One Winter Wedding. Barbara Hannay

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СКАЧАТЬ back sarcastically.

      “Beautiful!” he retorted.

      “But I’m not—”

      “Not Emily?” he interjected softly. He brushed an escaping strand of hair—her unforgettable hair—back from her face, and the touch she’d only imagined became reality as he traced his index finger over her eyebrow, across her cheekbone, and skimmed the corner of her mouth. Heat and hunger combined with a tenderness that snuck beneath her defenses. “There’s more than one ideal for beauty, Kelsey.”

      Still pressed against his muscular chest, she knew Connor was the epitome of masculine beauty for her, and she had the devastating feeling that would never change, even years from now. He was the best of the best, and she was a long shot, the dark horse.

      “Stop it,” she whispered furiously.

      “You don’t have to be Emily. You can just be yourself.”

      The deep murmur of his voice reached inside and touched that vulnerable place, but this time instead of opening old wounds, his words offered a healing balm. And meeting his gaze, Kelsey realized he understood her vulnerability in a way no one else could because he’d felt the same way. He’d never been good enough to date the daughter of the wealthy Wilsons, and she had never felt good enough to be one of the wealthy Wilsons.

      “Connor…” Just one word, his name spoken in a hushed whisper, broke the connection. He blinked, or maybe Kelsey did, because when she looked again, his sexy smile was back in place, all sense of vulnerability gone. “Except for right now. Right now you have to be someone Todd won’t recognize.”

      “Right.” Kelsey pulled back, and Connor let her go. She might not have a sexy smile to hide behind, but she could be businesslike and professional…or as businesslike and professional as a wedding coordinator spying on a future groom could be.

      “Come on,” she muttered as she tugged the brim lower. She didn’t know if she’d need the hat to hide her identity from Todd, but maybe she could use it to hide her emotions from Connor. “Let’s do this.”

      She climbed from the car and was headed straight for the building by the time Connor caught up with her. Grabbing her hand, he said, “This way.”

      With Connor leading the way, they walked half a block before crossing the street and doubling back behind Todd’s building. But the lot was empty except for some abandoned crates and an overflowing Dumpster.

      “Let’s go. Todd’s meeting must have been canceled,” Kelsey said. She walked around to the front of the building without bothering to take the circular route that got them there, her low heels striking the steaming pavement.

      Connor caught up to her as she reached the front of the building. “Look, I admit this was a dud, but—” He cut off with a curse.

      Kelsey didn’t have time to take a breath before he shoved her into a recessed doorway and nearly smothered her with his body. Her vehement protest came out a puny squeak.

      “Don’t move.” The husky whisper and warm breath against her ear guaranteed she couldn’t take a single step without falling flat on her face. “Todd’s pulling into the parking lot.”

      No, no, no! This could not be happening! Swallowing against a lump of horror, Kelsey fisted her hands in his T-shirt and tugged. “Let’s go,” she hissed.

      “Can’t. He’ll see us if we move. Just…relax.”

      Despite the advice, every muscle in his body was tense, primed and ready for action. But it was Kelsey who jumped when the car door slammed. “He’ll see us.”

      “No, he won’t. He’s heading for his office.”

      She had to take Connor’s word for it. With his body blocking every bit of daylight, she couldn’t see beyond his broad shoulders. Too bad the rest of her senses weren’t so completely cut off. Instead, the scent of his sea-breeze aftershave combined with potent warm male, and the masculine heat of Connor’s chest burned into her skin where he made contact with her. Kelsey locked her knees to keep from sinking right into him.

      Heart pounding in her ears, she whispered, “Where is he now?”

      “Unlocking the door.”

      She felt as much as heard his low murmur and hissed, “We should go.” Right now, before the heat went straight to her head and she did something unforgivably stupid, like melt into a puddle of desire at Connor’s feet.

       Chapter Five

      “I am not meant for a life of crime.”

      Seated in a restaurant not far from Dunworthy’s business, Connor pressed a beer into Kelsey’s hand. That she took it without complaint told him how much the incident at Todd’s office had shaken her.

      Their near miss had lasted only seconds. Connor had pulled Kelsey toward the car immediately after Todd entered the suite; she’d barely ducked inside the Mustang’s ovenlike interior when he came back outside. Connor might have suspected the other man sensed something wrong if not for the way he sauntered out to his top-of-the-line SUV without checking his surroundings. If he had, it was a good bet he would have caught sight of Connor sliding into the driver’s seat only a few yards away.

      Connor had wanted to follow him, but with Kelsey along, the risk wasn’t worth it. Not that it was her fault they’d nearly been spotted. No, Connor took full blame. He’d let Kelsey distract him. He could have driven her back to the hotel and her waiting car but had instead veered off to the restaurant, which had a bar. He figured she could use a drink. After standing in the doorway with the Arizona sun roasting his back, Connor could use a cold shower, but a cold beer was the next best thing.

      Liar, a mocking voice jeered. The hundred-plus temperature was a killer, but it was the feeling of Kelsey’s body pressed to his that heated his blood.

      “Hate to tell you, but we didn’t break any laws.”

      She took a long pull on the bottle, then set it back on the bar with an audible clunk. “We were trespassing.”

      Hiding his smile behind the beer bottle, he bit back a burst of laughter. “The parking lot is public property. We had every right to be there.”

      “Oh.” Kelsey stared thoughtfully at the bottle. He couldn’t tell if she was relieved or disappointed. Finally, she looked up, her expression resolute. “Okay, so maybe what we did wasn’t illegal, but—but it was unethical. It isn’t right to go around spying on people. Especially when they aren’t doing anything wrong. And I don’t have time to waste chasing Todd or any of your ghosts around town.” She slid out of the booth.

      Connor frowned. “Hey, this doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

      “Bull. You’re out to prove to Aunt Charlene and Uncle Gordon you’re much better for Emily than their handpicked golden boy.”

      Connor recoiled against the padded booth. Was Kelsey right? Did coming back to Arizona have more to do with salvaging his ego than protecting Emily?

      No. No way. He wasn’t nearly that pathetic. Unfortunately, Kelsey had almost СКАЧАТЬ