The Best Man (9 page)

“That’s … wow.” Claire, their newest junior planner, was sweet and adorable. Tony could do a lot worse.

“Yeah, but now it’s all weird.” He shrugged.

“Right. Are you two going to be able to work the wedding together this Saturday?”

“We will. I promise I won’t let you down. And Claire is … she’s really professional.” He grinned dreamily.

Beth stared at him for another moment. “All right. Why don’t you go have a talk with Claire now and let me finish up a few things here?”

He paled, but stood up. “Are you sure you don’t need my help with anything?”

“Go away, Tony.”

“Fine.” He pouted, but left.

Beth scanned her email, sorting it into the appropriate files. She frowned when she reached one with
Colin Pratt
as the subject line. Her stomach churned as she clicked on it.

To Whom It May Concern:

Mr. Pratt has rented a lovely flat from me for the past three years. He has been a model tenant throughout this period. All monies owed are paid well in advance, and the neighbors have had only positive things to say about him. I must, however, caution that he should never be allowed to assist the electrician again. I am confident though that he learned this lesson well enough the last time and it shan’t be an issue again. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Mrs. Elliot Smith

Beth read it twice, then printed it out.

She held it up to him when she got home. “Why am I getting emails from your landlady?”

Colin smiled. “Oh, good. Mrs. Smith is always very prompt.”

“Colin?”

“References. You should be hearing from one of my colleagues, and a former student later this afternoon. I tried calling the prep school I attended and found them rather unhelpful. In fact, I’m beginning to suspect that the whole permanent record story is nothing more than a myth. Very disappointing.”

“Right, but why am I getting references?”

“I’m simply making certain that you have all the information you need to make your decision. I’ll have my accountant write something up as well. Would you be interested in seeing my transcripts from university?”

“No, what? Your … Don’t have your accountant send things, that’s … creepy. I don’t decide who I date based on their credit history. I’m actually -- Damn it, Colin; I can’t believe you’d think that.”

“I’m not only asking you to date me, Beth. You know what I want. It seemed fair that you know I don’t rely on bad poetry to support myself.”

“Good.  I’ll take your word on it.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you. I merely -- You must see that you have me at a bit of a disadvantage. You know that I need you. I’m still quite unsure about where you stand on this.”

“You can’t … need me. We only just met. That’s crazy.”

“Love is crazy. You cannot tell me that you work with love all the time and don’t know that love is utterly without rules.” He pulled the sheet of paper from her hand and held it up. “You like statistics and sure things, I get that, and I’m trying to give it to you. The truth is, none of that matters to me. I’m in love with you; desperately, shockingly, maddeningly in love with you.” He pulled her into a hard kiss. “Marry me.”

Beth nearly gave into the kiss despite the alarm bells clanging in her head. “No!” She pushed at his chest. “This is really not cute anymore. You’re acting crazy.”

“Have you truly never read Nietzsche? There is always some madness in love. You must know that. It’s always a leap of insane and unsupportable faith. We could date for a decade before getting married and you’d still have to take that leap. Why not take it now? Jump. I’ll catch you and spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy.”

Beth stared at him for a moment, trying to figure him out. “I’m sorry, but …”

Colin followed her, snatched her hand and spun her around so her back was pressed against the wall near her bedroom door. He kissed her again, one of his magic kisses that left her weak in the knees and nearly distracted from the matter at hand.

“You can’t just get all sexy every time I disagree with you.”

His teeth teased her earlobe. “Quite right,” he murmured.

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.”

“We’re amazing together. Tell me you don’t feel it too?”

“Of course I feel something, but it can’t be love.”

“Why not?”

“It takes more than a couple days to know if you’re compatible enough to share your life with someone.”

Colin touched her temple. “You’re talking about something that comes from here instead of the thing that comes from here.” He placed his hand over her heart. 

“Yeah, well I’m pretty sure the body part you’re thinking with is a bit lower.”

Shaking his head, he pulled her hand up and placed it on his chest. “You’re under my skin, Beth. There isn’t a part of me that doesn’t want you.” He brushed her hair off her forehead.

“You took a pretty hard hit to the head the other day.”

“It started before that. You floored me the moment we met.”

“You’re claiming love at first sight?”

“Is it so hard to believe?’ Colin skimmed her bottom lip with his thumb. “You have a stack of videos in the other room that tell me you want to believe in happily ever after. Take the chance.”

“Those are fantasies, pretty stories about pretty people. I like them, but I don’t think they’re real.”

His hands kept moving; they slid up her neck, down her arms. They tugged her shirt out of her skirt and caressed the small of her back. “Want to know what I think? I think you liked me from the start. I think you felt this connection too, right away.  You tried to act all proper but you couldn’t wait to get your hands on me.”

She laughed. “I thought you were a pain in the ass.”

“You mean you couldn’t stop looking at my arse, saucy girl.”

Beth rested her hands on his shoulders. “I like you, Colin. I do. But you’re acting like--”

He reached down and slid his hand under her conservative pencil skirt and up her thigh. “You’re saying I’m nuts, and you’ll get no argument from me. I’m crazy about you.”  His fingers found the edge of her lace panties and dipped inside, cupping her mound as he pushed her back against the wall.

Beth gasped at the delicious shock and curled her fingers, digging her nails into his flesh.

“I need you. Now. Here. Tell me you want me too.” Colin used his free hand to drag her skirt up to her waist. He wedged his knee between her thighs and kissed her possessively. “Say it, Beth. Tell me to take you right now just like this.”

Beth quivered. “Yes.” She tugged at his belt. Fuck. She didn’t like this caveman crap. Except that she did. When it was Colin, she did.

“Yes.” He looked stunned, but he only hesitated for second. Colin dragged her panties down, tearing them as he pulled them over the heel of her shoe, and cupped her ass with his palms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he lifted her up and plunged inside.

Colin had her pinned between the wall and his body.  “You’re mine, Beth.” He was primal, thrusting deep and hard, merging, dividing. Again and again. “Meant for me. To be mine.”

Beth pulled his head back and silenced him with a hungry kiss. Their bodies met with a wet slap; a pair of deep groans announced each parting. The first climax took her without warning. She shouted against his lips as heat and pleasure skittered through every nerve ending, draining her, leaving her open, bare. His.

Colin didn’t slow. “Again,” he demanded huskily.

Beth shook her head. She couldn’t possibly.

His eyes ablaze, he growled, “Yes. Again.”

“Colin, I …” Already it was building.

His lips touched her throat and skimmed her jawline before meeting hers. He was voracious — demanding — driving her unerringly back up to the peak. He joined her there, flinging them both over the edge with a final powerful thrust.

Colin rested his back on the wall and fixed his pants. “Come here.” He lifted his arm, holding his hand out towards her. Beth inched closer and let him pull her into the space between his thighs. She laid her cheek on his chest and listened to his ragged breaths, the fervent pounding of his heart. He rested his chin on the crown of her head and brushed his fingers down her arm.

She clutched his hand, entwining their fingers. Colin bewitched her, clouded her thoughts, and brought out her deep, hidden, wanton side. The resultant sex was magic, but some of the other effects had her troubled. She needed space; lust-free, mind-clearing space. “I like you, Colin.”

“Told you so,” he said, still breathless.

Beth pulled her head away and stroked his cheek. “But you need to go to a hotel.”

He stared down at her, clearly startled, and the look of hurt that flashed through his eyes nearly broke her. He didn’t argue, merely clenched his jaw and nodded. “If you wish it ...”

“I NEED SOME BREATHING
space,” Beth said, trying to soften the blow.

Colin gave a half nod. The frown on his face said he clearly didn’t agree, but he’d respect her wishes. 

“We jumped into this too fast and now things are getting out of hand.” Was she trying to convince him or herself, now?

“I disagree.”

Beth let out a heavy sigh. “Col—”

“I disagree, but of course I’ll stay elsewhere if you don’t want me here.”

Want him? She resisted the urge to explain that not wanting him wasn’t the problem at all, and stood up. Her legs trembled and she rested her palm on his shoulder to steady herself. Colin covered her fingers with his hand. She glanced down and gave him a little smile. “Want some water?”

“Please.”

Beth fetched him a cold bottle from the fridge before ducking into her room to freshen up.

It was official … she was a freak. Beth was sending away a sensitive and sexy man, who’d injured himself to help her and was undoubtedly the best lover she’d ever had, because he wanted to marry her. Someday, when she was eighty and still alone, she’d tell this story over martinis at some sassy, spinster’s club. They’d all stare like she was growing horns. Beth replaced her wrinkled work clothes with an old pair of jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. Chastity armor -- it couldn’t hurt.

Colin was sitting on the couch when she returned, his head resting in his hands. His suitcase and garment bag were waiting near the door.

“Were you able to find a room for tonight?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied

“I’m sorry.”

Colin looked up and shook his head. “You needn’t be.”

“It’s not that I don’t like you, really. I just —” Beth wrung her hands.
It’s just that I can’t stop touching you long enough for the lust clouds to clear.
Yeah, that was something a normal woman said.

“Will you join me for dinner?”

“What?”

“You didn’t expect me to give up, did you?”

“Colin, I —”

“I want you to be my wife, love. I’m asking for a lifetime. I’m willing to spend a few days convincing you.”

A taxi horn blaring outside interrupted her response. Colin stood up, kissed her cheek, and collected his luggage. “Dinner?”

“Not tonight.”

“I’ll call tomorrow then.” He smiled warmly before turning away.

Was it wrong to hope he really would call?

Beth shook her head. She needed a more practical man. She needed a man who didn’t rip his soul open two days after meeting someone and ask her to do the same. Still, she couldn’t deny the charm of the man who’d done just that.

Going back to work was out of the question. Beth knew her coworkers well; they’d be full of questions she wasn’t ready to answer. She flopped on the couch, used the remote to turn on the television and perused the daytime programming options. Talk show, talk show, cooking show, talk show, made-for-TV movie about a woman searching for her teenage daughter, and another talk show: nothing distracting enough to keep her from dwelling on or calling Colin. Beth gave her DVD collection a quick perusal. Normally a little
Sleepless in Seattle
or
Notting Hill
could be counted upon to cheer her up. Today, she knew better.

Instead, she pulled on her favorite work-out clothes and headed to the complex’s gym. She cranked up a bit of angry girl music on her iPod and hopped on a treadmill.  Her body exhausted far more quickly than her mind. Swiping the back of her hand across her forehead, Beth paused the machine and stepped off for a water break. A familiar face appeared in front of her almost instantly.

“Hey, Beth.” Casey grinned broadly. “Putting in your time on treadmill, huh?”

Captain Obvious strikes again. Beth, careful to rein her temper, took several swallows from her water bottle. Casey wasn’t really the culprit responsible for her bad mood; he didn’t deserve to be punished for it. “Yup.”

“Looking good. You should talk to me if you want to add some weights to your routine. You wouldn’t want to bulk up, but some light weight, lots of reps — helps keep things tight.”