Forever a Bridesmaid (Always a Bridesmaid Book 1)

by Courtney Hunt

  This is nice.

  She stirred against him, wiggling her plush bottom back into him. When she met resistance, she peeked back over her shoulder before smiling sleepily at him. The moment spooled between them, full of potential and possibility. He ached to lean over and kiss her, roll her beneath him and claim her for his own. She dropped her gaze to his lips and back up again, licking her lush bottom lip. He clenched his hand into a fist to keep from brushing her hair from her cheek.

  He could get used to waking up like this.

  At that thought, Matthew rolled away from her, batting away the suffocating blanket and standing so fast he bounced off the far wall, knocking the insipid hotel art hanging there askew. He grabbed his baseball cap and shoved his bare feet into tennis shoes. He snatched up his room key and phone before turning back toward the bed, walking backwards to the door.

  “Good morning. Want coffee? I always like to start the day off with coffee, so…I’ll just go…I’ll get us…be back.”

  She watched him from the bed, her blue eyes wide. He careened into the hall and let the door fall shut behind him, pressing his back to it. Well, that hadn’t been a disaster. She must be wondering why he’d fled the room like his hair was on fire. Better that though, than breaking his word and caving in to the delicious temptation of a sleep-mussed Erin.

  Before he went back in and kissed her soundly, he pushed away from the door, striding toward the elevator. He hadn’t woken up beside a woman since his wife left him. Since then, he’d indulged in casual hookups and flings, with sophisticated women who knew the score and were interested in nothing more than a good time. He never stayed the night, never brought them back to his apartment, never ate dinner and watched an old movie with them. Erin was different.

  She was beautiful, possibly one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. But most of the woman he slept with were beautiful. Erin was kind, lending him her phone charger as an introduction. She was smart, funny, and competitive. She’d played to win in their silly card game yesterday. She’d been ambitious enough to start her own business when life handed her some difficult knocks and loving enough to care for her brother. He’d watched her the night before, so focused as she worked through her tasks and to-do lists, her long hair up in a messy ponytail. Curious about his temporary roommate, he’d sought out her website, impressed to discover she’d graduated from Harvard, with honors, and built a business with very little at such a young age. He heard her voice as he read her blog; funny, smart, and sweet, like she herself was.

  If she lived in Chicago or he still lived in Boston he’d… What? Ask her out for coffee? Take her to dinner and a movie? Meet her for lunch at noon on Tuesday? He didn’t date. He hadn’t been on an actual date in years, since before he’d married Anna. He’d already failed at marriage once and never wanted that complication in his life ever again. His career required long hours and dedication. He couldn’t give the same attention to a relationship and didn’t want to. He liked his life just fine the way it was.

  Still, last night, he’d been hyper-aware of her presence. He watched her covertly as she slicked her hands with cream, scented with peaches. She hummed to herself as she went about her tasks, keeping herself organized and neat. He’d relaxed around her, in a way he hadn’t around anyone in years. With Anna, by the end, only frozen silences and icy politeness lay between them, not the easy, relaxed camaraderie he shared with Erin.

  Yesterday, he’d rashly promised to keep things purely platonic between them as they shared the hotel room. And he’d honor his promise to Erin, no matter how much he ached to taste her, to touch and to take. As much as he wanted Erin, wanted to kiss her, taste her skin, feel her wrapped around him, he liked her too. That was a far more dangerous proposition.

  And not a complication he wanted to cope with now. He needed to get home and stop his foolish brother from throwing his life away on a girl he barely knew. Just like Matthew needed to stop mooning over a girl he barely knew.

  “Is the airport open yet?” he asked the barista in the lobby coffee shop.

  “Once the snow stops, they usually reopen within a couple hours.” Matthew peered out the large pane glass window as he waited for his order. Overnight, the swirling vortex of snow left over a foot on the ground. Though some light snow fell still, the storm was over. Time to get back to the real world. He had a wedding to stop.

  He returned to the room to find Erin dressed, her hair neatly up in a complicated looking twist. She wore jeans and a pale blue top, her black cardigan over it. He could tell she’d put on makeup, though not much, enough to enhance her lovely eyes and add color on her pale cheeks. He missed his ladybug girl from the night before. When she turned to greet him, he spotted her bubblegum pink toenails, and smiled. He treasured all the little things he now knew about her and then scowled as he remembered he’d decided against complications. He handed her a paper cup of coffee and grabbed his shaving kit from his carry-on.

  “How’d you know how I like my coffee?” Erin asked him, watching him over the brim of her to-go cup.

  “You ordered it yesterday with extra cream and no sugar so…” Matthew shrugged as her jaw fell open. What did it matter he knew how she liked her coffee or how lovely she looked in the morning light? He’d decided against complications, hadn’t he? “The airport should be open soon so I’ll get dressed.”

  She nodded and smiled. Before he could cross the room and do anything so foolish as kiss her, he headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day. And forced thoughts of her from his head.

  After all, anything between them would never last.

  Just like always.

  Chapter Five

  Once Matthew emerged from the bathroom, she’d take her leave and go. It would be rude to leave without saying goodbye, after he’d been kind enough to take her in last night. And besides, they were on the same flight so it only made sense to walk back to the concourse together. Erin certainly wasn’t looking for excuses to spend more time with the man, for heaven’s sake. She’d spent nearly the last twenty hours in his company. Surely that was enough.

  When she’d woken this morning, warm and snug, cuddled in his arms, she’d wanted him to lean over and kiss her, so she could run her fingers into his thick dark hair. She wanted to discover for herself if it was as soft and silky as it appeared. For an instant, she’d nearly climbed out of her nest of blankets and straddled the man. Then, thank goodness he’d had the sense to leave before she did anything rash. He was a complication she didn’t need. Nothing could come of it. They lived in different cities, different lives.

  And if she was sorely tempted to indulge herself for once, it was only the heady experience of having so much free time at her disposal, due to the early snowstorm. Usually, every spare moment was accounted for with tasks and to-do lists and priorities. She didn’t have time in her life for Matthew, no matter how handsome, smart, and kind he was. She sipped her coffee. And observant and thoughtful too, she added to his list of attributes.

  She sat on the end of the bed, waiting for him to finish dressing. He popped open the door to the bathroom and darted out, a tiny scrap of terry cloth wrapped around his slim hips. “Sorry. Forgot my clothes. I’ll be ready in a second.”

  He dashed back to the bathroom but not before the image of his tanned torso, beaded with water droplets from the shower burned itself into her brain. Lust. Plain and simple. That’s what this was. Well, she could handle that. She’d love to handle that…

  She shook her head at herself. Maybe she needed a vacation. Once she got Dylan’s tuition paid for, she could book a quick getaway, indulge in some casual fling…She was already checking the cost of flights from Boston to Chicago when she realized what she was doing and stuck her phone in her pocket.

  Okay, so maybe she might have the tiniest crush on Matthew. So what? What woman wouldn’t have the tiniest crush on a guy like Matthew? After today, she’d never see the man again. She sighed at the depressing thought, looking up when he
emerged from the bathroom, dressed in his silvery gray suit from yesterday and a black shirt, open at the neck, clean shaven but his wet hair still a bit rumpled. Erin swallowed hard. Good God, the man was sex on legs. She fisted her hands in her lap to keep from grabbing him and pulling him down onto the bed.

  “Ready to head over and see if we can squeeze onto a flight?” He grabbed her suitcase and slung his own carryon over his shoulder. She nodded, incapable of speech, aware of the rumpled wide king bed. Before she did something totally foolish, she headed for the door.

  Once in the terminal, Matthew secured them seats on the next flight to Atlanta, charming the desk attendant into giving them seats together. Since their flight wasn’t for several hours yet, they ate breakfast together a nearby restaurant before browsing the small selection of airport shops. In the seating area, waiting to board, they both spent a bit more time on their tablets. Instead of working, Erin took the opportunity to discover more about Matthew. According to his firm’s website, up and coming young architect Matthew Donald Westbrook made junior partner the year before, upon his graduation from MIT with a master’s degree. Discreetly, she thumbed through a photo gallery of his recent projects—the Boston waterfront, a series of Chicago buildings, and some smaller townhouses in Seattle. He must work all over the place. She wondered if he came to Boston often, and shoved the thought resolutely away.

  They finally boarded the flight at mid-day. He sat by the window and she took the middle seat. The passenger next to her crowded in and she leaned into Matthew. He shifted to give her more room, pressing his thigh against hers in the cramped space. After some more shifting, they settled comfortably as the plane backed away from the terminal. Erin realized she’d known him only twenty-four hours. She felt more comfortable with Matthew than she did with anyone, other than Lauren and Dylan. Chicago and Boston weren’t that far apart… He’d told her yesterday he was divorced and he didn’t have time for a girlfriend. She blew out a breath, swiping her palms on her legs, wishing for a fraction of Lauren’s easy confidence with men.

  “Are you afraid to fly?”

  “Not afraid, just…don’t like it too much.” She drew a deep breath in, blowing it out as the plane taxied, tapping her fingers restlessly on her thighs.

  “Your parents?” When she nodded, he held out his hand. “You’re welcome to hold my hand, if that would help.”

  She wrapped her fingers around his palm and he laced their fingers together, warm and secure. Erin fought to ignore how the pulse in her wrists and neck tripped at such small contact.

  “Now, how can I distract you?”

  “Tell me about your Chicago project?” Erin asked. “Or that gorgeous yellow townhouse you renovated?”

  His eyebrows shot up and then he smiled, his whole face crinkling. She could get lost in that smile. “Internet research?”

  “Well, you could have been a serial killer.” She shrugged and he laughed. “You are a very interesting person, Matthew Westbrook.”

  “You’re the interesting one, Erin.” As the wheels lifted off the ground, she jolted against him. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. Their eyes met, the seconds spooling out between them. He dropped his gaze to her mouth and dragged his eyes back up to meet hers again. Absently, she noted the contrast with his black dress shirt made his eyes look the color of fresh espresso. “But, I’m supposed to be distracting you. Tell me how you’d sabotage a wedding?”

  “Sabotage?” Erin echoed, still wishing he’d just lean over and kiss her. “That seems a bit drastic. Couldn’t you try talking to your brother first?”

  “I will try but pretty sure he’s not going to listen so…any other ideas?” The plane dipped slightly as they hit a spot of turbulence. She tightened her fingers around his and he covered their clasped hands with his other hand, trying to be reassuring.

  “Why exactly do you want to sabotage this wedding?”

  “He’s too young.”

  “How old is he?” Erin asked as the flight attendant took their drink orders.

  “Twenty-one,” he said as he passed her drink to her, their hands still clasped tightly.

  “That’s old enough to get married,” Erin shrugged, sipping her sparkling water.

  “And he’s known her less than three months.”

  “My parents knew each other two weeks before eloping to Vegas. They were married for twenty-five years.”

  “Erin, you cannot sit there and tell me if Dylan were marrying a girl he barely knew, you’d be fine with it.”

  “I wouldn’t. I’d beg him to reconsider but…if he didn’t…” Erin shrugged again. “Is your brother out of school? Able to support himself and a family?”

  “Yes but—”

  “But nothing. You should go and be supportive, even if you think he’s making the biggest mistake of his life. Believe me, I’ve seen how ugly these things get when family members aren’t supportive.”

  “I got married too young and ended up divorced. That’s a painful and costly mistake.”

  “Would you have listened?”

  “I didn’t.” She waved her free hand, as he proved her point. “But I should have. All I want is to keep him from getting married so fast.”

  “Well, I still say talking to him is the first step. And that people determined to marry are going to find a way.”

  “I may just need to slow him down, give him some time to think.” Matthew grinned at her, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, making everything in her narrow to that simple touch. “Sabotage ideas?

  “I assume you don’t want him to know you’re the saboteur?” He nodded and she continued, “You could cancel the cake and the flowers. Maybe the reception or the band. It’d take time to get all that re-booked. Places in Boston book a year in advance.”

  “All good ideas. What else?”

  “Steal the dress. Fire the photographer. I don’t know. I spend most of my time handling disasters like those. They can all be overcome. They won’t work long-term.”

  “True,” Matthew nodded.

  “And unlikely to sway most couples anyway. Though, I imagine they’ll be pretty angry with you should they ever find out you’re responsible. And, even if you did spoil all the plans, what’s to stop them from boarding a plane to Vegas?”

  “My mama would kill him.”

  “She’s not going to kill you for interfering? It seemed as you all had a difference of opinion already too.” All through their conversation, he never once let go of her hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of her fingers from time to time, a comforting, grounding caress.

  “Mama and I often have differences of opinion.”

  “Blazing arguments, you mean?” Erin asked.

  He grinned at her ruefully. “Semantics, right?”

  Still holding hands, they deplaned and, at the end of the jet way, Erin turned to him, drawing a deep breath. She’d never asked a man out before. Most men pursued her, a curse with her looks, because they usually didn’t take her seriously. She figured first time for everything.

  “I’ve got to run to make my connecting flight,” Matthew said, holding out the handle of her ladybug suitcase to her, with a smile, still holding her free hand.

  “You’re not stopping in Atlanta?”

  “No, I’m going home to…”

  “Ms. Delaney. Mr. Westbrook?” An airline representative interrupted them. At Matthew’s nod, the woman continued, “Follow me, I’ll lead you to your gate.”

  “Where’s home, Matthew?”

  “Savannah.” They stopped at a nearby gate with a mere fifteen minutes to takeoff. The airline rep handed over their boarding passes and rushed off. “Wait a minute. Are you going to Savannah too? For a wedding?”

  “What’s your brother’s name?” Erin asked, tension coiling in her stomach, as she followed Matthew onto the smaller regional jet that would carry them to Savannah. It couldn’t be…

  “Alex.”

  “Alex W
estbrook?” Erin’s heart hammered, her pulse pounding in her neck.

  “Mama remarried. It’s Alex Rivera.”

  Erin saw spots in front of her eyes as her lungs constricted. “Is your mom named Shelby?”

  “Yes, why—” Matthew’s eyes widened and he turned to her in the middle of the airplane aisle. “You’re a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding?”

  Chapter Six

  “Is your brother marrying a girl named Ashley Price?” Erin answered and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

  Matthew nodded. They were going to the same wedding. They had to be. “Did my mama hire you to help her?”

  “If your mother is Shelby Rivera, than yes.”

  “You’re coming to the wedding! That’s fantastic!” Matthew said as Erin shooed him down the narrow airplane aisle. She took her window seat, burying her face in her hands. For this flight, they didn’t have seats together. After some fast negotiation, Matthew convinced the girl next to her to trade seats with him. He secured their luggage and plopped down next to Erin with a wide grin. Erin was coming to Savannah. He didn’t want to examine too closely why he was so thrilled about that.

  “You can help me!” Matthew smiled at her as they rolled back from the terminal.

  “Help you?”

  “Stop my little brother from doing something stupid.”

  “I can’t let you do that.” Erin drew a deep breath and another as they taxied; rubbing her palms on her jean clad thighs. He wrapped her cold hand in between his palms and rubbed warmth into her slender fingers.

  “It’s perfect. You can help me stop the wedding.”

  “I need this wedding to happen. That’s my job.”

  “But, you wouldn’t want my little brother to make a huge, life-altering mistake.”

  “My little brother needs to finish college so…” Erin shrugged and then turned to face him. “So far you’ve given me no good reason that they shouldn’t get married—”