‘So sorry about that,’ she said smoothly, managing to avoid eye contact with anyone as she headed back to her chair. ‘If you like, please bring your drinks over and feel free to continue eating.’ She forced her numb fingers to turn to the next page in her folder as everyone took their seats, and refused to glance up at the man across the table, whose heavy gaze she could feel upon her.
Somehow, she managed to get through all the important and frivolous details that come with a wedding, gently managing a stand-off between Sasha and Mrs Delsanto over dessert forks. She would have been proud of herself if she’d been able to think of anything other than getting the hell out of there.
She shook hands with Mr and Mrs Delsanto and waved them all off, only glancing briefly at Ewan and nodding herfarewell, ensuring she kept a distance between them and using the fact she was packing up to avoid shaking his hand. ‘I’ll be in touch as soon as I have everything written up for you,’ she promised, holding her smile until they disappeared through the doorway, and only then sinking into her chair like a deflated balloon, closing her eyes.
Holy mother of Christ.
She heard the sound of footsteps and her eyes snapped open to find Ewan Campbell heading across the room wearing a look that sucked the breath from her body. It was the exact same look Poppy wore when she was frustrated. Kenzie blinked hard to erase the tiny white dots that were threatening to blur her vision.
‘Did you forget something?’ she asked hesitantly, searching the table quickly for anything that may have been left behind.
‘No. I wanted to come back and check that you were all right. Did I say something to upset you earlier?’ he asked.
‘Not at all. I was just distracted by something I remembered I had to take care of.’ She forced herself to stand and began gathering the folders, shoving them into her briefcase.
He didn’t seem convinced, but as she’d finished packing up and was now looking at him impatiently, he seemed to realise he had no option but to accept it. ‘Well … as long as you’re sure you’re okay,’ he said, still watching her carefully.
‘I’m perfectly fine. Thank you. I’ll see you at the next appointment.’ Which was a lie. There was no bloody way she was managing this wedding now—Tara would have to step up.
‘I’ll walk you to your car,’ he said, relieving her of her briefcase and walking to the door.
‘There’s no need,’ she said quickly—maybe too quickly, if his sharp glance was anything to go by. ‘I’m sure your fiancée is waiting for you.’
‘We came in separate cars,’ he dismissed. ‘Where are you parked?’
With a small huff, she pointed to the black sedan with her business name written across the side in elegant script.
Ewan stopped abruptly, causing her to almost run into his back. He turned to face her, wearing a shocked look.
‘Kenzie?’ he asked. ‘Your name’s Kenzie?’
‘Yes,’ she said, pressing the remote to unlock the car, and tugging the briefcase from his grip. ‘Thank you for your help.’ ‘You introduced yourself as Mackenzie earlier,’ he said, as if the pieces were suddenly falling into place. ‘That’s why I didn’t connect the name.’
In that instant, Kenzie knew what he was about to say, and her pulse began to pound frantically. She moved to the driver’s door, opening it to climb in, then throwing her briefcase onto the passenger seat.
‘Wait,’ he said, grabbing the door to hold it open. ‘We’ve met before. At Riley’s, the nightclub.’
‘I really have to go,’ she muttered, tugging at the door and frowning at the hand that continued to hold it open.
He released his grip and stepped back. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t put it together sooner,’ he said, sounding sincere.
‘No big deal,’ she said, closing her door and wishing she could be swallowed up by a sinkhole—anything to escape this whole awkward situation. Now he thought she was insulted that he’d forgotten sleeping with her. She wound the window down before turning on the ignition. ‘It was a long time ago. Anyway, it was nice seeing you again.’ She didn’t care if he could tell she was lying. All she wanted to do was get the hell out of this carpark and never see Ewan Campbell again.
Ewan stepped back quickly to avoid being run over. He was in fine form today. So far, he’d managed to piss off his fiancée by trying, unsuccessfully, to get out of coming to this meeting, tick off her mother by picking the wrong colour serviettes and get his future father-in-law offside just by, well, breathing. But he’d reallyoutdonehimself now by not recognising a woman he’d slept with. Although he’d known there was something familiar about her, he’d been unable to put a name to her face. Her hair was darker than it had been back then, and she wore it pulled back. Last time he’d seen her, she’d been carefree, barefoot and dancing in a short skirt and midriff top—very different from the professionally groomed, well-dressed businesswoman of today.
Some of his mates wouldn’t remember half the women they’d ever slept with, but he liked to think he hadn’t been the kind of guy who’d slept with anyone and everyone just to gather notches on his bedpost.
The minute he’d seen her, he knew they’d met somewhere before. When he’d held her hand, he’d felt a spark of something, then had instantly felt like a dick to be thinking something like that when he was at a meeting toplan his wedding, for Christ’s sake.
Kenzie’s reaction hadn’t been what he’d expected. For a minute, he’d worried that she was going to pass out—that she may have been ill or had a heart condition or something. Then she’d taken off out of the room. She’d seemed fine after, although he’d got the distinct impression there was something upsetting her. She’d refused to look at him for the rest of the meeting. He’d let it go, even copping the no handshake thing, but after he’d waved off Sasha and her parents, it had still bugged him.
It all came back to him the minute he’d seen the car.Kenzie.That was a name he recognised, and instantly brought up memories of a long, hot summer night of dancing and drinking, and a woman with sun-streaked hair the colour of wet sand and ocean-blue eyes deep enough you could drown in.
And now, he’d managed to mess that up too. It didn’t get much more awkward than realising you’d slept with the woman your fiancée had hired to plan your wedding.
He needed a drink … or two.
Three
