Page 27 of Love Me Tender

Chapter 6

“Where’d you find her?” Nathan eyed Grant in the reflection of the mirror as he fastened his bow-tie. “Rent-A-Chick?”

“Watch it.” Grant scowled. “She’s a good friend and my legitimate date.”

“I’m not saying I don’t like her.” Nathan stepped back to admire himself in the mirror. “I’m actually impressed that you came up with a plus one who’s both really hot and can talk shop with Dad. That’ll stick in Vivian’s craw.”

“That’s not why I brought Rory.” Grant pushed to his feet. He’d spent the morning with his brother and groomsmen, but this was the first time he and Nathan had been alone all day. “I’m sick of Mom hoping I’ll marry a girl from the right family who will magically get me to move back to the Bay Area.”

“I overheard Rory telling Dad she’ll be starting at Digicore after Thanksgiving.” Nathan picked a piece of lint off the sleeve of his tuxedo. “Does that mean she’s moving to San Jose?”

“Yeah.” An odd tightness spread through Grant’s shoulders.

Though he’d known Rory was back in Bliss Cove “temporarily,” he’d never really considered the fact that she would move away one day. She deserved a great job, and obviously a woman with a brain like hers needed to live in the hub of the tech industry, but…he’d gotten used to having her around.

“So what’s going to happen to your relationship when she moves?” Nathan slanted him a curious glance.

Grant shrugged and pushed to his feet. “Guess we’ll figure it out. Thanks for your concern. Now go get married.”

“Oh, shit.” Nathan’s mouth opened, and shock dawned in his eyes. “I’m gettingmarried.”

Grant grinned and clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Good luck, man.”

He pulled Nathan into an embrace before returning to his own hotel room to get dressed. He and Rory had agreed to meet in the hotel lobby at four, and he didn’t know whether or not to be wary about the recap of her spa day with Alice, his mother, and God knew how many other women. He wasn’t worried about Rory saying anything that might give away their ruse, but he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable or anxious. He’d have serious issues with anyone who made her feel that way.

After knotting his blue-and-gray silk tie, he went to the lobby. Many of the wedding guests were also staying at the Ritz-Carlton, and they teemed around the lobby in suits and evening gowns like a flotilla of ships. People stopped to greet him with the usual comments and questions—hello, congratulations to Nathan, how’ve you been?

He responded politely, but sensed their inevitable judgements simmering under the surface.How could he walk away from his family? So ungrateful. Clearly he doesn’t appreciate everything he had.

Still, none of it mattered anymore. He’d made his choice. Even if he’d wanted to change it, which he didn’t, entering the tech industry at thirty-five when you didn’t even have a cell phone was hardly a bang-up start.

His heart thumped against his ribs. He turned. Rory was coming out of the elevator, stunning in a sequin-and-lace, rose-colored cocktail dress that flowed from a fitted bodice into gentle folds around her knees. Her hair was pulled into a fancy knot with little tendrils framing her face, and she wore a light coating of makeup that enhanced her features.

Beautiful as she was, she didn’t look at all like the T-shirt-wearing Rory who complained about his singing fish and lack of technology.

“Hi.” She stopped, indicating his suit. “Again, you look good.”

“So do you. Very…shiny and sparkly.”

“The shine is because I was exfoliated within an inch of my life.”

He smiled in sympathy. “Was it horrible?”

“Not really.” She extended her bare arm. “My skin is as smooth as a baby’s butt. Feel.”

He skimmed his hand over her arm. His blood heated. As far as he could tell, her skin felt the same as it had when he’d touched her in the Mousehole kitchen. Velvet, silk, and pure warmth.

Rory pulled her arm away from him and stepped back so abruptly that she teetered on her heels.

“Whoa.” He closed his hand around her wrist.

Her pulse raced under his fingertips. She was so damnedresponsive.

He’d always known she had fire because of the spark in her blue eyes and the way she bitched at him, but he’d also seen her reaction to the men who tried to hit on her at the Mousehole. Her cold look alone gave them frostbite. Grant always greatly enjoyed watching the dickwads stammer and slink away from her.

Which begged the question…when was the last time she had a boyfriend? Or a date? Or sex? She’d needled him about his lack of dating, but what about her?

Though he fully intended to find out, half an hour before his brother’s wedding was bad timing.

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