Baiting the Maid of Honor (22 page)

a deck of cards on her bed, set up for go fish, she probably would have assumed she’d been robbed.

Nope, baby. Just your crazy boyfriend who communicates best with playing cards.

He crossed to his front door and opened it before she could do so with her own keys. “Pixie.”

Eyebrow quirked, she opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. In a flash, she was plastered against

him, head tipped back to receive his kiss. Their mouths moved hungrily against each other as Reed

dragged her into the apartment and pushed her back up against the door. Those thighs opened up to

receive him like a fucking dream and he grew so painfully rock-hard he had to release her mouth to

drag in a ragged breath. They were always like this, hot and ready, but today he sensed something

else behind her need, so he forced himself to refrain from kissing her. A nearly impossible feat.

Sweet. She’s so sweet.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re trying to distract me,” he rasped into her hair.

With a wicked glint in her eye, she worked her hips in slow a circle. “How am I doing, sugar?”

Reed groaned. “We’re going to talk.”

“There will be time for talk.” She sucked at his neck. “I want to show you the new move I learned

on Saturday at my pole dancing class.”

“
Christ
,
Julie
.” Oh yeah, she knew all of his buttons and how to push them. Too bad he was

stubborn as hell and today was the day she would agree to live with him, come hell or high water. He

could face just about anything to get that outcome. Even resisting a lap dance from the sexiest woman

on the planet.
His
woman. With a set jaw, he put a foot of distance between them. “Your things are

here now. With mine.”

“I gathered.” He could hear her gulp. “You’re supposed to catch burglars, not act like one.”

Ignoring her barb, Reed tipped her chin up. “For months, I’ve been dropping hints, Pixie.
Months
. I

bought new sheets, a bigger bed. I stocked the kitchen with all your salad nonsense. I had your name

added to the lease.”

Her blue eyes shot wide. “You did?”

“It’s taped to the
refrigerator
.” He gathered himself with a calming breath. “This is where you

belong and you refuse to settle in. What do I have to do?” When her chin wobbled a little, Reed

wanted to howl. Pain of any kind on her face felt like an arrow right to his heart. Unacceptable. He

hadn’t seen her upset in months. What had he done? “Julie, this is one of those times where you

should be talking, but you aren’t. Words, please.”

“I knew you were dropping hints, but I didn’t know if you meant them. I thought maybe you were

just doing what you thought I wanted. What I needed.” She squared her shoulders. “I’m the organizer.

The planner. I don’t want to jeopardize what we have by trying to push or fix or organize you. And I

don’t want to. You’re perfect just the way you are.
We’re
perfect.”

His heart got stuck in his throat. “Julie—”

“I’m so happy with you,” she blurted with her eyes closed. “It actually scares me when I remember

you almost didn’t come to the wedding.”

Reed couldn’t take it anymore; he needed to get closer. Now. He wrapped his arms around her and

lifted her into a fierce hug.
Ah hell
, she was trembling. “I’d have found you one way or another. And

I’m keeping you one way or another.” He laid kisses along her hairline. “You’re right. I don’t need

fixing. Neither do you. But we sure as hell
would
need fixing without each other.”

She leaned into his mouth. “Things can stay the way they are.”

“No. No, they can’t. My wife isn’t living in a separate house. I
mean
what I say.”

Very slowly, Julie pulled back to look at him. “Wife?”

“Yes. Yes,
wife
. I asked your father yesterday.” It took him a moment to find the words. How could

he think when she was looking at him like that? Hopeful, surprised. Maybe even a little impressed. “I

want to build a life with you, Julie Piper. You made me
need
this life, now you’re going to live it

with me. We’re happy. We’re going to
keep on
being happy. Do you understand? I’ve had you and

now I can’t go without.”

He reached into his pants pocket and took out the ring. A pale-pink diamond. He’d seen it in the

store and thought of the dress she’d been wearing that first night out on the patio. The night she’d

sneaked into his room, knowing
full well
who was on the other side of that door. He hadn’t even

looked at any of the other ring choices. It had been made for him to give to her.

“Live with me. Marry me. All of it, please.” He worked to steady his voice. “Your things are

already here, anyway, and I’m keeping them.”

She laughed through her tears, the sound so beautiful it colored the air around them. “Yes. I’ll be

your wife. Of course I will.”

Relief moved through him so powerfully, he almost went to his knees. “Okay, then. Okay.” He

smiled. A huge one he couldn’t contain. To cover his rare show of emotion, he threw her over his

shoulder and strode toward the bedroom. “One more thing. You’re not planning the wedding.”

“Aw, come on, Reed…”

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Acknowlegments

First and foremost, to my continuity mates: Katee Robert, Samanthe Beck, Diane Alberts and Laura

Kaye, thank you. While I can’t necessarily say this process was easy, it was FUN, thanks to your great

attitudes and tireless work ethic. You were all an absolute pleasure to work with and I’m so glad I

was involved.

To Heather Howland for helping this idea take shape (especially for pairing me with the broody

hero), and Ellie Brennan who whipped my first draft into shape with flair, thank you.

To Beaver Creek Resort. You’re welcome. We wouldn’t turn down a free vacation.

To Google Docs and Excel spreadsheets and Yahoo Groups, thank you. This would not have been

possible without your (occasionally unreliable) help.

To my husband and daughter, as always, for putting up with me when I’m off in fantasy land plotting

when I should be enjoying your presence, thank you.

About the Author

NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Tessa Bailey lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her

husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, she enjoys a good argument

and thirty-minute recipes.

www.tessabailey.com

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