In It to Win It

In It to Win It

Chapter One
JP

I should have known a Wynn family wedding wasn’t going to go off without drama.

Didn’t think it would be me in the middle of it, though.

Then again, it totally makes sense, because apparently, I can never be trusted to do the right thing.

Let’s go back to last night…

My brother Théo is getting married, but this isn’t a typical wedding (it’s the Wynn family, need I say more) because Théo and Lacey are already married, after a quickie Vegas wedding a few months ago. My mom was so disappointed about not being at their wedding, she wanted another one, and shockingly Théo agreed.

So there haven’t been bridal showers or bachelor and bachelorette parties. Tonight is the first time the wedding party and family are getting together for the rehearsal at Shores Hotel in Santa Monica, where the wedding will be held tomorrow.

I’m standing next to Théo where the ceremony will take place. Right now the arch next to us is bare but tomorrow it’ll be decked with flowers and bows and shit. We’re outside on a raised terrace, the beach right behind us.

I’m the best man. Except I’m most definitely not the best man. A year ago I f***ed up and screwed over Théo, my own brother. It’s taking some time for our relationship to recover, but he says he’s forgiven me.

I haven’t forgiven myself.

And neither has the rest of our family.

I’ve had dirty looks, subtle shade, and outright hostility from my cousins, my aunt and uncles, and especially from my grandfather.

Which sucks, because Grandpa is my idol.

Bob Wynn, the King of Hockey. The man I looked up to my whole life. Until the last couple of years. He’s made some…um, interesting decisions lately. To be honest, I’m not sure what’s really going on, except I know my dad and my uncle Mark are pissed as hell at him, so much that they’re actually suing him, claiming he stole money from them.

This makes family gatherings—like this wedding—a tad uncomfortable.

But never mind all that…my attention is on the hot bridesmaid.

Taylor Hart.

I keep looking at her over on the other side of Lacey, the bride. Taylor’s gorgeous—perfect oval face, long dark hair, dark eyes and a full mouth that’s perpetually curved into a smile. For the rehearsal, she’s wearing a burgundy dress that wraps around her body and stops just above her knees, and suede heels that match the dress.

I catch her eye and grin, and she smiles back…a wide, glowing smile that lights up her face. She has a great smile. It’s like sunshine. Warm. Bright.

She also has a great rack.

She’s not here with a date. She’s not wearing a ring. F*** yeah.

I can’t wait for this formal stuff to be done so we can party. Everyone knows what’s supposed to happen and when. I have to hand over the ring, Lacey’s best friend takes her bouquet, blah blah blah. Now let’s have some fun.

There are about twenty of us who move to the private room after the rehearsal, and I see there are three round tables set up. Place cards identify who sits where, and since I’m one of the first ones in the room, I quickly find my own name…and Taylor’s. She’s at a different table, but I make the switch speedy quick so she’s now sitting beside me instead of my aunt, Everly. Then I head to the bar at the end of the room. Of course there’s champagne, so I grab two flutes and turn, searching for Taylor.

There she is, just entering the room. I make my way over to her and stop. “Champagne?” I hold out a glass to her.

Her lips quirk up at the corners as she reaches for the glass. “Why, thank you.”

“You’re most welcome.” I gesture at the table. “Apparently we’re sitting beside each other for dinner.”

She bursts out laughing. “Oh my God. Did you change the place cards?”

“How did you know that?”

“I helped set up the tables.” She sips her wine, eyes dancing.

“Damn.” I rub my chin, smiling ruefully. “Busted. But can you blame me for wanting to sit beside a beautiful woman instead of my aunt?”

She shakes her head. “Your aunt is a beautiful woman.”

My Aunt Everly is only a year older than me. It’s weird, but my grandfather married for the second time later in life and had four more kids, Everly being one of them. She’s also a bridesmaid, having become good friends with Lacey. “Well, yeah, she is. But she’s my aunt. I can’t flirt with her.”

“You’re going to flirt with me?”

“All night long.” I meet her eyes. Hers darken, and heat slides down my spine.

“Well, calling me beautiful is a good start.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I don’t know.” She tilts her head and studies me. “You seem a little cocky. You probably say that to all the girls.”

I grin. “Only the beautiful ones.”

Everyone is taking their seats for dinner, so I pull out Taylor’s chair for her.

“Thank you.”

I take my seat next to her. “We can get to know each other better over dinner.”

Her eyes meet mine and she purses her lips.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m a nice guy.” I lay a hand on my chest.

“That’s not what I’ve heard.”

“Oh no.” I groan. “Théo’s been talking about me.”

“Well, yeah. But you also have a…reputation as a hockey player, Killer.”

Killer. Great. “You like hockey?”

She nods.

“You’ve seen me play.”

“I was at the game last year when you hit Novotny and got suspended.”

I press my lips together, my jaw tightening. I look down at my place setting. “That shouldn’t have happened.” I lift my head and meet her eyes. “I don’t play to hurt guys. Really.”

She nods slowly. “But that wasn’t the first time you got suspended.”

I suck in a long breath. “True. Sometimes my emotions get the best of me. I’m working on it. Trying to do better.”

It’s true. This year I have to show the team I’m worth keeping on the roster. Last year didn’t go so well. In a lot of ways.

The others are now sitting at our table—six people—so we make small talk, Lacey and Théo stop at the table to chit chat for a few minutes, and then servers start bringing out salads, so they take their own seats.

 “How long have you known Lacey?” I ask as we dig into greens with blueberries, walnuts and feta cheese.

“Not long. Just since she moved here.”

“You must have become friends pretty fast.”

“Yes. We met when she helped me catch my dog. And my dog liked her, so I knew she was okay.”

“What kind of dog do you have?”

“Golden retriever. His name is Byron.”

“Nice. So that’s your test of whether someone is worth hanging out with? If your dog likes them?”

She nods, her lips quirked. “I’ve found it to be a reliable indicator. Dogs are smart.”

“Yeah. I like dogs. We had a standard poodle growing up. He was so smart it was scary.”

“And you know, sometimes you meet someone and things just…click.” Our eyes meet and hold again and the air buzzes around us. Yeah, I know that feeling. “When I met Lacey, right away I felt like I could talk to her about anything. She’s so…alive. Just fun to be with, but yet she can be serious and she’s smart, too.”

I nod. I kind of feel like that about Taylor. This feels so easy…and yet so electrifying.