck. It would be good to see him brought down a
notch or two. ‘Works every time, huh?’
    Tuck grinned at the sudden sparkle of light he could see in her
eyes. ‘ Every time.’
    ‘No one’s immune to your charm?’
    Tuck shook his head. ‘Women love me. If they’re female and
breathing…’ He shrugged, then dazzled her with another wide smile. ‘What can I
say? I have a gift.’
    Gina smiled back. He really was an exceedingly good-looking
man, and his cast-iron confidence only added to his allure. It was a shame she
wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a dalliance because she had an idea a
night in bed with Tuck would be a great way to forget how badly she’d stuffed up
all those years ago.
    But her heart wasn’t in it.
    Just then the DJ played his first number for the night and Tuck
pressed home the advantage. ‘Ah, they’re playing our song,’ he teased. ‘How
about we knock off the pretence and you just dance with me, Gina?’
    Gina considered him a moment, aware of Cassie drawing closer
all the time behind Tuck’s head. ‘Nah, getting me to dance would be too easy.
Care to take a little wager?’
    Tuck smiled at her. A woman who liked to gamble—better and
better. He leaned forward. ‘I’m all ears.’
    ‘I bet you can’t get her—’ Gina nodded her head to indicate
Cassie ‘—to dance.’
    Tuck turned in his chair to see who Gina had in mind for him. A
woman about the same age as Gina in some kind of purple dress was walking
towards them. She had long dark brown hair arranged in loose ringlets that fell
forward over nice bare shoulders. She had a cute nose, pretty eyes and an
interesting mouth, and she was walking along seemingly oblivious to her
surroundings, a slight frown marring her forehead as if her thoughts were
somewhere else.
    She was no English sex kitten, that was for sure.
    She didn’t look like the average gridiron groupie either.
Still, she was female, and Tuck had always liked a challenge. He turned back and
smiled at Gina. ‘Piece of cake.’
    Gina laughed. ‘Oh, this is going to be good.’
    Tuck raised an eyebrow. ‘What do I get? When I win?’
    Gina smiled. ‘The pleasure of Cassie’s company, of course.’
    Tuck inclined his head. ‘Of course.’

    Despite her earlier concerns about leaving Gina and Tuck
together, Cassie had given it little thought in the fifteen minutes she’d been
away. Her brain had been mulling over the findings of an astronomy research
paper she’d read last night. She’d even applied the lipstick as ordered by Gina
without conscious thought as she recalled the fascinating data.
    She was surprised for a moment when she arrived back at the
table to find Tuck Whats-his-name sitting there with Gina, apparently getting
along just fine. She slotted the research into a file in her head and shut it
down with a mental mouse click.
    ‘Everything okay here?’ she asked.
    Tuck took a deep breath, then stood and used one of his very
best hey - baby smiles on
Cassie. ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘I’m Reese’s cousin, Tuck.’ He stuck out his hand. ‘It’s
mighty fine to meet you, ma’am.’
    Cassie blinked up at him