Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set(78)
“He wanted to be here,” she said.
“I never said otherwise. I just said he hasn’t changed.”
A muscle twitched in her cheek for a second before she gave in and smiled. “I guess you do know your brother well.”
“You sound surprised.”
“It’s just that he’s always concerned about you, but you’re...” She trailed off. A slight flush stained her cheeks, painting them a rosy pink.
“Rarely in touch,” he finished for her. “Comes with the territory. The places I travel lack the luxury of pay phones.”
“But the two of you are close.”
“We’re brothers.” For Mike, that said it all. But for each other, Mike and Peter had no one else in the world who cared. Except Carly. Peter now had his fiancée and Mike had to stop staring at her as if he’d discovered uncharted territory. Better to concentrate on the upcoming wedding and lifelong commitment between Carly and his brother.
“How long will you be in town?” she asked.
“At least the month until the wedding and probably awhile afterward. Then I hit the road again.” He had no other choice. He’d left mid-assignment because he’d allowed personal demons to haunt him. He knew damn well he had to face them down if he wanted to look himself in the mirror every morning. Mike Novack never left a job undone, and the man he knew himself to be wouldn’t let the past haunt him.
Once he returned to the rambling life he’d always loved, everything would get back to normal. Or so he hoped, glancing at the woman about to marry his brother.
“Ready to check out the rings inside?” Mike asked.
“Sure.” But her gaze strayed to the jewel-filled window once again.
“Is there one you really like?” he asked.
“Those.” She leaned forward and tapped lightly, indicating a set of simple two-toned rings.
A woman with substance. His mind ran through their earlier banter and he realized she’d meant every word. “They’re beautiful,” he said.
She turned to look at him. “But not Peter’s taste.” A frown touched her lips and a corresponding sadness flashed in her gentle brown eyes.
“You’re right. They wouldn’t stop traffic. Pete would prefer something a little more... noticeable.”
She sighed.
“You obviously know him well, too,” Mike said.
She smiled. “We understand each other.”
Did they? Mike had spent but a few minutes with each and he’d already begun to wonder. Watching Carly stare longingly at the rings in the window, he grew concerned.
“It’s getting late,” she murmured. “I hope he realizes these things can’t be rushed and we have to have them ordered, sized and engraved. Then there’s the tuxedos, the final flower arrangements, the...”
“Relax. No list is set in stone. It’ll all get done in time.”
“Only if we follow my schedule.”
Mike placed a comforting hand on her bare shoulder, realizing his mistake too late. Her skin felt like fine silk beneath his roughened fingers. He breathed in deeply. She looked like sunshine and smelled like vanilla. A potent combination, he discovered.
“What if we get a cup of coffee and go over this schedule of yours? I’m sure you’d relax once you see everything will fall into place.”
Her frantic gaze darted from his hand, which remained on her shoulder, to the rings in the storefront window. “Coffee’s not such a good idea.”
He ought to let her go. After his overwhelming reaction to her, distance seemed the safest route. “We’ve got the time,” he muttered instead.
“Pick up any magazine or newspaper. Caffeine’s not good for you.” She stepped toward the street. Before he realized her intent, a yellow taxi screeched to a halt.
“Thanks for meeting me. I’m sure with all the wedding things going on I’ll be seeing a lot more of you.” Her rambling clearly stated that she hoped that wouldn’t be the case. Those huge brown eyes told another story.
“Count on it,” he said with a smile.
No sooner had she darted into the waiting cab than the taxi pulled away from the curb.
“Ah, the joys of living in New York City.” He watched as the brake lights disappeared into the maze of traffic, taking Carly farther away.
* * *
Carly stepped into the familiar lobby of Peter’s building. The smell of fresh paint permeated the air. Clean white walls surrounded chrome and mirrors. She wasn’t surprised. Thanks to the cost of the apartment and the condominium fees, the tenants in this Upper East Side luxury building demanded quality service and maintenance. Peter was no exception.