Once Upon a Bride. Helen Lacey

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      “Um...thank you. I guess.”

      Gabe rested back in his chair. “You don’t sound convinced.”

      “That I’m beautiful?” She shrugged. “I’ve never really thought I was. Attractive, perhaps.”

      “No,” he said quietly. “You’re beautiful.”

      She grabbed her drink. “Are you coming on to me?” she asked bluntly.

      Gabe chuckled. “No.”

      She met his gaze. “Because I’m not your type?”

      “I’m not coming on to you because you’re exactly my type.”

      Heat filled the space between them, and a sudden surge of blinding attraction clung to the air. But it was best to get it out in the open. He wanted her. And he was pretty sure the feeling was reciprocated.

      “Is that because of what I said about you...you know...at the wedding?”

      “You mean when you told your friends you’ve thought about me naked?”

      Color quickly flamed her pale cheeks. “Is that what I said?”

      “Yes.”

      She shrugged and smiled a little. “Well, since you were there and heard the whole conversation, there’s no point denying it.”

      Gabe laughed. He liked that about her. She wasn’t serious all the time. Even without her natural beauty, she had an energy and humor that fascinated him. For a moment, Gabe wished he could wind the clock forward, to a time in the future when he could guarantee any promises or commitment he might want to make. But he couldn’t. And wishes were for fools.

      He pushed some words out. “I guess not. Your friends don’t seem to approve of your plans, though.”

      “They don’t,” she said, and sipped some wine. “But they support me, so that’s all that matters. You know how family and friends can get sometimes...as if they know what’s best, regardless of how a person might feel about it.”

      Gabe knew exactly. “You don’t like weddings much?”

      Her eyes widened. “Sure I do. Weddings are...my life.”

      “Really?”

      She looked at him. “Well, maybe not my life. My job, at least.”

      He heard hesitation in her voice. “But?”

      Her shoulders dropped. “Oh, you know, pretending the fairy tale exists on a day-in-and-day-out basis can be monotonous.” She shook herself and picked up the cutlery again. “Sorry, I don’t normally complain about it. But you’re...” She stopped and looked at him. “Even though a week ago I was convinced you were simply another ridiculously handsome but conceited jerk, you’re surprisingly...easy to talk to.”

      A good bedside manner is essential....

      How many times had he heard that?

      Gabe shook off the guilt between his shoulder blades. “Oh, I can be just as much of a jerk as the next guy.”

      She laughed, and the sound echoed around the room. “Well, thanks for the warning.”

      He placed his elbows on the table. “Don’t thank me. I said I wouldn’t make a pass. I didn’t say it would be easy.”

      Her cheeks bloomed with color. “Oh, because I’m—”

      “Because you’re Commitment 101.”

      “And you’re not?” she queried.

      “Exactly.”

      “Have you ever been tempted? Or close?” she asked and pushed her barely eaten meal aside.

      “Once,” he replied and took a drink. “It didn’t work out.”

      She stared at him, as if she was trying to figure out why. But she never would. He didn’t talk about it. Ever. She took a second, swallowed hard and then spoke. “Did you love her?”

      “It didn’t work out,” he said again, a whole lot quicker than he would have liked. “I guess there’s your answer.”

      Her brows arched. “So you didn’t love her? Not even a little bit?”

      Gabe’s mouth twisted. “I didn’t realize there was such a thing as being a little bit in love. I cared for her, sure. But like I said, we didn’t work out. There’s no great mystery to it.”

      He wasn’t about to tell Lauren that she was right—he hadn’t really loved his ex-girlfriend. He’d done her a favor by letting her go. He was sure of it. And besides, Mona hadn’t put up much resistance. Once she’d known she had an out clause, she’d left their relationship as quickly as she could.

      Lauren bit her bottom lip, watching him. “So you got burned?”

      He shrugged. “Not exactly.”

      “Then what, exactly?” she asked.

      “We split up,” he replied. “We went our separate ways. Neither of us was heartbroken.”

      “Which leaves you where?” Her eyes were full of questions. “Working at the surf club and having casual relationships and sex with women who are equally uninterested in commitment?”

      “Ah...I suppose.”

      “Well, that sounds...like fun.”

      Not.

      That was what she was thinking. Shallow and meaningless and hollow. Gabe thought so, too...even though he’d drilled himself to accept his present and future. But he suddenly lost his appetite.

      “It is what it is,” he said, and pushed back in his seat. “I’m not looking for...anything.”

      She watched him, her brown eyes darkening. “I’ve always believed that we’re all looking for something...love or sex, belonging, companionship. Or maybe something more complicated, like peace of mind...or even isolation.”

      Which one are you looking for?

      That was the question in her words. Gabe shrugged a shoulder casually. She was so close to the truth. “Is that why your marriage didn’t work out?” he asked, shifting the focus back to her. “Because you wanted different things?”

      She gripped her wineglass. “My marriage failed because my husband and I had nothing between us but fleeting physical attraction. Which isn’t enough,” she added.

      It explained why she wanted a passionless relationship...sort of. “And now you’re looking for more?” he asked. “Or maybe less?”

      “Sometimes less is more,” she replied. “Which is why I’m determined to think with my head next time...and СКАЧАТЬ