Brenda Jackson - Hidden Pleasures

H oly crap! Galen Steele muttered as he turned away from the bank of elevators and raced for the stairways of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manhattan. A high school soccer team was checking out and filling all the elevators going down to the lobby. Galen could not be late for this wedding. His cousin Donovan would kill him if he were.

All the other groomsmen had left for the church a good thirty minutes ago, but hed lagged behind when a woman hed met at the bar last night had unexpectedly knocked on his hotel room door just when he was about to walk out. Not one to turn down a booty call, hed thought he could make it quick. He had no idea Tina Whats-Her-Name didnt believe in a quickie. A smile split his lips as he recalled how shed made it worth his while.

And now he was late. Hed heard of weddings being held up for the bride or the groom, but never for a grooms man.

He vividly remembered Donovans warning last night at the bachelor party. His cousin, whod been engaged two months shy of a year, had made it clear that hed waited long enough for his wedding day and he intended for it to go off without a hitch. And that meant he wanted all twenty of his groomsmen to be at the church on time. As he spoke, hed looked directly at Galen and his five brothersnot so affectionately known as the Bad News Steeles from Phoenix.

Hell, it wasnt Galens fault that his father, Drew Steele, had actually gotten run out of Charlotte over thirty years ago by a bunch of women out for bloodnamely his. Drews reputation as a skirt chaser was legendary, and although the old man had finally settled down with one woman, his six sons had been cursed with his testosterone-driven genes. Galen, Tyson, Eli, Jonas, Mercury and Gannon didnt know how to say no to a willing woman. And if she wasnt willing, they had the seductive powers to not only get her in a willing mood, but to push her right over the top. Or let her stay on the bottom, depending upon her favorite position.

Galen glanced at his watch again as he reached the main floor. Hurrying toward the revolving doors, he prayed a taxi would be available. This was New York City, the Big Apple, and yellow cabs were supposed to be all over the place, right?

He smiled. One was pulling up as soon as he exited the hotel and he ran toward it, thinking he might be on time to the wedding after all.

Not waiting to be assisted by a bellman, he opened the cabs door, slid in the seat and was about to direct the driver to the church when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up and his gaze collided with a face he could only define as gut-grippingly beautiful. Eyes the color of caramel, naturally arched brows, a cute little nose and a pair of too-luscious lips.