The Wedding Truce

by Kerri Carpenter

  “Huh?” he asked Jack.

  “You and Grace. When did it start?”

  Xander finally gave his best friend his full attention. “When did what start?”

  Jack expelled an annoyed sound. “Don’t give me that. You haven’t taken your eyes off her since we got here.”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, she is,” Jack agreed.

  He agreed a little too quickly. Xander drew his eyebrows together. He knew Grace was gorgeous, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about someone else saying it. Even Jack.

  “And clearly you guys have stopped fighting long enough to realize that you have feelings for each other,” Jack continued, oblivious.

  Xander worked his jaw. He wanted to deny it. He spotted Grace across the room. She threw back her head and laughed. Her entire face lit up. He grinned.

  “Yep, relationship city.” Jack slapped him on the back.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who said anything about a relationship?”

  “Actually, you’ve said very little. I’m just filling in the blanks.”

  “Maybe you’re wrong.” Xander took a swig of water for his suddenly dry throat. “You ever think of that?”

  Jack glanced over at Grace and then returned his attention to Xander. He shook his head. “Nope. I’m not. You guys are in deep.”

  I sure am.

  Where in the hell had that thought come from? “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, trying to convince himself more than Jack. “But we’ve...you know? That is, Grace and I have... Damn.” He ran a hand through his hair.

  Jack let out a loud chuckle. “I have never seen you tongue-tied over a woman. And how long have I known you?”

  “Too long,” Xander said dryly.

  Jack looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. “This is great. You and Grace.”

  “Shh.” Xander quickly glanced around the room, but there was no one nearby. “I don’t know what Grace and I are right now, or even if we’re anything. You know I don’t do relationships.”

  “And you know I never planned to stay in Alexandria.” Jack gestured toward his bride-to-be. “Things change.”

  Xander knew things changed. Didn’t he see how much situations could transform on a daily basis at work? Wasn’t work, coupled with his parents’ insane situation, the reason he shied away from relationships?

  And yet...didn’t he want to go upstairs with Grace more than anything he’d ever wanted in his entire life?

  It wasn’t only for the sex, either. Maybe that was part of it. But it definitely wasn’t the whole picture.

  Grace caught his eye. She bit her lip, even as a smile was blossoming. Then she nodded her head at the exit.

  “Gotta run. I have a hot date.” He practically threw his water glass at Jack in his haste to leave. Then something made him stop. Something deep down inside of him. Part of the reason Xander loved practicing law was because he had great admiration for the truth. Even as a boy, he’d never been able to lie.

  And the truth was that he could no longer imagine not being around Grace. It didn’t make any rational sense. They hadn’t known each other that long. They’d begun their acquaintance with constant bickering. Yet, out of all the people who’d been at the party—many of whom were close friends of his—he didn’t want to be around anyone but Grace.

  Moreover, he was already thinking about what would happen after this weekend. He had a work event coming up on his calendar. Another boring gala. But with Grace by his side, the evening could actually be fun.

  Not to mention that as the weather continued to cool down and the leaves took their final bows, the holidays would be right around the corner. Christmas in the nation’s capital was so much fun. Maybe they could go to Mount Vernon or visit the White House Christmas tree.

  What was he doing? Planning a future that featured Grace.

  Xander waited for the panic to ensue. It didn’t. In fact, the more he pondered it, the better he felt. Going through life with someone.

  Xander took a deep breath. “I’m leaving now. I’m leaving with the woman...” He took a gulp. “I’m leaving with the woman I’m in a relationship with.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Finally, Xander’s wish came true and he was in his room. Grace had made a quick stop at her room to grab a few personal items.

  While she slid out of her sexy heels, Xander went through the music on his phone until he found an appropriate playlist. A soft, slow melody filled the room. Grace looked up, surprise on her face.

  He didn’t respond. Instead, he simply scooped her up in his arms and began to move.

  “What are you doing?”

  She was off balance. Good. Join the club. Xander had been off balance since the moment he’d met her. From the second he’d laid eyes on her, it had all led up to this moment. All the fighting and bickering, flirting and teasing.

  But here, where they were alone, with the moonlight streaming into the room and the music creating a romantic atmosphere, he could admit that he’d wanted her from the beginning.

  “Xander?” she asked.

  “I’m dancing with you,” he said.

  “I noticed that.”

  He brushed a light kiss over her forehead. “Do you not like to dance?”

  “Oh, no. It’s not that. I love to dance. It’s just that I thought we would...” Her voice trailed off as her eyes drifted toward the bedroom.

  Ah, she’d assumed they’d go right for bed. He thought back to the night before. He supposed he could have been more romantic. They’d gone from fighting to talking to making love. No romance involved.

  She deserved more. And as shocking as it was, he realized that he wanted more, too. He wanted to enjoy being with her, and he wanted Grace to relax and revel in the night, too.

  He spun her out and brought her back to him, enjoying her laugh and her flushed cheeks.

  “You’re a good dancer,” she said.

  “My mom made me learn. I complained every single second through the entire first lesson. But I have to admit that it’s come in handy over the years.”

  “I bet you do this with all the girls.”

  She’d said it lightly, flippantly, but her expression quickly changed, as if her own words had sunk in. Xander got it. Grace still thought he was a playboy.

  He shook his head as he turned her around the room. “No. Besides some formal work events and the occasional wedding, I reserve my dancing for special women.”

  She relaxed in his arms. Meeting his gaze, she grinned. “Are you saying I’m special?”

  “Oh, yes.” He wanted to say more but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he pressed his lips to hers. She tasted sweet, like the cocktail she’d been enjoying downstairs at the party.

  The kiss went on for a long time. They stood together, swaying to the music, as their arms were wrapped around each other, their mouths fused together.

  Finally, she broke away. With a hand to his chest, she said in a breathy voice, “I need a minute.”

  “Of course.” If his erratic heartbeat had anything to say about it, he needed a minute himself.

  Grace ran a finger over his bottom lip and then disappeared into the bathroom. Xander crossed the room to the window. He put his head against the cold glass. What was happening to him?

  A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Who would be at his room at this hour?

  He opened the door and found room service waiting.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t order anything,” he said.

  “This is a gift,” the attendant said and handed over an envelope. Then he pushed the cart, covered with a white tablecloth, into the room and left it right next to the door. He tipped his hat and quickly backed out of the room. Xander didn’t even have time to tip the guy.

  He ripped open the en
velope and read the note. He strained not to roll his eyes.

  Tell her it’s from you. Thanks for the party. Enjoy! —Jack

  Xander lifted the domed silver lid and found chocolate-covered strawberries. There was also an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne chilling and two flutes.

  He shook his head. He didn’t know whether to strangle his friend or hug him. In any case, why let good champagne go to waste? He popped the cork and filled the flutes. For good measure, he turned the lights low.

  Xander turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening, a champagne glass in each hand. Then he froze. He couldn’t have moved for a million dollars.

  Grace stood there, framed by the light from the bathroom, wearing lingerie in the same emerald-green color as her dress. It was all lace and silk and molded to every ample curve she had. She’d let her hair down and it was hanging in soft curls over her shoulders.

  She ran a hand down her side while the other was propped up against the door frame. She was every man’s fantasy come true.

  Xander had never seen anything more beautiful, more erotic, more amazing, than Grace standing there in her green lingerie.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  He had no idea what she was asking. He tried to speak but his mouth was dry.

  Luckily, she answered for him as she crossed the room and took a glass of champagne from his hand. “Did you order this?” She ran a finger over a strawberry. “I love chocolate-covered strawberries.”

  Finally, his brain caught up to other parts of his body. He sipped his champagne, more to wet his throat than for the taste. “I’m supposed to tell you that it’s from me.” He offered her Jack’s note.

  “How sweet.”

  “It would have been sweeter if I’d thought of it myself.”

  She placed a hand on his cheek. “You’ve done so many amazing things today, Xander.”

  “Not for you.”

  “You made my best friend incredibly happy. That makes me happy.”

  “You deserve more.”

  She placed her glass on the table. Then she took his flute and also put it down. Moving closer, she wound her arms around his neck. His hands went very naturally to her waist. “When you say things like that to me, I get butterflies in my stomach.”

  “What about when I do things like this?” He kissed one eyelid, then the other. He couldn’t resist placing a kiss on the tip of her perfect little nose. Then he brushed her nose with his, back and forth, before finally pressing his lips against hers.

  He couldn’t miss her intake of breath. She shuddered in his arms, which only caused him to tighten his grip.

  Their mouths came together as one. He couldn’t tell who wanted the other more. All Xander knew was that he’d waited far too long to get to this point.

  They did a walk-dance into his bedroom. Their mouths stayed fused the whole time. Tumbling onto his bed, Grace let out a giggle as he covered her body with his.

  He ran a hand along the sexy lingerie. “I like this. A lot.”

  “Good,” she said with a triumphant grin.

  “But it needs to go.”

  “That’s good, too.”

  In one quick move, he had the skimpy material off her. She gasped and he took that as invitation to meld his lips to hers again. Her hands were moving frantically over him. She quickly undid the buttons on his shirt and hastily pushed it aside. She pressed her lips to his chest and he sucked in a breath.

  They rolled over the bed, fighting with his belt and pants in a frenzy to get them both completely undressed. When they were finally naked and skin touched skin, Xander couldn’t have said which end of the bed was up. All he knew was that Grace was beneath him, already panting, even as she reached down and cupped the area that craved her attention the most.

  He reared back. There was something he needed to do first.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, attempting to push herself onto her elbows.

  He rooted through the nightstand until he found the condom. “Nothing, don’t worry.”

  Once he was prepared, he returned to her and that beautiful smile. Together they tumbled back onto the soft mattress.

  Xander indulged by fisting his hands into all that thick dark hair. She kissed him soundly, wiggling beneath him as she tried to line up their bodies.

  He entered her smoothly and slowly. Her intense stare met his and they never lost eye contact. Not the entire time they moved together. It was the most intimate moment of his life.

  When they’d both fallen off the cliff, he gathered her into his arms. And held on tightly, held on for dear life.

  * * *

  Afterward, they lounged in bed, enjoying the strawberries and champagne. She was making him laugh as she told him stories from her time as an intern. It felt good to be so relaxed and at ease with someone.

  The laughter turned to flirting and the flirting morphed into lust. Soon, they were entangled in each other’s arms again and then made love a second time.

  Later, Grace slept. Xander was wrapped around her, and he ran a hand over the silky smooth skin of her arm. Her breath was coming out in slow exhales and her body was completely relaxed.

  He loved the way she felt all curled up into him. In fact, he couldn’t remember feeling more content in his life. It had been a long day, from planning an entire party to actually attending the party and then to his extracurricular activities with Grace. Yet, he wasn’t tired. Maybe because his mind was racing as he tried to figure out what was happening to him.

  He didn’t do relationships. He never had. But with Grace, he couldn’t imagine not having her around. Now that he’d been with her, in every way possible, it was inconceivable to walk away.

  Xander pressed a soft kiss to her temple as he considered. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but that was exactly what he was afraid of. He had issues and he knew it. Deep-rooted issues that stemmed from his parents. How could he bring that into Grace’s life?

  He recalled her words from last night. Maybe it was finally time to talk to one, or both, of his parents. Ask them why their relationship was the way it was. Maybe then he could get over whatever was stopping him from entering one-hundred-percent into a relationship with Grace.

  She made a sweet little noise and snuggled even closer to him.

  Because being without her was no longer an option.

  * * *

  Grace was having the most wonderful dream. Her body was being cherished by a fantastic man. A man who made her feel wanted and desired and...loved.

  Sadly, the dream ended all too soon. She peeked through heavy eyelids and realized it was early in the morning. The sun was barely shining through the windows, reminding her they’d forgotten to close the curtains the night before. They’d been busy with, ahem, other activities.

  Her mind came awake quickly. Much faster than the rest of her body, which was feeling heavy and sated. She knew she needed to get moving. It was the day before Emerson’s wedding and there was a ton left to do. She visualized her many lists and began organizing the best way to proceed.

  Then she rolled over and took in Xander’s handsome face. She had to take just one moment. One second for herself. Xander was on his side, facing her. He was fast asleep, his breathing slow and heavy. She resisted the urge to run a hand over the sexy stubble on his face. Or to fix the hair falling onto his forehead. Not to mention wanting to lean over and press her lips to his. To wake him up properly.

  Grace twisted to check out the time on the clock again. Nope, definitely no time for that.

  With a very regretful sigh, she quietly slid from the bed. That’s when she realized she was completely naked. She ran a hand through her hair until it got stuck. Oh, boy, she couldn’t wait to see what a mess she was.

  Grace quickly collected her belongings and entered the bathroom.

  �
�Yikes,” she squeaked at her own appearance. Thank goodness Xander was fast asleep. He did not need to see the raccoon eyes courtesy of her eye makeup or the bird’s nest on top of her head. Not to mention the red splotches on her face, no doubt from that sexy stubble.

  She did her best to clean up with the limited toiletries she’d brought down. When she felt presentable enough to make a fast walk-of-shame back to her room, she turned off the bathroom light. With a last look at the sinful male, she almost caved and jumped back in bed. But with a sigh, she left the room.

  When she reached her suite, she immediately threw a pod in the Keurig. A text message came through.

  Hey, you left me.

  Hey, you’re supposed to be sleeping, she countered.

  Hard to sleep without you snuggled up next to me.

  Her heart skipped a beat. Grace leaned back against the wall with a hand to her chest and bit her lip.

  When had this happened? When had Xander Ryan wormed his way into her life?

  She looked down as another message came through to her phone.

  I had a great time with you last night. I can’t wait to see you again.

  If she thought her heart skipped a beat before, it was nothing compared to the humongous flip it just did. She couldn’t wait to see him, either. And it wasn’t just about the sex, although that was fantastic.

  She liked talking to Xander. She liked the way he was confident but not cocky. She liked the way he looked at her, like she was the most beautiful woman on the planet. She really liked the way she felt when she was with him. Like everything was right in the world. Even in the middle of planning a very stressful wedding, he’d managed to soothe her nerves and keep her calm.

  Grace did a little pirouette and then fixed her coffee. She needed to jump in the shower, dress and get the day started. But first, she crossed the room and leaned against the window. It was going to be a pretty fall day. The leaves were at that perfect state of changing colors but not yet falling. Birds were singing and the sky was a deep, clear blue.