“A different guy, on different principles.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t much better. So I did what any sane man does when faced with overwhelming odds.”
“Which would be?”
“I called in reinforcements.”
“Diane.”
“And my good buddy, Corey.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “You coached that child!”
There was warm affection in Rory’s smile even as he shook his head. “He did it all himself. But I owe the little guy, all the same.”
She could not stop the smile that tugged at her lips. Then, taking her courage in both hands, living dangerously one last time for the sake of the chance she saw glimmering somewhere between them, she said, “But you were saying—you said there was something that took place before you first got to the suite that you would change?”
“There was indeed.” His smile was whimsical, yet shadowed with regret, with censure, and yes, with longing. “I’d much rather have been showing up for my honeymoon. I wish I had been married to you.”
She drew a sharp breath. “But you can’t. I mean, you don't want—”
“I can, and I do. Or would—will, if you can ever forgive me. What I mean to say is,” he continued after dragging in a deep breath, “I’d like to start over. I want to take it slow and easy, make all the stops, all the right moves to get to know you and let you know me. But I’d hope to wind up in the same place: fresh from the biggest, fanciest wedding you’ve ever seen, one with a dozen bridesmaids, groomsmen galore, a flower girl in one of those little white dresses, Corey as ring bearer, the whole works. There would have been a champagne reception with a cake ten feet tall, lots of food, maybe a twelve-piece orchestra, and enough confetti and bird seed to fill a washtub. You’d have thrown your bouquet, and we’d have made our getaway in a white limousine.”
He moved closer and reached to touch her cheek with his fingertips before he went on. “We’d come back here to this suite. This time we would enjoy a grand candlelight dinner on the balcony. Afterward, you’d slip into that white nightgown with all the lace and thousands of buttons. And then—”
He stopped abruptly, as if afraid he had said too much.
Gina, watching the rich light in the depths of his eyes, thought of Etta. What was it the maid had said? The golden rule of loving is to always believe that the one you love has your best interests at heart.
She did believe it, beyond all reason.
Rory compressed his lips in a straight line before throwing up his hands. “All right, all right, forget it. I can see the whole idea has you about ready to attack me again. Just forget I said anything. Forget any of this ever—”
“You think I want to attack you?” she asked on a soft laugh that was not quite even. “It’s an idea, all right. Especially when I let myself think of just what you might be wearing when I put on my nightgown.”
His face went blank. He studied the sweet yet faintly wicked curves of her lips with suspicion and a definite darkening of his bronzed skin.
When he made no reply, she stepped closer to place her hands on his chest, smoothing her palms along the bands of muscles covered by his soft, pima cotton shirt, seeking the throb of his heart. “Etta told me you sleep in your briefs, but somehow that doesn’t seem very romantic. Is that what you always wear?”
He shook his head, a slow gesture. Voice husky, he said, “Not always.”
“Then just what were you thinking of packing for your wedding night?” she prompted, veiling her gaze with her lashes.
“Nothing?” The word was hoarse with its mix of hope and despair.
“Perfect,” she said with soft satisfaction as she slid her arms around his neck.
He dragged her hard against him, lifting her from her feet to swing her around in a slow circle. With his face buried in the shining swath of her hair, he whispered, “God, you had me going. I love you, love you, and will never, ever lie to you again so long as I have breath in my body.”
“You can if you have good reason,” she said in shaken tones. “Just as long as you don’t ever leave me again.”
“Never. Not for anything, ever. I promise.”
His grasp tightened until she was breathless. Gina didn’t mind. Murmuring softly of her own love, she pressed into him as if flesh and blood could be blended by desire alone.
It was sometime later that she lifted her head. With love and laughter bright in her eyes, she said, “About this honeymoon you were planning?”
“What about it?” The words were thick and a little rough.
“I think you were going to tell me what will happen after the bit about my buttons? I should wait to find out, but I’m not sure I can. You know the part I mean. It began, ‘And then…’”
Rory gave a laugh of gladness and triumph that echoed around the room. Gina joined him even as she buried her face in his throat.
And then.
He demonstrated.
::
About the Author
Since publishing her first book at age twenty-seven, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Blake has gone on to write over sixty-five historical and contemporary novels in multiple genres. She brings the story-telling power and seductive passion of the South to her stories, reflecting her eighth-generation Louisiana heritage. Jennifer lives with her husband in northern Louisiana.
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Much of Jennifer’s backlist is still available in print and/or digital format.
New titles and recent new editions include:
The Three Graces Trilogy
New titles from Mira, released July, August and September, 2011.
The Three Graces is Jennifer’s sizzling new series set in Tudor England. Available in print and digital formats.
The Three Graces of Graydon are well–born sisters bearing an ominous curse: any man betrothed to them without love is doomed to die.
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Silver-Tongued Devil
Print version reissued by Sourcebooks in December, 2011. Digital versions also available.
Angelica Carew awakens after a boating accident to find herself married to her rescuer. Renold Harden is the stepson of the man who lost his Louisiana plantation to her gambler father and is bent on revenge. Angelica begins as a pawn in Renold's vengeful plans, until he discovers her hidden depths...
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The Warlock’s Daughter
New digital edition, November 2011. New cover coming soon!
Carita knows her passion is a curse. Can the enigmatic stranger withstand the power of a warlock's daughter and claim her love?
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Out of the Dark
New digital edition, November 2011. New cover coming soon!
When the prize is Anne-Marie's heart, which untamed soul competing for it is more dangerous—the panther or the man?
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To find out more about Jennifer’s books and to purchase direct from your favorite outlet, see the Steel Magnolia Press website at www.steelmagnoliapress.com.
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Subscribe to Fresh Leaves, the Steel Magnolia Press newsletter, to be notified of new releases and subscriber-only specials: http://eepurl.com/gCgrX.
(You can also subscribe from the Steel Magnolia Press website.)
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Jennifer would love to hear from you! Other places to connect with her:
Website: www.JenniferBlake.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000468533638&ref=ts
Twitter: @JenniferBlake01
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