“The actress is the bride?” Anne asked, her voice only a notch above a whisper.
Fortunately for Renee, her mother was well-versed in discretion. “Yes. We’re trying to find a place out of town to hold the wedding. I was just going to ask Luc about it.”
Adam propped his hands on his hips and announced, “I don’t want to go to a wedding. I want to paint with the girl.”
“Sorry, bud,” Pete said. “You have to go with us, but I’ll take you for ice cream afterward.”
“I don’t wanna go for ice cream. I wanna go paint with the girl.”
“I’m sorry,” Pete said. “I’m sure he’ll be fine after his nap.”
Adam clung to Renee as if he needed a rescuer. “I don’t wanna nap, either.”
Anne nodded to her right. “Could I speak with you a moment in private, Pete?”
“Sure.”
As he followed Anne toward the opposite corner, Pete sent a quick glance at Renee, a hint of confusion in his expression. Renee had to admit she was a bit baffled, too. She couldn’t imagine what her mother was up to, although she didn’t have to wait long to find out when they returned in a matter of moments.
“I’ve offered to take Adam with me back to your grandmére’s house while you both attend the wedding,” Anne said. “Daisy Rose would love to have the company of someone her own age for a change, and it would give me a nice break. They could watch a movie or two and I can make sure they have a decent dinner.”
Renee suspected she knew what this was all about—her mother seeing the opportunity for a little matchmaking. Get the famous director and the daughter alone, and anything was possible, or at least that’s what her mother would believe. “That’s too much for you, Mother, taking care of two preschoolers.”
“Charlotte’s stopping by for dinner, so she can help out,” Anne said. “Besides, it would mean so much to Daisy Rose to have a playmate.”
Adam clasped Pete’s hand in both of his and yanked hard. “Can I go, Uncle Pete?”
Pete turned his attention to Renee. “I don’t want to impose.”
“No imposition at all,” Anne said. “Right, Renee?”
She could argue the point some more, and look like a jerk to Adam. Look as if she didn’t trust her own mother. Or she could give in. “I’m sure that would be a nice change for my niece. But only if you give your okay.”
Pete scooped Adam up in his arms. “As long as you promise to behave.”
Adam grinned. “I promise.”
“Then I guess my answer is yes.” He slid Adam down to the ground. “I appreciate this, Anne. He’ll enjoy having someone to entertain him aside from me.”
Renee stood silently by, realizing that again she would be alone with Pete. But not necessarily alone. After all, they would be in the company of the bride and groom. And she certainly didn’t have to hang around with Pete after the ceremony. “We’ll come by and pick Adam up right after the wedding,” she said.
“No need to hurry.” Anne turned her smile on Pete, which could very well mean she was plotting against Renee. “You need to keep her out for a while. She spends too much time working, and not enough time playing—”
Renee’s suspicions had been confirmed. “Mother.”
Anne tried to look clueless, but it wasn’t working on Renee. “What’s the matter, chère? It’s the truth. You need to have some fun for a change.”
“Your mother’s probably right,” Pete added. “You’ve always been fairly obsessive when it comes to work.”
Renee could not believe he had the nerve to say that. “I suppose you would know all about that, Mr. Traynor, considering you’re much the same.”
He grinned. “True, but if I’m willing to take a break, you should, too.”
“Listen to him, Renee,” Anne said. “He’s obviously a very smart man.”
Great. Just great. Her mother had formed an alliance with the man whose actions had basically wrecked her career. Of course, Anne wasn’t aware of that fact, and Renee didn’t intend to tell her unless absolutely necessary. She also had no intention of staying out all night with Pete Traynor, even if that wasn’t altogether unappealing.
“We’ll be back well before midnight,” Renee said. “We’ll drop Adam off on our way to the wedding.”
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t come with us now,” Anne said. “Unless you do, Pete.”
Pete hesitated, as if weighing that option carefully. “I guess that would work.” He looked down at Adam. “Just mind your manners, kiddo.”
“I’ll be good, Uncle Pete.” After giving Pete a hug, Adam moved beside Anne and took her hand. “Can we paint, too?” he asked as they headed through the lobby.
“Oh, yes. And we can have popcorn and soda…”
When Adam and Anne disappeared from sight, Renee pointed behind her and began stepping backward. “I’ll go make the arrangements now. I’ll call the room when I have a definite time.”
Renee spun around and headed away, knowing that she would have to face several dilemmas later on. She’d spent much of the day waging a war against getting too cozy with Pete, a war she had lost when she’d spontaneously taken his arm earlier. And when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her as she turned the corner and entered her office, she realized he wasn’t going to disappear anytime soon.
“Why are you running away from me, Renee?”
She moved behind her desk, dropped down in her chair and picked up the phone without looking at him. “I’m not running. I’m taking care of business.” She punched Luc’s extension and waited silently until he answered. “Could you come into my office for a few minutes?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I answer a guest’s question,” Luc said, saving Renee from too much alone time with Pete. She’d have an ample dose of that tonight.
After she set the phone back onto the cradle, Renee finally looked up at Pete, who’d taken up residence near the door, his back to the wall, as if he had no intention of leaving. “You might want to think about returning to your room now in order to get ready,” she said. If he stayed much longer, she wouldn’t be able to think straight when Luc arrived.
He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall to his right. “We have at least three hours, and I don’t have a tux yet. Remember?”
Unfortunately, he was correct on that count. “I’m about to take care of that. I also have several things to finish up here before I head home. Once I’m there, I’ll definitely need a couple of hours.” And more time than that to mentally prepare for spending the evening with Pete, yet she wouldn’t have that luxury. Not unless she could convince the couple to postpone the wedding until next week. Or next year. And that wasn’t going to happen.
Pete did nothing other than simply stare at her, as if he wanted to say something, although Renee had no idea what. Okay, she had a few ideas, but she hoped he didn’t voice them. Hoped that he didn’t say anything that might chase away her common sense. But she immediately recognized that look he leveled on her, the one that was all heat and suggestion and much too tempting to ignore.
“Is there something else I can help you with?” she asked when she could no longer stand the suspense.
“Oh, yeah. I can think of a few things, beginning with—”
Luc strode into the room, saving Rene from becoming the target of Pete’s verbal, sensual assault. “What can I do for you, Miss Renee?”
“Have you met Mr. Traynor, yet?”
“I did when his party came in yesterday.” Luc stuck out his hand for a quick shake. “Nice to see you again.”
“Same here,” Pete said, but with a certain lack of enthusiasm. The way he was sizing up the concierge, Renee would wager her Bogie and Bacall DVD collection that he somehow suspected she might be involved with the concierge, the same as he had with the chef. Granted, Luc was definitely handsome with his sandy hair and blue, blue eyes, a very friendly man who readily charmed everyone he met. He was also several years her junior, and younger men ha
d never held her interest for very long.
Ignoring Pete’s suspicious gaze, Renee gave her attention to Luc. “I need you to do a few things for me, Luc, and I need your absolute discretion.”
Luc tugged at his collar. “You can count on it.”
“Good.” Renee rounded her desk and leaned back against it. “I need you to locate a wedding chapel for a ceremony tonight.”
“Tonight?” Luc stared at her for a moment, then glanced at Pete. “I heard you two knew each other before, but I didn’t realize you were involved.”
“We’re not involved.” Wonderful. For the second time today, she was having to explain that she wasn’t the prospective bride. “Mr. Traynor’s friends want to get married, and they were told at the courthouse that they had several options in the area.”
Luc looked somewhat contrite, and somewhat relieved. “Sorry for jumping to conclusions.”
“It’s okay, Luc. Do you happen to have any idea where they could get married on such short notice?”
“Yeah, I could recommend a few places, but the best is a small inn right outside of town on the way to Baton Rouge. The owner is a pastor and they have an on-site chapel. I’ve sent several of our patrons there in the last couple of months.”
Another reminder of how good Luc was at his job. “That sounds perfect. Could you give them a call and see if they’re available to perform the service around seven or so?”
“Not a problem. Since I’ve sent business their way before, I’m sure I can work that out. Do you want me to have a bottle of champagne waiting for the couple in the suite?”
That would definitely go to waste considering Ella’s pregnancy. “Mr. Pryor and Ms. Emerson don’t care for champagne.”
“Then I could have some of those special chocolates delivered from the shop on Bourbon Street. They make a special wedding assortment.”
Leave it to Luc to see to all the little details. He was definitely an asset to the hotel. “That would be wonderful. It will be the hotel’s gift to them.”
“I can pay for that, Renee,” Pete said.
Renee had no doubt he could, but she wouldn’t let him. “That’s not necessary. It’s on the house.”
“Anything else?” Luc asked.
“Yes. You need to contact the local tuxedo rental shop on Canal Street and ask for a Mr. Riggs. Have him come over here to measure Mr. Pryor and Mr. Traynor, and be sure to tell him I’ve sent you and he’ll be more than happy to put a rush on this. I’m sure he has something nice in stock that will work.” She paused to take a breath and to review a mental checklist. “That’s all I can think of, other than we have to keep this very quiet, and that includes the staff. Ms. Emerson is a celebrity and we need to protect her privacy.”
“Then it’s probably best I drive the limo to the inn,” Luc said. “I’ll relieve the usual driver and have Burks fill in for me for the evening. I’ll pick everyone up at the service entry.”
Obviously Renee hadn’t thought of everything, which made her appreciate Luc all the more. “That’s a good idea. Let me know a definite time as soon as you’ve made the arrangements.”
Looking oddly uncomfortable, Luc began backing to the door. “Sure thing, Miss Renee. I’ll see you in a while.”
“He looked a little shook up,” Pete said after Luc rushed out of the office. “Maybe he thinks we’re lying to him.”
“Lying about what?”
“About the bride and groom’s identity. I have a feeling he believes we’re the ones taking the plunge.”
Renee released a bark of a laugh. “Not hardly. Luc’s not stupid enough to believe I’d suddenly decide to get married on a moment’s notice.”
Pete frowned. “So you’re saying that marrying me would be stupid?”
“I’m not saying that.” She sensed she was about to back herself straight into a corner and possibly never come out. “I meant that Luc’s never seen me with a man other than you, so I can’t imagine that he would honestly believe I’d suddenly decide to get married. You saw how shocked he looked.”
And Pete looked entirely too smug. “No men in your life, huh?”
She needed to keep her mouth shut around him, in every sense. “I’ve told you, I’m busy with work. And speaking of that, I have a few things to finish up here before I can get home. I’m not even sure what I’m going to wear yet.”
“Do you still have that dress you wore to the governor’s ball? The one you were wearing the first time we met.”
Renee couldn’t believe he actually remembered what she’d been wearing that particular evening—the event that had set their fateful course. “I’m not sure I remember which dress you’re referring to.” And that wasn’t at all the truth. She remembered it well.
He pushed away from the wall and strolled toward her. “Let me refresh your memory. It comes just above your knee and has thin straps. It’s peach-colored, a shade lighter than the sweater you have on now, and it leaves very little to the imagination.”
True. In fact, it had provided little cover at all. And it no longer hung in her closet. She’d given it away, even though she hadn’t been able to hand off the memories. “I’m sorry, but I don’t own that dress any longer. And even if I did, I wouldn’t wear it. It’s going to be in the low fifties tonight. I’ll choose something a bit more appropriate for the season.”
He moved toward the desk with slow, stalking steps. “I wouldn’t mind keeping you warm.”
She stood and wagged a finger at him. “Let’s not start this now.” And that sounded as if she wanted to start it later, which she didn’t. Did she?
Ignoring her attempts to discourage him, Pete walked right up to her and pushed her hair back from her shoulder. “Fine, but we will finish it later.” He rested one hand lightly at her waist. “Tonight, I’m going to take you out for a drink. And after that, we’ll just have to play it by ear.” He feathered a kiss across her cheek. “But I tell you one thing, lady. We’re going to have a good time.”
Renee didn’t have time to cultivate any kind of argument or comeback before he’d left the room without even a goodbye.
In a matter of hours, she would serve as the bridesmaid for a woman who was practically a stranger. She would dress in her best and pretend that everything was rosy, when in fact she would worry the whole time about how she would handle Pete following the ceremony. Easy. She’d simply refuse to spend more time with him than necessary. She might agree to his drink, but she didn’t have to respond to his innuendo. She’d leave him with a polite good-night and refuse his kiss. She’d ignore his aura, reject his appeal—and most likely forget all those strategies the moment she saw him again.
Lowering her head, Renee pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered a mild oath. What had she gotten herself into?
WASHED IN THE GLOW of candlelight, the small chapel carried the scents of polished wood and fragrant roses. The perfect, intimate setting for a wedding, Renee thought as she took her place beside Ella. Evan stood next to his bride, looking proud and handsome in the tuxedo that had arrived a half hour before they were scheduled to leave. And Pete, who flanked Evan’s other side, looked much too luscious for words.
Heaven help her, she’d barely been able to keep her eyes to herself the entire way to the inn. Her only saving grace at the moment was the groom blocking her view of the best man.
The minister happened to be a woman, a widow and the owner of the inn. She appeared to be in her sixties and radiated a kindness that was second only to the bride’s glow. Dressed in a tea-length, cream-colored lace gown, Ella seemed incredibly serene in light of the momentous event. Definitely a woman in love, and Renee wondered what that would be like. To be so sure of your feelings that you would commit to a man for life.
She’d spent her adulthood living the cliché of “always a bridesmaid.” Not once had she been serious enough about anyone to considered taking any vows. Not once had anyone asked. She’d had the misfortune of dating men who viewed her as a fragile flower, onl
y to be disappointed when they discovered she was anything but. She demanded to be an equal partner, not simply arm candy. So far, finding those traits in the opposite sex had been elusive—except for Pete.
For a little while, she’d allowed herself to hope that he could come up to her ideal. That he could love her the way her father had loved her mother, with an intensity that had always left Renee awed. She’d been a fool to have hoped. A fool to believe that she would ever find that soul-deep, undeniable love.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
So deep in her thoughts, Renee realized she’d basically missed the vows, but she could never miss the look that passed between Ella and Evan right before he bent his head and kissed her. An indisputable look of love.
The kiss went on longer than most post-nuptial kisses, prompting the minister to clear her throat. “Congratulations, and may you have a happy future.”
Thankfully taking the hint, the couple finally parted, and as Renee and Pete followed them into the lobby, Renee noticed Evan didn’t look the least bit self-conscious. Poor Ella did, particularly when Evan clasped her wrist and began tugging her away from the front entrance.
“Where are you two going?” Pete asked, voicing Renee’s question before she could get a word out of her partially open mouth.
Evan continued up the staircase without missing a beat. “I figured you were going to tell us to get a room, and I already did. Besides, you guys don’t have much time to be alone. You don’t need us ruining your party.”
Evan was definitely on the matchmaking track, Renee decided. It seemed everyone was bent on throwing her and Pete together, including her own mother.
“Where are your bags?” Pete asked.
“We bought toothbrushes.” He grinned. “Who needs clothes on their honeymoon?”
Pete sent a glance her way before calling to Evan again. “How long are you going to be holed up here, Pryor?”
“We’ll be back at the hotel tomorrow.” Evan finally paused and faced them. “You have the whole suite to yourself tonight, Pete, so take advantage of it.”
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