Caught Between an Oops and a Hard Body (Caught Between series Book 2) (22 page)

When was the last time he’d spoken to her like a true friend?

When was the last time they’d had sex just for the fun of it and not because it was all about makeup sex?

She glanced back over her shoulder at the three women with their heads huddled together.

They were talking about mosquitoes, the hot afternoon sun, and sweat. Three of Grace's least favorite things in the world.

Jim currently being the fourth.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Stephanie glanced around the ballroom, taking in everything from the glittering lights on the outdoor patio to the warm tropical breeze drifting in the open doors, from the
Congratulations Liz & Roger
banner to the elegant cream and pink color scheme.

Grace had overseen the decorations—rolled linen napkins draped with tiny pearls, crystal glasses fill with blush pink roses, and lights to illuminate every table.

The guests had started to arrive an hour ago, and the guests of honor were doing their part to mingle. Stephanie prayed Liz had come to her senses after Kevin’s rejection on the beach.

Leaning against a decorative post near the buffet table, her thoughts drifted to Stone. Where was he? After their sexual interlude, she’d sent him to keep watch over Liz to ensure the younger woman made an appearance at this evening’s party.

Although right now, she’d much prefer he was standing right beside her so she could lean into his shoulder and inhale the delicious scent of him. It would help deflect the smells of perfume, aftershave, and food all mingling together and turning her stomach.

As if her thoughts conjured him up, he walked into the room, and the beat of her heart faltered and picked up pace. As he scanned the crowd, the needy woman inside of her jumped up and down, and screamed
pick me, pick me
.

Oh yeah, she had it bad, all right. So bad, she was willing to beg for a scrap of his attention.

As his gaze connected with hers, she stopped breathing, stopped hearing, stopped thinking.

Mine
.

It had to be the pregnancy hormones that were making her so territorial. She couldn’t remember ever wanting anyone else the way she wanted him.

Without breaking eye contact, he headed her way, but every few feet, someone stopped him to shake his hand and talk. At this rate, it would be hours before he reached her…which was probably a good thing because every time he was nearby, she forgot about the job she’d been hired to do.

A noise to her right caught her attention. She reined in her libido and turned her head as Dora stopped at her side, a drink in one hand, a canapé in the other. “Liz’s fiancee is positively yummy. He reminds me of Tom when we first met.”

Stephanie resisted the urge to choke. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder about that starry eyed look in her mom’s eye. After forty years of marriage, her parents still showed signs of desire for one another. Maybe not all of the time, like a new relationship—like her and Stone—but often enough that she could tell there was still heat between them.

She wrinkled her nose. “Mom, that’s gross. You’re old enough to be his…well…
mother
.”

Dora threw her a patient glance. “Honey, just because I’ve aged doesn’t mean I’ve stopped appreciating the finer things in life.”

“Yes, well, it’s embarrassing.”

Dora sighed. “I wonder how your dad is doing and how he’s making out at Mandy’s without me. I hope he’s started decorating the house for my birthday party.”

“I’m sure he’s doing fine.”

“Maybe I’ll give him a call.”

Dora slipped away, her cell already in her hand.

Alone again, Stephanie watched Liz with Roger.

They were both so young. What did they know about love? At their age, Stephanie had been infatuated with more than one man, sometimes at the same time.

Right now, they were locked in a lip lock that didn’t look like it was going to end any time soon, ignoring the dinner bell and the guests as though none of it existed but themselves.

How could Liz claim to love one man while she married another?

She turned her attention away from the couple.

It wasn’t her business or responsibility.
They
weren’t her concern. All she needed to do was focus on the wedding, get through the next two days without saying a word about what she’d seen.

Then her gaze locked on Stone. He was staring at his sister and her fiancee, a frown on his face.

She knew that he was concerned about Liz’s hasty decision to marry the rock star. He was worried that she was too young to handle the responsibility of marriage.

He was worried that he’d have to represent his baby sister in court one day.

Was it possible to be in love with one man but lust after another?

Should she tell him about what she’d seen on the beach?

Another glance toward the young couple and she cleared her head of the image of Liz throwing herself at Kevin. They weren’t her problem. She had enough problems of her own.

Like ending up with that engagement ring back on her finger.

The last thing she wanted was a forced marriage.

Marriage was hard enough when two people started out with love in their hearts, but when they didn’t? Getting married because she was pregnant just seemed wrong.

Her attention got caught by a movement on the balcony and she spotted the stranger.

Kevin.

If he wasn’t here for Liz, then why was he here?

He was watching Liz kiss Roger, his body tense, his face expressionless. But then his focus changed and zeroed in on Mariam, and everything clicked into place.

He had a haunted look in his gaze, and for some reason, even though she didn’t know him, it broke her heart.

This man—this stranger—was looking at Mariam as though he wanted her more than his next breath. And she knew just by looking at him that if Mariam were pregnant with his child, he would never let her go. Never, in a million, zillion years. He’d claim her and their child like an old fashioned caveman.

Is that why Stone had tried to put a ring on her finger? To lay his claim?

Stephanie dragged her attention back to Stone and ignored the fact that all she had to do was connect gazes with him and her own territorial instincts came on full force. Not a good thing when faced with a confirmed bachelor and a pregnant woman.

But she had to do what was best for her and her baby. And the best she could do right now was to stay sensible and single. So what if she melted every time he came within the sphere of her vision. So what if she couldn’t control her own body.

Heck, she’d rather raise her child alone than be forced to endure the kind of marriage that Grace and Jim had.

Her stomach did a belly flop.

The kind of marriage Liz and Roger would have if Stephanie didn’t step up and say something.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Stone circled the crowded ballroom, shaking a hand here, tossing a greeting there, and inched his way toward the mother of his child.

Her refusal to marry him still stung, although he didn’t have a clue why. All he really knew was that he should be relieved…and yet, he was anything but.

Instead, he was fascinated beyond reason with her, and the desire to close the distance between them, sweep her into his arms and carry her off to bed, totally consumed him.

Someone jostled him from behind and he dragged his attention away from the woman who consumed his every thought, and came back to reality to shake another hand, smile at another familiar face.

Then he spotted Liz dance past with her fiancee.

Despite the groom’s youthful looks and lack of formal attire, Roger appeared relaxed and happy, and not at all apprehensive that in two days, he would spend the rest of his life tied to one woman.

The kid was a whole lot braver than he was.

And even if they didn’t make it—even if Liz one day called him to represent her in front of a judge—they’d still be tied together. By shared memories, a child, or the possession that one spouse won in the battle with hopes of destroying the other.

It would always be there, the love they once shared, the betrayal that tore them apart.

And knowing his sister and her flighty ways, he couldn’t help but wonder how much time—days, weeks, months—before she came knocking on his door, crying because she’d realized her mistake.

Liz and Roger came to a stop in front of Stephanie, and while Liz spoke to her wedding planner, Roger wandered off, his cell phone in his hands, his thumbs tapping at the screen without a single pause.

He headed their way, his progress slowed down by the exceptionally large crowd in the ballroom. Every few feet, someone else stopped him and he was forced to make small talk. When he neared them, he caught the scent of Stephanie’s perfume on a drift of air and his body stirred.

No matter how much he was determined to keep his distance, his body had a totally different agenda.

While she spoke with Liz, she was busy checking the table centerpieces. He could picture her with her dress pushed off her shoulders, her full breasts in the open for his feast, her head thrown back in ecstasy, her eyes smoldering with passion.

God, she was sexy. Responsive, too. He’d never met a woman he couldn’t push from his thoughts like he couldn’t push her. And her laughter and smile did something strange to his insides.

But she wasn’t laughing or smiling now. She’d stopped, a furrow between her brows, her hand on her stomach, appearing a little green.

His sister didn’t seem to notice.

Concern for her grew, and when he reached her, he stopped beside her and quietly asked. “You okay?”

Her eyes were clouded with distress, but with a quick nod in his direction, she turned her attention back to the bride, and Liz rattled on.

The groom returned, his cell still in one hand, gave the bride-to-be a kiss on the cheek, then thrust his hand toward Stone. “Hello, brother-in-law. Sorry for the distraction.” His attention returned to his phone and he began to type. “My band is about to release our fifth album and I’m determined to release it at the same time as the wedding so I can dedicate it to your sister.”

He was nothing like his stage presence, Stone noted, and without the garish makeup and outlandish clothes, he was quite normal looking. “No problem.”

“Ah, something interesting to tweet.” And he began typing on the screen keyboard. “Wedding update. The bride’s big brother hasn’t killed me yet, so does that mean I’ve been accepted into this warm family fold?”

Stone couldn’t help it, he laughed. The kid seemed genuine.

Liz turned to her fiancee. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that my mother invited another seventy-five of her friends. The guest list is going to be awfully one sided now. I’m so sorry.”

Roger glanced up from the screen, and with an understanding smile, leaned forward and gave Liz a peck on the cheek. “No worries, babe. Whatever keeps her happy.”

Liz leaned forward to kiss him on the lips and she appeared genuinely in love with this man. “That’s one of the things I love about you most. You spoil me rotten. You’re so understanding and flexible.”

Maybe all of Stone’s doubts and concerns had been for nothing. Maybe, as Liz had said, she’d just had a moment of cold feet.

A maid walked in with a tray holding an assortment of baked goods and set it on the table, and as the scent of yeast and sugar reached Stone, he heard Stephanie choke. But before he could do anything, Roger looked up from his cell phone.

“You look like you’re going to be sick again. What’s wrong with you anyway?”

“Food poisoning,” she squeaked.

“You should see a doctor.”

“Already done. Just waiting for confirmation.”

Roger grabbed the tray, pity on his face. “Let me take this to the other end of the table.”

And with another kiss on Liz’s cheek, and a nod toward Stone and Stephanie, he wandered away, holding the tray with one hand, tapping on the cell with the other, humming a turn, and singing, “
Whatever keeps my baby happy
.”

And then he walked past the end of the table and headed out of the ballroom, the tray forgotten in his hand.

Liz swiveled her gaze past Stone and gave Stephanie a bright smile. “Well, it’s settled then. The guest list is done, providing Mother doesn’t keep adding to it. I better go mingle till Roger comes back.”

And then she was gone in a swirl of perfume and skirt.

Stone turned his attention to the mother of his child and put his hand on the small of her back, feeling the heat of her bare skin against his palm as he bent closer to her ear so she could hear him. “Want to get out of here?”

She glanced up at him, distress in her eyes, one hand over her nose and mouth. “I can’t. I need to—it’s the sweet breads and the olives—”

And then she was gone, dashing out the closest doorway with him hot on her heels.

She’d obviously scoped out the nearest bathrooms before the party.

Stone waited in the hallway, one shoulder against the wall, his cell in his hand as he texted Wanda that he needed her assistance. Hopefully she was back from whatever had occupied her for the afternoon because he wanted her to take over from Stephanie for the evening.

As he received confirmation that his assistant was back on the property, something in him twigged, the thought that he might be willing to wait for Stephanie for the rest of his life.

Not good. Not good at all. He might have originally asked her to marry him out of responsibility to their child, but now—

She came out of the bathroom, paler than chalk.

He took her arm. “Come on. I’m taking you back to your cottage so you can rest.”

She pushed a stray lock of hair away from her forehead. “I have to check on the cooks—”

“I’ve already arranged for Wanda to take over and keep an eye on things. Besides, the cooks are professionals. They don’t need you.” Not like I do, he wanted to add, but the sheer revelation of the strength of his emotions made him swallow back the words.

He thrust his hands in his pockets, fearful that he might touch her and never be able to stop. While a part of him acknowledged the need to push her away—and do it hard and fast—another part of him wanted to hang onto her forever.