The First Kiss of Spring

by Emily March

  Chapter Two

  She invited him to the wedding.

  Caitlin couldn’t believe she’d actually invited him to the wedding, but it had seemed like the right thing to do. He’d also been a gentleman at the end of the evening. He’d walked her to hotel room door and kissed her good night. His intense eyes had held her spellbound as he waited silently during the pregnant moment afterward to see if she’d invite him in.

  She’d been tempted. Seriously tempted. But Caitlin had never slept with a guy on a first date, never been somebody’s one-night stand, and she didn’t intend to break that streak now.

  When she told him good night, he smiled and kissed her lightly and turned to leave.

  He’d been halfway to the elevator when she stepped out into the corridor. “Josh, wait. Would you be my plus one for the wedding tomorrow?”

  He’d hesitated only a moment. “I can do that. I’d like that, Caitlin. Where and when?”

  As she resisted the urge to dance a happy jig, she’d considered the question. “The wedding is at five, here at the hotel. I’m tied up with bridesmaid duties all day tomorrow, but maybe you could meet me just before it starts?” She gave him the details of exactly where on the hotel grounds the ceremony would take place and added, “If you’ll be there at … say … four thirty … I’ll come out and say hello before the ceremony begins.”

  “Sounds like a plan. See you tomorrow at four thirty.” He’d taken three more steps toward the elevator, pushed the down button, then pivoted.

  Caitlin’s eyes had widened as he strode back toward her, his gaze locked on hers. Upon reaching her, he’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and thoroughly.

  She’d melted into a boneless puddle. When the elevator dinged and he’d finally released her, remaining on her feet had been touch-and-go for a minute. He hadn’t spoken again, but his steamy gaze held hers until the elevator doors closed between them.

  She’d slumped against the wall for support and once she’d caught her breath, floated back to her room.

  That night, she’d dreamt that a hundred and one Dalmatians attended Stephanie’s wedding—only the dogs were miniature dachshunds and they all were in wheelchairs.

  Saturday morning at nine, Caitlin exhaled a relieved breath when she arrived at the resort’s cafe for the bridesmaid’s brunch and spied the bride. “You made it,” she said to Stephanie as she gave her old friend a hug.

  “Finally. It was after midnight before we made it to the resort. Can you believe we got a flat tire driving down into town?”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No! We’re on the side of a mountain in a rental car stuffed to the gills with packages and bags and the wheel starts going whop whop whop. Even my mother muttered a curse word.”

  “She never curses.”

  “She did last night. She had visions of a bear lumbering out of the forest and running off with my veil.”

  Caitlin laughed. “I take it you avoided the wildlife?”

  Stephanie nodded. “We did. Even my grumpy-Gus groom after midnight, though that took some doing.”

  Caitlin took her seat as Stephanie moved to greet more guests. The next time she had the opportunity to speak privately with the bride was later that morning during the spa appointment portion of the day when they sat side by side in pedicure chairs. Stephanie slipped her feet into bubbling, lavender-scented water, sipped from a champagne glass, and confessed, “I’m nervous. I didn’t think I’d be nervous, but I am. Not about marrying George. I’m totally sure of him. It’s the ceremony. What if it rains? What if I forget my vows? What if a bear really does gallop in and run off with my veil?”

  Caitlin ran her tongue around the inside of her mouth. “I don’t think bears gallop.”

  “If they’re riding horses they do.” Stephanie wrinkled her nose. “Distract me, Caitlin. Tell me something to take my mind off galloping bears.”

  Caitlin sipped her champagne, then nodded. “Okay, I took your suggestion and I invited a tall dark handsome stranger to your wedding.”

  “What?” Stephanie’s hand jerked, sloshing her champagne.

  Caitlin’s lips fluttered with a smile. “Actually, I don’t know that it’s totally accurate to call him dark since his hair has these lovely sun-streaks. But he’s very tan and his eyes are storm cloud gray. The tall and handsome labels fit him to a tee.”

  “You met a guy? Here? Last night?”

  “Yesterday afternoon. We got stuck together in a gondola.”

  “Just the two of you?”

  “Three of us. He had a dog with him.” Caitlin paused theatrically before delivering the denouement. “His dog is in a wheelchair.”

  Stephanie patted her chest and said, “Awwww…”

  While they finished their pedicures, Caitlin successfully distracted the bride by sharing details of her meeting with Josh Tarkington. Stephanie wasn’t the least bit disappointed that Caitlin had found a way to avoid the set-up with Stephanie’s friend from work; she simply wanted her dear friend to be as happy as she was.

  Caitlin enjoyed the day, but she found herself watching the clock, anxious for four thirty to roll around. She loved the dress she’d be wearing tonight. Stephanie had asked her attendants to wear dusky blue in whatever style suited them. Caitlin’s dress was a fitted, sleeveless, shimmering silk Dupioni with a sweetheart neckline. She planned to wear her grandmother’s pearls and three-inch nude-colored heels.

  At four fifteen in the bridal party’s dressing room, she finally put on her dress. She touched up her lipstick, checked her hair, and climbed into her heels. “I’ll be right back,” she said to the bride. “I told Josh I’d meet him when he arrived.”

  “Okay.” Stephanie’s teeth chewed at her lower lip. She was getting nervous. “You won’t be long, will you? We will be lining up soon.”

  “Five minutes. No more.”

  Steph’s gaze flew to the clock on the wall. “Ten is okay. Maybe you could peek into the garden and see if anyone has come? I dreamt last night that nobody showed up.”

  “Now you’re worrying about stupid things. Can I get you anything before I go? How about a bottle of water?”

  “That would be great. Thank you.”

  After tending to the bride, Caitlin slipped outside of the dressing room and made her way to the garden. Stephanie couldn’t have asked for better weather for an outdoor wedding. A day filled with sunshine had warmed the summer breeze carrying the perfume of roses from the garden, and the wispy clouds dotting the western sky promised a spectacular sunset without a threat of rain. Caitlin followed the sound of music played by a stringed trio toward the spot where the ceremony would take place.

  She stopped for just a moment to greet another friend from college, and after promising to spend some time catching up at the reception, she continued on her way.

  She spied Josh leaning casually against a wooden support post. He wore a dark gray suit that matched his steel-colored eyes. Seeing her, he straightened away from the wall. “Wow. You look fabulous. Aren’t you worried about outshining the bride?”

  Both pleased and embarrassed, Caitlin sensed the sting of a blush in her cheeks. “Stephanie is positively gorgeous and beyond happy. I doubt the sun could outshine her today.”

  “She’s not nervous?”

  “A little. She’ll be fine once she starts down the aisle. When she had to give presentations in college, she’d be a wreck until the moment she stood up in front of the room. She’s the type who feeds on the energy of crowds. I always thought she should go into acting.”

  Josh grimaced. “Don’t wish that on a friend.”

  “You have something against actors?”

  For a second, he went still, then he lifted his shoulders. “Not against actors. Acting is a craft—I respect that. It’s celebrities that turn me off. Just because someone can act or play sports or sing doesn’t mean they are any more knowledgeable or important than the guy who works in an insurance agency and brings me his car
to fix. My heroes are those who put their lives on the line for their fellow man. Those who dedicate their lives to the service of others. Those who—”

  He broke off abruptly, winced, and apologized. “Sorry, that pushed a button. I’m opinionated on the subject.”

  “I noticed,” Caitlin replied. “I’m also right there with you. Though I will admit if I had the opportunity to meet the Queen of England and browse through her jewelry box, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at the chance.”

  “Like jewelry, do you?”

  “Love it. Not that I own any super-expensive pieces, mind you—except for the pearls I inherited from my grandmother—but I’m a sucker for jewel exhibits at museums. The more sparkle, the better.… Which reminds me of the tiara Stephanie is wearing today and the fact I’d better get back to the bridal party. We’ll be taking a few pictures immediately after the ceremony. If you’d like to wait for me that’s fine or I can meet you at the reception.”

  “I’ll wait here.”

  “Great.” She beamed a smile at him. “See you shortly.”

  Caitlin floated back to the bride’s dressing room where she discovered that her visit with Josh had been spied upon by three of the other bridesmaids.

  “He’s so hot!” said the bride’s sister.

  “Those eyes!” said the bride’s cousin.

  Caitlin and Stephanie’s suite-mate in college waved her hand in front of her face. “That’s it. The minute the reception is over, I’m going to start riding the gondola.”

  The teasing continued until the wedding planner announced, “Okay, ladies. It’s time.”

  Caitlin marched up the aisle to Vivaldi’s “Spring” and took her place in line in front of the rose-covered arbor. Her gaze immediately sought Josh and she found him easily because he stood a head taller than most of the other guests. His gray eyes stared intently into her own, capturing her attention so completely that she almost missed the moment Stephanie stepped into view.

  As usual, Caitlin got a little teary-eyed during the ceremony. Stephanie looked like a princess, and the love in George’s eyes when he spoke his vows to his bride made Caitlin’s heart fill with yearning. She wanted this—the white dress, the adoring groom, the happy-ever-after. The whole fairy tale. Her brothers had found love. She wanted to believe that someday she’d find it too.

  Her gaze stole toward the next-to-last row where her date sat. This time Josh wasn’t watching her, but rather the bride’s four-year-old niece and flower girl. The grin on his face as he watched the little girl twirl her dusky blue hair ribbon around her finger made Caitlin’s heart melt. A drop-dead gorgeous single man who obviously likes children?

  He must be hiding some fatal flaw. Nobody can be this perfect.

  Caitlin dragged her gaze back to the bride and groom as Stephanie began to repeat her vows. Her voice shook with nervousness at first, but she settled down at George’s encouraging smile and finished strong. They exchanged rings, and soon the recessional music swelled and Caitlin was gliding back up the aisle.

  Josh gave her a wink and blew her a kiss as she passed. As a result, her smiles during the picture-taking that followed held extra sparkle. Caitlin happily introduced Josh to her friends. He was outgoing and friendly, a fabulous dancer, and he displayed an amazing memory for names. Over dinner he told stories about Penny chasing birds that had the whole table laughing.

  “I’m jealous,” she observed when he performed introductions between a group of eight, all of whom he’d met within the past half hour. “I’m terrible when it comes to remembering names.”

  “Memorization has always come easily to me. I do have two tips that can help when it comes to names. First is to meet and repeat. Speak the person’s name during the introduction. The second trick is to associate the name with someone or something else. For instance, one of the first people I met here tonight was Barrett Holden. I’m in bear country. He has a habit of pulling his beard. Holding it.”

  “Bear holding. Barrett Holden. I get it.” Grinning, she tilting her head and studied him. “So what did you associate with my name in order to remember it?”

  He hesitated before speaking in a casual manner. “Wood. Water.”

  “As in wood for timber and water for lake?”

  “Sure.”

  He said it so quickly that Caitlin narrowed her eyes, suspecting there was something more to this. But before she could challenge him on it, the band played the first notes of “Unchained Melody” and Josh invited her back onto the dance floor.

  He held her close and moved like a dream. Being vertically challenged—to use her brothers’ teasing term for short—Caitlin usually felt awkward when dancing with someone as tall as Josh. But he made her feel like she belonged in his arms. “You’re an excellent dancer, Josh.”

  “My mother taught me. She considered dancing to be an essential skill. You’re good too.”

  “Six years of ballet. Three of modern dance. Then four dedicated years of dance hall Saturday nights. I went to college at Vanderbilt.”

  “Nashville.” Josh nodded, then heedless of the rhythm of the music, twirled her into a two-step. She followed him with only a slight misstep, laughing.

  His dark eyes twinkled wickedly as he asked, “So tell me, Caitlin, do you swing?”

  Startled, she tripped over his foot and lost her balance. His hands swooped in to catch her, clamping around her hips and preventing a fall. For a long moment and with apparent ease, he held her suspended, her feet dangling above the dance floor. He continued to move gracefully to the music and amusement lightened his tone as he clarified, “Dance. Swing dance. Western swing dance.”

  “I knew that,” Caitlin said with her chin lifted and a defensive note in her tone. If her mind had gone to sexual swinging first, well, who could blame her? Not that she was into that sort of thing, but still. The longer she remained in his arms, the less she thought about dancing and the more she thought about sex. Her voice squeaked a little as she said, “You can set me down.”

  “I will. Eventually. I like holding you, Caitlin. Put your arms around my neck.”

  She did as he asked and he supported her weight until “Unchained Melody” segued into “Summer Wind.” The faint scent of his aftershave wafted over her—woodsy and exotic—and made her want to burrow her nose against his neck. Made her want, period. Josh’s gaze locked on her mouth, and a shiver of excitement skidded up her spine. Would he kiss her again right here on the dance floor?

  Instinctively, she licked her lips. He leaned in and traced the path her tongue had taken with his, then murmured, “Mmm…”

  Caitlin spent the rest of the song lost in a sensual fog that ended only when the last noted faded and the band’s lead singer announced the time had come for the bride to throw her bouquet. Caitlin didn’t try to hold back her groan.

  She despised this particular wedding ritual and she usually made excuses to avoid it. Not because she never caught the bouquet, but because she almost always did. She had to be up over a dozen by now, and she’d never once come close to a marriage proposal. Shoot, Melanie Harris had thrown the first bouquet Caitlin had caught and Melanie now had three children! And yet, as the single ladies congregated around the bride, Caitlin joined them. She was a bridesmaid, after all. It wouldn’t be right to duck it. Besides, tonight she was feeling lucky.

  * * *

  Josh first sensed danger when Caitlin turned those sparkling green eyes toward him and spoke about jewels. The picture flashed into his mind of her lying naked against red satin sheets with the Sokolov emeralds nestled between her breasts. He had yet to banish it completely.

  His sense of peril escalated when he danced with her. Graceful as a ballerina, poised as a princess, she fit into his arms as if she’d been born to be there.

  He didn’t want to let her go.

  Danger. Danger. Danger.

  Josh should have started running away the minute the gondola rescuers lowered him to the ground. In hindsight, he’d been primed to do
something foolish. He’d lived at Stardance Ranch RV Resort until he’d moved into his new place a month ago, so he’d had a front-row seat as lovebirds Brick Callahan and Liliana Howe planned their wedding and future together. Their happiness had made him yearn a little for things he’d never have. Made him restless. Borderline reckless.

  She caught the damn bouquet.

  Thank God she lives in New York.

  He would remember Caitlin Timberlake for a very long time. Timber. Wood. As in, he got wood the moment saw her. Lake. Water. And he absolutely would love to get her naked in water. The hot springs up at Brick’s isolated river camp came to mind.

  They could get there in two hours going up the back way. One, if he unhooked the trailer.

  He could get her up to his room in three minutes flat.

  Danger. Danger. Danger.

  He should leave the wedding right now, go up to the room he’d rented for the night and throw his stuff back into his duffle, pick up Penny from the boarders, and high-tail it out of town. Before …

  Caitlin returned holding a bouquet of coral-colored roses and wearing an impish grin. “Look what I have.”

  Too late. Josh held up his hands palms out. “Whoa there, missy.”

  She giggled. “Don’t worry. I’ve caught plenty of bouquets in my day, but I’ve yet to land a husband. I think you’re probably safe.”

  “Probably?”

  She shrugged, her eyes sparkling like champagne. “Like they say, there’s a first time for everything.”

  “Not for me, there’s not,” he warned, making sure to meet her gaze. “Not when it comes to bridal bouquets.”

  A teasing note lingered in her voice when she said, “You sound serious.”

  “I am very serious.”

  “I sense a story there. I guess it’s your good luck that I don’t have a reason to move to Oklahoma.” She slipped her arm through his and said, “These heels are starting to talk to me. Shall we sit down for a bit?”

  Relieved by the change in subject, he escorted her back to their table. “Would you like another glass of wine?”

  “Yes, I do think I would. Thank you.”