Misadventures of a Backup Bride

  I finish lathering up my hair, rinse, and grope my way over to the nearby shelf to grab my bottle of shower gel, but it’s gone.

  Moments later, Ella rubs her palms across my chest, and I inhale the familiar scent of my bodywash as the slick gel spreads over my skin.

  “What are you doing, sweetheart?” I groan.

  “Sending you off to work with a smile.”

  She kisses me and lathers my body, then focuses all her attention on my cock, now raging for her touch. One caress, and I swear I feel as if I haven’t had her in a century. It’s crazy. It’s wonderful. It’s terrible—especially if this is all just fun and games for her.

  I’m lost in a smoldering haze of pleasure that’s beginning to build when she plucks the portable showerhead from its holder and rinses me off thoroughly, skimming her teasing touch over every inch of me.

  “Can I return the favor?”

  “No. I’m not completely sure you’re squeaky clean yet. There’s just one more spot…”

  Then she drops to her knees and takes me into her mouth. I lose my mind—along with the rest of my heart.

  As I grip her hair in my fists, dying under the lash of her tongue dancing along the sensitive crest and wrapping down my aching shaft, I let go of my self-control, chiding myself that I either need to tell her I’m falling in love…or let her go for good.

  ELLA

  Carson is waiting for me on the living room sofa when I step from the bedroom, securing the second of my sparkly earrings. “I’m ready.”

  He stands and turns—and I see that look in his eyes.

  “Ella…”

  He breathes my name like he’s mesmerized, and my pussy clenches. Everything about him has my heart stuttering dangerously.

  “You like it?” I hold my arms out wide so he can get a good eyeful of my silvery-gray silk sheath. Its scalloped straps drape over my shoulders. The neckline is scooped deep enough to show my cleavage and the swells of my breasts before it narrows to my waist and flares out to accommodate the rest of my curves. From hip to hem, a band of lace exposes my right side. The dress nips in again at my knees, then spreads gently at the feet one last time like the bell of a trumpet.

  Looking incredible in a tuxedo, Carson makes his way to my side. “Like? Wow, you look beyond amazing. Really. Words fail me, sweetheart. I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful.”

  I have no idea if he means what he’s saying or if he’s merely pumping up my ego because he wants me to feel confident before we do battle tonight. Either way, he makes me blush and swoon. “Thanks.”

  “Thank you. You’ll knock Shaw dead.” He wraps an arm around me. “You know, we’d send a whole different message if we were fashionably late. Or better yet, if we don’t show up at all. Kendra’s father already knows you’re real. He’s seen pictures of us kissing, I’m pretty sure. I could leave him a voice mail that—”

  “Stop right there, mister,” I cut in, even though I’d twenty times rather stay home with Carson. “First, I took all the effort to get dressed up, so you’re taking me out and showing me off. Second…” I take his hand and give it a squeeze. “You owe this to Shaw. Six days ago he gave you a week to introduce me to him. If not now, when?”

  Carson sighs heavily, as if he knows that fate and duty have left him little choice. “But I’d rather have you all to myself tonight. Well, every night.”

  Not for the first time, I wonder if he’s just enjoying the sex…or whether this means something more to him, like it does to me. “Well, since you paid me to look pretty and act devoted, not have sex with you—because that would make me a hooker, which I’m totally not—I think we should go. You need to convince Shaw we’re in love. He’ll loan you the money, then you and Sweet Darlin’ will live happily ever after.”

  He leans in, his gaze snagging mine and delving deep. I feel as if he’s trying to tell me something without words. “What if it’s more complicated than that, Ella?”

  The question comes out so softly. My heart catches as he eases closer and brushes his lips against mine. “Then we figure it out.”

  He drags in a breath that doesn’t sound entirely steady and nods. “Then let’s get this over with so we can come back here and shut the rest of the world out.”

  I should probably be more careful with my heart, but I’m beyond all caution now. How did this happen so fast?

  The drive to the hotel is quiet. It’s grating on my nerves. I fear Carson is thinking something, but I’m afraid to hope that he and I are on the same page. He’s too logical to fall in love in two days, right?

  But even if we are thinking the same thoughts, what comes next? He’s not leaving Sweet Darlin’. It would be unfair of me to ask him to chuck his father’s legacy so I could pursue my very uncertain acting dream, which admittedly may never come true. What if he wanted me to move here with him? Could I give up the support system of my two sisters and all my friends and move to a city I barely know when it will most assuredly end any chance of landing meaningful roles and someday winning an Oscar?

  On the other hand, am I prepared to give up Carson?

  When we arrive at the hotel where the benefit is being held, the valet opens my door and takes the car. Hand in hand, Carson and I head inside the ballroom. Signs and banners proclaim this a charity event to build schools, daycares, and playgrounds via a Christian charity for underprivileged children.

  “This looks like a great cause,” I observe, peering at pictures of their charitable work.

  Carson nods tersely, already scanning the room. “My dad was the biggest sponsor of this shindig every year. I wanted to continue the tradition, but Gregory Shaw horned in. No doubt, he wants the good publicity.”

  I refrain from mentioning that even if Edward Frost found this cause immensely satisfying, he probably started it for the positive press, too. Instead, I squeeze his fingers. The closer we’ve come to the hotel, the more nervous he’s become. Is he worried we won’t pass Shaw’s muster?

  I tug on his hand and pull him around to face me. When his gaze falls on me, he seems to relax a bit.

  With an encouraging smile, I reach up and straighten his tie. “We’re going to be great. Everything will work out fine. I’ll convince Shaw. I’m a professional, remember?”

  “Yeah.” He nods, breathing out the absent reply. “I know.”

  I frown. “Do you think something will go wrong?”

  Carson cups my face. “My concern is so much bigger than that. What’s happening between—”

  “Hi, Carson,” a lilting feminine voice interrupts.

  Before me, he stiffens and slowly lets me go, turning to face a gorgeous blonde suddenly beside us. “Kendra. It’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you, too,” she murmurs as she’s looking directly at me with unabashed curiosity. She’s also fidgeting like she’s antsy.

  He dutifully brushes a kiss across her cheek—but never lets go of my hand. “You look lovely.”

  And she does, wearing a champagne-glitter sheath with tiny spaghetti straps. Her hair is a perfect gold-to-platinum ombré. She’s got high cheekbones, glowing skin, a graceful neck, and the kind of delicate beauty that would be a huge hit back home.

  A moment of jealousy flares through me until I realize that Carson doesn’t look thrilled to see her at all…and she doesn’t look any more excited about the idea of spending the evening with him. A glance at her hand reveals she’s not wearing her engagement ring.

  “You look handsome, too. Dad told me you were bringing your…friend from California. Is this her?” Kendra nods my way.

  “Yes. This is Ella Hope. Ella, Kendra.”

  We exchange a quick smile and an even quicker handshake.

  “Good to meet you,” she tells me, then turns back to Carson. “Can you and I talk for a minute?”

  He shrugs. “Sure.”

  “Alone, if you don’t mind.” She gives me an apologetic grimace.

  I tense. Kendra is technically his fiancée,
and she’s stunning. But Carson clearly has zero interest in her. The fact that he hired me at all, along with his less-than-thrilled expression, tells me to sheath my claws.

  “Go ahead.” I nod. “I’ll grab a drink and get the lay of the land.”

  “We have a reserved table at the front,” Carson says. “I’ll meet you there shortly.”

  “Perfect.”

  I start to walk away, but to my surprise, he brushes a soft kiss on my lips. I wonder what he’s trying to say with that gesture. Is it a reassurance for me, a subtle keep-away for Kendra, or simply a show for all?

  “I won’t be long,” he promises.

  With a nod, I leave the two of them in peace. I have no idea what Kendra wants, but she seems nervous, uneasy, anxious to talk. Has she changed her mind about wanting to get married? Is she jealous now that she sees Carson with someone else?

  I pause at the bar and grab a club soda with a twist of lime, then saunter around the room, looking at all the jumbo screens designed to tear at the heartstrings and open wallets by flashing pictures of underprivileged children. It works. Those sad faces wrench at me. The misery and suffering of youngsters who should be far more innocent hits me right in the heart. I wish I could do something, but I’m flat broke. I’d give them my time and experience…if I lived here.

  As I look away from a particularly adorable little girl in a threadbare dress, guilt pummels me.

  “You must be Carson’s date.”

  I whirl to the sound of a man’s deep voice. The resemblance between father and daughter is too great to mistake. Same narrow face. Same wide-set eyes. Same dripping-in-money aura.

  Steeling my expression, I stick my hand out in his direction. “Ella Hope. I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Shaw. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “I doubt very much you find it nice, Ella.” He gives me a tight smile. “You know, when Carson first told me he’d fallen madly for another woman back in California, I didn’t believe you even existed. You’re beautiful enough. He’s got good taste in women, I’ll give him that.”

  Is he sizing me up or hitting on me? “Thank you.” I glance around the room to see if I can catch a glimpse of Carson and Kendra. “Where’s Mrs. Shaw?”

  “She died six years ago. Breast cancer.”

  His tone is clipped, as if the subject still causes him a great deal of pain. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

  He gives me a gracious nod. “It’s not something I talk about often. Neither does Kendra.” He glances down at the drink in my hand. “I see you’ve found libations.”

  “Yes. I’m looking at all the good work the charity seems to be doing. It’s touching and wonderful.”

  “Hmm,” he mutters in a noncommittal tone. “Where are Carson and Kendra?”

  Good question. Would a guy supposedly head-over-heels for me leave me alone in a roomful of strangers and take off with another woman, especially one he’s engaged to, two minutes after hitting the door? It sounds dubious, and I don’t want to arouse Shaw’s suspicions. Nor do I want to tell him that, even now, he and Kendra might be hiding in a corner somewhere, plotting the end of their wedding.

  I paste on a smile. “When we arrived, I slipped away to the ladies’ room to check my lipstick, so Carson and I got separated. I’m sure he’s here somewhere, looking for me. He’s very attentive.”

  “Indeed. Were you surprised when he called and told you how he felt about you?”

  We’ve discussed our cover story more than once, so I’m completely prepared. “Stunned, really. If he looked at me twice when I dated his friend, I wasn’t aware of it. But he’s a gentleman and would never have risked a friendship. I’ve known for some time that the other relationship was doomed, but I was hanging on because I didn’t want to hurt my ex-boyfriend. Eventually, we decided to call it quits. After a few months, Carson tracked me down and admitted his feelings…and here we are.”

  “Uh-huh. Did you have any thoughts or feelings for him before he confessed his undying love?”

  The sarcasm in his voice is hard to miss. It makes me want to put him in his place, but he’s mostly right. Carson is lying to him. I can’t speak for the man who’s capturing my heart, but I’ll definitely defend myself because the truth works in my favor.

  “Actually, I did. From the moment we met, he stuck in my memory. Of course, I would never have been unfaithful to my boyfriend while we were together, and I really had no way of knowing Carson felt about me the way I did about him. After my ex and I split, I didn’t want to look like a fool and throw myself at Carson. But when he called me to say that he’d never forgotten me and wanted me to come to North Carolina to explore what might be between us… Well, I’d been unhappy in my love life, and I had wondered once or twice if he had something to do with it. I had nothing to lose by coming here. So I said yes.”

  “Right,” he says skeptically. “Did he tell you that he’s engaged?”

  “He told me everything. And we both agreed that with his wedding to Kendra coming up, we couldn’t afford to wait another minute to find out how we felt about each other or it would be too late.”

  “So you knew that I’d challenged him to introduce you to me before you ever stepped foot on the plane? And your decision to come here had everything to do with your heart and nothing to do with helping him bilk me out of millions of dollars?”

  My decision to come here had everything to do with me needing rent money…and being curious about the guy I’d never managed to forget. Carson’s rival didn’t cross my mind at all, except to wonder why he expected to control his adult daughter.

  “Mr. Shaw, you don’t know me, so I’ll let that insult slide. But don’t suggest again that I’m the sort of mercenary woman who would take a job simply for the terrible motive of stealing someone’s hard-earned fortune.”

  His mouth flattens into a grim line. “Then how do you explain the money he transferred into your bank account the day you left?”

  I’m shocked. I didn’t know Shaw even knew my name before I introduced myself. I didn’t think he’d go so far as to invade my privacy and have me investigated. “Not that it’s any of your business, but he agreed to pay for my plane ticket and a few other expenses I incurred for dropping everything and coming to visit him so quickly.”

  Which is basically true. I’m not being paid the fee we negotiated until the end of our agreement.

  I don’t think he expected me to have explanations for his pointed questions, because he studies me with a dissecting stare, like he’s trying to discern the truth. “You have odd jobs and no money to your name because you’re a wannabe actress. Why shouldn’t I believe he staged some long-distance casting call, plucked you out of a crowd, and hired you?”

  I try not to blanch, but he’s asked the one question I don’t have an answer for that isn’t a blatant lie.

  “Because I met her before I moved here and became engaged to Kendra, and I can prove it.” Carson rescues me, wrapping his arm around my waist and flashing Shaw a picture on his phone.

  I recognize it instantly. A snapshot of the night we met at Shane’s party. I vaguely remember posing for this picture, the birthday boy hanging awkwardly off my left and Carson pressed against me on the right. Some more friends crowded around us, but I swore I could feel the heat of Carson’s skin on mine for hours.

  He must have had this on his phone all along, and I can’t help but hope it’s because he wanted to look at us together over the last few months, not because he was too lazy to delete it.

  At Shaw’s glare, Carson hits the screen and displays the date of the photo. Suddenly, March seems like a lifetime ago.

  “So you knew each other before you moved here.” Shaw shrugs Carson’s way. “It doesn’t mean you’ve ever had a thing for her.”

  “Your suspicion also doesn’t mean that I haven’t,” Carson shoots back, nudging me behind his back and positioning himself between me and Shaw protectively. “If you have an accusation, say it to me. But you don’t get to badg
er and insult her. That’s a non-starter.”

  His words warm me. Butterflies start dancing. Sure, his behavior might all be an act…but given what I know about this man and the way we’ve been getting close, I don’t think so.

  “Daddy?” Kendra appears just outside the confrontation, grabbing his arm. “This isn’t good for the cause.”

  I look around and realize that some of the attendees are watching with interest, seeming to hang on our every word.

  Shaw seems to realize it, too. He pastes on a sudden smile. “Perhaps you’re right, and I’m utterly wrong.”