Page 41 of Under His Touch

Dave stands. “Well, I must go mingle,” he says. He gives Megan a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks again for all this, sweetie. Your aunt is over-the-moon happy.”

“My pleasure,” Megs says and hugs him.

When he’s gone, she turns to me. “What’s going on?” I ask, my gaze raking over her face and taking in the tension in her body.

She shakes her head. “Am I that easy to read?”

“Yes.”

I finish the brandy in my glass and gesture the bartender for another. “What are you having?” I ask.

“White wine.”

I get her a glass, and say, “Want to step outside, get a breath of fresh air.”

“Yes,” she says quickly, her voice almost breathless.

We maneuver through the guests, and we end up stopping at least a dozen times to make small talk. When we’re finally outside alone, Megan takes a deep breath, and looks at the view.

“Gorgeous,” she says, and I shift closer, pressing the side of my body to hers.

“Yeah,” I agree, my gaze focused solely on her. She glances up at me, that odd worried look back in her eyes.

“I was talking to Sara.”

“I saw that when I came in.”

“She’s smart, a lawyer as you know. A great conversationalist, too. She hasn’t had much luck with men, and is pretty much done with the dating scene.”

I eye her. Where the hell is she going with this?

She takes a drink of her wine, and I toss back my brandy.

“She’s pretty, too. She doesn’t have blond hair and blue eyes, but she does have those girl-next-door looks you mentioned.”

I nod as understanding dawns. “What are you saying, Megan?” I ask, just to make sure.

“She’s game, Alec.”

“Game?” Why is it she can’t quite bring herself to just say Sara wants to be my wife in name only?

“She’s up for a sex-only marriage.”

I rock back on my heels, toss the idea around in my brain. “I see. What are your thoughts?”

“I think it’s an excellent idea. I mean, it’s Sara. You two go way back so a fast engagement and marriage will be more believable, right?”

“True.”

“Plus you’ve gone on numerous dates and can’t find anyone suitable. Time is also of the essence.”

“Yeah” is all I say.

“You were right, you know,” she says so low I have to strain to hear her.

“About what?”

“She likes the idea of your wealth and power. It surprised me. But I guess there really are girls out there enticed by such things.” She gives a humorless laugh. “You won’t have to worry about her falling for you and asking for your heart.”

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