Authors: Darah Lace
two parted. Melody shook a finger in that lecturing
manner he’d come to know, and Charlotte nodded,
wiping away another tear as she moved aside for the
Jamisons.
Her eyes met his across the hood of Spencer’s
car before she turned to climb the church steps. But
in that brief moment he saw a wealth of pain and
regret.
“She’s sure been crying a lot.”
Marcus shrugged, not bothering to ask who
Chad meant. He hadn’t been very discreet in his
observations this afternoon. She seemed different
somehow, more in tune with the woman he’d
thought to uncover. Still, he’d tried to harden his
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heart against her; what was left of it anyway.
“Women cry at weddings.”
“No, I mean since you two got back from Aspen.
Mel told Spencer she cries all the time now.”
Marcus dragged his gaze from where she’d
stopped at the top step to watch the progression
alone. “What do you want me to do about it?”
“Talk to her.”
“Believe me, she doesn’t want to hear anything I
have to say.”
“Not if you keep acting like a prick.”
Spencer rounded the front of the car, saving
Marcus from having to reply or kick his brother’s
ass, and Mitch stepped forward to hand him a
twenty-five pound bag of rice. “They won’t let us
throw this stuff anymore, but I couldn’t let you get
out of here without making sure you’re set for the
future. We want lots of nieces and nephews.”
Chad thrust a brown paper sack forward. “And
this is to make sure you get to enjoy your marriage
for a while before all that fertility kicks in. I figure
these might last through the honeymoon.”
Spencer looked inside at the box of condoms
they’d sprung for and laughed. “Only
twenty.
Doesn’t say much for what you guys think of my
stamina.”
“It’s not your stamina we’re worried about. It’s
actually your impatience. Any protection you have is
probably packed in the trunk, and we didn’t want
you to use the decorations off the car.”
Marcus slipped an envelope from the inside
pocket of his coat. “And last but not least.”
“What’s this?”
“A list of hotels in every town between here and
Galveston where you can find a room already
reserved and paid for under the name of Mr. and
Mrs. Spencer Preston. In case you can’t wait until
you board the ship.”
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“Come on, guys. Let him go,” Melody shouted
over the cacophony of noise around them. “I promise
to bring him back in one piece.”
Laughter burst from all four, and Spencer slid
behind the wheel. “You guys are the best.”
Marcus stood silent beside his remaining
brothers, already feeling the separation from
Spencer as he drove out of sight and into another
phase of his life. He wondered if Mitch was
remembering the day he’d married Julie, if he still
hurt from her betrayal and resulting death. And
Chad, well, there was usually only one thing on his
mind. He was probably lamenting Spencer’s loss of
bachelorhood and the ability to live for the moment.
There wasn’t a doubt in Marcus’s mind that
Spencer would be happy with Melody. They shared a
love so special, it was almost impossible to watch
them and not ache for something even remotely
close. Until recently he never believed he would
settle for anything less.
He risked another glance at the top of the
church steps, but she was no longer there. After
today, he doubted he would see her much. Just as
well.
“I need a drink,” Mitch said, yanking the tie
from around his neck. The bitter edge in his voice
confirmed where his thoughts had been.
Chad slapped his hands together, rubbing them
briskly. “We’ll toast Spencer’s marriage and the
fortunate fact that we’re still single. What do you
say, Marcus? You up for a celebration?”
Hell, he could use a drink or two. Anything was
better than the alternative, which was going home to
stare at four walls and think about all the mistakes
he’d made with Charlotte. “Sure, but I’ll have to
catch up to you. I promised Natalie a ride home.”
Both Mitch and Chad lifted a brow.
“What?”
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Mitch stuffed his tie in his pocket. “You should
distance yourself from that one before someone gets
hurt.”
“Nat’s just a kid.”
“With a rack like that?” Chad snorted. “Come
on.”
Mitch nodded. “She was like a hound at your
heels during the reception.”
At the ranch, too. He’d been meaning to talk to
her, but somehow never found the time or the right
moment. “It’s just a ride home. But you’re right. I’ll
talk to her on the way.”
“I’ll call and let you know where we end up.”
Chad peered past him, his brown eyes crinkling, and
waved. “How about you, darlin’? Want to shake up
the city with us?”
Marcus turned as Charlotte, now wearing a coat
over her bridesmaid dress, strode toward them. Her
gaze locked with his, determined, solemn, searching,
even after she stopped in front of him.
That’s how she’d been throughout the reception.
When she wasn’t directing the catering staff or
doling out punch, she’d kept to herself, quiet, almost
subdued. Not at all the Charlotte from before.
“Uh, okay then,” Chad said behind him. “We’ll
leave you two...to it.”
The silence continued to grow even after his
brothers left. Finally, he cleared his throat. “You
look lovely.” It wasn’t what he meant to say.
Her eyes flickered over the parking lot, her
cheeks flushed pink. “Thank you.”
“I saw your mom. How is she?”
She fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Taking
one day at a time.”
Aren’t we all
? “She didn’t stay for the reception.”
She shook her head and looked down at the
sidewalk. “No, she’s only been home a few days and
wasn’t ready to face the champagne. I’m staying
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with her through the holidays, or until she gets her
bearings.”
“Do you need a ride home?”
Her head jerked up, surprise evident in her
expression. Right. Probably not a good idea with the
kid in tow. Maybe he could get Chad to take Natalie
home. He indicated with a nod to the parking lot. “I
didn’t see your car.”
Emotions flitted across her face so fast he
couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw hope in her
pale blue eyes then disappointment before they went
blank.
“No, I traded the Viper in last week.” She
pointed to the lime green Volkswagen Beetle parked
a few cars away. “I like this better.”
“Ah.” What else could he say? The sleek red
sports car had been her trademark ride for so long
he had a hard time picturing her in anything else.
He wondered if it was one of the many things she’d
hidden behind.
“Melody said you picked up several new clients
last week.”
So his sister-in-law had made it her mission to
keep Charlotte abreast of the happenings in his life.
Much like Spencer had done the past two weeks with
him. Even a certain little blonde imp had filled him
in on her comings and goings at the hospital. He
pretended otherwise, but he relished every bit of
information relayed. “Only one is new. The other
three were actually returning clients.”
“Ones my father stole.”
He shrugged. What was the point in stirring an
already dead issue? “So did you finish your
dissertation?” He knew from Spencer she hadn’t, but
he was reluctant to end the conversation.
“I have a little more research, but I’m looking at
early spring.”
He nodded and couldn’t stop himself from
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tucking that stray curl behind her ear. “I’m proud of
you.”
Her gaze lifted, and she stared at him with a
yearning that made him want to throw caution to
the wind. He couldn’t hurt any more than he already
was.
“Charlotte, we—”
“Marcus, I’m—”
She bit her lip and darted a glance toward the
church. He’d never seen her so unsure of herself.
Nervous fidgeting wasn’t her style. Obviously she
had something on her mind. Did she regret how
things ended in Aspen? Maybe she wanted to work
things out, take the risk of letting him love her.
Maybe even love him in return.
His heart pitched, but he quelled it with reason.
More likely she was looking to ease her guilty
conscience. If so, he wouldn’t make it easy for her.
He thrusts his hands in his pockets to keep from
reaching for her and waited.
Finally, she looked at him, hers eyes filled with
uncertainty.
“I-I wanted to apologize for what happened in
Aspen. I shouldn’t have done...pushed you to...”
He swallowed the resentment welling inside
him. He didn’t want her apology. But neither did he
want her to make herself sick over it. He wanted to
tell her to forget it. That he really hadn’t done
anything he hadn’t wanted to do since the moment
he met her, which was nothing short of the truth.
“What happened was—”
She held up her hand. “No, please. Let me
finish.”
But again she only stared at the ground, at her
hands, anywhere but at him, and he couldn’t stand it
any longer. He couldn’t wait for her to trample his
heart again. Better to get it over with. “It was
inevitable. The chemistry between us was too
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strong.”
She blinked, her lips parted in a soft gasp, and
he waited once more while she struggled to form
words, wanting them to be the ones he longed to
hear. “Yes, well, I thought maybe you could—that we
could try to...oh...” More of the light in her eyes
dimmed. “You said
was
.”
“Is.” He ran the back of his knuckles across her
cheek, hating to see her so vulnerable. He thought
he knew where she was going, or at least he hoped
he did, and now he wanted to ease the path for her.
But carefully. “I don’t think it’ll ever die.”
Those lips, painted dark red to match her dress,
lifted slightly. “Me either.”
Okay, so he’d dive right in. “Before you say
anything else, I have something I need to tell you.”
“Marcus, your mom wants to talk to you before
we leave.”
At the sound of Natalie’s voice, he jerked his
hand to his side. Charlotte looked from him to Nat
and back again, the uncertainty he’d seen moments
ago back tenfold. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“She needs help getting your grandmother to the
car. Mitch and Chad already left, and she doesn’t
want your father or Melody’s dad trying to lift her.”
Charlotte straightened the strap of her purse on
her shoulder. She looked ready to bolt. “You should
go.”
He glanced toward his parents’ car parked in
front of the church then to the top of the steps where
his mother and grandmother waited. He couldn’t
leave his grandmother in the cold and Nat was right.
Grandma Preston could be a bit ornery when she
was in one of her moods.
Turning back to Charlotte, he said, “I’m sorry.
This shouldn’t take but a minute.”
“That’s okay. I need to get home anyway.”
“No.” He pinned her with a look he hoped
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conveyed his need for her to stay. “I’ll be right back.
Don’t leave.”
Charlotte
nodded.
“Don’t
keep
your
grandmother waiting.”
Marcus turned and sprinted across the street
and up the steps of the church, pausing once to look
back at her as if he were afraid she would disappear.
She might have smiled had Natalie not stood
watching her. Instead, she met the girl’s serious
gaze and forced a smile. “Thank you for manning the
groom’s table.”
“I didn’t mind at all. Spencer’s like a brother to
me.”
The subtle reminder of Natalie’s connection to
the Preston family found its mark, bringing with it