“Okay,” he conceded, “maybe not the beautiful wedding part, but the sentiment behind it? Happily-ever-after? Love of a lifetime? Till death do us part? Come on!”
“Not every marriage ends with the bride and groom riding off into the sunset. Real life comes with real problems, but if two people love each other, they work it out.”
He snorted. “Not from my side of the video camera, they don’t.”
Irritation crackled inside her like radio static—annoying, incessant and almost loud enough to drown out a vague and misplaced feeling of disillusionment. All these years, she’d heard about Connor and Emily as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, but the story of star-crossed lovers lost all meaning if one of the players didn’t believe in love.
And while Kelsey’s faith might have been shaken by what happened with Matt, she still longed for those happily-ever-after and love-of-a-lifetime dreams Connor cynically mocked.
“My aunt and uncle never believed you loved Emily,” she said, disappointed. “Everything you’ve said proves them right.”
“Your aunt and uncle weren’t right about me—no matter what they think.”
Dead certainty ricocheted in his voice, and Kelsey regretted the tack she’d taken. Too late to back down and far too curious about what made Connor tick, she pressed, “Either you believe in love or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways.”
“I just don’t want to see Emily get hurt. That’s why I’m here.”
She opened her mouth, ready to push further, when Connor pulled the handle on the driver’s-side door. “I’ll be right back.”
Kelsey grabbed his arm. “Wait! Where are you going?”
“To check the rear lot. Todd might have pulled in back there while we’ve been watching the front.” With one foot already on the asphalt and refusing to meet her gaze, Connor seemed more interested in escaping her questions.
“I’m coming with you.” She scrambled to unlock the passenger door. When she sensed an oncoming protest, she said, “Partners, remember? You’re the one who dragged me along. You aren’t leaving me now.”
“Forget it! He’ll recognize you.”
“Todd knows what you look like, too,” she argued as she turned back toward him.
“Fine,” he bit out as he dropped back into the seat, “but there’s something you have to do first.”
Thanks to her questions, a noticeable tension vibrated through Connor, evident in his clenched jaw and the taut muscles in the arm he’d braced against the wheel. But the tension gradually changed, not easing, but instead focusing to a fine, definitive point—one that seemed wholly centered on her.
His intense gaze traveled over her hair, her face, her mouth…The gold flecks in his green eyes glowed, and Kelsey’s skin tingled as if warmed by his touch. Surely he wouldn’t try to kiss her. Not here, not now! Time raced by with each rapid beat of her heart, a single question echoing in her veins.
Why didn’t he kiss her? Right here, right now—
Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the sound of passing traffic. The heat shimmering on her skin could put the mirage hovering above the asphalt to shame. Shifting his body in the driver’s seat, Connor eased closer. The scent of his aftershave, a clean fragrance that called to mind ocean breezes and sun-kissed sand, drew her in. Like waves rushing to the shore, helpless to resist the undeniable pull, she reached for him….
But instead of a roll on the beach, Kelsey crashed against the shoals, her pride battered against the rocks when Connor suddenly turned away. He twisted his upper body between the seats and reached into the back. “Here, take this.”
Kelsey stared dumbly at the baseball hat he held.
“See if you can cover your hair.”
Her hand was still raised in an attempt to reach out and capture a passion obviously only she felt. An admission of her willingness to make a fool of herself.
Kelsey jerked the hat from Connor, eager to grab hold of anything to save face. “Do you really think this will make a difference?”
“A huge one.” Almost reluctantly he added, “Your hair is unforgettable.”
But he’d forget all about her and her hair once Emily was a free woman again. Unforgettable. Yeah, right.
Kelsey didn’t realize she’d spoken the words until Connor murmured, “It’s the kind of hair a man fantasizes about. Trust me.”
But she couldn’t. She’d nearly made a fool of herself seconds ago, and in case she ever forgot, she had the living, breathing epitome of Connor’s perfect woman as her cousin. Kelsey couldn’t compare; she never had.
Jerking back toward the door to put as much room as possible between them, she shook back her hair and pulled it away from her face with sharp, almost painful movements. Unable to hide behind her long locks, she felt exposed, vulnerable. Even more so when Connor’s gaze remained locked on her features.
“How’s that?” she asked, as she twisted her hair into a bun and shoved the bright red Diamondbacks cap into place. When Connor continued to stare, Kelsey fisted her hands in her lap to keep from yanking off the ridiculous hat. Finally, she demanded, “What?”
Shaking his head, Connor seemed to snap out of his stupor. “I hadn’t realized how much you look like Emily.”
His words hit like a punch in the stomach. Look like Emily? Not a chance. She’d seen the disappointment in the Wilsons’ faces when they first saw her. If Emily and Aileen were beautiful Barbie dolls, then Kelsey was clearly supposed to be Skipper, a younger, blonder version. But she looked nothing like her cousins, a point driven home at every Wilson function, with every meeting of their friends and associates. The surprise—if not flat-out disbelief—when Kelsey was introduced as one of the Wilsons.
I hope they had her DNA tested, Kelsey had heard one uninformed, high-society snob whisper. It wouldn’t surprise me if that girl ended up being a con artist out for the family fortune.
Kelsey had struggled to hold her head high and hold back the tears when she’d wanted to lash out at the woman. She was every bit her mother’s daughter, not her father’s, and inside she was as much a Wilson as Gordon, Aileen and Emily. But outside—where it counted—she couldn’t be more different.
“Give me a break!” She tried to laugh off the remark, but the fake sound stuck in her throat. “Emily and I look nothing alike! She’s tall and thin and blond and—beautiful!”
Her voice broke on the last word, and Kelsey had never been so close to hitting anyone. Giving in to the impulse, she socked Connor in the shoulder. She had a quick impression of dense muscle and bone, but he caught her hand before she could fool herself into thinking she could do more damage.
“Hey!” A quick tug of her arm had her falling against him. “So are you!”
“Tall? Blond?” Kelsey shot back sarcastically.
“Beautiful!” he retorted.
“But I’m not—”
“Not Emily?” he interjected softly. He brushed an escaping strand of hair—her unforgettable hair—back from her face, and the touch she’d only imagined became reality as he traced his index finger over her eyebrow, across her cheekbone, and skimmed the corner of her mouth. Heat and hunger combined with a tenderness that snuck beneath her defenses. “There’s more than one ideal for beauty, Kelsey.”
Still pressed against his muscular chest, she knew Connor was the epitome of masculine beauty for her, and she had the devastating feeling that would never change, even years from now. He was the best of the best, and she was a long shot, the dark horse.
“Stop it,” she whispered furiously.
“You don’t have to be Emily. You can just be yourself.”
The deep murmur of his voice reached inside and touched that vulnerable place, but this time instead of opening old wounds, his words offered a healing balm. And meeting his gaze, Kelsey realized he understood her vulnerability in a way no one else could because he’d felt the same way. He’d never been good enough to date the daughter of the wealthy Wilsons, and she had never felt good
enough to be one of the wealthy Wilsons.
“Connor…” Just one word, his name spoken in a hushed whisper, broke the connection. He blinked, or maybe Kelsey did, because when she looked again, his sexy smile was back in place, all sense of vulnerability gone. “Except for right now. Right now you have to be someone Todd won’t recognize.”
“Right.” Kelsey pulled back, and Connor let her go. She might not have a sexy smile to hide behind, but she could be businesslike and professional…or as businesslike and professional as a wedding coordinator spying on a future groom could be.
“Come on,” she muttered as she tugged the brim lower. She didn’t know if she’d need the hat to hide her identity from Todd, but maybe she could use it to hide her emotions from Connor. “Let’s do this.”
She climbed from the car and was headed straight for the building by the time Connor caught up with her. Grabbing her hand, he said, “This way.”
With Connor leading the way, they walked half a block before crossing the street and doubling back behind Todd’s building. But the lot was empty except for some abandoned crates and an overflowing Dumpster.
“Let’s go. Todd’s meeting must have been canceled,” Kelsey said. She walked around to the front of the building without bothering to take the circular route that got them there, her low heels striking the steaming pavement.
Connor caught up to her as she reached the front of the building. “Look, I admit this was a dud, but—” He cut off with a curse.
Kelsey didn’t have time to take a breath before he shoved her into a recessed doorway and nearly smothered her with his body. Her vehement protest came out a puny squeak.
“Don’t move.” The husky whisper and warm breath against her ear guaranteed she couldn’t take a single step without falling flat on her face. “Todd’s pulling into the parking lot.”
No, no, no! This could not be happening! Swallowing against a lump of horror, Kelsey fisted her hands in his T-shirt and tugged. “Let’s go,” she hissed.
“Can’t. He’ll see us if we move. Just…relax.”
Despite the advice, every muscle in his body was tense, primed and ready for action. But it was Kelsey who jumped when the car door slammed. “He’ll see us.”
“No, he won’t. He’s heading for his office.”
She had to take Connor’s word for it. With his body blocking every bit of daylight, she couldn’t see beyond his broad shoulders. Too bad the rest of her senses weren’t so completely cut off. Instead, the scent of his sea-breeze aftershave combined with potent warm male, and the masculine heat of Connor’s chest burned into her skin where he made contact with her. Kelsey locked her knees to keep from sinking right into him.
Heart pounding in her ears, she whispered, “Where is he now?”
“Unlocking the door.”
She felt as much as heard his low murmur and hissed, “We should go.” Right now, before the heat went straight to her head and she did something unforgivably stupid, like melt into a puddle of desire at Connor’s feet.
Chapter Five
“I am not meant for a life of crime.”
Seated in a restaurant not far from Dunworthy’s business, Connor pressed a beer into Kelsey’s hand. That she took it without complaint told him how much the incident at Todd’s office had shaken her.
Their near miss had lasted only seconds. Connor had pulled Kelsey toward the car immediately after Todd entered the suite; she’d barely ducked inside the Mustang’s ovenlike interior when he came back outside. Connor might have suspected the other man sensed something wrong if not for the way he sauntered out to his top-of-the-line SUV without checking his surroundings. If he had, it was a good bet he would have caught sight of Connor sliding into the driver’s seat only a few yards away.
Connor had wanted to follow him, but with Kelsey along, the risk wasn’t worth it. Not that it was her fault they’d nearly been spotted. No, Connor took full blame. He’d let Kelsey distract him. He could have driven her back to the hotel and her waiting car but had instead veered off to the restaurant, which had a bar. He figured she could use a drink. After standing in the doorway with the Arizona sun roasting his back, Connor could use a cold shower, but a cold beer was the next best thing.
Liar, a mocking voice jeered. The hundred-plus temperature was a killer, but it was the feeling of Kelsey’s body pressed to his that heated his blood.
“Hate to tell you, but we didn’t break any laws.”
She took a long pull on the bottle, then set it back on the bar with an audible clunk. “We were trespassing.”
Hiding his smile behind the beer bottle, he bit back a burst of laughter. “The parking lot is public property. We had every right to be there.”
“Oh.” Kelsey stared thoughtfully at the bottle. He couldn’t tell if she was relieved or disappointed. Finally, she looked up, her expression resolute. “Okay, so maybe what we did wasn’t illegal, but—but it was unethical. It isn’t right to go around spying on people. Especially when they aren’t doing anything wrong. And I don’t have time to waste chasing Todd or any of your ghosts around town.” She slid out of the booth.
Connor frowned. “Hey, this doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“Bull. You’re out to prove to Aunt Charlene and Uncle Gordon you’re much better for Emily than their handpicked golden boy.”
Connor recoiled against the padded booth. Was Kelsey right? Did coming back to Arizona have more to do with salvaging his ego than protecting Emily?
No. No way. He wasn’t nearly that pathetic. Unfortunately, Kelsey had almost reached the door by the time he came to that conclusion. “Kelsey, wait!”
“Hey!” The bartender called after him. “Those beers weren’t free, you know.”
Swearing, Connor dug out his wallet, threw a handful of bills on the bar, and raced after Kelsey. The sunlight threatened to sear his corneas after the dimly lit bar, and he shaded his eyes against the glare. “Kelsey!”
The rush of nearby traffic nearly drowned out his voice, but Connor doubted that was why she didn’t stop. Jogging after her, he caught her as she reached the car. It took a second longer to realize he had the keys, and she couldn’t go anywhere without him.
Dammit, what was it about Kelsey that made him so crazy? He hadn’t felt like this since—since Emily.
You’re a fool, boy. Just like your old man. His father’s voice rang in his head. The both of us always want to hold on to what we can’t have.
Thrusting the comparisons aside, he said, “Look, I know this afternoon was a bust, but this isn’t about me.”
“Really?” Disbelief colored her words, and Connor fought a flare of irritation mixed with admiration. Had to respect a woman who wasn’t easily snowed.
Taking a deep breath, he forced the irritation aside. He couldn’t risk losing Kelsey as a partner. That was the reason he didn’t want her to leave. It had nothing to do with wanting to spend more time with the woman who had him so fascinated.
Yeah, right, his conscience mocked. Back at Todd’s office, he’d been tempted to forget all about the other man and prove to Kelsey just how beautiful she was. But he refused to make out with a woman in a parked car. Especially not Javy’s car, the same vintage automobile he’d borrowed to take Emily out on dates all those years ago.
He wasn’t that same punk kid anymore, even if he was once again lusting after one of the wealthy Wilsons.
“Let me buy you lunch, and I’ll tell you what I do know about Todd.”
Back in the restaurant, under the bartender’s watchful eye, Connor and Kelsey placed their orders. As soon as the waitress walked away, Kelsey leaned forward and prompted, “Okay, let’s hear it.”
“First, did Emily ever tell you how we met?”
Kelsey’s gaze dropped as she fiddled with her napkin. “She might have.”
“Well, just so you have the whole story, Emily went to a bar. She was underage and in over her head. Some guys started hitting on her. She tried to shrug it of
f, but she was afraid to tell them to go take a hike. Because that wouldn’t have been nice. But I could see the panic in her eyes. She was waiting for someone to step in and save her.”
“And so you did.”
“And so I did.” Leaning across the table, he covered Kelsey’s hand, intent on claiming her complete attention. Only when her eyes widened perceptibly did Connor realize he’d nearly erased the two-foot distance separating them. He was close enough to count the freckles dotting her upturned nose, to catch hold of her cinnamon scent. Her startled gaze flew to meet his, and as the spark of attraction he saw in her brown eyes flared to life inside him, Connor was the one having a hard time staying focused.
“The, uh, thing is—when I look at Emily now, I see that same panic. She’s in over her head, letting herself get pushed along because she’s too nice to stand up for herself.”
“So you rode back into town, ready to play the hero.”
“I’m no hero,” Connor stated flatly, leaning back in the booth and pulling his hands from Kelsey’s. The softness of her skin threatened to slip beneath his defenses, making him weak. The passion in her eyes when she spoke about everlasting love and dreams coming true made him want to believe though he knew better.
Even if he didn’t have countless professional examples of love gone wrong to draw from, he also had his parents’ as proof of love’s fallibility. During their short-lived marriage, his parents drifted so far apart that in the end, neither his father nor Connor had been able to pull his mother back to safety.
If only she’d listened—Helplessness roiled in his gut, but he’d learned his lesson.
It would take more than words to keep Emily safe; he had to have proof. But right now, words were all he had to convince Kelsey. The only way to do that would be to open up and be completely honest. “I didn’t expect to like Todd when I met him. I walked into that restaurant in San Diego knowing he’s the Wilsons’ golden boy and everything I’m not.”
“Now who needs the lesson about being himself?” Kelsey murmured.
“Nothing like having my own words shoved back in my face,” he said with a smile, which fell away as he realized how much they did have in common, how easily Kelsey understood him. Their gazes caught and held, the spark of desire running on a supercharged emotional current.
Once Upon a Wedding Page 7