The Engagement Party
Page 21
“Katie...is it Luke?” she asked instinctively.
“Luke?”
“Luke Cassidy,” Hannah clarified, though she realized that Katie knew exactly whom she meant. Her friend was stalling, rebuilding her quiet wall of reserve.
“That was over a long time ago, Hannah,” Katie said quietly. “I certainly would never shed tears over him at this late date. I was just feeling a little...sentimental. What with you and Abby getting married, being a bridesmaid for the both of you, I guess I was being overemotional.”
Hannah gazed at her in frank disbelief but did not challenge her. “Well, if you ever want to talk about Luke—”
“I don’t,” Katie assured her. “I won’t.” She stood. “Now what was it you needed?”
Hannah named a few personal items which Katie willingly supplied. Then she hurried back upstairs to room 206. Matthew was already in bed. “Lock the door and come here,” he ordered sexily.
Hannah obeyed, seating herself on the edge of the bed. “I figured out what you meant when you said it was symbolic that it was raining tonight, just like it was on the night we met.”
“You’re a quick study, baby. I figured you would.” He began to undress her.
“You came back from Pensacola tonight and you planned to ask me to marry you.”
He kissed her. “A very quick study.”
Nude, she slipped under the covers with him. “Who was the woman in Pensacola who told Justine that you weren’t at home?” she asked, shivering with arousal as he touched her.
“Probably the real estate agent. I put my condo on the market while I was away and got everything in gear for my permanent move to Clover. I have something else for you in my suitcase but I’ll give it to you tomorrow. It’s that antique baby doll of my mother’s. You can keep it or sell it in your shop—”
“As if I’d ever sell your mother’s doll!” Hannah scolded. “It will have a place of honor in our house, and I won’t let little Eden Lydia touch it. She’ll have plenty of her own baby dolls to play with.”
“Who is Eden Lydia?”
“Our daughter. That’s what I want to name her—Eden Lydia Granger. And our son will be Jesse Galen. You can name our third child.”
“Sounds like you’ve been giving the matter a lot of thought, Hannah Kaye. You were pretty damn sure of me, weren’t you?”
“And you were extremely sure of me, to put your condo on the market and make arrangements to move to Clover without even bothering to call me for five days!”
“Yeah, I guess I was. Now kiss me.”
“You want to make me prove that our engagement isn’t an insipid, sexless arrangement, don’t you?” Her gray eyes laughed up at him.
“Every single day of the week, little girl.”
* * * * *
Turn the page for a sneak preview of
The Bridal Shower by Elizabeth August, the next book in the ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID! series....
One
As she descended the stairs, Emma heard voices in the kitchen. Her father was at the back door pulling on his windbreaker in preparation for leaving while seated comfortably at the kitchen table was Mike Flint. That she’d been aware of his presence before she’d even come downstairs shook her. He caught her gaze as she entered the kitchen and she found herself noticing again how handsome he was. Immediately, she shoved that thought from her mind.
Peter regarded his daughter with interest. “Glad you’re up. I was just on my way out.” Approaching the table, he extended a hand to Mike. “Good luck, son. You’ll need it.” He glanced toward Emma and with a chuckle, waved goodbye and left.
Emma groaned. “He’d better not be trying any matchmaking.”
“That sounds like a woman who’s afraid she might weaken.”
Emma turned to glare at Mike. “Don’t count on it.”
Challenge flickered in his eyes. “I could have sworn I saw you at the marina last night. Could it be that you were worried about me?”
“I just felt like taking a drive,” Emma lied.
He cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. “In the middle of a storm?”
Her jaw firmed. “Yes, in the middle of a storm.”
For a moment, he looked as if he was going to continue to argue his point, then his expression relaxed. He nodded as if her answer was exactly what he’d expected, then he rose from his seat and came toward her.
Reaching out he traced the line of her jaw with the tips of his fingers. “Just in case that was you last night and you were there because you were worried about me, thanks for the concern. I liked having someone waiting for me.”
As she’d been afraid it would, his touch sent warm currents surging through her. Shakily, she admitted that the physical attraction she felt for him was strong. Then she recalled the panic she’d felt last night when the storm had built so suddenly. This was one attraction she would not give in to. She took a step back, breaking the contact.
“I’m sure there are several unattached women in town who would happily await your return.” Something that felt like a jab of jealousy pierced her, but she forced herself to ignore it.
He frowned with impatience. “I’ve looked around for years, Emma. But like a magnet drawn to due north, my thoughts keep coming back to you. And I’d wager you’ve thought about me every once in a while.” His expression dared her to deny this.
He reached out and cupped her face in his hands. Challenge again flashed in his eyes as his gaze bore into her. “Through the years, I’d swear I’ve seen you look my way more than once.”
For the moment, all she could think about was the exciting feel of his work callused palms against her skin. Then she saw his face coming closer to hers and she knew he intended to kiss her. Terrified her body would betray her, she jerked free and backed away. “I might have looked but I have no intention of touching,” she said shakily.
Her confession caused the blue of his eyes to darken with triumph. “We belong together, Emma. You know that.”
Emma’s defenses were dangerously weakening. Again she reminded herself of the fear that had caused her to drive to the marina last night, in spite of the raging storm.
“What I know is that I find you attractive. But it’s merely a physical thing,” she insisted.
His gaze narrowed and he took a step toward her. When she took a step back, he stopped and his impatient frown returned.
“You are the most single-minded woman I’ve ever known. Be careful you don’t let that stubborn streak of yours cause you to settle for less than what you truly want in life,” he cautioned. Heading for the door, he added over his shoulder, “I’ll be seeing you.”
His warning momentarily threatened her resolve, then her shoulders squared. “Not if I see you first,” she muttered as the door closed behind him.
Don’t miss THE BRIDAL SHOWER by Elizabeth August, available in July from Silhouette Romance.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8668-9
The Engagement Party
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Cast of Characters
Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Copyright