Page 60 of 4 Weddings and a Feud

“Sorry?” she murmured in his ear, squeezing around his over-sensitized cock. “That was so hot.”

“But you didn’t come,” he said. “You only took care of me.”

“It’s about time someone took care of you, Alex. And I can take care of myself.” She leaned back and slipped her hand between them. She touched where they were still joined, and he shuddered. Then she moved her hand up to her clit and rubbed it.

“Let me.” Somehow, he’d convince his muscles to move his arm.

“You lie back. Enjoy the show.” She put her other hand on the wet spot over her nipple and tweaked it while she continued to work her other hand. Her eyelids fluttered closed.

He watched her beautiful face, her lips parted as she panted. Then he dropped his gaze to her heaving chest and her fingertips plucking at her nipple. Finally, he gazed at her other hand, working fast, her knuckles occasionally brushing his lower belly. He trailed a finger up to her tailbone and caressed her soft skin. He could watch her like this forever. Touch her. Hell, he’d loved curling around her and holding her while she slept. Why had he been such a foolish, proud kid? If he’d only come clean years ago, how many years of this mind-blowing pleasure could they have shared?

She groaned, then twitched. He held her tighter as her hands stilled and her breathing stuttered to a stop, then began again. She collapsed against his chest, burying her face in his neck.

He ran his hand up her spine and rested it at her nape. Her palms settled against his pecs.

It unlocked something inside him, something light and beautiful like a hummingbird or a butterfly. The best feeling he’d ever experienced.I want to stay like this with you forever.

But what he said was, “I’d better get rid of the condom.” When she nodded and clambered off him, he caught sight of the Paradise through the window. Could he have his hotel empire and Mary, too? Possibly. Assuming all went well with the Richardson wedding. Which reminded him of what he’d promised Mrs. Campo.

“When I get back, let’s talk about the Richardson wedding. I have an idea about entertainment I want to run past you.”

Mary’s mouth was open like she’d been about to say something, but she closed it and nodded. They were partners and lovers. It was goddamn perfect.

ChapterTwenty-Four

The next morning, three days before Teagan and Twyla’s wedding, Mary didn’t have time for afterglow. Passing on his offer of a leisurely soak in the clawfoot tub that could’ve easily fit a family of four, she dashed out of Alex’s place as soon as it was light. After showering in her tiny, dimly lit bathroom that stayed so choked with steam it was nearly impossible to get her makeup to stay on her face, she tugged on her Forza Elite Motors golf shirt and a pair of jeans and raced to the shop.

She’d just settled at her cluttered desk in the small office when Evie shuffled in.

“What are you doing here so early?” Mary asked.

“Had some stuff to do before the shop opens.” Evie set her bag on the chair on the other side of Mary’s desk.

“Have a cookie.” Mary nodded at the tin of anginetti on the corner of her desk.

“Italian wedding cookies? Mmm. I love the fringe benefits here.” Evie set a cup of coffee on top of one of her overstuffed binders. “You look like you could use this.”

“Bless you.” Mary grabbed the cup in both hands and inhaled the bitter aroma that promised efficient caffeine delivery.

Evie opened the tin, plucked out a cookie, and bit into it. She hummed appreciatively. Her gaze sharpened as Mary guzzled the coffee. “Rough night?”

“No, it was a good night.” Although she was starting to consider Evie a friend, she didn’t talk with her about her relationship with Alex. Evie didn’t have many positive opinions about the man who’d fired her. “Though I had trouble sleeping.”

“That stinks,” Evie said. “I don’t miss that about wedding planning, all the to-do lists spinning in my head. Hang on, I’ll be right back, then you can tell me what’s going on.” She grabbed another cookie and strode out of the office.

Mary was sure Alex hadn’t meant to set her brain spinning. He just hadn’t thought before he’d brought up work while she was still having aftershocks from an orgasm she’d given herself. Not that she had a problem taking care of her own pleasure. It was what she’d meant to do all along, ever since she’d heard the hurt in his voice when she’d skipped out on lunch at his spa. It was just that…he could’ve thanked her for what appeared to be a mind-blowing orgasm before he’d asked her to propose a suggestion to Rochelle that terrified her. A change this big with so little time to prepare seemed dangerous.

Long after Alex’s breathing had deepened and slowed, Mary had flipped through ways to present the splashy entertainment idea to Rochelle. Then her mind had jumped to how her personal relationship with Alex had tangled with the professional one. She couldn’t treat him like any other vendor, or even a client, and tell him she thought his idea was risky, especially if they tried to execute it with less than two weeks to go before the big day.

Working with her lover had suddenly become uncomfortable. She’d even pretended to be asleep when he’d snuggled up against her in the middle of the night and kissed the back of her neck. Was he about to make love to her or make another ill-timed work comment?

She had enough stress in her work life between what had become two full-time jobs, not to mention her constant watchfulness over her brothers. She should be able to sink into a romantic relationship and let go of her work stress, shouldn’t she? And she wasn’t getting that with Alex, considering the pressure of making everything perfect to support his big business deal.

Something had to give.

She glanced at her phone. She’d changed the wallpaper, not to one of the selfies like the one framed in Alex’s office but to a less obvious one, a photo she’d snapped of their feet toe to toe in the sand. He’d kissed her after she’d taken it, and she could almost smell the salty ocean air, feel her hair whipping her cheeks, taste his lips.

San Diego seemed long ago. Appropriate, since the relaxation and lack of responsibility she’d experienced were nothing but a dream. But the feelings that warmed her chest when she was around Alex were real.

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