Page 16 of Leo

“When she finds out that…,” she clasped her hands on her lap and heaved out a breath. “When she finds out that this is not real.”

“Will you be telling her?”

“No! Of course not. It is just…,” she looked around the setting and saw Michael chatting with one of the managers at Coleman’s Enterprise and fleetingly wondered if the man was gay. She had been introduced to all of them, including Leo’s assistant, a sharp looking woman with a thin face and piercing blue eyes.

“You’re right of course.” He had pecked her lightly on the lips when Michael declared he should kiss the bride. The shimmer of awareness had frightened her for a minute, but he had ended the kiss before she could make anything of it.

“I am being silly. I think I will have something to eat after all.”

With a nod and another glance at her, he went to get her a plate.

Michael came over to sit with her right after Leo had brought her the shoes and left.

“He is a keeper.”

“Cut it out.” Sherrian dug into the delicious serving of finger foods and forced herself to eat. Her stomach was still tied in knots, but she did not want to give any of the guests anything to talk about.

“I am just saying!” Michael eyed her curiously. “You look like you are at a wake. Smile darling.”

“How is this?” She stretched her lips and had him grimacing.

“On second thoughts, don’t smile at all.” Plucking a fat grape from her plate, he munched.

“I see you’ve made a friend.”

He looked over to where Leo was conversing with the man he just finished talking to. “Mark Bainbridge. It so happens wehave a mutual friend. I had no idea he was senior manager of operations at your husband’s company.”

“He’s not my husband,” she muttered.

“This entire thing looks real, and I have to say, your aunt outdid herself. It was a good call to have the ceremony outdoors and the weather cooperated. It is a dream wedding.”

“Will you stop saying that?” She hissed, feeling her appetite diminishing. “I am sorry Michael. I thought I had more time before the ‘honeymoon’, but Leo wants to leave today.”

“I see. Why wait though?”

“I need more time. I am panicking. We have not spent any time alone together since we decided to go ahead with this thing. But we are going away for a week and will be staying in the same place.”

“A hotel?”

She shook her head and handed him the plate. “He has a pied a terre in Paris which is our first stop.”

“Of course he does,” Michael nibbled on a delicate pastry that simply melted in his mouth, “he is going through an awful lot of trouble for you.”

“And it’s making me very uncomfortable.” She glanced over at where he was standing. He had the casual kind of grace that made him stand out among the other men.

His dark blue suit was impeccable, and his sable brown hair was well cut and catching the light of the afternoon sun. As if he sensed her stare, he looked up and sent her an easy smile before turning back to the group.

Michael saw the look and wondered not for the first time why she could not see what was so damn obvious.

“You’ll be fine!” He patted her hand reassuringly.

*****

Noticing the fact that she was uncomfortable and trying valiantly to hide it, Leo put her at her ease by making sure he sat at one end of the limousine that had arrived at her aunt’s place to take them to the private airfield.

The driver retrieved their bags, which had been packed by his housekeeper and boarded the plane, handing them to the chic looking flight attendant in her spiffy navy and white uniform.

“Welcome aboard, Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Coleman.” She beamed, causing Sherrian to wonder if her blonde perfection was real.

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