Accidental Bride(4)

“I’m never foolish.”

“There is always a first time, and I do not trust that young man who is always lurking around you.”

“Peter?” Kelly’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong with Peter?”

“He has eyes on you I do not like.”

Kelly couldn’t help but laugh again. “You’ve got to be crazy. Peter doesn’t have any kind of eyes on me at all.”

“I do not trust him. Be sure not to get too close to him this weekend.”

“I thought you would have liked the fact that he’s a Blake.”

The Blakes had a long history in Savannah, going back three centuries. In fact, their history was even longer than the Beauforts, which Grandmama took so much pride in. Unlike the Beauforts, the Blakes still had family money, since the family’s seafood franchise had grown so quickly in the last forty years.

“The Blakes are a very good family. It is this young man I do not trust.”

“Peter’s not going to do anything. We’re just friends.”

“Do not be thinking of him as anything except a friend. You are not the kind of girl who needs a husband.”

Ridiculously, Kelly felt a stab of pain at the last comment. She knew it was true. She wasn’t particularly interested in getting married—at least, not any time soon. And she’d always made a point of dressing and acting in ways that wouldn’t encourage her grandmother to try to marry her off.

But still…it was a little depressing that her marriage-minded grandmother believed no man would really want her.

And what was so wrong with Peter, that he wouldn’t be a good choice for any woman in the world to marry?

Grandmama was now eyeing her closely. “Do not be getting ideas, young lady.”

“I’m not getting any ideas,” Kelly replied with a sigh.

“Good. We must accept the lot we have been given. Morris Alfred Theobald III is looking again for a new wife, but I do not think he will be looking in your direction.”

Great. Not even the most obnoxious, unattractive, arrogant man she’d ever met would be interested in her.

“I’m just going to see Gus and Veronica’s wedding. Nothing is going to happen.”

“Excellent. See that it doesn’t.”

Kelly genuinely liked her life, and she didn’t feel any desire for it to change. But she still felt kind of glum as she stood at the parlor window, waiting for Peter to arrive to pick her up for the airport.

She didn’t think she needed to change, but it would be nice if people thought it was even a possibility.

***

That afternoon, Kelly walked with Peter into the lobby of a Vegas hotel. Everything was big and loud and flashy and overwhelming, and she moved a little closer to Peter instinctively.

This wasn’t her kind of place at all. She didn’t like to be surrounded by so many people, and she didn’t like the myriad of lights and colors and dazzling displays. It made it hard for her to think. Maybe her grandmother was right. She wasn’t cut out for this kind of thing at all.

“I don’t understand why so many people come here for vacation,” she murmured.

“Where would go, if not here?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere. A bed and breakfast on a lake in the mountains sounds pretty nice. This is just so loud and glitzy.”

“They do it on purpose,” Peter said. “They think, if they dazzle you with over-stimulation, you’ll spend more money.”

Kelly felt better at the sound of his dry voice and the slight arch of one of his eyebrows, a distinctive look that was pure Peter. He had longish light brown hair and steel gray eyes, and he was dressed casually in worn jeans and a plain gray T-shirt, which she knew could be bought six in a pack from a discount store.

“The only money I have to spend I’ve already promised to spend on a new outfit for tonight.”

Peter evidently found the check-in desk because he steered them to the right. Kelly still couldn’t see anything but a lot of motion and shiny objects.

“You’re not going to gamble at all?” Peter asked.

“Of course not!” Kelly was outraged by the very thought. After scraping for every penny as she’d grown up, she found the idea of handing over money without knowing exactly what she’d get in return almost offensive, even if it was just for entertainment. “I’m not going to throw my money away. Anyway, Deanna would never forgive me if I didn’t spend it on a dress. She gave me a bunch of cash with strict instructions.”

They’d made it to the front desk, but they had to wait in line before they checked in. Peter’s eyes were resting on her face as he said, “That’s good. You never do anything for yourself.”