Tangled Vows(10)

"Everett."

"Bug." He imitated her high voice.

"Don't make fun of me. I'm not a kid anymore."

He knew she wasn't. Nevertheless, he wasn't ready to face the  implications of what she was saying. He sighed again. "Sorry, Bug. I  know you're not. There's just not much I can do in our current  situation. I appreciate your concern though."

Sarah sighed too and leaned back on the railing, raising her head to  look at the stars twinkling high above. "So what are you gonna do?"

He stubbed out his cigarette. "I'm going to go back up there, apologize, and pretend none of it happened."

"And after the wedding when you leave?"

He shrugged. "We'll go our separate ways."

"Is that what you really want?"

"Sarah, please. I don't know what I want. But I'm fairly sure Bay  doesn't want me or my lifestyle. So that's that." He dropped a kiss on  the top of her head. "Go back to bed, Bug. Goodnight." He made a hasty  retreat before she could ask him any more probing questions he couldn't  answer.

*

Everett steeled himself before opening the bedroom door, not sure what  he would face. Would Bailey be angry? Hurt? Embarrassed? He put on the  mask he used when acting. Whatever she did, he would take it with grace.  He deserved it, after all.

He opened the door slowly and took a step inside. It was quiet, and for a  moment, he thought the room was empty. Then he saw a slight movement  from the bed. There she lay, on her side with her knees pulled up, fast  asleep. He closed the door softly and stood for a moment watching her.  In sleep, she looked so different. Her usual defenses were down,  softening her expression. Reaching over, he pulled the covers further up  on her shoulders. "Sweet dreams, Bay," he whispered.

Rearranging his own covers on the floor, he settled down for a sleepless night.                       
       
           



       





Chapter 9




‡


Bay had managed to keep her emotions in check during the last of the  wedding preparations in spite of Everett's nearness. As she dressed for  the rehearsal dinner, she steeled herself for a difficult night. While  they were busy with preparations and not many people were around, the  casual dating routine had been easy to maintain. However, tonight, in  front of all Everett's family, she'd really have to sell the girlfriend  image.

She pulled on a silvery gray knee-length pencil skirt and a red silk  blouse with an empire waist. She felt it was a little too business  professional for a rehearsal dinner, but she didn't have many choices,  seeing as her wardrobe consisted almost entirely of suits and pants.

She found Everett waiting for her in the living room, staring out the  window. He glanced her way, but she could read nothing from his stony  expression. "Ready?" he asked.

She nodded, and they headed out to Everett's car. The silence grew  between them as he drove down the country roads. She shifted against the  leather seat and glanced at his profile. His eyes were fixed straight  ahead, and his square jaw was tight. His fingers twitched on the  steering wheel as if feeling her stare. The incident between them a few  nights previous hung over her like a cloud. They had yet to even speak  about it, and both had avoided being alone with each other until now.

Finally, she couldn't stand it any longer and she spoke. "I apologize  for my behavior the other night," she said formally. "You were right; I  was acting like a bitch. I hope this won't color our professional  relationship."

His eyes jerked to her then turned back to the road without a word.  After a long minute, she spoke again. "Are we going to be okay tonight?"

"We?" He shrugged. "Depends on you. I," he emphasized the pronoun, "will  be fine. I know how to play a part." He turned to her then with fire in  his eyes. She glared back, refusing to back down. "Do you?" he asked.

"I'll be fine as long as you don't accost me again."

He slammed the palm of his hand against the steering wheel. "I didn't  accost you. I was trying to help you, to make sure you were okay after  what was obviously a nightmare. And if you'll remember, it was you who  accosted me. You tried to hit me. I was only protecting myself." His  answer was smug.

"You call kissing a woman senseless protecting yourself?" she asked indignantly.

This time when he turned to look at her, that real, boyish grin was in  place. "Senseless, huh? I like the thought of you senseless at my  touch."

She reached up and punched him in the arm-lightly. She didn't want him  to get the wrong impression again. In spite of herself, she felt a blush  creeping into her cheeks. "Stop. You know this isn't right."

"It might not be appropriate, but I would never say it wasn't right. I  always determine what's right by my gut. And my gut says I did exactly  the right thing at that moment."

"I don't think it was your gut you were listening to," she said sardonically.

He chuckled. "Somewhere in the general vicinity." He sobered immediately  though and reached over to touch her hand. "I won't apologize for the  kiss. I'm attracted to you, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will  apologize for losing my temper though."

She mulled over his words and decided to ignore the part about  attraction. "Fair enough. I apologize for my behavior too. I know you  thought you were helping; I'm just tired of everyone trying to push me  to get over my problems."

"All right. Then are we going to be okay tonight?"

"Yeah." She squared her shoulders. "I'll be the perfect girlfriend."

*

In spite of her promises, Bailey was conscious of Everett's every move,  of his every touch during the evening festivities. The way he whispered  in her ear, the way he curled an arm around her waist, the way he danced  so tantalizing close yet so far away. Her libido was in overdrive,  unable to stop the awareness flowing through her veins of what his body  felt like pressed up against hers. She was in deep shit, and she knew  it.

She finally met Sarah's fiancée, Toby. He was a sweet young man, and he  seemed perfect for Sarah. Bay wished them all the luck in the world, but  she couldn't help but think of what it would be like for her to get  married. She'd never thought much about marriage. She'd been so invested  in the Army she'd never thought much about her life beyond her career.  Then a single bullet had changed her life and altered her path forever.                       
       
           



       

Bailey glanced at the sculpted figure of the man sitting next to her.  The button-down dress shirt only emphasized his muscular physique  instead of hiding it. The hair brushing his collar gave him a look of  the wolf in sheep's clothing. The crinkle lines around his eyes and  mouth told her he liked to laugh. Definitely not sweet like Toby. A man  like Toby would never be her type. Gentle was not what she needed. She  didn't need anyone who would want to protect her. She could protect  herself. No, she needed someone who could push her, challenge her, keep  her out of her comfort zone. Would she ever find a man like that?

She thought of Mark and the times they had spent together. Sexy, strong,  and definitely good in bed, they were good together. But … she still  couldn't see living a life with him. There was just something missing.

A man approached their table, scowling. In spite of her preoccupation,  she was too well trained to have let her guard down completely. She was  here for security, after all. She rested her right hand on her hip,  immediately below the subcompact Berretta in the waist of her skirt,  hidden by the loose folds of her blouse.

"Ah, Frank," Everett said. "I was wondering if you'd even speak to me or  if you were planning on avoiding me the whole time I was here."  Although the words sounded playful, Bailey was quick to note that  Everett's eyes had tightened and his smile was fake. It was amazing how  fast she'd learned to read him this past week. She kept her hand where  it was, anticipating anything that might happen.

"Frank, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Bailey. Bay, this is my brother, Frank."

As Everett made the introductions, Bailey could see the resemblance.  Like Everett, he was tall, but he was lean where Everett was all  muscles. Their eyes were similar, but Frank's lacked the spark of life  that infused Everett's.

"Nice to meet you," she murmured without offering her hand. She didn't  want to lose her advantage by taking her hand away from her gun. Frank  glanced briefly at her and nodded before ignoring her.

"No bodyguards this time, Everett?" He spread his hands wide to indicate  the room. "Really slumming it with us common folk, aren't you?"