Falling for the Best Man(4)

 

Someone who could step in for day and help convince the producers he was responsible, stable, and not interested in causing trouble. In return she'd get a free vacation in Hawaii, and his undying gratitude. It seemed like a fair deal.

 

Now he just had to find the girl.

 

"And not your regular kind of girlfriend," Trent had quickly interjected before Christopher could begin to flick through his address book. "We need someone nice, but not too nice, if you know what I'm saying."

 

Unfortunately, he did. Which was why he'd decided to wait until he was at Lewis's wholesome vintage wedding to find the perfect girl. After all, what could be more family-friendly than one of the six bridesmaids who were going to be there? It was like the universe was giving him a clear sign this was the right thing to do. Not to mention-

 

"This is it," Emmy's voice cut through his thoughts like a razor as they came to a halt next to a faded green pickup truck that had seen better days.

 

Christopher climbed into the vehicle. Despite the rust, the inside cab was neat and smelled vaguely of vanilla cupcakes. He put his compact travel bag on the floor and forced himself to not look at Emmy, because looking was bad. Very bad. Plus, it might lead to disturbing thoughts of nakedness, or at the very least make him acknowledge she was even more beautiful now than when they'd first met.

 

Okay, so no looking and no thinking.

 

Her hands tightened around the steering wheel. She was clearly hiding something. It was lucky she was a self-declared homebody, since she obviously didn't have the makings of an international spy.  

 

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" he asked as she shifted into first gear and drove through the parking lot.

 

"What do you mean?" Her light voice was at odds with the red patches that had now appeared on her cheeks. She didn't look at him, and if Christopher wasn't still annoyed with her for standing him up two years ago, he might've acknowledged his increased heart rate. Or the fact her skin was still dewlike. Nope, not happening. He slammed that part of his brain shut. "I told you, I'm the wedding planner. I'm here to collect you."

 

"I've sailed down the Nile, crossed the Sahara, and been bungee jumping in New Zealand. Finding an inn in a town with a population of two thousand people is definitely in my toolbox."

 

She pressed her full, pink lips together, allowing him to be reacquainted with just what nice lips they were. Sensuous, like her. He remembered the feel of her skin. Her body had been toned from work on the farm rather than from a repetitious gym program, which he found strangely arousing. Had found strangely arousing, rather. That was firmly in the past.

 

As far as he was concerned, anyone who was too scared to leave home wasn't the right person for him. Regardless of how hot she looked as she pushed her long bangs away from her face.

 

Man, it's going to be a long four days.

 

"I'm sure it is." Emmy slammed the pickup into third gear and tightened her grip. "It's just I was out this way, and it was no bother."

 

"Really." Christopher quirked an eyebrow. "You had a wedding emergency at the airport?"

 

"I-" Emmy started to speak, then broke off as frown lines gathered on her forehead. She let out a sigh. "Fine. So there've been a few last minute hiccups with the accommodation. It turns out you're going to have to stay at the farm."

 

"At the farm?" he said, before understanding hit him. "You mean at your farm? With you?"

 

"Yes, with me," she said, her body stiff, as if daring him to argue. He opened his mouth and then closed it, noticing the pale purple smudges under her eyes. It looked like she hadn't been getting much sleep lately. "Thanks to a plumbing disaster brought on by Lewis's brother, the entire Rosepot Inn is out of commission."

 

"Lawrence always has been a one-man demolition unit," Christopher confirmed. His friend's younger brother must've been the cause of the dark shadows under Emmy's eyes. "Still, I could always just bunk in with him, or one of the other guys."

 

"No, you can't. Every room is already at capacity, and that's with me pulling strings. There's nowhere else," she said, still refusing to look at him. "Trust me, if I knew you were the best man, I never would've given Melinda my word you could stay."

 

"Wouldn't be the first time you've broken your word," Christopher said and was rewarded by the sight of a crimson stain creeping up her neck. He winced. Considering he strung words together for a living, he was doing a lousy job of using them right now. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's just I was hoping to spend time with the wedding party, and if I'm stuck out on the farm, that will be difficult."