Magical Weddings (63 page)

She wasn’t afraid of Lucas. In fact, he inspired her to become a thorn in his side. It would serve him right. “All right, I’ll be your plus-one. And maybe I’ll get that second dance with Davis after all.”

“I don’t think you fully understand the part about me watching you every minute.”

“Oh, I heard that part. I chose to ignore it. To ignore you.”

“This is my life.” He mumbled. “Veronica, I think I’m going to modify my plan a bit and lock you in my cabin.”

She laughed at him–until she saw his dark brow rise.

“I’m serious. Davis certainly didn’t give you the brush off last night, and you’ve proven to be damned persistent. I can’t trust you and I can’t send you away now. Locking you up might be the best plan after all.”

The idea of spending a weekend in a locked cabin would be heaven if Davis was to be locked up with her. But Lucas would make sure that didn’t happen. And what did she expect from Davis? He seemed genuinely interested in her last night, but he’d left her very quickly to go to his bride.

Maybe Lucas had the right idea. She needed to purge herself of loving Davis. Could she get to that place by watching him get married to another woman? The idea made her heart hurt.

“I’ll behave.” Yes, this would be good for her. It would be good for her confidence to survive this. “I won’t make trouble for you.” She crossed her heart before he could go all
suspicious eyes
on her again. “I promise.”

Did he know Veronica well enough to trust her promises?
No.
But Lucas didn’t have any other choices. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“To find you some appropriate clothing.” He paused. “Unless you happened to stow away with your suitcase?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Not that I recall.”

They descended two levels to the main deck and walked down the hall to the last room on the right. Nobody else was up at this early hour, which thankfully provided him with no curious gossips to deal with. The door clicked quietly shut behind them.

“Whose room is this?”

“Mine. Well, now it’s ours.” It was large for a cabin, but Veronica’s presence made the room feel very small.

From deep in his closet behind his suits, he dragged out a few feminine items.

“Here. See if any of these fit.” He handed Veronica a dozen hangers with a variety of casual clothing. He had no idea what they were but he hoped they would work. They would certainly be far more appropriate than her cocktail dress.

Dress?
He wasn’t sure that the term applied to the thin silky material that had clung to her skin and hugged every one of her curves.

Veronica didn’t rush to grab the offered clothing. “Whose are they?”

He shrugged. He thought they belonged to his last girlfriend, but he couldn’t say for sure. They could be from different girls. Between his duties to the company, to the family and to his brother, he simply didn’t have time to invest in relationships. What he did know was that he needed her to get dressed in something less provocative. Something that wouldn’t prompt a slew of questions he didn’t want to hear or answer. “They might belong to my cousin.”

She didn’t look like she believed him, but she took them all into the bathroom with her. He hoped that was a good sign.

Was it too early in the morning for a scotch? He collapsed on the bed to wait.

The bathroom door cracked open. “What are we doing today?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“So I can figure out which of these to put on.”

“I think today is a beach day.” He couldn’t help but add, “And tonight is the wedding rehearsal.”

The bathroom door clicked shut again.

I must be insane.
This weekend would be just as torturous for him as it would be for her.

It was a great strategy to purge Veronica of her lifelong obsession with his brother. In reality, he hoped it would rid him of his own inner conflict. For fifteen years, Veronica had watched Davis–and Lucas had watched Veronica. Why the hell had he always been so fascinated with her–the shy, quiet chef’s daughter?

Maybe she was a safe choice. Being fascinated with someone he could never have kept Lucas from committing to anyone. That way, maybe he’d never end up like his father–in a loveless marriage of convenience.

He’d always known she was head over heels in love with Davis. Somehow that never bothered Lucas before. But it grated on him now. He didn’t want to be the
other
brother anymore. Why couldn’t she see the truth about Davis?

Veronica exited the bathroom in a ripple of blue fabric that wrapped tightly around her body above long, shapely legs. Under a wide-brimmed blue hat, her hair flared around her face in brown and red curls. A sexy-yet-impish grin made him very nervous about her intentions.

“I’m ready for beach day.” Her stomach rumbled in agreement.

Davis burst into the room without knocking. “Lucas, you need to get the Prestons off my back or this wedding isn’t hap—”

Lucas wasn’t going to stand there and watch his brother ogle Veronica. With a forceful tug on Davis’ shirt, Lucas dragged his brother into the hallway. Lucas didn’t let go of the door until he’d heard it click shut.

Lucas needed to think fast. He hadn’t fully formulated his story about Veronica yet. Davis was in the hallway ready to bail on his wedding and his lifelong stalker was stuck on the boat, probably making plans to tank the ceremony. What more could go wrong?

“What the hell?” Davis’ shock gave way to enthusiasm. “Did you?”

Lucas shook his head, but a bit too firmly since Davis immediately got the wrong idea and a sly smile spread across his face. “You snuck her back on the boat for me?”

Lucas tightened his grip on his brother’s shirt. “That’s not it.”

“Then what?” When Lucas didn’t have a ready answer, Davis moved in close so as not to be overheard. “We grew up in the same house, brother. Dad was always at his best when he had his mistress nearby.”

“No.” Lucas tried to hold Davis in place.

“Yes.” Davis shoved his brother against the wall, breaking Lucas’ hold. “She’s exactly the distraction I need to get through this weekend.”

“I’m not a pimp. I don’t bring you women.”

“Manage this for me, and I’ll make it down the aisle.” Davis straightened his shirt and strolled away with a wicked grin on his face and whistling the wedding march.

Lucas leaned against his door and closed his eyes. The situation had just blown past difficult and straight into hell.

Veronica rode over to the beach in one of the two small boats shuttling guests to the shore. She was a little surprised that Lucas didn’t personally escort her over to the breakfast picnic. She knew he didn’t trust her, but he wouldn’t look her in the eye either. Not since his conversation with Davis.

Maybe Davis had convinced him there was nothing to worry about. Or maybe she was overthinking this. More likely Lucas knew exactly what he was doing when he loudly introduced her to everyone as his wedding date. He’d instantly made her the most popular person, and she hadn’t had one moment alone since.

Apparently, Lucas had had very few girlfriends in his life, and the ones he had disappeared pretty quickly. She found that hard to believe, since he’d turned out to be a pretty damned good-looking guy. He had the Crowley blue eyes. Davis had the suave good looks of his father, but Lucas had the rugged physique of someone more at ease outside than in a boardroom.

Under the food tent, the culinary crew provided an impressive breakfast buffet. From experience, Veronica knew what a logistical nightmare offsite catering could be, and running a successful function on a secluded island deserved high praise. But she turned off her business brain and enjoyed the bounty. She needed a protein binge to purge her hangover.

On a second trip to the buffet, she was so busy making herself a parfait with all the fresh fruit and yogurt selections that she didn’t see Davis’ approach. But she felt his arrival.

Warm wet skin pressed against her backside. She didn’t have to look to know who it was. Lucas would not have been so bold. “Davis.”

“Good morning, Roni.” He reached across her to claim a croissant, brushing his inner arm across her chest.

A weird feeling knotted in her belly. “Hungry?”

“Famished.” He finished the bread quickly. “And ready to finish what we started last night.”

She looked quickly in his bride’s direction. Piper seemed to be deeply engaged in gossiping and taking selfies with her maid of honor. Other beachside guests were eating or wandering along the surf collecting shells.

“Where’s Lucas?”

“He’s busy reviewing contracts with Mr. Preston.”

“This is an odd time and place to be working.”

Davis swept his hand across their view of the island from one tip to the other. “The Prestons own this whole barrier island chain. This is the smallest island. To the north is a large island with a tract of land ready for development.”

“And what about
this
island?”

“They’ll donate it to the state for tax benefits, and the state will likely establish this as a natural preserve.”

“And you’ll be the developer on the larger island?”

“Precisely.” He whipped out that devastating smile of his. Even the morning sun had to play in his blond hair. “A match made in heaven.”

Match.
She looked in the bride’s direction again. She was still totally absorbed with her circle of friends.

“Come on.” He waved for her to follow him.

“Where?”

“To the lighthouse. There’s a nice path behind here. Makes a great hiking trail.”

“I’m not dressed for a hike.”

“Keep those sandals on and you’ll do just fine.” He marched ahead and she had to rush through the thick sand to catch up.

She shoved aside an image of Lucas glaring at her. She was doing exactly what he had feared she would–going off into the secluded island brush with Davis.

By the time they’d reached the lighthouse, her borrowed sandals were ruined. The loose sand of the trail kept filling in until the thin silky straps gave out. And if the sand weren’t enough, Veronica’s ankles and calves were sporting dozens of fresh scratches from the stiff palm fronds that had grown across the little-used trail.

Davis seemed unaware of her discomfort, but she forgave him with each smile he flashed her way. When had she ever had this much quality alone time with him?

Never.
So she would endure hell for this.

However, she might have spoken too soon. The next hell was a climb up the lighthouse on a rickety, rusted staircase that wove around the interior.

Veronica kept one hand on the railing and her shoulder pressed against the wall. Halfway up her thigh muscles burned in protest.

But the view from the platform at the top was worth the painful climb. From above, the palm and sea grape trees looked like a green blanket spread around the weathered white lighthouse. A rock jetty stuck out from the base of the lighthouse into the channel, ready to protect the bay from tropical storm surges.

Veronica was high enough to see clearly to the northern end of the island. The gentle surf of the Gulf of Mexico stretched to the west. To the south and east, the Gulf waters mingled with a large river that dumped into the bay. The clash of waters resulted in dark swirling tides around pale sandbars. She knew from growing up along the Florida coast that this was low tide.

“Beautiful.” Davis turned his back on the view and put his full attention on her.

The strange feeling in her belly returned. “Gorgeous view. You’re so lucky to be able to visit a place like this whenever you want. Although...”

“Although what?”

“I think it might be a shame to destroy such beauty.”

“You think developing the land makes it ugly?” She could tell by his tone he was ready for a debate. He was the business mogul needing to conquer all. Did he feel the need to conquer her opinion?

“Some buildings can be beautiful.” She had to stop looking into his blue eyes or she’d never be able to speak the truth. “But—”

“No. No
buts
.” He moved to the north side of the lighthouse and pointed in the distance to a larger island. “Let me help you see what I see. See the peninsula, there on the mainland? First, you’ll come across a private toll bridge that connects to the island. As you drive over it, you’re greeted with an unimpeded view of green palms, white sandy beaches and beautiful blue ocean waters. Then as you curve to the left, the avenue is lined with royal palms, upscale boutiques, and outdoor cafes. This is where you and your island neighbors come to gather and enjoy your leisure time. Once you’re on the island, you don’t need your car. Everything is connected with pristine walking and biking trails.”

“Segways?”

“Absolutely. Golf carts too.”

He’d missed her sarcasm. Maybe she needed to be more obvious with it. “High rise condos?”

“No.” His eyebrows slammed together in one long gold line. He’d heard it that time. “It’s a planned community with ranch-style homes, apartments and yes, a grand condominium complex at the southern tip.”

“So, you’re gonna build a posh and private island community?”

His smile radiated. “Exactly. You’ll love it there.”

Veronica looked at the island again. The simple Florida beauty appealed to her far more. “It sounds too exclusive for me.”

He mumbled something under his breath.

“What does Lucas think of all this?”

“He doesn’t need an opinion on it. His job is negotiating the contracts.”

“Oh I see. You’re the visionary.”

“Absolutely. As any good company leader should be.”

“Kinda like good cop, bad cop.”

“Okay.” His face lifted with one of his trademark smiles. “I like that. I’m the good cop. Lucas is the bad cop wearing down the people on the other side of the contract.”

“So, you have an idea and he does all the work?”

His smile dropped. “Let’s head back to the beach. I’m sure there’s something planned for everyone.”

As they exited the lighthouse, heat radiated from the sand. The morning breeze was gone, and Veronica realized her problem. Without the protection of her sandals, the sand scorched the bottoms of her feet.