"I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay here tonight." She didn't turn to face him, knowing he would try to dissuade her.
"It's only three more nights, Bay," he said, sounding exasperated. She couldn't blame him. She'd been sending him mixed messages all week. She felt him come up behind her, and her body betrayed her once again, sending tingles along her skin. "Where would you go, anyway?"
"I'll sleep downstairs on the couch."
"Bailey." He turned her to face him. "Don't leave."
She stared at his chest, refusing to look at him, refusing to let him sway her. "I'm not leaving, I'm just going downstairs. You can tell everyone we had a fight."
Everett sighed and stalked away. "I don't care about that. I-" He stood still, in shock. He'd been about to say he cared about her. Was that true? She certainly drove him crazy, in more ways than one.
"I just don't trust myself alone with you anymore," Bailey said.
"Look, I already apologized for that. I promise I won't touch you again, okay?"
"Not you, Everett. Me." She pointed a finger at her chest. "I don't trust me. I don't trust my own self-control, even though I know the consequences." She stalked past him to the door.
"Bay," Everett tried one last time. But Bailey closed the door behind her without another word.
Chapter 11
‡
Everett waited downstairs for Bailey. Looking at his watch, he grumbled for the umpteenth time about how long it took women to get ready. His parents had left for the church ten minutes ago and here he was still waiting on Bailey.
Just as he was about the call up the stairs for her, she appeared on the landing. His eyes traveled from her dainty painted toenails in high-heeled sandals up to the soft curls that framed her face. She looked absolutely stunning. As she carefully navigated the stairs with her heels, Everett took the opportunity to study her.
"Are you ready?" she asked breathlessly as she reached him.
He didn't answer her. Instead, he said the only thing on his mind. "You look stunning." All the anger and frustration of his sleepless night and long day were forgotten as he tried to wrap his head around this transformed vision of the Bailey he thought he knew.
Bailey lowered her eyes, but otherwise refused to acknowledge his compliment. "Sorry it took so long. I'm not used to doing anything with my hair. But Sarah insisted I had to wear it down."
Everett picked up a curl resting against her collarbone and twisted it around his finger. "Why don't you wear it down more often? It suits you."
"Gets in the way of the job," she answered, her voice clipped.
He released the curl and trailed the finger down her neck, watching as the pulse point in her neck accelerated. "And nothing's more important than the job."
Although Bay knew Everett's words were sarcastic, she chose to ignore it. "That's right," she agreed.
Everett sighed at her stubbornness before offering her his arm. "Ms. Lennox." Placing her hand on his arm, she let him lead her to his car.
Everett attempted to make casual conversation during the short drive to the church, but Bay's answers were short. She didn't want to get to know him any better than she already did. She didn't want to laugh at his jokes. She didn't want to find herself more attracted to him than she already was. She had barely spoken a word to him all day, and she was determined to keep it that way. Her plan was to make sure they were always around other people at the wedding, that way she could be seen with Everett without actually talking to him.
Everett and Bailey were among the last guests seated at the church. As they walked to the front pews, Bay heard the murmurs of the other guests as they recognized Everett. Her face began to heat from all the stares focused on her, and she almost stumbled, unused to heels. Only her experience in the public eye as a child of a senator and Everett's strong arm kept her from falling.
"You all right?" he asked as they settled themselves into their seats.
Bailey nodded, too embarrassed to say anything. She focused on her breathing until her cheeks cooled and she felt more in control.
Before long, the music started and they all stood for Sarah's walk down the aisle. When the minister began speaking, Everett put his arm around Bay's shoulders. Goosebumps prickled on her arm everywhere his fingers touched.
The short words of the ceremony stretched into eternity as Bailey became conscious of Everett's nearness. Every cell in her burned where his body touched hers. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest on his every breath, and she swore she could hear his heart beat in time with hers.
She managed to listen as Sarah and Toby read their personalized vows and smiled at the tender kiss they exchanged as the minister pronounced them husband and wife. As the guests stood for the second time, Bailey glanced at Everett and caught him discretely wiping at his eyes.
Her reserve fled as she saw how moved he was by his sister's happiness. She missed the closeness she used to have with her own sister. Maybe I should forgive her and let it go. On instinct, she reached out, took his hand, and squeezed in reassurance.
Startled by the unexpected touch on his hand, Everett turned his head to gaze into the warm eyes of the woman at his side. She gave him a small smile before looking away as if everything was normal. As if her holding his hand was an everyday occurrence. As if they were a real couple enjoying the intimacy of attending a wedding. Everett blinked in surprise, yet couldn't stop himself from gripping her hand a little tighter, afraid she'd slip away from him once again.
*
When they entered the VFW hall for the reception, Everett took Bailey's hand again. When she looked at him questioningly, he simply smiled. He wasn't willing to let her go. Not yet. He had two more days with her, and he was determined to make the most of it. As much as she was willing to let him.
He mingled with the guests, on the pretense of introducing her, but really he wanted the excuse to keep her right beside him. After the wedding couple's first dance, he tugged Bailey onto the dance floor.
"Everett, what are you doing?" Her voice was low and breathy, and she looked everywhere but at him.
He put a hand on her bare back. Her skin was soft, and he could feel each vertebra of her spine as she moved with him. "Dancing," he replied.
"I thought we were going to keep our distance from each other," she said.
He deftly moved her into a closer embrace. "I can't do that anymore." She finally looked at him then, and he smiled.
"Why not?" she asked through clenched teeth.
"Because, as hard as you try, you are anything but impersonal, Bailey Lennox. I want it to be personal. Very personal. We only have two more days. Let's just give up the charade and find out just how well we can get to know each other for the time we have left."
Bailey shook her head, a fierce look marring her features. "No. I've told you no. This is only a job, and I will not ruin my life for a fling."
The music changed then and slowed. Everett smirked and pulled her all the way into his embrace, pressing her body against his. She stiffened and tried to pull away, but he refused to release her. "Don't make a scene," he pleaded. "Just give me this one dance, okay?"
He felt her sigh, and her body relaxed in his arms. "All right," she agreed.
Everett focused on the feel of her skin against his hands, the rustle of her dress as he moved her across the floor, the smell of her perfume that invaded his senses. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, he thought. If he didn't find a distraction soon, he would embarrass them both. "Where'd you hide your gun?" he whispered into her ear. Pressed this close to her, he should have felt it if she had it on her. "Wait." He shook his head. "Don't answer that. I don't think I want to know." When she raised her eyebrows in question, he clarified by sliding the hand on her back a little lower until his fingertips slipped under the fabric of her dress. "I'm afraid I'll be tempted to see for myself," he murmured into her ear.
Bailey shivered as his fingers stroked the top of her ass and his breath tickled her ear. She would have lost all hesitation right then if not for the people around them. She couldn't help but tease him for his question though. She arched her neck and lifted her head to whisper into his own ear. "Do you really want to see?" she asked suggestively.