Save the Date

by R. J. Groves

  ‘I don’t want a new one,’ she said, unconvincingly. ‘It was my first.’

  ‘Well, firsts don’t always stick around,’ he said, glancing at her. She caught his eye for a brief moment and saw a hint a mischief. Her frown deepened. ‘Sometimes it’s the second that works out better. And a lot more fun, I’ve heard.’

  Her eyebrow shot up. Was he still talking about cars? She narrowed her eyes. How could she get him off her case? She could already see that she’d have to ask Harley if she could carpool with her—or she could take public transport.

  ‘I don’t like car shopping,’ she said bluntly. ‘I don’t know all the terms and … specifics. And I always feel like the salesmen are trying to cheat me.’

  He leaned closer, and she could feel his warm breath on her ear as he spoke. ‘That’s because they are.’

  It sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to convince herself it was because he’d confirmed what she’d been thinking. About car salesmen, of course. What else could she be thinking? Certainly nothing about Taylor Ballin and how his closeness was enough to make her hairs stand on end and send her stomach flipping. Or how she wanted to lean closer when he spoke in her ear. Maybe he’d nibble it. She swallowed. God, she was in trouble.

  He pulled away and she felt the coolness wash in around her again. ‘A woman should never go car shopping without a man who knows what’s going on.’

  ‘Is that your professional opinion?’ she said, her eyebrow lifting. She’d never been dependent on anyone. She wasn’t about to start now. Still, there was something about shopping for something she knew nothing about that made her uneasy.

  ‘It’s a known fact,’ he said. She could have sworn he winked as he said it, but she might have imagined it.

  ‘And where might I find such a man?’

  She certainly couldn’t think of anyone she knew. Not even Joseph had known specifics on cars. He’d simply thought the higher the price, the better it was. Perhaps that was part of why she felt like she was being cheated. And, well … to put it simply, she was short on men in her life.

  ‘You don’t know anyone who fits the bill?’ he said. She shook her head. He let out a long breath and looked ahead of them again. ‘Well … since you insist.’

  She frowned. ‘You?’

  He shrugged. ‘I mean, I don’t know everything about cars, but I know business. And I know enough about them to make sure you get a good deal.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ she said. ‘I don’t insist. Even if you broke my car.’

  He stopped walking, his jaw tense. ‘If you really think that, then that’s exactly why I should be there.’

  ‘No,’ she said, shifting her weight to one side. ‘It’s exactly why you shouldn’t be there.’

  He ran a hand through his tousled hair. He looked frustrated. ‘What do you want from me, Andie?’

  What did she want? Other than her conflicting needs to feel his lips on hers again and for him to stay the hell away from her?

  ‘Nothing,’ she said flatly. ‘I want nothing from you.’

  He held her gaze, his eyes clouding over. ‘Is that what you really want?’

  No.

  It was far from what she wanted. But what she needed … She tried to nod but ended up with something between an awkward shrug and a grimace. His lips were pressed together, his brow creased. Why did he look disappointed? Then, wordlessly, he started walking again, as through the last few moments had never happened.

  ‘Taylor,’ she said, catching up to him. He kept looking forward. ‘I can’t take you car shopping with me.’

  ‘Why not?’ He frowned. ‘You’d rather go by yourself than with me?’

  She swallowed. She’d rather him not find out that she couldn’t afford a car—not the kind that he would be thinking of. ‘It’s not that,’ she started.

  ‘Good, it’s settled, then,’ he said, decisively. ‘I’ll pick you up tomorrow and we’ll find you a new car.’

  ‘Taylor,’ she said, slowly, her chest tightening. Tomorrow was too soon—not only would she not have enough money for a new car, but she wouldn’t be able to survive if she spent the little she had.

  He startled her by grabbing her elbow, stopping them, turning her to face him. His touch pulsed through to her core like an electric shock. ‘It’s the least I can do, Andie,’ he said, his face solemn. His tone was considerably colder than it had been before. ‘Since I know you won’t take any of my money, and you blame me for wrecking your car, which is ridiculous, by the way.’

  She watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. The wind picked up again, surrounding her with the smell of him. Her hair flicked across her face with the breeze, and before she could fix it, his fingertips were brushing it back behind her ear, sending a blazing trail across her cheekbones where his thumb lingered. She lifted her gaze to look in his eyes—his intense, hard blue-grey eyes that had darkened and seemed to stare right into her soul. She felt her lips part, as though she had no control over them.

  ‘Let me help you look for a car.’ He held her gaze, his thumb still caressing her cheek.

  It wasn’t a question. More like him telling her what was going to happen. And she couldn’t find it in her to resist. Damn him and his sexy manliness. His touch … Oh, if that wouldn’t haunt her dreams like his kiss still did …

  Swallowing, and knowing she’d kick herself for it later, she nodded. God, no wonder he was a good businessman. He’d be able to convince her into just about anything. Her gaze dropped to his lips. They were still pressed together tightly, as though he was in pain. She caught his gaze again, and his eyes clouded over once more, the coldness settling back into place. He dropped his hand from her face and turned to walk in the direction of the vineyard. She fell into step beside him.

  ‘Good,’ he said stiffly, as if they had settled on another business transaction. Her thoughts drifted back to their last business transaction.

  Perhaps they had.

  Chapter 15

  ‘God, Andie, where have you been?’

  Libby practically bowled Andie over as she walked through the doors of the vineyard. She winced at the extra pressure on her tender feet. She was surprised she hadn’t already developed blisters from walking so far. She had owned the heels for a while though. Perhaps she’d broken them in enough. Still, it wouldn’t stop her feet from aching for days. And probably her whole body, to be honest.

  ‘I’ve been so worried,’ Libby continued, releasing her. ‘I thought you must have forgotten—’ She paused when Taylor walked through the door to join them. ‘Why are you here?’

  Andie glanced up at him, but he was focused on his sister. His expression was still grim. She’d agreed to go car shopping with him. She had no idea how she was going to pull that off. Unless there just so happened to be a car at a dealership that was well within her price range, she was going to be walking out of there very much the same as she’d been going in. Minus her dignity, and with a bruised ego when he discovered she couldn’t afford anything the dealership offered.

  Taylor shrugged. ‘Figured I’d join you.’

  ‘It was kind of a girl thing,’ Libby started, eyeing him warily.

  She registered the flicker of alarm across his face before he regained his composure. ‘Are the other girls here?’

  Libby frowned. ‘Why would I trust them with this?’ She shook her head as if the thought was incomprehensible. ‘No, just me and Andie.’

  He seemed to relax. Andie tilted her head to the side, studying him. Why was he so worried about the other girls being there? Sure, she didn’t particularly like Libby’s bridesmaids. But why wouldn’t he like them? Her thoughts drifted back to what the girls had been talking about at their fitting. Isabelle, in particular. A kiss … She swallowed, dropping her gaze. Had he been alarmed because he did have something going on with that hussy and didn’t want Andie finding out? He mumbled something to Libby, but she didn’t hear what it was. Her mind drifted to the look on Joseph’s face when she’d expo
sed his little secret. That same flicker of alarm that she’d just seen on Taylor’s face. She swallowed.

  ‘And you’re late because …?’

  She blinked back to the present. Libby was looking at her, waiting for an answer. She opened her mouth to say something, but only a slight puff of air came out. Taylor cleared his throat.

  ‘Her car broke down,’ he said, his voice sounding rougher than before.

  Libby had a look of realisation cross her face. ‘Oh, I see. And you just happened to be driving past and offered her a lift?’ She focused back on her brother.

  ‘No,’ he said simply. What could she sense in his voice? ‘I was in the car with her.’

  Libby frowned. ‘Now I am confused.’ She moved a finger slowly between Taylor and Andie. ‘Why were you in her car?’

  ‘We were coming here. To see you.’ Taylor straightened his jacket as though he had something better to do.

  ‘But why were you together?’

  ‘He was at the shop for a fitting,’ Andie blurted out, finally finding her voice. Why did it feel like they were being interrogated? It wasn’t as if anything was happening between them. She flicked a sneaky glance up at him and swallowed. Well … not really. He turned his head slowly, giving her a look she couldn’t quite read. ‘I told him I was meeting you and he decided to come along.’

  ‘And your car broke down.’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, twisting her hands together.

  ‘So, you waited for a taxi?’

  ‘We walked, dear sister,’ Taylor said, stepping towards her. He leaned towards Libby and whispered something else in her ear that Andie didn’t catch. Nor did she have to, since Libby gave it away.

  ‘I’m not interrogating her!’

  ‘The door hasn’t even closed behind us, Lib,’ Taylor said, his expression stern. ‘How we got here is irrelevant. Now, why are we here?’

  Libby scowled at him, then lifted an eyebrow, a smile creeping onto her face. ‘We’re tasting cake, big brother, and discussing what kind of lingerie I should wear for Connor on our wedding night.’

  Andie was sure his cheeks darkened and his jaw clenched. She smirked. She had to give it to Libby—she knew how to make her brother cringe. She imagined not many people could do that to Taylor Ballin. He cleared his throat.

  ‘I’m getting a drink,’ he mumbled, heading off towards the bar.

  Libby giggled, looped her arm through Andie’s and led her towards the table where the slices of cake were all set up. ‘I love teasing him like that, you know,’ she said, lifting her shoulders mischievously. ‘He has so many walls. It’s nice to see he’s still human inside.’

  Andie’s lips curved into a grin. ‘How many walls?’ As though it were an answerable question.

  ‘Oh, too many,’ Libby said, releasing her arm. ‘He’s been hurt before, you see. His walls are all justifiable to an extent, but still …’ She drifted off, easing herself into one of the seats. ‘He doesn’t let many people in. Or any, for that matter. I can’t help but worry that he shuts himself off too much.’

  Andie clasped her hands together, glancing up at the bar in the other room, watching as Tay ordered a drink for himself and something for her and Libby. Interesting … He hadn’t even asked her what she wanted to drink. She felt a fire start burning in her centre. ‘How bad was it?’ she said, wondering which woman had managed to worm her way into his life and turn it upside down.

  ‘Very,’ Libby said, her expression solemn. ‘I wasn’t sure he’d come back from it.’

  ‘What happened?’ She continued watching him as he sipped his drink, seeming to regain his composure. He still looked grim, distant. Hardened. She couldn’t imagine him being hurt. Not so much that it almost destroyed him. Then again, it was often those people who were hurt the most.

  Libby studied her for a moment. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything,’ she started. ‘He doesn’t like people knowing that he even has a history.’ She dropped her gaze to Andie’s feet and gasped. ‘God, Andie, you’re wearing heels. How far did you walk?’

  ‘Three kilometres,’ she muttered, dropping her gaze to the table and easing into her own seat. ‘And a half.’

  Libby gasped again. ‘Oh, I could slap that brother of mine for making you walk so far.’

  Libby continued expressing her frustration with Taylor for making her walk so far and not calling Libby to come and get them—or at least calling a taxi. But Andie was only half listening. She warily glanced back up at the bar and found him watching them. Watching her. He held her gaze for a long breathtaking moment before he turned back to the bartender to pay for the drinks. A lump formed in her throat and her chest ached. Ached to have been there to soothe the hard man when he’d been hurt. To have seen what he was like before … To have stopped him from getting hurt in the first place. She swallowed once again, realising the danger she was leading herself into.

  If only she still believed in fairy tales.

  If she did, she might have thought he was her knight in shining armour who’d come to rescue her, and she was the damsel in distress who was to rescue him from the darkness inside of him.

  Too bad fairy tales were only make-believe.

  ***

  His eyes followed the fork as it moved to her mouth. He watched as the little chunk of cake disappeared behind her delicate lips. She moaned and her eyes widened as she tasted that bit of cake. He couldn’t help but feel … jealous? Of cake?

  He sipped his bourbon, shifting in his seat to get more comfortable. How the hell could he be jealous of cake? And why the hell would he be jealous at all? He tightened his fingers around his glass—the same fingers that had felt how soft and delicate her cheeks were. That still felt the cool of her cheeks against them, and the silkiness of her hair that he’d tucked behind her ear.

  A dusting of icing lingered on the corner of her lips. He clenched the glass tighter to stop himself from reaching out to wipe it away. What on earth had possessed him to touch her earlier? He already knew what kissing her felt like, and damn it if he didn’t know she was addictive. But to touch her again …

  In a way that seemed so … intimate … even though it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. Practical. That’s what it was. It was practical to not have her hair flying across her face when he was talking to her. It was practical to be able to hold eye contact with those intriguing green-brown eyes, rather than have her silky auburn hair hiding them from view. Making them more mysterious. It was practical for him to tuck her hair behind her delicate ear. Though it might have been more practical to let her do it herself.

  He watched the tip of her tongue dart out and lick the icing away. His mouth dried. Walking over three kilometres to the vineyard had been a bad idea. He should have simply waited for someone to come past and ask for a lift or, at the least, to use their phone. Then he might not have looked so deeply into those eyes and felt how soft her cheeks were. And ached to kiss her again. Or convince her to spend the next day with him.

  Suddenly, those green-brown eyes focused on him and he blinked away his reverie. There was a question in the way she looked at him now. And a quick glance at Libby showed there had, indeed, been a question asked. And they were both waiting for his answer.

  Shoot.

  He racked his brain for what they might have asked and came up empty. What the hell could it be? He took a long slow sip of his bourbon, hoping to find something that would give away the question. Libby sighed audibly and turned to Andie.

  ‘See? He wasn’t even listening.’

  Andie’s lips curved into a grin, but she didn’t take her eyes off him. He noticed a hint of mischief. His eyes narrowed. ‘Yes, I was,’ he said defensively.

  ‘What were we talking about then?’ Libby said, scowling.

  He opened his mouth, glanced at Andie and her mischievous grin, and looked back to his frustrated sister. ‘Cake,’ he said hesitantly.

  Libby sighed again, focusing on Andie. ‘He wasn’t listening,’ she said.

 
‘He can hear you,’ he said, kicking her chair. She scowled at him again. ‘Okay, then,’ he continued. ‘What were you talking about?’

  ‘It was a question,’ Andie said.

  ‘What was the question, then?’

  Libby made another frustrated noise, but Andie’s lips quirked higher. ‘We were discussing whether or not Connor would prefer Libby wearing a two-piece or a bodysuit on their wedding night. See, I haven’t spent much time with Connor, but you would know what he likes.’

  His eyes widened, and he felt his cheeks heating up. Lingerie? The bloody wenches were talking about lingerie? And wanting his opinion? For his sister? His sister! He took another sip of his bourbon, only to find there was nothing left in the glass.

  ‘What gives you that impression?’ he said gruffly. Libby stifled a giggle beside him.

  ‘Well, you’re his best friend, aren’t you?’ Andie continued, her eyebrow lifted in a challenge. ‘Surely it’s something you two have talked about.’

  His jaw clenched and he waved to a waitress to indicate that he needed another drink. Or two. He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I am not discussing this.’

  ‘Oh, please,’ Libby said, her eyes twinkling, a giggle in her voice. ‘You must help me, Tay. I’m thinking something lacey. Or sheer. Would he prefer sheer?’

  ‘He might prefer sheer,’ Andie piped in. ‘A light colour, of course. The more transparent, the better.’

  His knee involuntarily jerked against the table and he swore at the pulsing through his leg. Andie’s smile grew. She was still focused on him, taking full enjoyment from his awkwardness, no doubt. And pain. God, he did not want to picture his sister in anything less than a turtleneck sweater and trackpants. But Andie …

  Hearing her talk about sheer lingerie only made him picture her wearing some. In candlelight. Yes … the more transparent the better. Damned wench. He rubbed his knee, accepted a fresh glass of bourbon from the waitress and focused on Libby, since he could no longer look at Andie without imagining her in fine lingerie.

  ‘A onesie,’ he said, decidedly.