Page 15 of Accidental Wedding Crasher
Evan laughed. “Exactly. Personally, I’ve heard that saying many times.”
“It’s a really common situation that we’re in, actually.”
“True.” They smiled at each other, and Evan’s heart skipped a beat. All evening, he’d felt attraction for Mia building as they’d danced, joked, talked, and now flirted. Yet he didn’t want things to be awkward at next month’s wedding, so he’d held himself back from acting on that attraction. It was getting more difficult to keep his distance now that they were alone together, though. Especially with Mia sitting so close beside him, brushing his arm with her hand now and then in a way that could have been accidental — or not.
“Speaking of pretending to date,” Mia continued, “thank you again for rescuing me back there.”
“It was my pleasure,” Evan said. “I’ve had a nice time this evening. And I’ll take any opportunity to mess with Mrs. Saint Claire.”
“Aha!That’swhy you came to save me,” Mia said. “You wanted to mess with her.”
“Exactly.” Evan raised his glass to her. “Secretly, she’s my nemesis.”
“Did she plot to steal one of your inventions?” Mia asked.
“Of course. How else would someone become a nemesis?”
“And now you’re seducing me so that you can use my math abilities to take her down once and for all,” Mia continued. Evan’s heart skipped another beat as he winked.
“I’mseducingyou now, am I?”
“Sure.” There was still a joking note in Mia’s voice, but the volume had lowered, and her words were ever so slightly breathier. “You bring me up to your hotel room, give me wine and chocolate…”
“And then what will I do?” Evan asked. He set his wine glass down on the coffee table and leaned closer.
“You’ll probably kiss me,” Mia suggested, her voice low. The tone sent warmth spiraling through Evan.
“Is that so?” He took the wine glass from her hand and set it on the coffee table. “Maybe something like… this?”
And, throwing all caution and all reason to the wind, he leaned forward and captured her lips with his own. They kissed once, for a moment, but it was enough to send fire rippling through his veins. He wanted more. He wanted her. He pulled back and saw that her cheeks were flushed, and her pink lips were parted. Her brown eyes shone as she looked at him, her gaze unwavering.
“I think somethingexactlylike that,” she said. “Though, if you’re really going to seduce me, you’ll need to do a little more.”
All logical thinking had already gone out the window. Evan no longer cared about making the wedding next month awkward. He no longer cared that he had work to do. All he cared about in that moment was Mia, so why not forget everything else, this one time? She was looking at him with desire in those gorgeous eyes, desire he knew was reflected in his own.
So, once again, he leaned closer. This time, Mia was the one who bridged the final inches between them and kissed him. She tasted a little like wine and cake. Evan slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, and then she was on his lap. They kissed again and again, for what could have been minutes orhours. Time seemed to slow to the speed of honey pouring from a spoon, almost achingly beautiful. Evan was aware of each movement Mia made, each soft moan as he kissed her, each flutter of her lashes in the brief moments they were apart.
“About the bed,” he said as he kissed her lips, her nose, her cheek.
“What about it?” she asked, her voice breathy in a way that made Evan pull her even closer.
“Maybe we can negotiate a compromise,” he said, kissing her again.
Mia laughed softly in his ear, sending pleasant shivers down his spine. “You’re such a businessman, negotiating in a moment like this.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she breathed, and Evan stood, lifting her easily in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he held her close, not wanting to separate even for a moment, as he carried her to the bedroom.
Tomorrow, he would think about the consequences. For now, he simply allowed himself to give in to temptation with a woman who made him laugh and smile andfeelmore than anyone had in a very long time.
Evan woketo warm sunlight streaming across his face. He sat up and saw that he was alone in bed; Mia was gone. He bit his lipas memories of last night rushed back. He wished she had stayed so they could wake up slowly, together.
Just then, Mia reentered the bedroom. She wore one of the white, fluffy hotel robes, and her hair was wet. She had no makeup on, as she’d had yesterday, but she looked all the more lovely for that. Smiling, she crossed to the bed and sat beside him.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He returned her smile. He knew he would have to face the real world again soon, but for now, he wanted to enjoy the morning with her. “Should we have breakfast?”
