Page 63 of Mr. Scandalous

“Yes, I’m Randy’s best man.”

“Of course. You do realize that our four weeks are up on Saturday.”

His stomach lurched at the despair in her voice. Alec reminded himself this was the only way he’d convince her to come to New Haven with him for the weekend.

“I know. And it’s such a shame we won’t get to see each other one last time.” He grinned and struggled to keep the amusement from his tone. She was going for it. He could practically feel her wavering.

She hitched in her breath. Was she as hot and homy as he? Starving for one last fling. He hoped it was true.

“Unless...”

“We can’t extend,” she said.

“Just a thought.” Alec shrugged and his hopes plummeted.

A long silence and then he dropped the proposal. Subtle, sort of casual, nothing too obvious that might tip her off about how desperate he was to see her again.

“You know, you could come to the wedding. Randy told me that Jill invited you.”

She inhaled sharply and he could almost see her worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

How he wished she were here! What he wouldn’t give to kiss those sweet raspberry-colored lips of hers, to breathe in her scent, to snuggle her long, smooth neck. Just thinking about the pale, snowy scoop of skin between her gold-studded earlobes and her slender collarbone launched him into orbit.

“We could rent a room at a quaint little B and B on the beach. Spend the weekend. Make up for missing tomorrow night. Our last tango, so to speak.”

Still, she said nothing.

“Just a thought. If you wouldn’t really feel comfortable at a wedding, I understand. Weddings make me nervous, too.”

Would his ploy work? Would she take the bait?

“Alec...I...”

“I guess this is goodbye,” he said softly, and his gut squeezed.

It’s just because she’s so hot and you’re going to miss the great sex,he told himself, but that still didn’t explain the heavy pressure crowding his chest.

She wasa special woman for certain, but he had nothing to offer her beyond a fun time. She deserved more than he could give. He should let her go. He cleared his throat, no longer playing the game. If she didn’t want to see him, it was better to cut things off now.

“I gotta go,” he said.

“Wait!”

He froze with his hand halfway to the phone cradle. Slowly he brought the receiver back to his ear. “I’m still here.”

“Okay,” she said. “All right. I’ll spend the weekend in New Haven with you.”

ChapterFifteen

The first Saturdayin September turned out perfect for an afternoon wedding. The air was crisp. The fall colors on the southern coast of Connecticut were a stunning palette of gold, bronze, scarlet, mahogany and peach.

The church spire was nestled between brilliant maples, and a singular group of white birches were set off by a white picket fence. The smell of wood smoke filled the air, and in the distance came the sounds of a high school football team running drills before the big game. The sky was a cerulean blue with clouds so white and fluffy they seemed surreal.

Alec had picked her up that morning in his Ferrari. Eden was so nervous she’d resorted to rubbing the worry stone. A couple of times on the drive up he mentioned continuing their affair, but each time she’d gently turned him down. The more time she spent with him the likelier it was that he would break her heart. Her ticker already felt a little tender.

They checked into the B and B and then went on over to the church. Jill, Sarah and the rest of Alec’s family greeted her with enthusiastic hugs, and Eden was surprised and delighted to find Jayne Lockerbie and her husband Roger among the guests.

Eden sat next to Jayne and Roger toward the back of the church. When Alec appeared at the altar alongside Randy, all her doubts disappeared and she was glad she had come, even though she was scared and excited about what lay ahead of them at the B and B.

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