Tempting the Best Man

by Tanya Michaels

  I love you. She bit down on her lip until she tasted the faint metallic tang of blood. There’d be no taking those words back, no sense in putting them out there. This was a rebound affair, she told herself as he shuddered to completion in her arms. An intense, currently sticky affair, but not a future that made sense.

  He pulled back with a smile of immense satisfaction. “Do we get to relax in the tub now? I’d say we earned it with all that exertion.”

  She nodded, but even as she returned his smile, she was silently lecturing herself. She advised many a client to be realistic about their budgets for big events. “I will give you the event of your dreams,” she’d once promised a woman, “but you need to shape those dreams intelligently.” And so did Mia, if she didn’t want to get her heart broken.

  11

  THE PRESIDENT OF the university lived in a two-story house on the south side of campus with a front porch swing, high-ceilinged spacious rooms perfect for job-related entertaining and a balcony overlooking a charming courtyard. Currently, Mia was considering throwing herself off the balcony.

  If I land in the koi pond, I might be able to walk away unscathed. It seemed preferable to another five minutes of this party where everyone was intent on sucking up to the three regents in attendance. Daniel’s brand of sucking up wasn’t quite as cringe worthy as some of his colleagues’, but she still wanted to pull him aside and warn him that he was trying too hard. He’d left moments ago to get a fresh drink for Dr. Hal Goff, leaving Mia alone with the mustached man in the plaid suit. Dr. Goff had barely spared her two words since Daniel introduced her as his date, but he’d leered at her throughout the conversation, making her wish she’d worn a turtleneck, cargo pants and boots rather than the beaded navy cocktail dress.

  Now Dr. Goff leaned against the balcony railing, assessing her. “So, you’re a small-business owner?” At her nod, he grinned, the bushy mustache twitching. “Are you by any chance a decorator? Because you would certainly brighten up any room you’re in.”

  For Daniel’s sake, rather than roll her eyes, she managed a small, artificial smile and tried not to psychically will Dr. Goff to tumble into the waiting pond below. “I’m an event planner.” Who should be working right now.

  She’d fought the urge at least ten times to text Shannon for updates on how the party was going. Shannon knows what she’s doing. She can handle the job. It wasn’t lack of faith in her employee that had Mia antsy; it was the unprecedented oddity of putting a man before her company. She’d never done that before. Daniel had been introducing her all night as simply “my date.” But her willingness to suffer through this tonight proved that, for her, he was far more than someone she was casually dating.

  What was she to him? After the reception tonight, they needed to talk.

  Daniel returned with their refills, and she gratefully took her Sauvignon Blanc; if she ever had to come to another one of these, she was bringing a flask of hard liquor.

  Goff sipped his beer, telling Daniel, “I’ve always thought highly of you—”

  Difficult to believe since he’d greeted Daniel as “David” and had to be reminded twice what he taught.

  “—but you must be even smarter than I realized to win over such a sexy creature.”

  “She is too good for me,” Daniel agreed, meeting her eyes and promising without words that he would make this up to her.

  If it was just people being pompous and obsequious, she could handle it, but Goff was being downright gross, his gaze locked on her breasts while Daniel tried to talk to him about some accreditation policy. Mia’s temper rose. She wanted to snap, “My eyes are up here, jackass.” But that seemed potentially damaging to Daniel’s career.

  Did her date even realize she was being mentally undressed? Or was he too focused on trying to make a good impression? Deciding that she couldn’t count on him for tactful rescue, she decided to save herself.

  Tapping Daniel on the shoulder—perhaps harder than strictly necessary—she interrupted him midsentence. “If you men will excuse me, I see Eli Wallace and I’d love to go say hi. Daniel, catch up with me later?”

  Goff gave her another one of those oily smiles. “We hate for you to go, but we sure don’t mind watching you walk away.”

  At that, Daniel blinked, his expression darkening. She’d appreciate the annoyance on her behalf more if it hadn’t taken him so long to get a clue.

  Rather than verbally shiv Dr. Goff, she spun on her heel and went into the living room. Luckily, Eli’s height made him easy to spot even in a crowd. She’d been disappointed to learn that Bex couldn’t make it tonight because she had rounds, but it was a relief to see Eli’s friendly face.

  He’d been chatting with two men but seemed happy to scoot aside and include her in their circle. “Mia, let me introduce Dr. Jay Patel, one of our guest professors this semester.”

  The man who shook her hand was one of those people who made glasses look hot.

  “And Dr. Kevin Lerner,” Eli added. “From our board of regents.”

  She shook his hand, too, mentally crossing her fingers that the man wasn’t a blowhard like Goff. Luckily, Dr. Lerner was articulate, interesting and not drawn to her boobs as if by their gravitational pull. Chatting with him and supporting Eli’s loyal praise of Daniel was no challenge at all.

  Eventually, the provost interrupted to “borrow Dr. Lerner” and Dr. Patel asked to be pointed in the direction of the restroom.

  Mia stood alone with Eli. “I’d hoped Daniel would have broken free of Goff by now.” She watched the man in plaid gesture expansively while Daniel nodded several times but couldn’t seem to get a word in edgewise. “Dude sure loves the sound of his own voice, doesn’t he?”

  Eli tried to smother a chuckle. “Yes, but that dude also oversees major university decisions, so...”

  “So I should show more tact?” She hadn’t shoved him off the balcony; that was pretty tactful of her. Keeping her voice to a whisper, she asked, “Tell me the truth—is Bex really at the hospital tonight, or was that just an excuse so she could stay home in yoga pants and watch Netflix? Because, if that’s the case, I’m leaving to join her.”

  Eli laughed. “Not all of these gatherings are so awful. People are tense right now because so many important things will be voted on at next week’s meeting and everyone’s hoping to sway the decisions. You’ll see, next time you come to one of these—”

  “Oh, hell no.” She shuddered. “Netflix and yoga pants, remember?” When they’d first arrived, Daniel had mentioned that three members of the board of regents were here. “He’s had plenty of face time with Goff, and you and I talked him up to Dr. Lerner—who, frankly, seemed smart enough to vote in Daniel’s favor anyway. Who’s the other regent?” She was feeling very goal oriented; maybe if she engaged whoever it was in conversation, Daniel could join them, do a few minutes of networking, then get her out of there.

  “Dr. Carolyn Hollis.” Eli discreetly gestured to a blonde woman holding court in the corner of the room. She was wearing the same sparkly sweater set Mia’s stepmother had on at dinner.

  “I’ll go see if I can wiggle into her entourage,” Mia said wearily. “Will you let Daniel know where I am? If Goff hasn’t decided to vote for him by now, he ain’t gonna.”

  As Mia approached the throng surrounding Carolyn, she realized the woman was passionately discussing politics; maybe Daniel mentioning that his brother was in politics would give him a conversational opening. Five minutes later, however, Mia had revised her opinion
. Carolyn Hollis didn’t enjoy talking politics. What she enjoyed was snidely explaining to every person around her why their political beliefs were wrong. The crowd around her thinned as Carolyn implied that anyone who didn’t agree with her was too stupid to be working for the university in the first place. She swiveled her sharklike gaze to Mia as if sensing fresh blood.

  “And what do you teach? Or, are you an administrator?” Carolyn demanded.

  Nice try, but I don’t work for the college, so I don’t have to kiss your ass. “Neither. My date is a lit professor here, but I’m an event planner. I coordinate galas and charity events and weddings.”

  “Oh, I just love weddings.” Carolyn’s expression softened unexpectedly. “My daughter’s getting married in the spring. Do you have a card? She has a coordinator, of course, but you never know when you’ll have to fire someone.” With that zealous gleam in her eye, she seemed almost hopeful.

  “You know, I carry them in my regular purse but forgot to bring them tonight,” Mia lied, holding up the tiny evening bag that matched her dress. She didn’t particularly want to work with this woman—or poach clients from whatever poor coordinator was having to currently deal with her—but at least weddings gave them a safe topic until Daniel got his butt over there.

  They discussed music selections and receptions and Mia ended up pulling out her phone to show Carolyn pictures. “This is actually from the first wedding I handled,” Mia said, smiling in fond recollection. “James and Steve wanted—”

  “Two men?” Carolyn eyed her with disdain. “So you do novelty weddings, not real ones?”

  Mia recoiled. “Exactly what about two people in love pledging their lives to one another isn’t ‘real’ enough for you?”

  Carolyn’s eyes narrowed, color climbing in her cheeks. “Now, see here—”

  “There you are.” Daniel slid his arm around Mia’s shoulders, his expression tense. “Did you still want to leave?” To Carolyn, he said, “She had a headache earlier and was indulging me by staying a few more minutes. We should go.”

  Even though she wanted to leave, Mia resented his polite lie. It seemed as if she was being dragged away like a child who’d misbehaved.

  Carolyn drew herself up, glaring. “It’s too bad you aren’t feeling well,” she told Mia, “but that’s really no excuse for rudeness.”

  “I was rude? Manners were the only thing that kept me from—”

  “Mia.” A muscle in Daniel’s jaw twitched. “We’re leaving. I’m sorry we didn’t go earlier.”

  Yeah? Well she was sorry she’d come with him in the first place.

  * * *

  MIA SUPPOSED IT was no great surprise that Daniel barely spoke to her on the ride back to her apartment. He was in classic Keegan shutdown mode, stone-faced and radiating disapproval. She could break the silence, but she was waging an internal battle, torn between apologizing and defending her actions. It was dinner with his parents all over again.

  Thinking about his family reminded her of their fondness for Felicity. Mia would bet money that his ex-girlfriend would never have lashed out at a regent, no matter how provoked.

  “I don’t belong in your world,” she said as Daniel parked the car.

  His head jerked sharply toward her. He opened his mouth as if he might argue, but then didn’t.

  Because he knows I’m right. “We’re very different people. We’ve known that since college.”

  He couldn’t argue with that, either.

  Was he going to say anything at all? Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t. Getting the words out was hard enough without interruption or disagreement. “On our very first date, you told me you thought of me as abrasive. I’m not sure why we didn’t just cut our losses then. I’m never going to be like Felicity or Rachel, who’s good-natured enough to ignore your parents when they belittle her. That’s not me.” And if he tried to shame her into becoming someone else, she’d hate him for it.

  “No one asked you to be Felicity or Rachel,” he grated.

  Maybe not outright. “You didn’t like how I handled dinner with your family. You didn’t like how I handled tonight. And you have a right to be upset. You’ll still have to deal with your relatives and colleagues long after we stop sleeping together. I get that my words and actions affect you. But I don’t want to date a guy who can’t support my words and actions, who wants me to be...less me.” She wanted to be with a man who, if he couldn’t bring himself to stand up for her, at least didn’t object when she stood up for herself.

  Eli had mentioned her attending more faculty mixers in the future. That would be part of a relationship with Daniel, a real relationship. An affair was easy because it was just the sex, but when you were truly with a person, you had to deal with their job and their family and their baggage, too. She didn’t want that. And based on his proposing to a woman who was pretty much Mia’s polar opposite, Mia wasn’t what he wanted, either. Not really, not long term.

  She reached blindly for the door handle, tears blurring her vision. “The last few weeks have been—”

  “You’re really walking away? Over Carolyn Hollis being insufferable?”

  “If you think that’s why I’m walking away, you haven’t been paying attention,” she said sadly. “I have solid reasons.”

  “That can be overcome,” he insisted, “if you aren’t too stubborn to compromise!”

  “You mean change?”

  He glanced away, his expression guilty. She suspected it was the closest he would come to admitting he needed her to be different to fit comfortably into his life.

  “Goodbye, Daniel.”

  He didn’t chase after her or offer to make any compromises of his own. Mia wasn’t surprised. She was just hollow and heartbroken.

  * * *

  “TWO DOWN AND one to go,” Mrs. Kendrick said with a fond glance at Wren. “It’s nice to see my girls with men who make them happy. I’m just sorry your young man couldn’t make it tonight, dear, we were looking forward to meeting him.”

  Wren smiled at her mother over the rim of her champagne flute; Mia couldn’t help noticing the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Brant’s sorry, too. But, family emergency—no getting around that.”

  When Mrs. Kendrick headed toward the entrance to greet newly arrived guests, Mia sidled closer to her friend. “Is there really a family emergency?”

  “Could be. No idea. I haven’t spoken to Brant in days, not since I broke up with him.”

  “You what?” Mia felt awful that she’d vented to her friend about ending the affair with Daniel and hadn’t even noticed that Wren had her own problems. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

  “I didn’t want the news getting out before Riley’s engagement party. I don’t want my family fussing over me when this should be her big night.” She glanced around, lowering her voice. “But since you know now, it would be a relief to finally whine to someone. He and I were so much alike. It was maddening.”

  “At the beginning, you liked how much the two of you have in common.” Of course, at the beginning of her affair with Daniel, it had all been giddy heat and mutual pleasure. Things changed.

  “Turns out, that gets old fast. It’s like if you were with someone and every time you tried to tell them a joke, they already knew the punch line. And you know how I’m super disorganized and flighty?”

  “No comment.”

  “I have these cool ideas, like that Halloween party for charity you helped me pla
n, or the community garden I started at my apartment building, but I’m bad with details. So was Brant. If he and I ever lived together, we’d sit around sharing our grand ideas in the dark because neither of us had remembered to pay the electric bill. I started to have doubts after lunch with you and Riley, when we talked about how my future niece or nephew needs both aunts to balance each other out. There was no balance with me and Brant.”

  Mia bit her lip. “I don’t know what the right answer is, but it’s not so easy to date someone who’s your opposite, either.” She believed she’d done the right thing walking away from Daniel. But she’d missed him every single night since.

  Wren squeezed her arm sympathetically. “I’m actually more upset about you and Daniel’s breakup than I am about my own. You two were a good balance for each other.”

  Balance implied equal distribution. “I don’t know. There was me on one side of the teeter-totter, up in the air and noticing how far away the ground looked, and the other side was bogged down with him and all the important university people I’d probably have to suck up to and his family, who would wage an unending campaign to change me. Hell, even my family. You should have seen the joy in their eyes when they thought I’d found a man who would be a ‘good influence.’”

  “Well, they’re parents.” Wren raised one shoulder in a half shrug. “They want you to be happy, and I’m sure they’d prefer you find that happiness with a smart, employed, solid citizen rather than a bank robber who’s got you driving the getaway car.”

  That almost made Mia laugh.

  Wren changed the subject. “Now that I’m single and not having sex regularly, I have a lot of extra time, so I’ve gone back to jewelry making.” She set her huge purse on the high-top table between them; the bag hardly matched her dress, but she never went anywhere without it. In case of emergency, Wren could probably pull a tent and a generator out of there. “Here.” She handed Mia a small velvet drawstring bag.