“You go on, dear,” Grandma whispered. “You know Duke as well as anyone. You’ll do great.”
“Sure. Great.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and strode down the hallway, eyes set on the glossy hardwood beneath his black leather shoes.
“Good luck,” came a cheery voice, but it wasn’t Grandma’s.
Zander looked up in time to see Kat stepping through the doorway, a gathered portion of her gown in one fist.
“Thanks.” He slowed as she neared him. Holy heavens, why did she have to be so gorgeous? That full color was back in her cheeks, warm and pink like her lips. He’d heard some use the term glowing for women at prominent times in their lives. Only now, as he took in the woman before him, did he appreciate the use. High cheekbones that caught a reflection from overhead, lighting her up like an angel. Her brown eyes held hints of gold, and something about her smile made him long to call it his.
Heat flared low in his belly as she delivered that smile right on cue. He cleared his throat. “How’d it go in there?”
“Good. They’re just going to ask what you were thinking during the ceremony.”
Zander lifted a brow. “What did you say?”
“Not telling.” She bit that plump bottom lip.
More warmth stirred in his belly. She was flirting with him, and he liked it way too much. The strangest impulse came to him then. The urge to lean in and press a small kiss to her cheek, as if they really were married. As if they’d been dating for years.
But he cleared his throat instead. “Well, then I’m not going to tell you what I say either.”
She giggled. “That’s sort of the idea. We’re not exactly supposed to.”
Zander furrowed his brow. “But we’re married now. Married couples tell each other everything.”
Kat held his gaze for a blink, disrupting the rhythm of his heart. And what was this? She was stepping even closer, one small shuffle after the next. Her satin gown nudged against his suit coat.
Zander inhaled the warm scent of her, sweet hints of that tropical fragrance. She slipped a hand over his shoulder and leaned in further still, bringing her face very close to his. He stood motionless as her silky lips grazed his cheek in a warm kiss.
“Maybe I’ll tell you later then,” she whispered. “If you promise to tell me too.”
Zander gulped.
Suddenly Kat perked up and backed away. “Bye, husband,” she said, and then moved on down the hall.
He glanced over his shoulder, liking that she’d called him husband and not Duke. Maybe he could make that a thing during his time with her.
“See you in a minute, my bride,” he said.
The angry sound of Grandma clearing her throat echoed clear down the hallway.
He looked back in time to catch a warning glare. Grandma was right to warn him, but that didn’t change Zander’s desire to get closer to Kat.
But what was so wrong with that? He was playing the part of her groom, wasn’t he? They’d asked him to. And Zander wasn’t the type to go halfway.
Yet as he stepped onto the improvised TV set in the back room—complete with lights, cameras, and a padded chair in the spotlight—Zander felt the guilt working its way in.
Not only was he an imposter, he was also developing feelings for a woman who wasn’t his. A woman who was—in part thanks to him—married to his twin brother.
Zander sank into the chair, eyed the cameras aimed in his direction, and set his gaze on Marsha, ready to take her questions.
He just needed to get through the evening. Hopefully by early morning—if not in the middle of the night— Duke would show up, take his place, and all would be well.
But that thought didn’t bring much relief. In truth, it sparked a fresh batch of jealousy instead.
Heaven help him. This could get dangerous.
Chapter 9
