Page 67 of Moonlit Colorado

I was thirty-five years old and had no reason to be embarrassed about being caught with a beautiful woman, but Margot was such a mom. Even more than myownmother had ever been.

Grace came out from behind me, holding out her hand. “I’m guessing you’re Margot. That wasn’t the way I would normally introduce myself.”

Margot laughed. “I had my moments back in my day. I hate to interrupt, but I’m afraid we are in a time crunch.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, still trying to get my heart rate under control. “I thought we had another couple hours until the rehearsal dinner at least.”

“Try forty-five minutes. That’s why I’m here. Thought we’d share a ride downtown.” No wonder she was in a black dress and heels. To work, Margot usually wore one of her trademark pantsuits.

“How environmental of you.” I smiled, even as my guts twisted, knowing my father was somehow behind this. Margot looked out for me, but this was a bit much even for her.

“I guess I’d better get cleaned up for dinner then,” Grace said. Her cheeks had turned pink. She glanced around. “If you could just point me in the direction of a shower, and I’ll need my suitcase…”

I rested a hand on her lower back and guided her to my bedroom and the en-suite bathroom. “There are bathrobes in the closet. Toiletries in the cabinets.”

“This is your room?” she asked.

“Yes. I hoped you’d stay here with me. Unless you’d prefer the guest room.”

“No. Your room is…good. Your…bed.”

I tugged her closer. “You’re not getting shy on me, are you?”

She traced her fingers down the buttons of my shirt. “Trying not to.”

“Are you going to wear your new blue dress tonight?”

“I was planning on it. Are you going to wear your new tie?”

“I am. But I was thinking about some other uses I might have for that tie later on. When we’re alone.”

Grace sucked in a breath, eyes flaring with interest. “That so?”

“I also had ideas about joining you in the shower,” I said, “but I guess we’ll have to save that for later too. I should’ve kept better track of time. I’m sorry about that.”

“Margot handled it well.”

“She’s a professional.”

Grace played with the collar of my shirt. “Has she walked in on you in an intimate position with someone before?”

“Actually, that was the first time.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve never asked her to make appointments for me to take someone shopping before, either.”

A tiny, satisfied smile played across Grace’s lips. “Good. I really had fun today. It was amazing.”

“Good. You deserved it.”

“You keep saying that.”

“It’s still true.” I kissed her on the mouth. Slow. Sensual. But not taking things any further because we couldn’t. Not yet. No matter how much I wanted to.

“Good,” Grace whispered again when I pulled back, her focus going hazy, and I chuckled.

“One of us needs to stop sayinggood.”

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