‘Yes.’
‘You make a habit of crashing weddings?’
‘Nope. But I’m staying in the hotel, and I heard on the grapevine that this one was Scottish, so I thought I’d take a peek. And then honestly––’
‘You do honesty?’ The urge to laugh was palpable.
‘Honestly…I saw something I liked the look of.’
‘The buffet?’
‘Nope. It was…’ Cherry threw her glittering gaze up and down Sean’s form, from the tip of his heat-mussed hair to the toe of his Ghillie brogues. ‘This gorgeous man in a kilt. What can I say? I’m a sucker for one. And this particular one – I couldn’t look away. Can’t.’ Her glossed lips parted, and she searched his face, making a laboured point of enjoying the view by biting on her bottom lip.
‘I saw you looking at the food.’
‘That is true, and I tell you what, I’m still hungry.’
‘Oh, aye?’
‘Very much so. You have the most beautiful green eyes, Johnny Castle. Women must tell you that all the time.’
‘On occasion,’ he admitted. ‘And you can call me Sean. Seeing as that’s my name.’
‘Okay, Sean. You can call me Cherry. Seeing as that’s mine.’
He roamed over her face as if searching for signs she was lying.
‘Oh, don’t dull those gorgeous greens with such cynicism. Cherry is my name.’
Sean nodded and watched her steadily, as if waiting for the rest.
‘And Paradise is also my name. Look...’ She retrieved her driver’s licence from a small crossbody bag, holding it up for Sean to inspect. And sure enough, unless she was an elaborate counterfeiter, then he was facing Cherry Paradise.
‘Okay, Ms Paradise.’ Were you after some kicks and decided to crash a Scottish wedding? Are you homesick? I detect a half-Scottish accent, although that name doesn’t sound very Scottish.’
‘To answer your questions… Firstly, I was curious. I am also homesick for Scotland.’ Cherry curled her fingers partway around Sean’s bicep. ‘There’s a lot to love about it. And the name is of Greek origin, from Paradisopolous, since you asked.’
Sean darted his brows upward. He was on a fast-track tour of this woman – five-star so far. The reflection of the sparkling chandelier in her cobalt eyes surrounded with sweepings of blue glitter eyeshadow seemed to sum up her whole character. His attention dropped to her lips. Luscious cherry-coloured gloss was begging for a tongue to swipe over it.
If she wanted a man for the job…
He bet she tasted as a sweet as cherries, too. Her gold dress dazzled the corners of his vision, and something near her cleavage caught his eye.
‘What’s that?’ Sean motioned downwards.
‘Those are boobs.’
He laughed hard. ‘I meant the little bit of paper stuck inside your dress. Is that your shopping list?’
‘Kind of. That’s my bucket list.’
‘People still write bucket lists?’
‘I can’t speak for people, but I have one. Don’t you?’
‘Not officially, no. There are things I want to do, but I haven’t written them down and stuck the list inside my underwear.’
‘Are you wearing underwear?’
