Page 17 of Always a Bridesmaid

“Your brother?” she croaked. “No need, I can handle this myself.”

“But you can’t. Henry has a friend in the countryside who he knows from his racing days, whose family owns a winery. After I told him about the mishap, Henry called Louis and he offered to provide the wine for the rehearsal and wedding. It would be rude for family not to attend the tasting. So Henry has to go.”

“Of course he does,” Jane said under her breath.

“What?”

“I just meant he is a man of action.”

Sarah gave her a strange look. “That he is.”

“Now you go and have fun. I’ll take care of Henry and I’ll write an email of apology for you to send to Andre, so you don’t have to use up another brain cell on it.”

“Thank you.” Sarah sighed in relief. “Hiring you was the smartest thing I ever did.”

Sarah departed with a hug and Jane glanced at herself in the mirror, wondering if she should change into something morecasual. She didn’t want Henry to think she’d dressed up for him. Then she checked herself.

“You are Elle. He is your friend’s brother. He’d expect you to be dressed to the nines.”

With that parting reminder, she grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs. Every floor the elevator descended, the sweatier her armpits became. Her goal had been to steer clear of him, not go wine tasting. How was she supposed to keep her distance when sharing the interior of a car with the guy?

You are Elle Vaughn. You are snooty and aloof and know how to play coy. You will flirt just enough, be a little demanding and self-absorbed, but awed by his status.

Gah. That last part made her want to gag.

But this was the role she’d taken on. And she would play it until the wheels fell off. If he grilled her, she’d have the perfect answer prepared. And if she didn’t, she’d redirect. She had a PhD in redirection.

Head held high, Jane didn’t acknowledge a single person as she strutted through the lobby, especially ignoring the staff—which really made Jane uncomfortable. When she reached the door, she waited with a folded twenty between her fingers for the doorman to open it for her.

She brushed past him with a tip and walked under the circular drive. It wasn’t hard to spot Henry. All she had to do was look for the obnoxious cherry-red McMansion on wheels idling at the curb.

Giving her bangs a flip, she glided toward his car, stopping at the passenger door, but not opening it.

Henry was reading an email on his phone and didn’t see her arrive. She was about to open her own door when she thought WWED? Elle would not open her own door.

Jane cleared her throat.

Henry took his time looking up, which told her he’d known she was there the entire time. Jerk. She was about to make a snarky remark when he looked up and she swallowed her tongue whole.

He was dressed in a casual blue sweater, with the sleeves pushed to the elbow, showing off a hint of a tattoo. His black hair was slicked back with a perfect curl coming down over his forehead, like it was windblown. Then there was the way his eyes heated when their gazes clashed.

It left her speechless.

This was what happened when your Lady Land took a self-inflicted sabbatical. Your hormones took over and you became sex crazed. Stupid hormones.

“Morning, love,” he said, his accent more potent than any aphrodisiac she’d ever had.

“Hank,” she said, trying to sound pleasant.

With a pleased grin, he unfolded himself from his car and strode around the front. She did her best not to stare, but seeing him in dark jeans that hugged his thighs made it difficult.

“You look lovely.” Instead of the “American hug” he’d given her last night, he gave her a gentle peck—one cheek, then the other. But instead of air kisses, his lips brushed her bare skin, leaving tingles behind.

He pulled back and she didn’t say a word. She must have looked as dazed as she felt because one side of his lip curled in satisfaction. “Are you ready for a little tasting?”

“What?” Jane squeaked.

That other side quirked. “Wine. I assume that’s why you’re here. Wine tasting?”

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