“If you think I don’t know that you probably twisted her arm to come here and be by your side, you’re fooling yourself.”
He knew that would come up. “Of course I did. But she did it because she likes me. She doesn’t want me to be hurt or upset.”
His grandmother rolled her eyes. “Now you’re yanking me along. Finish your coffee, get your suit and go back to your girlfriend. Bring her here ninety minutes before guests arrive. I want enough time to properly get to know her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, smirking. That went exactly as he had hoped it would.
14
FOLLOWING THE RULES
“What a lovely estate,” Natalie said a few hours later.
“Sorry. What?”
“I said this is a lovely estate. I bet the grounds are beautiful when the flowers are blooming.”
“I guess. I’m too busy looking at you to notice anything else.”
She winked at him as he pulled his rental car to the side where it wouldn’t be blocked in. He’d told her he was leaving as soon as he could, not waiting until the wedding ended.
“I warned you I cleaned up well. Didn’t you believe me?”
There was stunned silence when she walked out of the bathroom in her black dress. The sleeves were long and sheer, the bodice fitted across her chest and waist, then dropped just past her knees.
It was a cocktail dress she’d fallen in love with and received many compliments for at whoever’s wedding she wore it to.
She’d been to enough in the past several years she couldn’t keep count.
“I believed you but didn’t imagine this. Not that you wear baggy clothes to work, but this.” His hand was waving up and down in the car. “With those shoes. Perfection.”
She let out a rare giggle. “Thank you. I try. Good thing I’m used to wearing heels most days.”
Not as high as these, but they were still comfortable and she’d be sitting most of the time.
“Those are pretty special,” he said. “And sexy. Am I allowed to say that? Our contract said nothing about compliments for you.”
“You can tell me I look nice.”
“Not nice. Stunning. Spectacular. You take my breath away.”
“Now you’re being cheesy.”
“It’s not like I called you babe or honey. Not even sweetie. I’m adhering to my end.”
“Yes, you are.” He cleared his throat. “Oh, did you want me to tell you how nice you look in your suit?”
“That would be appreciated,” he said.
“Now you’re being silly.”
“Part of having fun. See, still following the rules.”
She smiled and shook her head. “And you say I’m the rule follower. But you, in this suit.” She kissed her fingers. “Chef’s kiss.”
“Now who is being ridiculous?”
She shrugged and let out another laugh. The two of them walked toward the front door now, his arm around her waist. She’d said he could and it was showtime.
