by Lori Wilde
She sniffed and had to find a tissue. She was gloriously happy and miserable at the same time. She wanted Cole with all her heart and soul, but not if he was doing this for stock shares and his grandfather’s approval.
Fog was thickening, hovering in the low spots and making the streets a misty maze.
“We’re socked in,” Cole said when he finally reached the parking area in front of her apartment. “Much too dangerous for me to drive home tonight.”
“You never know what’s out there in the fog,” she murmured.
“Ghosts and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night.” He laughed softly, and the sound sent shivers down her spine.
She hugged herself to stop trembling while he walked around the front of the car to open the door for her.
This isn't good... this isn’t right. If 1 do this, I am not bright, a singsong voice repeated over and over in her head. But she wasn’t going to let the evil little demon perched on her shoulder spoil this night for her. She tucked her hand in the crook of Cole’s arm and smiled at him.
“Give me your key.” He held out his hand when they reached her door.
“I can open it.”
“I’m not risking a door in my face. This time I’m going in first.”
She handed over the ring with shaking fingers.
He was the one who switched on the table lamp beside her couch. He slid the raincoat off her shoulders, pushing aside her hair and kissing the back of her neck as he did.
She wiggled around and faced him.
“Cole, I don’t think—”
“Don’t think.”
His mouth was sweet, and his hands were hard on her shoulders. All his other kisses had been nothing but practice for the way his mouth covered hers now. She couldn’t respond...she couldn’t not.
“Will you please stop,” she pleaded.
“Why?”
He nuzzled her ear and spread his fingers on her bottom, which was incredibly cheeky and too exciting to ask him to stop.
“Why is my question. Why are you doing this?” she asked in a hoarse voice.
“Because I love you. I’m in love with you. All I think about is you.”
She was so stunned she stammered. “In love...with me...but...”
“I know. I’m an idiot. I tried to get interested in other women even after I knew you were the only one for me.”
“But—but...”
“I can make you happy, Tess. I can make you love me.”
“I already do. I love you, Cole.” She said it matter-of-factly, not at all the way she’d always imagined her confession of undying love.
“I’m only sorry it took me so long to realize it.” He kissed her lips so softly it tickled. “Let me make love to you.”
“Now? That is, I mean, I’m not, I haven’t...”
“I understand. You’ve never done this before, and you’re scared.”
“I am not scared. And I have—well, only with... And I’m not even sure that counts.”
How could she explain anything if he kept kissing her? He stroked her breast, the one without the corsage, which felt hot-wired in place.
Why did anything matter but the way he was holding her and whispering her name like a magic spell and caressing her back and shoulders and nuzzling her ear?
He held her tighter, pressing her head against his chest where his heart hammered like a crazy drumbeat.
He touched her, slipping his hand between her legs, and her hands clenched the firm swell of his bottom. She dug in her nails when he moaned with pleasure.
Slowly she realized she would have to lead him to the place where they both wanted to be. He wanted her as much as she wanted him to want her and as much as she wanted him, but this slow, sensual torture might go on forever if she didn’t give him a sign, a signal of acceptance.
She removed one hard palm from the place he was pleasuring and led him to her bedroom.
There was no more hesitation. He tossed his suit coat on the rocker beside her dresser and emptied his pants pockets on her bedside stand. She couldn’t help noticing the long foil-wrapped strip of packets.
“You planned the evening to end this way.”
She backed away, wondering how many times he’d played this scene with other women in other places. She wanted to believe he loved her, only her. Was she fooling herself?
“I planned to tell you I love you, Tess. I’ve never, ever said that to anyone else. If you want me to leave, I will. It won’t affect the way I love you...won’t stop me loving you more than I ever believed possible.”
Her heart leaped. Her spirits soared. She believed him, really, really believed him.
She bounded into his arms and threw him off-balance. He buckled backward onto the bed with her on top.
He kissed her—deeply. She tried to unbutton his shirt, but the slippery little rascals resisted leaving their holes. He lifted her skirt and tugged on the sides of her panties, but they went nowhere. She wanted to see all of him, be naked with him, feel his skin against hers, but they weren’t getting anywhere because their lips were out of control, locked together with their tongues entwined.
“Tess, bashful Tess, beautiful Tess.”
His voice was so hoarse she scarcely recognized it, but she stood on quivering legs and tossed aside her clothes as quickly as possible.
He was even faster, stripping off his shirt and reaching toward her nightstand. She no sooner registered the rasp of his zipper than he was standing beside her, fumbling at the hooks on her bra and tossing it aside, then kneeling and rolling silky panties down her legs.
She thought she’d dissolve when he parted her legs and kissed where no man had kissed before.
His hair was soft under her hands, and she combed it with her fingers, holding tight when the shudders began. She collapsed on the bed, her feet still on the floor and her knees spread wide. Rising from his knees, Cole lifted her hips and filled her.
“Oh.”
Who knew anything could feel so good?
She sighed, came back to planet earth, and soared into Cole’s outstretched arms.
He pushed aside her bedspread, and they snuggled together under a pastel sheet. She made a mental note to look into bedding that was a little sexier. “I love you,” he said.
Could she ever hear those words enough?
“I love you, too.”
What else could she say?
“Every inch of you is gorgeous.”
He pushed the sheet back and hovered over her, kissing wherever his fancy took him, and it took him practically everywhere.
She moaned happily when he took her nipple in his mouth and trailed his fingers down her thigh.
The ceiling light was on. Which of them had turned it on? Did it matter? Not when he was trying so hard not to neglect any square inch of her.
He fumbled on the nightstand again but had to get off the bed to look for the condoms which had fallen on the floor. She sat up and admired the view.
“Cute butt,” she teased in the understatement of the century.
“You are incorrigible,” he growled, picking up the packets and tumbling her onto her back.
The second time was even sweeter. It was her first time with her eyes open and watching Cole’s handsome face glisten and his eyes cloud with passion, and she vowed never to close her eyes again.
“Happy?” he asked later, cradling her on his chest, his own eyes drooping with sleepiness.
“Are you kidding? Of course.”
“When I think of how I nearly blew it with you...”
“Scary,” she agreed.
“Will you marry me, Tess?”
Even on a night full of surprises, this threw her for a loop.
“Marry you?”
“You know, preacher, ring, the happily-ever-after part. Whatever you want, although I see no need for the bridesmaids to wear ugly dresses. You’re the most beautiful woman in any room, anywhere, anytime.”
She’d lived to hear thes
e words, but doubt reared its ugly head in spite of the euphoria she felt lying in Cole’s arms.
“You need to get married to appease your grandfather.” If she didn’t say it, it would prey on her mind.
“No. Absolutely not.”
He rose on one elbow and looked at her with dark smoky-gray eyes that made her throat ache with longing. She so wanted his denial to be true.
“But the baby business—”
“I don’t want any part of it.”
“Then why—”
He sighed deeply.
“I should have told you the truth right away before I used you to get dates for me.”
“I still don’t understand why you did.”
“It seemed like a good idea at first,” he said bleakly. “I guess I was ashamed of myself for agreeing to go along with the bet, and I started seeing it the way it would look to you—pretty lame. You’re nice, so genuinely nice, you seemed like my only chance to meet other nice women. Marsh has a phobia about loose women since his brother made a spectacularly bad marriage. Of course, his idea of nice is a naive little virgin.”
“Pretty hard to find one of those over the age of sixteen,” she said, cynical because she didn’t want to be the solution to his problems with his grandfather.
“I tried,” he said, sounding desolate. “With your help, of course. But the more I saw other women, the more I realized it wasn’t going to work. Guess I’m a little dense, but I finally figured out I can only marry if I’m crazy in love.”
“I still don’t understand. Were you afraid of losing your grandfather’s money?”
“No, that isn’t the issue. He was trying to force us to take an interest in the business. If we buckle under to his dictates, he thinks we’ll assume some responsibilities at the plant, at least by serving on the board of directors. Nick might someday, but Zack and I have plans of our own.”
“Then why go along with what Marsh wants?”
“He’s threatening to sell the shares we’re set to inherit. That means control of the company would go to outsiders, and Mom would most likely be out as CEO. The business is the only thing that kept her going after my stepdad died.”
He sat and pulled his knees up, resting his chin on them.
“So you still need to get married.”
“No, Zack and Nick can ensure Mom’s job by getting married themselves. I’m through playing Marsh’s game. Who the hell does he think he is? He sent my real dad packing—gave him a choice of jail or leaving.”
“Oh, Cole, I’m so sorry.” She sat up and put her arm around his back.
“We’ve learned to live with it. Zack and I had a great mom. We lucked out on our stepdad, too, so I’m not complaining. I’ve just had it with Marsh’s machinations. I could’ve married someone else just to placate him and never met up with you again.”
“I’m awfully glad you did.” She pressed her cheek against his arm, feeling all was finally right in her world.
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?” He lay back and cuddled her against him.
“I have a confession to make.”
“Go ahead. I love it when you blush.”
“I had a terrible crush on you in high school.”
“No kidding?”
He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose.
“You knew. That’s why you did the prom date.”
“Not then, I didn’t. I’m a little slow sometimes.”
“I’m not the perfect woman, you know.”
“Don’t tell me your closet is full of stuffed animals.”
“Only one. A ratty brown poodle is living in a shoebox on the closet shelf.”
“If it’s yours, it can even sleep on the bed...but not between us.”
“Not a chance.”
“Good, this bed is only big enough for two.”
“These pastels will have to go. Maybe something satin.”
“No cows?”
Her answer was lost as he gathered her close and lowered his lips to hers.
Epilogue
Cole knew he was grinning like an idiot, but he couldn’t stop. Who knew a wedding could be this much fun?
Of course, it was Tess’ and his wedding. That made all the difference.
She smiled at him as they danced, love and promise shining in her eyes.
“My dad is crazy about you. He was afraid I’d never get married,” she teased.
“What did he expect when he raised his daughter to be a pool shark?”
He hugged her closer and brushed her forehead with his lips.
“It was nice of you to let Lucinda be a bridesmaid.” He laughed when he said it.
“She did bring us together. When I asked her, I didn’t know she’d be swollen like a blimp before Christmas.”
Tess was grinning, too, but not maliciously, even though the deep red velvet gown made Lucinda look like Mrs. Claus.
“Have we done all the little rituals?” he asked.
“Let’s see. We cut the cake...”
“And you stuffed frosting up my nose.”
“You exaggerate.”
“Moi?”
“You tossed my garter. And I’ll get you for that.”
Maybe his hand had strayed a bit high, but he hadn’t been able to resist making her cheeks flush apple-red one more time. Judging by all the fun they’d been having in bed, there wasn’t much that embarrassed his bride anymore.
“Everyone’s having a good time,” he said, an understatement if he’d ever made one.
“You were right. Buck’s Tavern is perfect for our reception,” she said.
“Yeah, plenty of room to dance once a few pool tables were pushed against the walls.”
“We’re the only ones dancing.”
He knew that. Guests of all ages were gathered around the tables, and the clank of balls competed with her cousin’s little band. He suspected it was the first gig for the high school group, but they were giving it their all.
“May I cut in?” Marsh was grinning, too.
“My pleasure,” Tess said.
The old boy whirled her around a few times, giving Cole a chance to see her silk floor-length gown hugging her spectacular form. She didn’t need lace or frills to be the most beautiful bride he’d ever seen, and she’d wisely avoided them.
Marsh brought her back to him.
“I have to admit,” his grandfather said, “I was disappointed when you kids wouldn’t let me spring for a reception at the country club, but this is more fun than I’ve ever had at a wedding.”
“Thanks, Grandpa.” Tess used the forbidden name, but the old boy beamed when she leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Pool is fun, even if Nick did beat me three games running.” Cole’s mother came up to them looking flushed. She’d shed the prim little aqua jacket that went with her mother-of-the-groom dress. “I’m sorry we didn’t have a table when you boys were growing up. Now that Nick is nearly through college, I guess it’s too late to bother.”
“That’s okay, Mom. Gave us an excuse to hang out at bars,” her handsome son Nick said, coming up behind her.
She playfully punched his arm.
“Time to throw your bouquet, Tess.”
Sue handed over the little bunch of white rosebuds and carnations she’d been keeping safe.
“Time out, everybody.” Marsh bellowed as only Marsh could. “Let’s have all the single girls line up by the doorway to the bar where there’s some open space.”
It would only stay open until more of the bar’s patrons decided to wander in and join the festivities, Cole thought, still grinning.
Tess’ mother, her sister, and his mother flanked the bride like referees about to start a game. Cole watched the single women flock together, bemused by the thought that Tess had tried to help him find a wife from among this bevy of nice girls. He felt so fortunate his grin broadened.
“Okay, I’m going to cover my eyes and toss,” Tess called. “No favoritism.”
&nbs
p; She put one hand over her eyes, twirled around twice and heaved the bouquet with a hard, overhanded pitch.
It soared over the women’s heads.
It landed right in the arms of the tuxedo-clad best man, coming through the entryway from the bar.
Zack caught the wedding bouquet.
His face said it all. It was the last thing he ever wanted to land in his arms.
Cole claimed his bride amid howls of laughter.
Dear Reader,
Readers are an author’s life blood and the stories couldn’t happen without you. Thank you so much for reading!
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Please turn the page for an excerpt for The DIY Groom, the second book in the Wrong Way Weddings series.
To check out our other books, you can visit us on the web @ www.loriwilde.com.
Love and light,
Lori and Pam
Excerpt: The DIY Groom
The young woman in the pink smock dusted Zack’s face with a powder puff, oblivious to the low growl rumbling in his throat.
“Mr. Bailey, we have to talk about the script.” Megan Danbury, the host of “Do It Herself,” appeared at his side and waved a sheaf of papers in front of him.
“What script?” He stood and ripped off the lavender sheet that the makeup woman had fastened around his neck. Lavender with little flowers.
“I know my show looks spontaneous, but every segment is meticulously planned. You won’t have to memorize the exact words, but...”
“Stop right there. All I agreed to do was refinish an old kitchen cupboard.”
Zack ground his teeth. His brother was going to pay for getting him into this. Cole was the one who’d agreed to be a guest on the local cable program.
It was supposed to be good free publicity for their construction business but Cole had ducked out of it. He was in Wyandotte that day preparing a bid on some school renovations. The financial end of the business was his twin’s responsibility, but Zack would rather shovel dirt all day than do this TV bit.