by Kayla Perrin
The zap of heat that hit her told her what she didn’t want to accept.
Illogical, yes, given that she didn’t even like him anymore. But she knew it was true.
Here she was, thirty years old and smart, and somehow Aaron’s charm and good looks had gotten to her. The way he’d held her, moved his body against her when they were dancing, the scorching looks he’d leveled on her...
Melissa’s brain and her libido were not in sync. Her brain knew that Aaron was bad news, but her libido...well, her libido had been turned on.
It’s okay, she told herself. Thinking about sex is fine. It just proves that you’re still alive.
And honestly, when it came to sex, she hadn’t felt alive in years. Not even with her last boyfriend, Christopher. Her libido had come roaring back to life yesterday, and that was a good thing, wasn’t it? She’d allowed an important part of her to essentially die.
Maybe when she got back to New Jersey, she would do what her best friend, Teresa—who was also the receptionist at the group home—constantly suggested: fill out an online dating profile and finally put herself out there. She did need some excitement in her life.
Two hours later, their nails and toes were done in lavender shellac, guaranteed to look perfect for the next day and beyond. From there, the women headed directly to the church.
“I’m sorry I didn’t go out with you guys last night,” Arlene said to Melissa when she got into the passenger seat beside her. Melissa had decided to leave her car in the salon’s parking lot, and Arlene was driving them both to the church.
“You missed a fun time,” Melissa told her.
“I could use some carefree fun. Craig has been driving me crazy. The thing is, I’m kind of worried that he’s going to try to use anything I do against me. Like if I party too much, he’ll say I’m an unfit mother.”
Melissa’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her sister. “Are you guys still fighting over custody? I thought you already won.”
“He’s not happy I was awarded primary custody. He does get Raven on the weekends, and I make lots of time for him to spend with her outside of that. But he still seems hell-bent on making my life miserable.”
“Don’t give him the power. You’re doing everything you should be and more. You’re a great mother. Don’t let him drag you down.”
“I’m still so hurt that he cheated. And he wasn’t even original. He had an ongoing affair with his secretary.” Arlene snorted. “She got pregnant—which is probably the only reason he told me about the affair. Then she lost her baby. I think he expected me to stay with him after that, and he’s lashing out because I didn’t. I mean, as if.”
Melissa reached across the seat and patted her sister’s shoulder. “I know it’s tough, but just try to ignore Craig’s rants and put-downs, whatever he’s saying to you. It can only affect you if you let it.”
“Honestly?” Arlene shot Melissa a quick gaze before returning her attention to the road. “My self-confidence has taken a beating.”
“Come on, sis. Don’t let him do that to you. That’s exactly what he wants, by the way. Thank your lucky stars that you’re free of him. There’s someone out there who will appreciate you.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should have just tried to make the best of things.”
Melissa reeled backward. “You can’t mean that. You know you did the right thing.”
“Did I?” Arlene asked.
“Yes.” Melissa squeezed her hand. “Never doubt that.”
“But there are times when Raven asks me where her daddy is, and nothing I say seems to mollify her.”
“But when she gets older and understands exactly what happened, she will know how strong you were. Your example that you shouldn’t put up with anything just to stay in a relationship will be so important to her in the long run.”
“But she’s been acting out. There are times I worry that she’s so unhappy, she’ll be scarred for life.”
“She’s going through a period of adjustment. That’s normal. But trust me when I tell you kids are resilient. Just show her constant love and she’ll be fine. If the kids at my group home had constant love from their parents, they’d do so much better.” Melissa paused. “Stop worrying. Everything will be fine.”
Arlene sighed softly. “I hope so.”
“I know so.”
Arlene pulled into the church parking lot, and Melissa’s pulse started to race. At least for a little while, she’d been able to put Aaron out of her mind.
But they were at the church now, and soon Melissa would be seeing Aaron again.
She wasn’t looking forward to this.
Chapter 10
When the bridal party entered the church, the men were already there. Tasha speed walked down the aisle and straight into Ryan’s arms. She hugged him tightly, as though it had been ten weeks since she had last seen him, rather than only half a day. Ryan dipped his head and kissed her softly on the lips.
“I missed you, baby,” Tasha mewled.
Bonnie playfully rolled her eyes. “Girl, you’ve got the rest of your life to spend with him.”
“Young love...so sickening,” Wilma commented, then chuckled.
Maxine threw her a sidelong glance. “As if you’re one to talk! You and George always out on date nights, holding hands and sneaking in kisses everywhere. You think word doesn’t travel?”
“Of course I know it does,” Wilma said. “I like to keep the gossips happy.”
Maxine shook her head, but she was grinning.
“Hey, don’t hate just because I keep the fire going,” Wilma added, then snapped her fingers.
There were more chuckles, and Melissa quickly scanned the groomsmen. Aaron wasn’t there.
Where was he?
And then she knew. The night had been young when the women had left the guys in their party bus, and who knew if they hadn’t actually met up with strippers after that. And if not strippers, Aaron had likely met someone when they were out. A woman who was only too willing and eager to spend the night with him. He was gorgeous, and women no doubt threw themselves at him even if they didn’t know of his celebrity status. Aaron was probably still exhausted and recovering from a night of pure carnal excitement.
No sooner had the thought entered her mind than the church doors at the back opened. Aaron breezed in, looking as though he had just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Dressed in a pale blue dress shirt that was open at the collar, Ray-Ban sunglasses and black pants, he looked drop-dead gorgeous.
He slid off the sunglasses and his grin illuminated the room. “Hey, sorry I’m late. Everyone been here long?”
“We just got here,” Wilma told him, and Melissa noticed how the other woman’s eyes lit up. Yeah, there was something about the Burke brothers that had women losing her minds. Even happily married women couldn’t keep their eyes off them.
“Good, then I’m just in time,” Aaron said.
He made his way down the aisle to the front of the church, and Melissa couldn’t help noticing that even his walk exuded a sensual confidence. He looked good, and he knew it.
“How’s your neighbor?” Ryan asked.
“She’s better now,” Aaron replied. “The doctors said that she has a mild concussion, but she’s lucky she didn’t fracture a hip.”
“What happened?” Tasha asked.
“Aaron’s neighbor, Mrs. Langley. You remember her. She taught fifth grade.”
“Yes, of course,” Tasha said.
“She fell this afternoon,” Ryan explained. “And it’s a good thing Aaron was there to help.”
“Oh, no,” Wilma said, her eyes narrowing with worry.
“Her house is across the street from mine, and I was walking to my car when I saw her heading down her front steps,” Aaron said. “She went straight down, hitting her head on the conc
rete. I raced straight over to her, and she was nonresponsive. But she came around after about a minute or so. I didn’t bother waiting on the ambulance. With the help of a couple of other neighbors, I got her into my car and took her to the hospital right away. That’s where I’m coming from now.”
“You’re a hero,” Bonnie said, smiling, and the rest of the wedding party shared their chorus of agreements. Some even slapped Aaron on the back, congratulating his efforts. Melissa stood rooted to the spot, a foul taste filling her mouth. It was the taste of shame. She had judged Aaron wrongly. She’d jumped to the conclusion that he had barely been able to tear himself away from some sexy vixen, while the truth was that he’d actually been helping out an elderly neighbor.
And Mrs. Langley, to boot. One of her favorite teachers in grade school.
“That is so sweet,” Maxine said, laying a hand over her heart.
Aaron moved forward, heading straight toward Melissa. She realized then that she was the only one in the room who hadn’t really acknowledged him. “Hi,” she said, hating how breathless she sounded.
“Hi.”
There seemed to be a glint in his eyes as he regarded her—or was she imagining things? “So, Mrs. Langley will be okay?”
“Yeah, thankfully. She’ll have to take it easy for a while, but she’s expected to fully recover.”
“It’s a good thing you were there, then,” Melissa said.
“Sure was.”
The rehearsal got underway. Even though they were just practicing for the big day, Tasha’s eyes filled with tears nonetheless. It was obvious to anyone looking at her and Ryan that they had a real and special love.
Melissa’s own eyes got misty as she watched Tasha walk down the aisle to join Ryan. She’d always hoped that by this age, she would have found her own special man. A man who would love her forever.
She glanced at Aaron. Saw him looking at her. He winked.
She quickly averted her gaze, but the heat that zapped her body lingered, leaving her feeling flushed.
Sex with Aaron when he was a young man had been amazing. What would it be like now that he was a full-fledged adult?
* * *
Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful. So that all the ladies could be together and get up early to get ready for the big day, Tasha had the bridal party staying at the town’s historic inn. The men were banned from going anywhere near its premises. Tasha didn’t want to run the risk of Ryan seeing her in her wedding dress before she walked down the aisle.
“Something’s wrong,” Tasha uttered, looking around the hotel suite with a panicked expression. She was dressed in her off-the-shoulder mermaid-style gown, which was simply stunning. The bodice was decorated with shimmery beads and pearls. So were portions of the bottom of the gown that flared just above her ankles. Her makeup was flawless, her hair elegantly put up in a chignon with soft tendrils framing the sides of her face.
“You’ve got everything,” Melissa told her. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. And you look...wow. I don’t think there’s ever been a more beautiful bride. And I’m not just saying that.”
Tasha worried her bottom lip. “No, something’s not right. I don’t know what it is. I just... I feel it.”
Bonnie went over to a drawer, opened it, withdrew a gift box, then approached Tasha. “It’s probably this,” she said.
She extended the small white box, delicately wrapped with a lavender bow, to Tasha. The box was attached to a small envelope.
A look of surprise on her face, Tasha accepted it. “What is this?”
“A gift from Ryan. I told him I would give it to you when the time was right, and assured him I would know when that time was.” Bonnie offered her a reassuring smile. “That time is now.”
Opening her eyes wide, Tasha began to fan her face. “You give this to me now, after my makeup’s done?”
“I’m still here to do any last-minute touches,” Lizzie, the makeup artist, chimed in.
“Open it,” Melissa urged, smiling. She’d been surprised earlier when a gift from Ryan hadn’t arrived. Not that one was necessary, but she had figured that Ryan was the type who would send one.
Tasha took a seat on the sofa, and the women gathered around. She pulled the envelope off the small box, then opened it and withdrew a white card accented in gold.
“‘For the love of my life,’” Tasha read, and her eyes filled with tears. “‘My grandfather gave this to my grandmother on their wedding day, and now I’m giving it to you. All my love, Ryan.’”
Tasha set aside the card and quickly opened the box. And when she did, she gasped. “Oh my God.”
“Let me see,” Maxine said and angled her body behind Tasha’s to get a better look.
In the box was a pair of teardrop earrings—one large diamond surrounded by tiny coral-colored diamonds.
“Oh my God,” Bonnie said. “Those are gorgeous!”
Tasha was crying now. “I love Ryan so much. And now my makeup is ruined.”
“Don’t worry,” Lizzie said. “I’ve got you.”
“Help me get these earrings off. I have to wear Ryan’s grandmother’s.”
Bonnie quickly got to work, removing the earrings Tasha was currently wearing and replacing them with the ones from Ryan.
Tasha got up and walked to the mirror. When she saw her reflection, she beamed. “There. Now everything is just right.” She glanced around at her bridal party before looking into the mirror once more. “This day is going to be perfect.”
* * *
And it was. From the heartfelt personal vows Ryan and Tasha had written for each other, to the fact that there was hardly a dry eye in the church, the ceremony was deeply moving. Melissa had to hold back tears on several occasions.
More times than not, when Melissa looked in Aaron’s direction, he was looking back at her. And even when he wasn’t, she found herself checking him out. That long, lean body with its perfectly honed muscles. That chiseled jaw, those full lips. His smoky eyes that so easily lit her skin on fire.
He looked good. More than good. He was as hot as they came. Especially in that suit that fit his lean, athletic frame so well. Had any man looked sexier?
All the men were dressed in gray suits with lavender vests, ties and a flower to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. The color combination was sharp and unique.
Ryan’s suit also had tails, distinguishing him as the groom. He definitely looked handsome—but he had nothing on his taller, more athletic cousin.
Unlike the last two nights, Melissa wasn’t freaking out every time her eyes connected with Aaron’s today. The undeniable sizzle between them didn’t send her into panic mode. She was past denying that she was attracted to him. The way her skin flushed when he locked his gaze with hers made their attraction incontestable.
In fact, somewhere along the line, she’d started liking the attention from him. Every time Aaron leveled his heated gaze on her, she felt a little thrill. She felt alive in a way she hadn’t in ages.
Aaron was making her feel like a sexy, desirable woman. It was a nice feeling, and for now she was going with it.
“Are you still trying to pretend that you and Aaron aren’t attracted to each other?” Wilma asked her when the bridal party followed the photographer onto the bridge overlooking a brook.
Melissa cast a sidelong glance at Wilma. Then she said in a hushed voice, “I never said I wasn’t attracted to him.”
Wilma’s eyes grew wide. “Ooh! Okay, then.”
Melissa chuckled. And wondered why she had just been so vocal about her attraction. Especially after spending the past two days denying it.
Maybe because she’d learned that Aaron was no longer married. Not that that changed how she felt about him in a romantic way, but something about his heated gazes and his seriously attractive physique w
as making her think about sex.
A lot.
Even at the garden when they were taking pictures, just a gentle touch from him on her arm or on the small of her back had her almost losing her mind. Her body was so ripe to be touched.
By Aaron.
Not until this weekend had she realized just how starved for affection her body was.
“Girl, he’s single, you’re single,” Wilma said. “The two of you keep staring at each other like there’s no one else in the world. I say go for it. I know I would.”
Melissa glanced in Aaron’s direction. As if sensing her gaze, he turned and looked at her. Then he smiled.
Such a simple smile, but it was breathtaking. The edges of his lips curled only slightly, but that was enough to light up his face. Lord, he was sexy.
And in that suit...he truly looked like he could be a model for a top Italian designer.
“Ladies on this side, men on this side,” the photographer announced, helping arrange them alongside the bride and groom.
“This has to be the last picture,” Betsy said. She was the wedding planner, and for the last half an hour she had been losing her mind. “We’re already running twenty minutes behind, and we have to head to the reception hall. People are waiting. Let’s get the show on the road.”
The photographer ignored her and snapped off a few shots. “Groomsmen, stand behind your partners.” When Betsy made a sound of derision, the photographer shot her an apologetic glance. “This is the last one, I swear.”
The men and women rearranged themselves. Even before Aaron gently pressed his body behind hers, Melissa felt the heat. And when he placed his hands on her waist, her eyelids fluttered.
She swallowed, trying to center herself.
Every innocuous touch turned the heat up another notch—and they still had the reception to get through. How was Melissa going to handle another four or five hours being this close to Aaron?
The two of you keep staring at each other like there’s no one else in the world. I say go for it. I know I would.