Once Upon a Wedding / Accidental Princess. Nancy Robards Thompson
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 reached the door by the time he came to that conclusion. “Kelsey, wait!”
“Hey!” The bartender called after him. “Those beers weren’t free, you know.”
Swearing, Connor dug out his wallet, threw a handful of bills on the bar, and raced after Kelsey. The sunlight threatened to sear his corneas after the dimly lit bar, and he shaded his eyes against the glare. “Kelsey!”
The rush of nearby traffic nearly drowned out his voice, but Connor doubted that was why she didn’t stop. Jogging after her, he caught her as she reached the car. It took a second longer to realize he had the keys, and she couldn’t go anywhere without him.
Dammit, what was it about Kelsey that made him so crazy? He hadn’t felt like this since—since Emily.
You’re a fool, boy. Just like your old man. His father’s voice rang in his head. The both of us always want to hold on to what we can’t have.
Thrusting the comparisons aside, he said, “Look, I know this afternoon was a bust, but this isn’t about me.”
“Really?” Disbelief colored her words, and Connor fought a flare of irritation mixed with admiration. Had to respect a woman who wasn’t easily snowed.
Taking a deep breath, he forced the irritation aside. He couldn’t risk losing Kelsey as a partner. That was the reason he didn’t want her to leave. It had nothing to do with wanting to spend more time with the woman who had him so fascinated.
Yeah, right, his conscience mocked. Back at Todd’s office, he’d been tempted to forget all about the other man and prove to Kelsey just how beautiful she was. But he refused to make out with a woman in a parked car. Especially not Javy’s car, the same vintage automobile he’d borrowed to take Emily out on dates all those years ago.
He wasn’t that same punk kid anymore, even if he was once again lusting after one of the wealthy Wilsons.
“Let me buy you lunch, and I’ll tell you what I do know about Todd.”
Back in the restaurant, under the bartender’s watchful eye, Connor and Kelsey placed their orders. As soon as the waitress walked away, Kelsey leaned forward and prompted, “Okay, let’s hear it.”
“First, did Emily ever tell you how we met?”
Kelsey’s gaze dropped as she fiddled with her napkin. “She might have.”
“Well, just so you have the whole story, Emily went to a bar. She was underage and in over her head. Some guys started hitting on her. She tried to shrug it off, but she was afraid to tell them