She was animated and talking a mile a minute, throwing her hands this way and that, and nearly crashed into a passing waiter. Only Devon’s and Cam’s quick lunge for the tray of drinks prevented complete disaster. Ashley continued, oblivious to the chaos around her.
Then she impulsively hugged Brooke again. For the third time. Then she hugged Paul. Then she hugged Brooke again, the entire time wringing her hands in excitement.
Cam chuckled and shook his head. “You’ve got quite the chore on your hands, Dev. Keeping up with her is going to wear your stick-in-the-mud ass out.”
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be and someone else to torture?” Devon muttered.
Cam glanced Ashley’s way once more and Devon swore he saw genuine affection in his friend’s eyes.
“She’s cute,” Cam said as he put his wineglass aside.
“Cute?”
Cam shifted uncomfortably. “She’s sweet, okay? She seems…genuine and you can’t ask for more than that.”
Devon stared agape at his friend. “You like her.”
Cam scowled darkly.
Devon laughed. “You like her. You, who doesn’t like anyone, actually like her.”
“She’s nice,” Cam muttered.
“But you don’t think I should marry her,” Devon prompted.
“Shh, she’s going to hear you,” Cam hissed.
But Ashley had already drifted away from Devon and was solidly ensconced in a squeal-fest with Brooke as others had heard the news and had descended. She wasn’t going to hear an earthquake if a fault suddenly opened up under the building and sucked everyone in.
“If you think she’s so cute and nice, why the big speech about not being a martyr and getting married, et cetera?” Devon persisted.
Cam sighed. “Look, I just hate to see her get hurt and that’s what’s going to happen if you aren’t straight with her. Women have a way of knowing when men aren’t that into them.”
“Who the hell says I’m not into her?”
Cam arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying you are? Because you don’t act like a man who’s into his future bride.”
Devon frowned and looked around, making sure they weren’t overheard. By anyone. Least of all Ashley’s overprotective family. “What do you mean by that? You, Rafe and Ryan know the real circumstances of my relationship with Ashley but no one else does. I’ve given no one reason to suspect that I’m marrying her for any other reason than I want to.”
Once again Cam shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe because I know the real story it’s easier for me to see that you aren’t as excited as your lovely bride to be is over your impending nuptials.”
“Damn it,” Devon swore. “Now you’re going to have me paranoid that I’m broadcasting disinterest.”
“Look, forget I said anything. I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s none of my business anyway. She just seems like a sweet girl and I hate to see her get hurt.”