“I’ll pay you double.”
“Excuse me?” Erin’s eyes flashed, lighting through a summer sky.
“Whatever it is, I’ll double it, if you’ll help me.”
“I’m going to overlook that insult to my integrity.” Erin tugged her slim hand out of his and he immediately missed the warmth. Her plush lips flattened into a straight line and spots of rosy color appeared in her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Erin. I didn’t mean to insult you,” Matthew said, as sincerely as he could. He wanted her to help him. Instinct told him they’d be an unbeatable team. “I wanted you to help me instead.”
“I accept your apology,” Erin said, coolly, and he picked up her hand again. “But I can’t let you stop this wedding.”
“I’m going to stop it.”
“You know, people don’t usually respond too well to interference like that.”
“Alex can thank me later when he realizes the pain I’ve saved him. Not to mention the money. Divorce is expensive.”
“Thank you? You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t deck you.”
“Better I take a punch than he ends up like me.”
“Matthew, listen to me.” Erin turned to him, her blue eyes intense. “You absolutely should talk to your brother and voice your objections. Once. Maybe twice, if you can come up with a better argument than I know best…”
“I do know best. Alex is young. He’s barely out of college and…”
“And nothing. Don’t you see how this could be insulting to him? You’re essentially questioning his judgment…”
“I’d rather insult him than…”
“Okay, look, let’s say you’re completely right, for the sake of argument. He’s marrying the wrong girl—the absolute worst girl in the world for him—and it will all end in tears and a bitter, expensive divorce.” Erin blew out a breath. “But…if you interfere now, he might block you out later, down the road when he really needs you.”
“He needs me now,” Matthew insisted.
“I’m sure you’re well motivated, well-meaning, but…” Erin shook her head, raking her free hand through her hair. “Your mother didn’t mention any of this on the phone…”
“What did mama say when she hired you?”
“Just that your brother was marrying a lovely girl, though things were a bit rushed. I think her family had to travel some considerable distance and so all the wedding events are this week—”
“She’s from England,” Matthew put in.
“Anyway, your mama said they were moving to the same town as her parents—”
“What? My little brother’s moving to England?” Matthew gaped at her. How had he not known that?
“You didn’t know? He got a job offer there he’s starting in the new year…” Erin trailed off, biting her lower lip, watching his face. “She did mention there was some family strife but there usually is when we’re called in so I didn’t think much of it.”
Matthew shook his head. His little brother? Moving away? “I can’t believe Alex is moving to England and didn’t tell me…”
“I probably shouldn’t have said anything. Please don’t mention it.”
“I won’t.” Matthew had to put a stop to that, too.
“When was the last time you spoke to your brother?”
“I skipped Christmas the last few years so…”
“Not since then?”
“Uh…before then, actually.” Before they split up, Anna always wanted to go somewhere exotic for the holidays. After she went home, he basically ceded Savannah to her as he bounced around the country, taking on challenging projects with impossible deadlines and burying his feelings in work. “Mama visited me in Chicago for the St. Patrick’s Day parade but other than her, I haven’t seen any of my family since the divorce. How often do you talk to Dylan?”
“Every day.”
“I didn’t want to come home, have to cope with Anna…” Matthew admitted, still pondering ways to talk his little brother out of such life-altering decisions. His mental image of Alex involved kicking around a soccer ball in the backyard with a gap-toothed kid. He couldn’t possibly be all grown up and getting married.
They disembarked. He tugged down Erin’s suitcase and pulled it behind him into the tiny Savannah airport. Erin followed behind in his wake until he slowed his pace to accommodate her shorter legs. They strode through the airport as Erin looked around with interest at the faux Savannah square at the center before they exited to the sunny, humid heat of home.
Erin put out her hand to shake his. “I’ll see you at the wedding?”
“You want to share a cab into the city?” Matthew offered and smiled when she nodded. He didn’t want to look too closely at his motivations for keeping Erin close. At least he had one friend, one ally, since he was a stranger in his own hometown.
Chapter Seven
“Mama says the engagement party tonight is at O’Connor’s Tap Room. That’s down on River Street. Starts at six,” Matthew read from his phone, after they settled into the backseat of a cab together. “What’s an engagement party anyway?”
“Just a party to celebrate your engagement. And it helps the two families start to get to know each other and the couple’s friends too. Didn’t you have one with Anna?” Erin asked, curious despite herself about Matthew’s ex-wife and failed marriage. None of her business, after all.
And it was business now. Despite her closeness with Matthew, after spending over a full day in his company and waking in his strong arms this morning, as part of the wedding, he was off limits to her. After work comes first, never mix work and pleasure came in as her second most important life rule. Maybe that was why she had so little pleasure in her life…. Well, she’d worry about that later, after she got her baby brother successfully through college.
“Not that I recall. We got engaged my senior year of college. A party for us back then involved drunk frat boys and kegs of beer.” He frowned out the window and then continued, “She had a shower, but I didn’t have to go to that. Thank goodness. We got three blenders. Don’t know why.”
“Men. Useless at weddings,” Erin laughed, shaking her head. “What’d you get them for an engagement gift?”
“Engagement gift?” Matthew crumpled up his forehead. “Is that a thing?”
“Yes. You want a tip?”
“From Behind the Veil?” Her eyes widened as he smirked at her.
“You read my blog? When?”
“Looked you up on the web last night. After all, you could’ve been a serial killer.”
Erin flushed with the realization that, while she’d been working, he’d been researching her.
“It’s like you, funny and interesting.”
“Charmer. Just for that, I’ll let you in on my perfect, all-purpose engagement gift. Professional secret, though, so I’ll have to ask you to keep it to yourself.”
“I won’t tell a soul,” he whispered, leaning closer to her. Despite herself, she leaned toward him, drawn to him.
“It’s the—oh, wait.” Erin leaned back. “I can’t tell you. I already got it for them.”
“Thanks for the help,” Matthew sighed. “Why are they having an engagement party tonight? Mama said they got engaged at a Halloween party.”
“Your mother indicated they planned the party for tonight to welcome the bride’s family to town. I believe they arrived earlier today. Or at least, they were supposed to.”
“And what other torture—I mean, events—are planned for this week of fun wedding festivities?”
“I’m sure your mother will fill you in on all the plans, Mr. Westbrook.”
“Now I’m Mr. Westbrook?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“You’re the son of my client.”
“So?” Matthew sat back in the seat, crossing his arms over his chest, his lips pressed together, white lines around his mouth. “I thought we were friends.”
“Matthew, when your mother called the other day, to offer me this job…it w
as the answer to my prayers. Dylan’s tuition is due in a few weeks. I sold my car to pay the last time. I need this job.”
“I thought your business was booming?”
“Lauren and I work all the hours God sends, double bookings, all of it, but college tuition isn’t cheap. This is his last semester and maybe once he’s done, I can finally slow down but for right now…” Erin looked at him, swallowing hard, “I have to do my job.”
“Supporting my brother’s wedding,” he said flatly.
She nodded. Maybe, after the wedding was over, safely pulled off and his mama’s check fattening her bank account, then she could see where a friendship with Matthew would lead.
Who was she kidding? It would likely lead straight to the nearest horizontal surface. Even now, with him pressed against the far door in the cab, with nearly two feet of space between them, she wanted to feel him against her, feel his silky hair under her hands, taste his plush mouth. She still felt the imprint of his big, warm hand around hers and flexed her fingers, fisting her hands in her lap. She didn’t have time for romance in her life. Hadn’t she learned the hard way once already? And he didn’t believe in it. So where did that leave them?
Nowhere. That’s where.
They passed the rest of the cab ride in silence, pulling to a smooth stop on historic Jones Street. Erin stepped out of the cab, onto a brick paved street, under massive oak and magnolia trees creating a verdant tunnel down the street. She turned to find an elegant three story canary yellow townhouse, covered in vines. Festive greenery lined the stone steps up to the front door of Watson’s Bed and Breakfast. Wreaths hung in the front windows while a massive Christmas tree twinkled from the corner window. She peeked through an elegant wrought iron filigree gate to see a charming secret garden, complete with a splashing fountain.
She couldn’t wait to explore the city but that would have to wait until tomorrow. It was already late afternoon. She needed to get freshened up and changed for the engagement party.
“I guess I’ll see you at the party, Mr. Westbrook,” she said as she turned back to Matthew. Behind him, the cabbie carefully placed their luggage on the curb. She stepped around Matthew to pay him.
“You and your husband have a nice trip to Savannah.”
“We’re not… He isn’t… Never mind…” Erin flushed before handing him a generous tip and grabbing her suitcase, clattering across the cobblestones. At the base of the stairs, Matthew hefted her bag and gestured for her to precede him. He followed her up the stairs. She caught sight of her mussed hair and her flushed face in the shiny silver balls on the festive holiday wreath on the front door. She smoothed her palm over her hair and turned to thank him for seeing her to the hotel. Before she could press the buzzer, a little round dumpling of a woman, her cheeks flushed apple red and wearing a pinstriped baker’s apron, opened the door.
“Hello, I’m—” But Erin didn’t get the chance to introduce herself. The woman pushed past her to step onto the stoop to fling her arms around Matthew. He hugged her back, a broad smile creasing his handsome face.
“Welcome home, boy! It’s good to see you. It’s been too long.” She pulled away to pat his cheek as he beamed down at her. “Look at you. All grown up. So handsome.”
She turned back to Erin who stared open-mouthed at Matthew and the woman, who reminded her of Mrs. Claus.
“Erin, this is my Aunt Millie. Well, not really my aunt. One of mama’s oldest friends. And the owner and proprietor of Watson’s—the prettiest bed and breakfast on Jones Street.”
Millie gestured them inside to a spacious foyer, filled with the scent of fresh pine and lemon furniture polish. Cedar boughs, decorated with ribbons and shiny silver ball ornaments festooned a gleaming hardwood staircase.
“And who is this pretty little thing?” Millie winked at Matthew. “Well, I shouldn’t say it. But that’ll frost Anna’s eyelashes, you showing up with a girl prettier than her.”
Two people in less than ten minutes assumed she and Matthew were a couple. Erin needed to take ahold of this situation quickly before it got even more out of control. She stuck out her hand to Millie. “I’m Erin Delaney. I believe Ms. Rivera booked a room for me here?”
“Oh, yes, the professional bridesmaid! I’d never heard of such a thing until Shelby told me about it. I asked her if she got you off Amazon? They just have anything up north these days, don’t they?”
As Millie laughed, Matthew looked at Erin, his eyes wide. She shook her head and smiled. People usually didn’t understand the concept of a professional bridesmaid. She was used to it and knew Millie meant no harm.
“Auntie Millie, do you have any of those chocolate blossoms?” Matthew asked. Erin blinked at how thick his accent suddenly became and then flushed. Damnit, Matthew didn’t need to be any sexier than he already was.
“Made them this morning. Got your room all ready for you.”
“You’re staying here?” Erin squeaked. How was she supposed to stay professional and keep Matthew at a distance when they were going to spend the week in the same adorably charming, perfectly romantic B&B? They stepped into a lovely, spacious parlor, where the Christmas tree’s white lights glowed against the forest green wallpaper. The parlor opened onto a formal dining room with a gleaming mahogany table. Empty glass-covered pastry dishes and hammered silver trays littered the surface, reflecting the lighted garland on the mantel and ornate carved wooden sideboard.
“Breakfast starts at seven. I usually do nibbles at cocktail hour but, it’s just you two with the party tonight and all… But, after being stuck in the airport all night you must be starving. Let me get you a chocolate blossom too.”
In a few moments, Millie settled them at the dining table and presented them with freshly brewed coffee and a plate of muffins, studded with coarse sugar sprinkles that sparkled in the low light. Erin broke off a piece and nibbled at it. Rich chocolate and fluffy pastry burst over her tongue, delicious enough to nearly make her eyes roll back in her head.
“Wow. These are amazing,” Erin said. Millie patted her arm and slid another onto her plate, covering the yellow rose border. Matthew handed her a cup of coffee, perfectly made to her liking. She could get used to being cared for like this. Millie glanced between them and smiled. Erin ignored her wide smile and indulged in another bite of muffin.
“Matty,” Millie said, and Erin smiled at the red creeping up Matthew’s neck at the nickname, “I put you in your usual room. Miss Delaney is in the Peach Blossom suite.”
“How come she gets the room with the screened-in porch?”
“Because she is an invited guest and I’ve known you since before your voice changed.” Matthew turned even redder while Erin laughed. “Now, go on and take Miss Erin’s suitcase to her room. I’m sure she wants to freshen up for the party.”
“Can I have another chocolate blossom first?” Matthew smiled, showing off his adorable dimples.
“We’ll see.” Millie waved him off and took his chair. Matthew pretended to huff and sigh like a surly teenager but he hefted Erin’s bag and headed up the staircase, pausing to wink at her on the way. Her heart fluttered as heat rose in her face. “So, how do you know Matty?”
“Matthew!” He yelled from upstairs, as her suitcase hit the floor with a thud. “And no gossiping.”
Erin laughed as Millie rolled her eyes. “No gossiping? Boy’s been up north too long if he thinks anyone in Savannah wouldn’t gossip. We gossip as easy as breathing down here. You were saying, my dear?”
“We met at the airport,” Erin answered, truthfully.
“Which airport would that be?”
Matthew saved her from answering by coming back into the room, running his fingers through his thick hair, tousling it adorably. “Aunt Millie, could I have my chocolate blossom now, please?”
Erin excused herself to get ready for the party but not before she watched Millie give Matthew not one but two additional pastries. No wonder the man was an incorrigible flirt. Oh well, she’d have
to resist his seductive spell.
The trouble was, how?
Chapter Eight
At the top of the staircase, Erin opened a glossy wooden door to enter a spacious, airy bedroom, with high ceilings ringed with ornate crown molding. Shades of sunshine yellow with touches of navy made the room homey and welcoming. A massive four-poster bed covered with a white bedspread sat on the gleaming hardwood floor.
On the far side of the room, French doors exited to a private screened-in porch, overlooking the courtyard below. Outside, a yellow porch swing dangled from the ceiling and carved dolphins splashed into the tiled fountain below.
She showered and changed, donning a simple navy dress with understated silver accessories. She placed her hair in a simple updo and grabbed her matching heels before heading downstairs to meet up with Millie and Matthew. He sat on the loveseat, flipping through a glossy magazine. He tossed it on the table and looked up to greet her with a smile. For an instant, Erin pretended he was waiting for her as her date, and fought the thrill that coursed through her at the thought.
He wasn’t her date. This is just business.
“You look lovely,” Matthew said and, despite her admonition to herself, Erin flushed. He wore the same silver and gray suit from earlier, but now wore a crisp white shirt with a black tie. He’d also taken the time to shower, because his slicked back hair glistened with droplets that shimmered in the light of the Christmas tree. His strong, square jaw was devoid of stubble, making her want to press her lips there, just for a quick taste of him.
“You too,” Erin said, the heat in her cheeks increasing. Thankfully, Millie bustled into the room and shooed them down the front staircase to her tiny, yellow compact car, waiting in a small private parking lot carved out of the alley behind the B&B.
“Are we all going to fit in that?” Matthew said. “It’s an overgrown roller skate.”
Forever a Bridesmaid (Always a Bridesmaid Book 1) Page 4