Daughters Of The Bride (23 page)

“You’re busy.”

“I am. What about you?”

“Things are good.”

“How’s the boy band?”

“Annoying Wayne.”

She smiled. “Which you enjoy.”

“I do.” He tapped her knee. “I’m done.”

She opened her eyes and looked at the swirling and curved lines covering the backs of her hands. “It’s beautiful. So how long does it take to dry?”

“Two hours.”

“Two hours!” She came to her feet. “What part of ‘I’m busy’ wasn’t clear to you? I can’t sit here for two hours.”

He smiled as he rose. “You’re going to have to. You can’t get anything on the henna or it will be ruined. You don’t want a smudge on the pattern, do you?”

“Are you insane? I have to go and do things.”

“Sorry. I guess you’re stuck.”

He didn’t sound sorry at all.

She glared at him. “If I didn’t have henna on my hands, I would so hit you.”

He grinned. “But you do and you can’t. Two long hours. Whatever are we going to do?”

His tone caught her attention before the words sank in. When both connected in her brain, she felt her insides start to melt.

“Quinn,” she began, not sure if she was annoyed or impressed. Probably the latter, she admitted, but only to herself. “Seriously, the time thing.”

“You’re stuck. That’s my bad. I’m going to have to make it up to you.” He looked her up and down. “How should I do that?” He reached for the front of her jeans. “I know.”

He unfastened her jeans and worked on the zipper. She reached to push him away, remembered her hands and was able to only stand there awkwardly as he lowered her jeans to the floor. She stepped out of them. Her panties followed. She was naked from the waist down, in the living room of his bungalow. It was a very strange afternoon.

He pushed her clothes to the side and moved close, then cupped her face. She had only a second to brace herself for the impact of his kiss before he claimed her.

She parted the second his mouth touched hers. Their tongues tangled as heat and need surged through her. The awkward thing went away, and anticipation took its place. This was Quinn, she thought hazily. Whatever else might be going on in her life, she trusted him, trusted
them
. Being with him was exciting and challenging and satisfying, but always, always safe. Whatever happened, he would have her back.

He moved his hands down to her shoulders, then lower onto her hips. They settled on her bare butt, where he squeezed her curves.

“If you’d rather, I can get you a magazine.”

She laughed, then leaned in and nipped his bottom lip. “I think you’ll be more interesting.”

“If you’re sure. I have the latest issue of
Rolling Stone
.”

“And while that’s tempting, I think this is better.”

He moved his hands to her belly, then drew them to her breasts. He brushed his fingertips against her tight nipples. Even through the layer of her bra and T-shirt, she felt his sure touch. Tension and fire flowed from her breasts to her groin and back.

“Sit,” he told her.

She sat on the chair. He knelt in front of her and shifted her until her butt was barely resting on the edge of the cushion. He pushed her thighs apart, exposing the very essence of her to him. He rested his hand flat on her stomach and pressed his thumb against her clit.

The pleasure was instant. She sank back against the chair and closed her eyes. Whatever he was going to do to her, she knew it would be magical. She was simply going to go along for the ride.

Quinn didn’t disappoint. He continued to rub her clit until he had her moving her hips in time with his actions. She spread her legs wider still, knowing there would be more and wanting it all. She felt him shift, but she didn’t look. She wanted to be surprised. For a second there was nothing, then, without warning, he pressed his warm tongue against her swollen center.

She gasped as tendrils of pleasure radiated out from her core. Her toes curled, her thighs tightened and she let her head fall back.

The man knew what he was doing, she thought as he circled her a couple of times before settling into a steady rhythm that had her hips pulsing in time with his ministrations. He licked and sucked until she was gasping and reaching for her release. At the same time, he pushed two fingers into her. He moved them in tandem with his tongue, then curled them so he could stimulate her G-spot.

Courtney grabbed on to the arms of the chair and dug her fingers into the fabric. Her entire body was focused on the places he touched and the ecstasy he promised. Her muscles tightened, her breathing quickened as she pushed toward her release. It remained tantalizingly out of reach until it suddenly exploded, causing her to shudder against him.

She felt herself pulsing against his fingers. He rubbed her clit from underneath even as he moved his tongue back and forth. She came and came for what felt like hours as every ounce of pleasure drained from her.

When she was done, she lay there, legs spread, eyes closed. She couldn’t do much more than try to catch her breath. She heard movements and a rustling sound, then felt his hands on her thighs.

She opened her eyes in time to watch him push into her. His erection was huge, his expression intense. He pushed in, then withdrew. She shifted so she could wrap her legs around his hips. He shoved his hands under her T-shirt and massaged her breasts.

He pushed in and out, finding a fast road to his release. At the same time, he lightly pinched her nipples. She was so sensitized from all he’d done before that she found herself arching into the contact, wanting more and more.

She started to reach for him, remembered the henna, then grabbed the arms of the chair.

The combination of him filling her and his fingers and thumbs on her nipples was pushing her closer. “Harder,” she gasped, not sure which she needed more of, then realizing it didn’t much matter.

He shoved in deeper even as he squeezed her nipples more tightly. She came again with a shriek.

He pumped in and out of her faster and faster, carrying her on her orgasm until they were both gasping for air. He dropped his hands to her hips, held her still and pushed in one last time before climaxing himself.

They stayed like that—him inside her, his hands on her hips, while they caught their breath. His eyes were dark, his gaze direct. They watched each other. It was as if having just shared physical intimacy, now they wanted an emotional connection. She let herself get lost in looking at him.

“You okay?” he asked.

She smiled. “The henna thing really works for me.”

He grinned. “I had a feeling you’d like it. We’ll have to try it again sometime.”

23

“DO YOU LIKE
the dresses you and your sisters picked out for your mom’s wedding?” David asked.

“We do. They’re black, which is going to be great against all the pink, and the style is pretty classic. I’m going to take mine to a tailor after the wedding to get it cut off. I can use a knee-length dress a lot more.”

They were having dinner at Audrey’s on the Pier, a nice seafood restaurant on the waterfront. Sienna was doing her best to relax. Over the past few days, she’d had a sense of impending doom. If she had to guess, she would say it started when David’s mother had shown up so unexpectedly.

“Did it kill you to pay retail?” he asked, his voice teasing. “I know you love a bargain.”

“I do. I can’t help it. Plus, I work right next to an amazing thrift store. Why not take advantage of that?”

They’d already ordered, and the server had brought them each a glass of chardonnay. She sipped hers.

“I was thinking,” David said, leaning toward her. “We should go wedding gown shopping together.”

“What?”

“Hear me out. I want you to know what I like. I’m going to want your opinion on my tux, so it’s only fair.” He smiled engagingly as he pushed up his glasses. “You’re going to be beautiful no matter what, but I’d like a say.”

In her wedding gown? “I thought it was supposed to be a surprise.”

“It will be. I don’t want to know which dress you buy. Just maybe offer some guidance.”

He thought she needed guidance? “Okay,” she said slowly. “As long as we don’t deal with this until after Mom’s wedding. There’s so much going on. I want to be available to help Courtney.”

“She’s probably going to need it.”

Her gaze sharpened. “What does that mean?”

He looked confused. “What? You’re the one always saying she’s incompetent and clumsy. I’m just repeating what you said before.”

“Oh.” He probably had a point. Until recently, she’d seen her younger sister as something of a disaster, but all that had changed. “She’s got her act together, believe me. We should all be doing so well. As for the wedding, it’s not that Mom’s changing her mind so much as she’s adding things. Regardless, I want to be around to help.”

“I always knew you were more than a pretty face.”

She smiled at him, knowing he meant the words kindly, but on the inside, she felt the need to slap him. Did everything have to be about her appearance? Of course, she could be overly sensitive. Maybe he didn’t mean it that way at all, and she was reading too much into his words.

“We are going to have to talk about where we’re having the wedding,” he said as the server brought their salads. “St. Louis would be really nice.”

“Except for the tornadoes and floods,” she murmured.

“We can work around those. I have a big family. It would be easier for them to have it there.”

She wanted to point out it would be easier for her family to have it here. Not to mention her. If the wedding was in David’s hometown, she had a bad feeling it would be planned by David’s mother. Which meant Sienna would be fighting Linda on every detail. While the other woman had been perfectly pleasant during her visit, she seemed to have a lot of firm opinions.

“Let’s talk about this after the wedding,” she said. “There’s a lot to consider and I can’t deal with that now.”

“Not a problem.” He winked. “How about an easier topic? The honeymoon. I’ve been thinking we should go somewhere exotic. Jennifer and Justin went to the Four Seasons in Bora Bora. We could go there. You’d look just as good in a bikini and we’d have great pictures to show everyone.”

She knew her mouth had dropped open. She consciously closed it, then put down her fork. “Who are Justin and Jennifer?”

“Jennifer Aniston. I can’t think of his last name. Didn’t you see the pictures in
People
magazine?”

“I honestly can’t remember.” She took a steadying breath. “David, why do you care about going to the same place some celebrity did?”

“I thought it would be fun. Something we could talk about with our friends.”

They didn’t have any mutual friends, and her friends wouldn’t care about a celebrity honeymoon. Why on earth did David? “I think it’s kind of far. There are a lot of really nice tropical resorts much closer.”

“I guess. We have time to discuss it. But I do want to honeymoon somewhere by the beach. Everyone needs to see how hot my wife looks in a bikini for sure.”

She frowned. “That’s about the fourth time you’ve mentioned my appearance tonight.”

“Is it?” He laughed. “I think you’re attractive. That’s not a bad thing.”

“No.” It wasn’t, she told herself firmly. “It’s just I worry that’s all you like about me. I’m not going to look this way forever.”

“Of course not. You’ll get old.” He grinned. “Of course, there’s always plastic surgery.”

Sienna felt her eyes widen. “Excuse me? Did you just say that?” She started to rise.

David’s expression immediately turned contrite and he reached across the table to grab her forearm. “Sienna, I’m sorry. I was making a joke, but it was a bad one.” He released her. “I apologize. That was a terrible thing to say.”

She sank back into her seat but didn’t speak. The sting of his words lingered, as did her need to bolt. But she told herself to hear him out.

“Of course I love all of you,” he continued. “You’re smart and caring. That was what I noticed first about you. How much you care about the women you help. Please forgive me.”

She nodded because it was the right thing to do. And his apology had been exactly right. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the plastic surgery comment had been the most honest thing he’d said. But was that really true, or was she simply looking for an excuse to run?

* * *

There was nothing that took the edge off a day like the sound of margarita ingredients mixing in a good-quality blender. Courtney moved her hips in time with the music flowing out of her mother’s built-in speakers, then flipped the switch on the blender.

When Maggie had called for an impromptu girls’ night in at her place, Courtney had taken the invitation as a peace offering. She’d rearranged her schedule to be there. Rachel and Sienna had come, as well. Neil had gone to Los Angeles for a couple of days, so it was girls only. Probably for the last time until after the wedding.

She turned off the blender and poured the slushy mixture into four salt-rimmed glasses. Her mother took the first one and smiled at her. Courtney smiled back.

Yes, there were things to say. Maybe things that might never be said. Was it better to get everything in the open and deal with it? Probably, but so what? Every family had problems. To be honest, she could go her whole life without having to deal with who did what and when. Better to just accept there had been a problem and move on.

“I got takeout,” Maggie announced as they took seats around the island. “Mexican from Bill’s.”

“Appropriate.” Sienna took a long drink of her margarita. “Did you know that alcohol enhances the aging process?”

They all stared at her.

“That was cheerful,” Rachel told her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Better than fine, because you know what? If I start to look old, I can get plastic surgery.”

Courtney moved close and touched her sister’s arm. “What’s going on?”

For a second Sienna looked as if she was going to cry. Then she tossed her head. “Nothing. I’m fine. Just being weird. Ignore me.” She turned to their mother. “Let’s talk about the wedding. Mom, what’s new with that?”

Maggie grinned. “Well, there are a few things I can show you.”

“I want to see them all,” Sienna told her.

Maggie got up and hurried from the room. Rachel got a large bowl and dumped chips in it while Courtney collected the take-out containers of salsa and guacamole. By the time Maggie returned with a couple of boxes, they were passing the bowls along the island.

“I have sneakers,” she said, opening the first box. “I love the internet. Have I mentioned that? Did you know you can order custom sneakers on the Converse website and that they have special wedding ones?”

She held up a pair that were white and trimmed in pink. On the heel, one shoe said “Maggie” and the other said “Neil.”

“Too cute,” Rachel told her. “What else?”

Their mother showed them etched champagne glasses for the bride and groom, along with a custom garter.

“I’m not going to have Neil throw it,” she said, closing the box. “I’m a little old to be flashing that much thigh, but we’ll know it’s there and that’s what matters.” She looked at Courtney. “You’re doing a wonderful job with the wedding. Thank you for that, darling. It’s going to be an amazing day.”

“I think it is.” Courtney thought about mentioning Jill’s due date concerns, but when she’d told her mother about the change, Maggie had insisted on keeping Jill as her first choice for an officiate. So Courtney had found a backup minister.

Maggie pushed the boxes to the far end of the island. “So how is everyone doing? I feel like we’re all so busy these days. Rachel, honey, you’re looking so good.”

“Thanks.” Rachel raised her margarita. “Tonight I sin, but in the morning, I will walk.” She shrugged. “I’m taking care of myself and it’s really helping me feel better.”

“How’s Greg?”

Rachel stiffened. “Why would you ask me that?”

Maggie shrugged. “I don’t know. I think about him. You two were so good together. I’m sorry he was an idiot.”

“Me, too,” Rachel admitted. “At least we’re getting along and he’s being such a good dad to Josh.”

Courtney studied her sister. The words were all correct, but there was something in Rachel’s tone. Nothing bad. Was it wistfulness? She’d said that Greg was around more, helping and hanging out with his son. Was there more going on?

“Any sparks?” Sienna asked, cutting right to the chase.

“What?” Rachel looked away. “Of course not. We’re divorced. Sure, we can be friends, but that’s all. I’m sure he’s dating a million other people.”

“I haven’t seen him with anyone,” Sienna said.

“Me, either.” Maggie sipped her drink. “I won’t push. You had every right to throw him out. It’s just...well, enough about that. Sienna, how’s David?”

“Good. Fine. We’re putting off planning our wedding until after yours, but I’m paying attention so I can steal all the best ideas.”

Courtney wasn’t sure that happy statement could have sounded more wooden. “What’s up?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Sienna beamed. “I’m happily engaged.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “No one believes that. You want to talk about it?”

Sienna drained her glass. “What I would love is a refill.” She walked to the blender and poured. “Courtney, your turn. How’s your love life?”

“I don’t have one.”

Everyone laughed. “Of course you do,” her mother said. “You’re seeing Quinn.”

“Sure, but it’s just fun.” And hot and amazing, she thought, glancing at the henna on the backs of her hands. “He’s not the settling-down kind. I mean, look at him. He’s dated all kinds of famous women. Actresses and models. He wouldn’t be interested in me.”

“Of course he would,” Rachel told her. “He’d be lucky to have you.”

“Thanks, but let’s be real.” She reached for a chip. “However this ends, he’s been so great to me. He’s helped with a lot of things.” Like her worrying about being too tall, and he’d been there after Joyce had outed her about her education. “I like him. He’s been an amazing summer fling. When it ends, and it will, I’ll be crushed, but I’ll move on.”

“I’d really like to see you married,” Maggie said, then frowned. “All of you. Dear God, I just realized, you’re all single.”

“I’m engaged,” Sienna said, waving her left hand. “Look. I have a ring and everything.”

“Yes, but none of you are married. I’m a horrible mother.”

Now Courtney was the one to roll her eyes. “Mom, shocking, but true—not everything is about you.”

Maggie laughed. “You’re right, but it should be. Don’t you agree? Now, who wants dinner?”

* * *

Josh bolted from the kitchen for his Tuesday night video game session. One of the new rules for summer was limiting his computer playtime to three nights a week. Greg stared after him.

“Are those skid marks on the floor?” he asked with a laugh.

“Absolutely. I always plan to entertain myself on video game nights.”

He turned back to the dishwasher and loaded the last of the dishes. When Greg had brought Josh home from camp, they’d stopped for takeout, and somehow her ex had ended up staying for dinner. With Josh at the table, she hadn’t worried about feeling awkward, but now they were alone and she had no idea what to say.

“How’s your arm?” she asked, then wondered if she shouldn’t have. Maybe it was better to ignore what had happened before.

“Nearly healed. The stitches are dissolving, so I just have to keep it dry a few more days and I’ll be good as new.”

She wiped down the counter. “Good. And that other guy, Tommy? How’s he doing?”

“He’ll be back to work tomorrow.”

She rinsed off her hands and dried them. Okay, time to get Greg to leave. Only, she wasn’t sure how without being rude. Before she could figure something out, he’d crossed to the Keurig and turned it on.

“I’d like a decaf,” he said. “What about you?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

He knew where everything was. As he collected the pods and mugs, she went into the living room and settled in one of the chairs. On purpose. With the sofa, she would worry about where to sit. One end? The middle? A chair was much safer.

Greg brought in their coffees a few minutes later. He sat on the end of the sofa closest to her.

“My mom was telling me I don’t bring you around enough,” he told her.

“I’ll have to stop in and see her the next time I pick up Josh.” Rachel had always liked Greg’s parents. “How’s it going living with them?” Because he’d moved in with them after the divorce.

“Not bad. They mostly leave me alone.”

“You ever think about getting a place of your own?”

“Sometimes. I’m waiting.”

That got her attention. Waiting for what? For them? Her heart began to beat faster in her chest. Was this it? Were they going to talk about their relationship now? She opened her mouth, closed it, then decided to let him bring it up.