Page 40 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret

Chapter 9

“Tessa?” Benson sensed that something was wrong the minute he saw her walking away from Mrs. Wheaton. What had the old busybody said to her to upset her so much?

“Oh, hi, Benson.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Sure. It’s fine. I was just getting some water.”

“You look upset.”

“Nope.” She smiled up at him. “I’m doing great.”

Benson got the impression that she was lying to him, but if she wasn’t ready to talk about what was going on, then he wouldn’t press the issue. Tessa would have her reasons for her secrecy. He certainly knew he did.

“I think the photographer wanted to take a few more poses of us before the reception gets started.

“Okay. Sounds good.”

He led her to the front of the mansion where the photographer had them embrace next to one of the large white pillars. He placed his hands around her tiny waist and pulled her toward him. She smelled amazing. After kissing her several times that day, first in the ceremony, and later during the pictures, Benson was aching for more of her.

He’d half expected her to bail on the wedding. He’d been tense all the morning as he anticipated the worst. After what he’d been through the first time with Megan, he struggled to face another wedding ceremony. Everything about it haunted him. She was supposed to be his wife. He’d spent so many years avoiding thinking about what had happened with Megan, and so much of the wound had festered by now. Standing at the altar, waiting for another bride to walk down the aisle toward him, had reopened that gash.

But then she had shown up, looking radiant and perfect. The way his heart felt in his chest when he’d seen her caught him by surprise. He didn’t think he would ever feel this much for another woman. It was still small, but he worried that it would grow. He needed to stamp it out as quickly as possible. But it was difficult to do when everyone wanted him to put on a show of how blissfully happy he was with Tessa. His coach and teammates were all here, scrutinizing his every move. He knew several of them suspected that he wasn’t actually in love with Tessa, but he couldn’t have it getting out that anything was amiss.

He didn’t want to give his coach a single reason to kick him off the team. He’d give up drinking if it meant he could keep his career.

“Okay, I want you to lean into your lovely bride and gaze into her eyes.”

Benson did as he was told. He had to put on the perfect act for the camera. He knew the pictures were going to be all over the internet with lots of people looking at them. He could get through this. The wedding was almost over, and then he’d be able to drop the act when they were in private. He could feel himself getting pulled in, and he needed to put the brakes on the romance before it was too late.

Tessa looked up at him. She smiled at him in a flirty way, but he knew she was only acting. He could see something vulnerable hidden in her eyes. She was worried about something, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

They finished up a few more shots, and then Tessa and Benson returned to the mansion where the guests were gathering for the reception. Part of him wanted to tell Tessa how beautiful he thought she looked, but he couldn’t let her know how he felt. He didn’t want to mess with her heart. But he ached to touch her every moment his skin left hers.

“Okay,” the photographer said. “Let’s get some pictures of just the ladies. Can we get all the bridesmaids to stand with the bride?”

“Benson.” He turned to see Cameron, his agent, approaching. “Congratulations. I didn’t think you’d be able to pull this off.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Look. Bill isn’t convinced your wedding is enough to show that you’ve settled down. He’s going to need to see more proof.”

“Not convinced? Do you know how much work it was to pull this off in time?” Benson sputtered.

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just letting you know what I heard.”

“What do you suggest?” Benson asked.

“Post on social media about your wife. Paint a picture of the happy couple. Take lots of photos on your honeymoon of the two of you together. Show the world that you’re madly in love.”

Benson thought he’d be free of this charade once the wedding was over and they were on their honeymoon, but now he saw that wasn’t the case. He sighed. “I guess I can do that.” Keeping his feelings under wraps was a lot harder than he’d imagined. And now, with an entire honeymoon full of romantic activities, he would have to work even harder to keep his heart locked tight.

The reception started, and the rest of the event went by smoothly. Before he knew it, they were saying goodbye. They left through the front of the building where a limo was pulled up for them. The wedding guests waved goodbye and blew bubbles as they climbed into the limo. Cameras flashed as their guests snapped pictures of their departure.

“Where are we going?” Tessa asked as the limo pulled away.

Benson suddenly felt nervous. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Tessa tonight. Should he offer to sleep on the couch? He’d been sure to book a place that had a pull-out couch, just in case. But he didn’t want to offend her either. He just didn’t know where she stood on the topic of sleeping arrangements. He knew what she’d said a month ago about wanting separate rooms when they got married, but he wasn’t sure that was what she still wanted. He’d booked their first night at a nearby upscale mountain resort. He’d found a gem of a place when he was looking around online. He’d been lucky that they’d still had availability in the middle of the busy season. He was able to get them a private cabin next to a stream with a hot tub in the back.

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