Alex shook his head as he paced back down the hallway.
In the foyer, he picked the phone out of Emma’s hand.
“Hey!”
“You, in the tub, now,” he ordered, snapping it shut.
“Alex,” she protested, grabbing for the phone.
“Save it. I’ve got four hundred pounds of tenderloin to rescue.” He swung open the big oak door.
“Hey, cousin,” sang Nathaniel.
“Point me to the cube van.”
Nathaniel ignored him and elbowed his way in. “This must be Emma,” he cooed, taking Katie by both hands.
“I’m Katie,” she corrected, tugging her hands away and closing the neckline of her robe.
“Ahhh,” said Nathaniel, hitting Alex with a sidelong look.
“What ahhh?” asked Katie, eyes narrowing.
“I’m Emma,” said Emma, stepping forward to hold out her hand. “Alex has told me nothing but good things about you.”
Nathaniel took Emma’s hand with great fanfare and bestowed a kiss on her knuckles. “You’re more beautiful than I imagined. And a most charming liar.”
“What ahhh?” Katie repeated.
Nathaniel gave her a sharp look. “Wait your turn.”
“Excuse me?” she said.
Nathaniel ignored her, clinging to Emma’s hand.
“Would you do something for me?” Emma asked him sweetly.
“For you, anything.”
“Make Alex give me back my phone.”
Alex grasped her shoulders, turning her toward the staircase. “Bath.”
Then he turned to his cousin. “And you, keep your hands off my bride.”
“She’s stunning,” said Nathaniel with an exaggerated sigh, then he deigned to gaze down at Katie.
Katie stared back with a clenched jaw.
“Ahhh means I’ve heard about you, too,” he said.
She was about to ask what he’d heard. Alex could see it in her eyes. But, to her credit, and to what had to be Nathaniel’s disappointment, she didn’t take the bait. She kept completely silent.
Head held high, she turned to link arms with Emma, and the women headed up the stairs.
“You’re losing your touch, cousin,” said Alex.
Nathaniel straightened his tie. “We already know she has terrible taste in men.”
Alex slapped him on the back. “You cling to that thought. And help me get the damn tenderloin into the house.”
After the wedding rehearsal and the dinner at Cavendish, Alex leaned on the railing of his veranda. It was after midnight, and the mansion was mostly dark. But the yard lights were on, and a few clouds teased a faraway moon.
“Not too late to back out,” said Nathaniel, approaching with a crystal tumbler of single malt in each hand.
“I’m not backing out,” said Alex. Worst case scenario, he’d make millions of dollars. Best case…He accepted the drink from Nathaniel and took a long swallow.
Best case, Emma decided to give them a real chance.
He’d given it a lot of thought over the past week, and there was something going on between them. It went past business, even past friendship, and he intended to use the honeymoon to figure out exactly what it was.
“The sister’s prettier,” said Nathaniel.
Alex straightened and shot his cousin a warning glare. “Excuse me?”
Nathaniel chuckled low.
“Emma happens to be gorgeous.”
“Do you happen to be falling for your bride?”
“I’m simply pointing out the obvious.”
“That she’s gorgeous?”
“She is.” Anyone could see that.
“And Katie’s a pale second?”
Alex took another swig.
Had he once called Katie the pretty one? Because Katie couldn’t hold a candle to Emma. Emma was one of those rare women who got prettier as you got to know her. She had a stunning smile, eyes that glowed when she was happy and sparkled when she laughed. She had an inner radiance that nobody could fake.
“Katie’s a pale second,” he agreed.
Nathaniel sobered, and his jaw went tight. “You do remember she has an ulterior motive, right?”
“Katie?”
“Emma.”
“I’m fully aware of all Emma’s motives.” She was doing exactly what she’d promised. The woman didn’t have a scheming bone in her body.
“Al-”
“Back off, Nate.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Well stop saying it. My wife is not plotting against us.”
“Everybody’s plotting against us.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“She’s marrying you for your money.”
“Because I forced her to.”
“Just keep your guard up.”
“Just mind your own damn business.”
Nathaniel shook his head. Then his mouth curved into a knowing smile.
“What?” Alex asked.
“It’s ironic,” said Nathaniel.
Alex waited.
“That you fell for her.”
“I did not.” Alex snapped his jaw shut.
Okay. No point in disagreeing. He had fallen for Emma. But it hadn’t clouded his judgment. For the first time in his life, his judgment was clear.
He was marrying Emma in the morning, and it was absolutely the right thing to do.
Emma told herself over and over that this wasn’t a real wedding. But somehow it didn’t ease the pain of her father’s absence. Marriage of convenience or not, he should have been here to hold her hand, to escort her down the aisle, to tell her everything was going to be all right when, deep down in her soul, Emma feared it would never be all right again.
The weather had cooperated. So, under the glare of a brilliant blue sky, the gazebo band struck up the traditional version of the “Wedding March.” Mrs. Nash’s choice, no doubt.
That was Katie’s cue to start down the long strip of royal blue carpet that bisected seven hundred white folding chairs filled with smiling friends, relatives and business associates. Lilac ribbons streamed from the floral pew ends, fluttering in the breeze while Emma kept her attention fixed on Katie’s purple dress.
Proving Alex lived in a whole other world, Mrs. Nash had hired a team of seamstresses to design and sew Katie’s dress in less than a week. The same nineteen-twenties style as Emma’s, it was shorter and simpler, and perfectly suited to Katie’s slender shape.
They’d both opted for upswept hairstyles. To match the color of her dress, Katie’s had a light sprinkling of irises at the back, while Emma had had a pinned French twist and the antique diamond tiara to match her cream-colored vintage gown. A veil seemed excessive, so she’d left her head bare.
Katie passed the midpoint of the long aisle, Emma’s cue to start walking. She took a deep breath and pasted a smile on her face. She couldn’t bring herself to meet anyone’s eyes, and she sure didn’t want to look at Alex, so she fixed her gaze on the rose-covered arbor.
Everything else faded to her soft vision, and she told herself her father would be proud. At least, she hoped he would be proud. She’d give anything to have him here to tell her one way or the other.
By the time she made it to the front, her eyes were misty with memories and regrets. Striking in his tux, Alex took her hands in his and stared at her quizzically while the preacher welcomed the congregation.
His eyes narrowed in a question, and she shook her head and forced a smile. She was fine. She would get this over with, and her life would get back to normal. Well, almost normal.
He gave her a smile in return and a reassuring little squeeze. Then the preacher addressed the two of them, talking at length on the solemnity of marriage and their obligations to each other as lifelong partners.
Emma grew more uncomfortable by the second. Was Alex listening to this? Had he known it was coming? Could they not cut to the “I dos” and get out?
Finally, the preacher started on the vows. Emma almost breathed a sigh of relief. But then her gaze caught Alex’s, and his deep voice seemed to penetrate her very skin. She felt a tingle envelope her as he promised to love her and honor her.