His Love Match. Shirley Hailstock
you could be letting go at a bachelor party.”
Scott set his wineglass on the table. His plate, now holding only crumbs of cheese and a slosh of tomato sauce, was set next to it. He leaned back in the chair and stared directly at Diana. She didn’t think he was going to answer her. Finally he stood up. Diana thought he might go to the door and leave. Her heartbeat increased. She wanted him to both go and stay.
He did neither. He moved around the coffee table and stood in front of her. Diana bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
“I came by because when we stood at the altar tonight you kissed me.”
* * *
“I kissed him.” Diana was dressed for the wedding, which was scheduled to begin two hours from now. She liked to be at the bride’s home an hour before she was to leave for her last ride as a single woman. Often there was chaos, and dealing with that needed a level head. Unsure if that would be the case today, Diana hunted for everything she needed. The trip to Montana and her return yesterday hadn’t given her time to come to the office and make sure she had everything. Consequently, she’d risen early and dropped by before going to Jennifer’s.
“You did what?” Joy spread across Teddy’s face like the sun rising. “Where?”
“In the church.” Diana searched for her scissors. Finding them, she hooked them on the inside of her jacket. The outside was lace, but the lining held a myriad of possible necessities. Diana wanted to be prepared. Nothing could go wrong today.
“Why?”
“He volunteered to stand in for the groom, who wasn’t there. And the bridesmaids were too superstitious to stand in for Jennifer. You know Jennifer’s many beliefs. Apparently her friends are just as bad. So I ended up doing it.”
“But you’re not supposed to practice the kiss,” Teddy said, her eyes following Diana as she moved from place to place collecting supplies.
“I know that. It was Scott who started it.”
“And you finished it?” Teddy questioned.
“Not exactly.” Diana stopped searching and turned to look at her partner. She wanted to tell someone. She wanted to explain her feelings and have someone sympathize with her. Teddy was the perfect choice, but Diana was unsure of her feelings. She hadn’t had time to process the changes that she saw in Scott or the way she felt about him. And there was still the matter of her offices. Could he be using this tactic to get her to do what he wanted?
But the worst part, the reason she couldn’t explain everything to Teddy was she didn’t even realize kissing Scott was anything but natural. They stood at the altar. The ceremony was over. Father Ryan said, Kiss the bride, and Scott kissed her. She’d fallen into his arms so easily, it was as if she belonged there, that it was natural for her to be there. She’d become unaware of the other people in the church until she’d heard Jennifer clear her throat. She would have remained in his arms and gone on kissing him. Thank goodness Jennifer interrupted them.
“Did you like it?” Teddy’s voice intruded on her thoughts bringing her back to the office.
“It’s been a long time since anyone kissed me.”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Teddy said.
“Well, I only have to deal with him for one more day.” Diana went back to getting everything she needed. “Once the ceremony is over and the requisite photos are taken at the reception, I’ll be out the door faster than she can get the white off that dress.”
Teddy laughed. It was a saying they used to mean the consummation of the vows. Diana’s mother had coined the phrase and the two women adopted it.
“How did you get out of the church without explaining?”
“I asked Father Ryan if he had any further details to share. Then I left.”
“Your face must have been burning.”
Her entire body was burning. Even now, she felt the heat of last night. “I think that’s everything,” Diana said, finally feeling she was ready to leave. She looked at her desk, her bag of essentials, her notebook, assessing that everything was in order.
“What are you going to do about it?” Teddy asked.
Finally Diana looked at her partner. “About what?”
“About your attraction to our landlord. Maybe you can use that attraction to get him to back off about the offices.”
“Teddy!” Diana was appalled at the suggestion. “Have you stopped to think that his attraction for me, if there is an attraction, may be for the same reason?”
Teddy’s happy face turned to one of concern. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Think about it.” Diana looked around one more time, then checked her watch. “I have to go. You’ve got everything under control here, right?”
She nodded. “My wedding isn’t until five, so I’ll head over to the bride’s house this afternoon.”
“See you tomorrow, when we can go back to business as usual.” Diana threw the words over her shoulder as she headed through the door.
“Wink at him during the reception...maybe ask him to dance,” Teddy shouted at Diana’s back.
Diana wouldn’t even make eye contact with him if she could help it. She wanted things to go back to the way they were just twenty-four hours ago. She’d been on a plane from Montana. Anything after she arrived at the church she wanted expunged from the universe.
That would include his kiss, a voice spoke in her head. Diana stumbled and twisted the toe of her shoe on the broken parking lot pavement. A large gash appeared in the front.
“Damn,” she cursed. “This is Scott’s fault.”
Everything was his fault. Well most of it. From the moment she walked on campus ten years ago until he left her house last night, he’d been a thorn in her side. After the wedding today, she didn’t want to see him again. He could deal with her lawyer regarding their offices if any more discussion was necessary—and as far as she was concerned, there wasn’t.
So life could go back to normal. Diana thought it, but she didn’t feel it. She knew something more would happen, something unexpected. Scott wasn’t the type of man to just drop things. He had a plan in mind, and Diana wondered what it was. She needed to be on guard for whatever he might spring on her. His appearing at her home last night was unexpected and designed to throw her world out of kilter.
He’d succeeded.
Diana took a deep breath as she parked along the curved driveway of the house where Jennifer lived. The street and drive leading to the house was ringed with cars. Only Jennifer would have a procession leading to the church. For days workmen had been setting up for the reception. Thankfully, the weather was cooperating.
Getting out of the car, Diana went to the trunk and changed her broken shoe for another pair. She had learned the necessity of being prepared for every contingency. Not only did she have extra shoes, she had several changes of clothes in case they might be needed. Diana turned and took a long look at the cathedral. She’d done a few weddings here before, but this was the first one where she felt as if a huge weight was on her shoulders. Even when she first started and bluffed her way through her first solo as a wedding consultant, she hadn’t been this nervous.
The limousine arrived carrying the bride. Behind her car was a succession of stretch limos carrying the twelve bridesmaids. Diana greeted the bridesmaids and ushered them into the rooms set up for them. Then she accompanied the bride. Jennifer truly looked wonderful. Her face had that bridal glow to it. Or was it that she was so in love with Bill that it was visible? For a moment Diana envied her. She wondered if she’d ever look like that when she thought of a man.
Jennifer had a perfect day for her ceremony. Diana assumed all the numbers had clicked into place,