Page 66 of Merrick

“I am not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” There was a fierce determination on his handsome face. “You owe me, after what you did to our family.”

“Your family hates me.”

“And I believe that you are strong and do not give a rat’s ass about that. My uncle will be there of course. You do not have to be at the church. The reception is being held at the house, and he will not be able to avoid you. Bring a plus one if you must, I do believe he is taking the judge.

But know that he is not interested in her, in any woman except you. Confront him, make him angry so that he takes you somewhere private and go on from there. He will not be able toresist you when you are alone in a room together. And we have plenty of rooms.”

She looked over at him. “Why are you doing this?”

“For selfish reasons.” He smiled slightly. “I love my uncle and he is all the way in love with you. I want him to be happy. See you at the wedding. Wear something scandalous and knock his eyes out.”

After he was gone, she turned the envelope over in her hands. Picking up the letter opener, she slick it open and took out the fancy embossed card. The last Saturday in January. Christmas had come and gone and had meant nothing to her. She had spent it at her aunt’s place, being plied with food, but had tasted nothing.

She could not go of course. The thought of seeing him in a setting like that was unnerving. She would be crashing the family function, even if she was invited. Putting the envelope down, she sat there staring at her report and just could not settle.

*****

Standing in front of the mirror, he struggled to perform a task he had done too many times to count. Knot the tie at his throat. If it was not for his nephew getting married, he would have declined the invitation. He was certainly not in the mood for celebration.

He had lost weight and the haggard expression on his face was due to his not eating, working too hard and drinking too much. He was an empty shell inside. He knew realistically that he was never getting over her, but had thought the terrible ache and pain would have lessened by now.

It had been two goddamned month. Two months in which the company he had worked so hard to build on had been in the press, speculations surrounding his family and worse - much worse was seeing her in the courtroom - at the precinct – in the room interrogating him and his family.

He had wanted to hate her, strike out at her, but he had been furious that all he wanted to do, even despite what she had done was to just haul her into his arms.

At nights, he had taken to sleeping at the office, because his bedroom smelled of her. The bed reminded him of the passion enjoyed there. He could not settle. Jennifer was hinting at a relationship, but he could not stomach being with another woman. Damn Margo Sullivan to hell and back!

The wedding was a reminder that he had failed twice. Two times he had proposed. One woman had died and the other – well – she was dead to him, wasn’t she? But he could lie to himself. She was not dead – in his heart, she was alive and standing firm. In his soul, where she had woven herself.

It angered him that she had managed to break him into bits, and he still wanted her. She had stamped on his heart, set fire to that piece of him and he still craved her. He still recalled the times they spent together, the passion that had struck him like lightening.

Staring at his image in frustration, he renewed his effort to knot the damn tie. As soon as this was over, he was going to take a break. Go out on his boat, sail far away and be alone with his thoughts and try and recover from this painful period in his life. He was through with women. He would take what they had to offer and be done with it.

*****

“My God!” Brad let out a breath as she opened the door, and he got an eyeful of her.

She looked completely different. She had done something different with her hair, it was not curly, but straight and longer, the glossy strands bouncing past her shoulder, and she was showing skin. The dress was a stunning electric blue that skimmed over her slender curves like a lover’s hand and was high above the knees.

“Close your mouth, Michaelson.” She could smile and be pleased at his reaction.

“Is that really you?”

“Bite me.”

“I recognize the tone and the words, but Christ! You are exquisite and you are wearing makeup.”

“Not much.” She was starting to feel self-conscious. Michael had called to remind her of the date, as if she would forget. And in the end she had asked Brad to accompany her and sprung for a much too expensive dress.

The boots had her thinking long and hard, but she had succumbed and bought them. They came up to just above the knees and had heels. She had also bought a coat. Black cashmere that felt as light as clouds. The entire ensemble had cost the earth.

“Ready?”

Brad was still staring at her.

“Brad.”

He cleared his throat and nodded. “Yeah, let’s go. If Pendergast does not jump all over you, I reserve the right to.” He grinned at her dirty look. “What? Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

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