His Southern Sweetheart (12 page)

“Amelia,” Cay scolded.

Lexi stood in front of the mirror and pretended to fuss with her blond hair. “You're not leaving any time soon, are you?”

“She was ordered a mandatory month off to take care of our grandmother,” Cay explained. “She's been here a week.”

“Good.” Lexi beamed. “That gives us three more weeks to convince her to stay.”

In the reflection Amelia also watched the center stall door open. Irritation replaced her bliss. Amelia rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. So far tonight she was having a good time.

“Amelia.” Brittany Foley gave her reflection a curt, chilly nod.

“Brittany.” Amelia returned the icy stare.

Lexi cut the tension by clearing her throat, as if with an imaginary machete. “Brittany, what a surprise to run into you tonight.”

“Really, Lexi?” Brittany snapped. “I told you on the first day of school I'd be attending all of Emily's events. She was my best friend, after all. I'm the one who's been by her side after everything. I recall telling you today at the bridal shower hosted by Emily's mother I'd see you tonight.”

The jab was meant to cut Amelia but at the moment she didn't care. She turned and faced her alleged opponent. “Let's cut to the chase, Brittany.”

“Let's.” Brittany folded her arms across her flat chest. The flowery dress she wore with a pair of white sandals did nothing for her figure. The church mouse act didn't fool Amelia one bit.

Some of the women already in line for the bathroom turned around to leave. The last thing Amelia wanted to do was to cause a scene at Emily's event. In the years of following women around, especially after they'd been drinking, Amelia had witnessed a loss of common sense in women and a false sense of bravado.

“You're upset because I'm back in town and you fear there's something going on between me and Nate?”

Taken aback by Amelia's bluntness, Brittany stuttered to find her words. “Nate and I are working on things.”

A week ago, Amelia may have believed such a thing but not anymore. “I'm sorry to interrupt your plans, Brittany, I really am. But I am not in town for some competition.”

“Why exactly are you back?”

“Brittany,” Cay interjected. “Let's not hash out things here in the women's bathroom. Not tonight.”

“Contrary to your own popular belief, Brittany,” said Amelia sarcastically, “I don't owe you an explanation as to why I'm here. And while I'm here, I will do whatever I want with whomever I want. Do I make myself clear?”

“Exactly,” Brittany said with a smirk. “Because you just told me you don't plan on being here long.”

“What?”

“Don't worry about it, Amelia.” Brittany pronounced every syllable in Amelia's name. “I'm on to you. And if you break Nate's heart before you leave, we're going to have another conversation.”

If the woman hadn't been so pathetic, Amelia would have laughed in her face. Who would have guessed the pastor's granddaughter to have such a possessive streak? “You're cute, Brittany. And I will let you in on a little secret. I don't plan on being here long but in the meantime, you need to make sure you stay out of my path.”

Brittany waved her hand toward the door. “Well, please go first. I already know what it's like to be in the path of your destruction. Clearly everyone else around town has forgotten.”

Amelia shook her head and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Despite what you may think, Brittany, I'm not the threat here.”

“I'll believe that when you...uh, what was it you said a few moments ago?” Brittany smirked. “Have the city behind you in your rearview mirror.”

Amelia took a deep breath in exasperation. “I give up. Ladies,” she said to Lexi and Cay, “I'll see you upstairs.”

Music deafened Amelia's ears the moment she opened the door. Lights from the spinning disco ball blinded her for a moment. She blinked but each time she tried to adjust her sight, the lights flashed dark. A large, warm hand wrapped around her wrist and dragged her onto the dance floor. For a split second she thought Nate had come to rescue her but once the arms pulled her close against his frame, she knew it wasn't. The man was built but not as well built as the biceps she'd felt up not less than twenty minutes ago. The height was not quite Nate's but tall and slender just the same.

“Parker.” Amelia prayed her smile did not display her disappointment. “You're here.”

“I'm Sam's best man,” said Parker. “And you are stunning.”

The DJ slowed the tempo. Parker laced his fingers behind her lower back. Uncomfortable, Amelia rested her hands against his chest for space. “Thank you. You're looking pretty dapper yourself. Why didn't you attend the bachelor auction last week?”

“Would you have bought me?”

A crooked grin paused on her face. “Nate and I had some unfinished business.”

Parker's smile matched hers. “Had? So now you're free for me?”

“Oh, Parker.” Amelia sighed. “I don't want to go down this road with you.”

“C'mon, what road?” Parker asked.

“I didn't come back in town to pick up where we left off.”

“Which was with me watching you drive off into the sunset?”

If Amelia rolled her eyes one more time tonight, she was sure to lose an eyelash. “Parker.”

“Amelia,” he mocked, then grinned. He tugged her closer. “I'm playing with you. Anyone with eyes can see what's going on between you and Nate Reyes.”

“What?”

“Don't play dumb with me, Amelia. You forget we shared our first kiss together.”

“And preferably your last,” said Nate's booming voice from behind Amelia.

Parker gave Amelia a quick wink and another squeeze. “Nate Reyes,” he said with a tight smile. “Here you are—again. Keeping away from the fires?”

“Oh, you know me,” said Nate, reaching for Amelia's shoulders, “always trying to put them out when they need to be.”

“Nate.” Amelia cocked her head to the side.

“It's okay, Amelia,” said Parker, letting her go. “I'll see you tomorrow. I'll have the DJ request our prom song if you'll save me a dance.”

Not sure how to respond, Amelia shook her head and chuckled. As Parker disappeared into the crowd, Nate spun her around and pulled her into his arms. “You weren't nice.”

“What?” he asked with a forced innocent twinkle in his green eyes. “I came down here to put out a fire.”

Amelia cast a glance in the direction where Parker disappeared. “There's no fire between me and Parker.”

“Clearly,” Nate mumbled.

“What fire were you thinking of?”

“I understand Brittany is here.” He sighed. “I didn't want her to make things uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable for whom? Me? Or for you, when I leave?”

Nate scowled down at her. “Leave for where? You don't have a job, remember?”

“Perhaps not with MET.” Amelia bit her lip. At this point in their relationship—whatever that meant—Amelia knew she needed to stop with her fabrication. In truth, she hadn't expected to hit things off with Nate outside of a bed. Getting to know him made it harder to face leaving at the end of the month. Grandmamma would be home Monday and Amelia gave herself a couple of weeks to get her settled into the new arrangements and then she'd head back on the
Azúcar
tour. Reality TV was her life. Southwood would never be as exciting.

So, recalling her plans to leave town in a week, she talked herself into keeping it to herself that she'd been suspended and not fired. She had something slick to say but any form of comment was lost in a gasp when Nate spun her around and dipped her. He held her body close to the ground, cradling her head and lower back.

“Let's not talk about the future,” Nate whispered in her ear, “at least nothing after the next few hours.”

Amelia's right brow rose in curiosity. “Only a few hours? Why, Nathaniel Reyes, I do declare,” she said in her utmost Scarlett O'Hara imitation.

* * *

The rest of the evening blew by in a breeze. Nate held Amelia's hand the entire evening, dragging her with him through every joint-bachelorette-bachelor game possible from Never Have I Ever and the newlywed game to a good, old-fashioned soul-train line. Only couples were invited to hang out in the VIP section, and Nate was grateful for Sam and Emily playing Cupid. Instead each man pulled a slip of paper with a name on it from a top hat and then the women did the same. The names were all male characters from different movies. He guessed each movie was a romance. Nate drew the name Darius Lovehall. When Amelia sauntered over to him and displayed her name, Nina Mosley, he remembered the movie
Love Jones
. Not all couples were matched perfectly like they were but Nate didn't care. The prize for matching up the fastest was crowns for a king and queen, courtesy of Lexi and her shop. The winners also had the time to share a slow dance before the group left for a decked-out party bus to bring everyone home. Nate had been so sexually charged watching Amelia lick buttercream icing off her naughty-themed cupcake and sucking the lime after her tequila shot, he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it out of the bus.

“You didn't have to walk me to my door,” said Amelia.

Nate took Amelia's house keys from her hand and shook his head as they walked up the ramp he'd built with his own two hands. “Of course I did.”

“Afraid the bogeyman might be waiting?”

“If he goes by the name of Parker Ward.” Nate grimaced. “Seems like he was everywhere tonight.”

“Whatever.”

Before sticking the key into the door, Nate turned to wink. “Hey, I'm pulling out all the stops here to make sure you're not planning on saving a dance with him tomorrow.”

“I can't save a dance?”

“No,” said Nate, trying to contain his desire as her airy giggle filled the night air. “You're to only save everything for me.”

The bus's horn blew and took off, laughter echoing in the early morning hours. The passengers they'd partied with tonight hung out the window waving goodbye. If Nate didn't know any better, he was sure his brother was driving the bus.

“Your ride seems to have left you,” said Amelia, nodding in the direction of the disappearing red taillights.

“Remind me to kill my brother tomorrow,” Nate grumbled. He took her keys and opened the front door. “Mind if I use the phone to call a cab?”

Amelia batted her lashes and shook her head. “It's late, Nate. And it's not like you haven't spent the night here before.”

“True.” Nate cleared his throat. He opened the door with ease and stepped aside to allow her inside. When he reached to hand her the house keys, Amelia clasped her small, soft hand with his and gave him a sly smile as she pulled him through the doorway.

“But this will be the first night you sleep in my bed.”

Not needing another word, Nate stepped farther inside and kicked the door closed with his foot. Amelia guided him through the living room to the stairs, occasionally giving him a seductive blink when she glanced over her shoulders. She took two steps before him and brought herself to his eye level.

Nate steadied himself as Amelia leaned forward to press her lips against his. Immediately he swiped his tongue into her sweet, frosting-flavored mouth. He increased the intensity of the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against his hard body. Every inch of him ached for her. His fingers traced her heart-shaped derriere. Their tongues danced to the rhythm of their moans. Amelia's fingers traced his shoulders, his chest and the waistband of his pants. She fumbled with his belt buckle and he sighed with desire as the strap of leather hit the stairs. He was ready...so, so ready.

Desperate hands reached for the opening of her one-piece outfit. The swell of one breast was cupped in the palm of his hand. Nate's fingers twitched and in pent-up anticipation he reached for the opening of the top and yanked it open. The ampleness of her breasts made it hard to access them, so he pulled harder, ripping the material down to her belly button.

“Nate,” she gasped into his ear with a delightful surprise.

“Sorry, not sorry,” he replied before lowering her backside to the steps. His fingers skillfully pulled away the material of her bra, freeing her breasts with both hands and pressing them together. His mouth sought the peaks of the hard nipples he'd been craving since they first got together. As his mouth fastened on both of them, Amelia clasped her legs around his waist and ground herself on him.

Amelia clawed at the hem of his shirt until she managed to pull the black material to his shoulders. Nate ceased feasting on her breasts enough to pull the shirt over his head. A ripple of pleasure spread across his body with the touch of her hands along his spine, around his collarbone and to his bare chest. A trail of heat followed her fingertips. He inhaled deeply when her fingers sunk below the fabric of his pants. She rounded her fingers to his backside and tugged the material. With the belt removed, the material came down with ease. Her hands reached under the waistband of his boxers and freed his straining erection.

“Amelia,” he whispered between the valley of her breasts.

“Nate,” she mocked. “Let's take this into my bedroom.”

Without hesitation, Nate secured her bottom and stood upright with her legs wrapped around his waist. In the week he'd been here, he'd already learned his way around Helen Marlow's home, including where to find Amelia's new bedroom. He walked with ease and desire driving him. Their mouths never broke their kiss until he laid her on top of her white comforter.

Amelia rose to her elbows and shifted her body enough to allow him to free her of the rest of the flimsy material he'd torn away. As Nate pulled the last of the garment down her shapely legs, he held her foot in his hand and kissed her ankles, then the arch. She pulled her leg in, bending it at the knee, thus pulling him close. Nate knelt on the edge of the bed and held both legs out to the side. His fingers read her inner thigh like braille until he came to the center of her core.