One Bride Too Many: One Bride Too Many / One Groom To Go

“Sorry. She just moved back here.”

“Not your fault. I’m not good at blind dates, I guess.”

“Everyone hates them.”

“Women, too?”

“I’d rather have my eyelashes removed.”

She took the popcorn out of the microwave and yelped when hot steam singed her fingers as she opened the bag.

“Let me. There is one more small point for future reference. Maybe you could find me a more—let’s say substantial woman.”

“As in well-endowed?”

“Sort of.”

“I thought appearance didn’t matter,” she said, putting her hands on her hips.

“I want to get married, possibly to someone who doesn’t look embalmed.”

“You’re not being nice. Jordan had a tremendous crush on you in high school.”

“Lots of girls did—on Zack or me.” He nonchalantly stuffed a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

“You are such a—”

“Male?”

There was that.

“That’s why I liked you,” he said as he munched. “You didn’t. It was fun having a girl as a friend.”

She snorted, but he was too busy chomping to notice.

She wandered into her living room, belatedly wishing she’d closed the bedroom door. The bed was easily visible and so loaded with clothes it looked like a rummage sale.

“Packing to go somewhere?” He followed her, glancing curiously through the open door.

“No, trying to decide what to wear.”

“Another wedding?” He licked his buttery fingers.

“Thankfully, no. Just a party. It’s at the Sherwood Arms, so I probably should dress up.”

“Who are you going with?”

“Feel free to ask me anything.”

“If you’re ashamed of him…”

“There is no him. It’s just a party. I can invite someone if I like, but when have I had time to concentrate on my love life? Yours is a full-time job. Now, if you’ve had enough snack food…”

The phone rang just as she was gearing up to tell him what she really thought about his hunt for a woman.

She picked it up and listened while her real friend, Margo, happily explained how she and Rick had reconciled. Tess carried the cordless as far from Cole as she could, short of barricading herself in the bathroom.

“Sure, I understand,” she said into the phone. “I’m delighted for you, but I have someone here. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She dropped the receiver on the charger.

“Your date canceled.”

“For tomorrow night?”

“Of course for tomorrow night! You may be booked until Christmas for all I know, but Margo is the only one who would call me to cancel.”

“I know that.” He licked his upper lip. Even his tongue was sexy. “That means…”

“Cole, I cannot find someone else for you by tomorrow.”

“No need. I have something else in mind.”

“In that case…” She took his arm, hoping to propel him toward the door.

“Now I’m free to go to your shindig tomorrow night.” Cole had a teasing glint in his eyes.

“You don’t mean…”

“You said you need a date.”

“I said could bring, not need!”

“It’s the least I can do after all the trouble you’ve gone to for me.”

“You don’t need to pay me back, Cole.”

“How could I ever pay you back for a stuffed animal fanatic?”

“She was your choice!”

“Or an armed and dangerous vegetarian?”

“Not my fault,” she grumbled, counting the reasons matchmaking was a thoroughly thankless job.

“What time should I pick you up?”

She had a revelation. She could see the cartoon image of an angel on her right shoulder and a devil on the left. After a very brief struggle, the guy in red won.

“It will work better if you meet me at the Sherman Arms Hotel. Be in the lobby at six-thirty,” she said.

No way was she going to let him see the limo his grandfather was sending for her!

“Okay. By the way, black isn’t your color.” He glanced toward the bedroom, where half the dresses on the bed were black.

“No, but it’s yours. The party is black tie. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

Underneath his golden-brown tan lay the blanched visage of a man who’d just been trapped into wearing a tux.

“See you tomorrow evening,” she said, purring.

6

THE MOST stunning woman Cole had ever seen was standing beside a giant flower arrangement in the center of the vast hotel lobby. She was wearing a long shimmering blue dress, sleeveless and slit well above her knee. With her upswept hairdo she resembled a princess.

His mouth went dry as he wondered what his chances were of meeting her. He glanced around and didn’t see Tess. What was this mysterious business about meeting her here?

He walked toward the lovely vision, half expecting her to vanish like a mirage. Instead she turned slightly and looked directly at him with a mischievous little smile.

“Tess.” He hadn’t felt so winded since the last time his midsection had connected with a football helmet.

“Did you have trouble parking?” she asked with suspicious sweetness.

“I managed to get into the parking garage after I maneuvered around all the stretch limos. The street is clogged with them.”

“Must be some fancy affair going on. You cleaned up well—the tux looks good.”

“You, too.” He was trying not to stare, but his eyeballs had a will of their own.

“It was nice of you to come,” she said serenely.

“It’s the least I could do after all you’ve done to help me.” He felt a sudden rush of gratitude that tonight’s blind date had canceled. “Why didn’t you let me pick you up? I borrowed Zack’s vintage Mustang.”

“Oh, meeting here worked better.” She smiled so slyly he was even more mystified.

“Glad you didn’t wear black,” he said softly.

“Glad you did.”

Enough of this small talk, he thought. He wanted to tell her she looked gorgeous, stunning, fantastic, but this was Tess. He couldn’t tell a friend she was so beautiful he felt as if he’d fallen on his head and was seeing stars.

“Shall we?” He offered his arm. “What’s this party for, anyway?”

“It’s in the Windsor Room,” she said, which didn’t answer his question.

The hotel worked hard to create old-world ambience. The staff spoke in hushed voices, and no litter would dare appear on the faux Oriental carpeting. They passed a cluster of massive burgundy leather chairs, and Cole thought how much fun it would be to pull Tess down on his lap and…

“Hey, how did you get here?” he asked, increasingly curious about her metamorphosis from shop girl to elegant partygoer.

“Here we are.” She smiled brightly and ignored his question.

The lobby was shabby compared to the grandeur of the ballroom. He took in the gold-flecked marble walls and a chandelier big enough to light Toledo. Tables were arranged in a large T and covered with place settings on white linen. It was the centerpieces that really caught his eye. Huge arrangements of orchids, exotic lilies and other florists’ fancies were festooned with baby rattles and clusters of pink and blue pacifiers.

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