by Robin Wells
“What did you do?” Ali’s eyes were locked on his face.
“I was going to offer her a ride, but I figured she wouldn’t want to get in a car with a strange man who’d just heard Derrick’s rude endorsement. So I paid one of the waitresses to take her home.”
“That was kind of you,” Ali said softly.
The praise rippled through him like fine scotch, spreading a feeling of warmth and ease throughout his chest. Matt realized his response was all out of proportion to her simple remark. He shrugged in what he hoped was a normal fashion. “Any decent guy would have done the same thing.”
“No. Most people wouldn’t have gotten involved in someone else’s problems.”
Ali’s eyes were large and bright and admiring as she looked up at him. Her face was tilted at a kissable angle and her lips formed a soft, parted temptation.
What was he thinking? He was playing with fire. This was Robert’s little sister, for heaven’s sake—the scourge of calm and order and everything else he held dear.
Matt looked around, suddenly anxious for a way to end the discussion. He was no Fred Astaire, but the band was beginning a slow, familiar tune he thought he could handle. “Would you like to dance?” he asked.
“Sure.”
Matt took her hand and led her into the ballroom. The moment he turned toward her, he realized the enormity of his mistake. The soft lighting on the dance floor made her lips even more inviting and cast enticing shadows between her breasts. He pulled her to him, irrationally thinking his heart would slow down if he held her so close he was unable to see her.
Wrong! He drew a deep breath to calm himself, and once again inhaled the soft, herbal scent of her hair. It had driven him wild earlier and it hadn’t lost its impact.
Maybe if he turned his face away he wouldn’t feel so intoxicated by it, he thought. He angled his head so that his cheek rested against her temple.
But now he felt her breath on his neck. Prickles of pleasure ran down his spine, and he arched away from her so she wouldn’t feel the effect she was having on him.
Dadblast it! How could dancing with a woman in a crowded room get him in such a state? The blood was pounding so loudly in his ears that it threatened to drown out the music. Matt was glad they were close enough to the bandstand that conversation was impossible; he doubted he could talk, even if he’d been able to think of anything to say.
Concentrate on moving your feet, he told himself. Focus on your extremities. He suddenly became overly aware of his hands. One rested low on her back, so low he could feel the beginning curve of her derriere beneath his fingers. He recalled the view of her backside that had resulted in his fall that morning. The thought made him miss a step, and Ali stepped on his toe.
“Sorry,” she breathed. She adjusted her body against his, somehow managing to align herself in an even more provocative fashion.
Matt gritted his teeth. There are limits to what a man can take, he thought desperately. He had to move his hand; he was dying to crush her to him, and to do so in his present condition would only embarrass them both.
Matt drew his hand around to the side of her waist. Now he could feel the swell of her rib cage above it and the swell of her hip below it, and it only incited him more. He again wondered if he could span her waist with his hands, and experimentally splayed his fingers. He guessed that they reached almost halfway around her.
Oh, mercy. He didn’t know where to put his hands, how to breathe, what to do with his feet—or how to control the adolescent response his body was having to this infuriating woman. He was trying to hold himself away from her, and he was developing a terrible crick in his back from the effort. With every passing second, he was in danger of losing his battle against nature. Every fiber of his being longed to pull her close, to breath her in, to taste her lips.
To make matters worse, she seemed completely oblivious to his struggle. She was snuggling against him as though dancing with him were the most natural, comfortable thing in the world. The longer they danced, the more relaxed she seemed to become. If the song went on much longer, she’d probably fall asleep!
When the hell was this infernal song going to end?
“Thank you,” Ali said as the last notes of the melody faded. She pulled away from Matt’s arms, feeling thoroughly shaken and a little unsteady on her feet. For a few minutes there, she could have sworn the room had disappeared and they’d drifted someplace else—someplace warm and dreamy and incredibly thrilling.
Oh, jeez, she thought despairingly. Why did she have to feel so attracted to Matt? He was one of the bossiest, most domineering men she’d ever met—exactly the type she considered pure poison. On top of that, he was Robert’s hand-picked selection—and her business partner to boot. A triple jeopardy selection!
Her feelings were just the result of the overly romantic atmosphere, she told herself. After all, what could be more sentimental than her best friend’s wedding? Given a little time and distance, her feelings for Matt were sure to normalize.
Besides, the attraction seemed to be completely one-sided. Matt had been stiff and silent during the dance, and he’d resisted every one of her attempts to snuggle closer.
Still, there had been a few moments when she’d sensed he might be interested. He’d rested his head against her hair for a few seconds and his hand had moved on her waist in a way that felt suspiciously like a caress.
“I’d better go find Lauren,” she said. “She’ll need help changing from her wedding gown into her going-away outfit.”
She turned and fled the dance floor, grateful to have a duty to perform.
She found Lauren already in the changing room, struggling with the tiny back buttons on her gown. A stab of guilt flashed through her; here she was, maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, and she’d gotten so absorbed in Matt that she’d forgotten her responsibilities. “Why didn’t you come and get me?” Ali scolded gently. “I didn’t know you were ready to change. Here, turn around and let me help.”
“You looked like you were having too much fun on the dance floor,” Lauren said with a smile. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Ali quickly loosened the buttons and helped her friend step out of the gown, a flush heating her cheeks. Lauren turned and eyed her closely. “Aha! I knew it.” She wagged a finger at her. “Don’t try and deny that you find Matt attractive. It’s written all over your face.”
Ali carefully placed the gown on its padded hanger. “Well, of course he’s attractive,” she said defensively. “Anyone can see that. But he’s also impossibly overbearing. Would you believe he jumped my case about spending too much time with Derrick tonight?”
“Maybe he was jealous,” Lauren suggested.
“Fat chance! He thinks he’s replaced Robert as my big brother.”
Lauren gave a sly grin. “He didn’t look any too brotherly to me.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make objective observations about these things,” Ali retorted. “Those stars in your eyes are clouding your vision.”
“You’re probably right about that.” A radiant smile lit Lauren’s face. “Oh, Ali, I’m so happy!” She twirled around, holding out her hand and admiring her wedding ring.
“No one deserves it more,” Ali said warmly.
Lauren gave her a quick hug, then reached for the clothes-hanger holding her floral dress. “I’d better hurry and get dressed. I don’t want to keep my groom waiting—and I want to throw the bouquet before the guests start leaving.” She gave Ali a stern look. “I fully expect you to catch it, you know.”
Ali shook her head and laughed. “You don’t give up, do you?”
They emerged five minutes later. Lauren’s mother bustled over and directed them to the dance floor, where the orchestra leader was announcing that the bride was about to throw her bouquet. Ali spotted Matt standing by the bandstand and was surprised at the surge of pleasure that shot through her. She’d halfway suspected he’d left after their dance.
Ali dutifully joined the throng of young women crowding to vie for the bouquet in front of the bandstand. Lauren caught her eye and smiled.
The orchestra played a drum roll. Lauren turned her back, drew back her arm and tossed.
Instead of heading toward the eager crowd of attendants waiting to catch it, the bouquet veered into the crowd of onlookers and sailed directly at Matt. He flung up his hand to avoid being hit in the face and reflexively caught the bouquet.
Matt’s first response was to glance at Ali to see if she were somehow responsible, but she looked as surprised as he felt. Matt suddenly realized the crowd was roaring with laughter, and decided his only course of action was to ham it up. He carried the bouquet through the crowd and presented it to Lauren with a snappy salute.
“I believe you misfired, madam,” he told her. The crowd laughed heartily.
The band began another drum roll and Lauren tried again. This time the bouquet headed straight to Ali.
“Oh! Look who’s going to be next!” someone shouted.
“Maybe this means she’s going to marry the guy who caught it first,” another voice said.
Matt watched a blush creep up Ali’s cheeks as she found herself the center of attention. She was shy! The realization generated a protective urge in him and he began to head toward her. From all the things Robert had told him about Ali, it had never occurred to Matt that she might be bashful. It was beginning to look like there were a lot of things about Ali that Robert had neglected to tell him.
Matt soon realized that the crowd was moving toward the front door and Ali was being swept along with it. Justin and Lauren were evidently ready to leave.
Someone handed Matt a small packet of birdseed as he followed the herd outside. He found Ali on the outskirts of the crowd and sidled up beside her. “Good catch,” he remarked.
She returned his smile. “You, too. In fact, this belongs to you.” She held out the bouquet. “Since you caught it first, looks like you’ll be the next to walk the aisle.”
Matt shook his head. “I’d rather walk the plank.”
Ali looked up at him curiously. “What do you have against marriage?”
Matt thrust a hand into his pocket, wishing he’d never broached the subject. “It’s not for me. I tried it once, and I make a point of never making the same mistake twice.”
“Once bitten, twice shy?”
“More like once nuked, twice determined to never let it happen again.”
Ali grinned. “I guess that means there’s no special woman in your life.”
He shook his head, suddenly consumed with curiosity about her own romantic status. He tried to adopt an offhanded manner. “How about you? Did you leave someone special in Dallas?”
“No.”
He should have hoped she had a fiance tucked away somewhere, that she’d come to Hillsboro after a lovers’ spat and would leave again as soon as they kissed and made up. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have to worry about keeping an eye on her. But the truth was he’d held his breath until she’d answered, and felt a deep wave of relief at her response.
He looked away to cover his confusion and was glad when she changed the subject.
“They did a pretty thorough job on the car, didn’t they?”
Matt craned his neck and looked in the direction she pointed. The vehicle was so completely covered with shaving cream it was impossible to tell what color it was, much less its make and model. “It’s probably the most thorough job Derrick ever did on anything in his entire life,” Matt said wryly. “What a mess!”
“Here they come! Get your birdseed ready!” Ali yelled excitedly.
The newlyweds ran to the car, and Matt and Ali joined the crowd in pelting them with the seed. Justin struggled with the door on the passenger side as the seed storm continued.
“It looks like he’s having trouble with the lock,” Ali commented.
“Maybe the shaving cream fouled it up,” Matt said. “Look, they’re going around to the other side.”
With his arm protectively wrapped around Lauren to shield her from the onslaught of birdseed, Justin clicked his key remote again, then tried inserting the key in the door. Still no luck.
The crowd ran out of birdseed and began offering advice.
“Aie you sure you’re using the right key?” someone called.
“Jiggle the handle!” recommended another.
Justin cleared a spot on the window with his hand and peered in the vehicle. “Hey!” he yelled. “This isn’t my car!”
Matt threw back his head and whooped with laughter. “Derrick decorated the wrong car! Can you believe it?”
“But it’s got to be the right one! I pointed it out to Derrick myself!” Her forehead wrinkled in concern. “It’s a blue Camry, and it’s parked in the spot reserved for the groom’s car.”
A blue Camry? Matt turned to stare at the vehicle, taking in details that had escaped his notice earlier. Tin cans dangled from two long ropes tied to the rear bumper. Plastic streamers were attached to the windshield wipers and the rearview mirrors, and “Hot time tonight!” was written on the back window in what looked like chocolate syrup. The only part of the car that wasn’t completely covered with foam was the license tag—and the numbers on it were naggingly familiar.
A sinking feeling hit the bottom of Matt’s stomach. “Oh, no,” he groaned. Ali had struck again.
“There’s my car!” Justin announced, pointing to an automobile on the other side of the parking lot. He wrapped his arm around his bride and steered her toward it. “Thanks for the decoy, Derrick!” he called over his shoulder. “You saved us a stop at the car wash!”
Matt watched in dismay as the couple got in the vehicle and sped away, honking the horn at the well-wishers.
The crowd around them began filtering back into the building, leaving them alone in the parking lot. Ali turned toward Matt, her face a study of confusion. “I don’t understand. If Justin’s car was still in the parking lot, whose car is that?” She pointed at the shaving cream-covered vehicle.
A nerve twitched in Matt’s jaw. “Whose car do you think it is?”
“I have no idea,” Ali said.
“Let me give you a clue.” Even to his own ears, his voice was clipped and tight. “Who has sustained a head injury, caught a somersaulting dog and a bridal bouquet, and been in a mind-spinning state of confusion ever since you hit town?”
Ali’s hand flew to her mouth. Wide-eyed, she pointed back at the vehicle. “Yours?”
Matt nodded grimly.
“You have a blue Camry?”
Matt gave another reluctant nod. “Brand new. I’ve only had it three weeks.”
“And you parked it right there?” she asked.
Dadblast it! She would have to point out that the incident was at least partially his fault.
Matt rubbed his chin and gave his head a rueful shake. “I should have known something was wrong. That parking space was too good to be true—and in my experience, when something seems too good to be true, it usually is.”
“Oh, Matt. I’m so sorry.” A smile ruffled the corners of her mouth.
Matt looked from her to the car and back again. He could tell she was trying hard not to laugh, but her eyes gleamed with amusement and her lower lip trembled with her effort to maintain a straight face. She broke into a grin and, despite his annoyance, Matt found himself returning it.
The next thing he knew, they were leaning against each other, laughing like tickled hyenas. They paused for breath, glanced at each other, and broke up all over again.
It felt great to cut loose like this, Matt thought with a little jolt of surprise. How long had it been since he’d laughed until his sides hurt? Too long. He’d been so busy working on the development, worrying about financing and generally being responsible that he hadn’t made any time for fun.
He caught Ali’s eye and burst into another round of laughter, putting an arm around her. She gave a little shiver and his a
rm tightened instinctively.
Was she trembling because she was cold or was she feeling the same surge of electricity, the one that was making him feel as though he’d touched a downed power line? He gazed into her eyes and her laughter abruptly ceased. Her lips parted and her breath came in fast little puffy clouds. His eyes riveted on her lips—lips so full and flushed and inviting that his head began lowering of its own volition.
The moment his mouth settled on hers, shock waves of pleasure pulsed through him. She moved her lips against his and reached her arms around his neck, pulling him down, and her responsiveness sent his temperature skyrocketing. He clutched her to him and deepened the kiss, laying siege to her lips like a man possessed.
What the hell was he doing? This was Robert’s little sister, for heaven’s sake. Any man worth his salt knew that you didn’t fool around with your best friend’s sister unless you were plenty serious about her, and he had no intention of getting serious about anyone, let alone a woman who would completely disrupt the calm, orderly life he’d built for himself.
He abruptly pulled back and dropped his arm from her shoulders. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I don’t know what happened. Must be the champagne.” He’d had less than half a glass, but it was the only excuse that came to mind.
“Weddings make people sentimental,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, that must be it.” He grabbed at the explanation, grateful for any excuse. “Well, you’re freezing. Let’s go inside.” Taking her by the elbow, he headed toward the building.
Ali walked stiffly beside him, her arms folded across her chest. Tension hummed between them, mounting into an awkward silence. Anxious to diffuse it, Matt strove for a conversational tone. “Don’t worry about the car. Anyone could have made the same mistake.”
He held the door open for her and she brushed against him as she walked through it. A burst of adrenaline again shot through him at the contact, and he leaned away from her to minimize the effect. She turned toward him in the foyer. “The least I can do is give you a ride home. In the morning I’ll bring you back and help you wash off your car.”