Page 20 of Spellbound
“And you’ve seriously never heard of me? I’m kind of a big deal.” I grinned, and managed to pulled a smile from her. I was so used to being mobbed wherever I went, that someone not recognizing me—that someoneI cared fornot knowing who I was—was novel. And refreshing. And exhilarating, and, well, a little nerve-wracking.What if she hated baseball?The idea had me rolling my eyes. Who didn’t like baseball?
She shook her head and poked my leg. “Ego, much? Really, I’m beat and we have to be at the church early for photos. So, tomorrow?”
I slid off the car, and pulled her down with me. Cupped her face and gave her a kiss to get her, and me, through the night alone. “Tomorrow’s only the start, babe.”
A buzzing pulsation throbbed against my thigh and made her giggle. “Eli, did you really bring a vibrator to a bar?”
“A what? Oh!” I pulled her phone from my pocket and laid it on her palm. Her new text popped up, from the dickwad Perry, her old boss.
Come on, girl. You know where you belong. I expect the new story about Masterson on my desk by the end of the week.
I stared at the backlit screen, feeling as though I’d just been sucker punched. “What the fuck, Emma Grayce? You’re the one who wrote that damn story?”Had I bolted only to trip over the person out to tank my reputation?I suddenly wasn’t drunk at all. In fact, I was sober as a judge.
She threw up her hands. “Are you kidding me right now? Do you remember when I told you I lost my job because I wouldn’t take a story? Well, guess what, buster. You’re it.” She strode a few paces away, then turned and marched back, all the while muttering about Perry and levels of doom.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—” She raised her hand to stop me.
“Don’t. Just . . . don’t. I can’t believe I thought I might love you. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Then she got in her car and sedately drove away.
Me? I did a goddamn handspring in the parking lot.
I gotthrough the next morning. It was tempting to bow out, claim some deadly, contagious illness. Skip town in the dead of night. How the hell was I supposed to spend the day with Emma Grayce in my orbit and not shout to the world that I loved her too? Especially since she seemed to think her love for me was that deadly, contagious disease I was willing to malinger.
But I promised I’d fill in. So instead, I smiled through the staged pictures without stealing a kiss, goofed during the kooky shots without copping a feel of her ass, stood with the groom as he said his vows and refused to covet the relationship he had with his new bride, and then caught a ride to the park for the wedding reception that was more like a community carnival. Growing up, there were festivals for every season or reason. With my life so hectic and unpredictable, it was almost a comfort to know that hadn’t changed.
Emma Grayce was avoiding me. We were paired during the photo sessions—which was sheer torture—and she was on my arm during our trips up and back down the aisle at the church, but other than that? Nada. I wanted the chance to talk to her on our way to the park, but she vanished. She rushed to join the receiving line when we were about halfway finished, and though I signaled her to join me, she slid into a spot between Colleen and Shea. Her reddened eyes and puffy lids had me darting to her the moment the receiving line broke up.
The newlyweds caught up to me before I got to her. I’d been accepting congratulations from strangers, improvising explanations of how I came to be involved. And when I wasn’t watching Emma Grayce, I had my eye on Stephanie and Grant.
We exchanged hugs and handshakes. They thanked me for filling in, and practically ordered me to stay and have a good time. They took off when someone called them over to where the cake table was set up and decorated.
Someday I wanted the connection they seemed to have. The one that happened when two souls claimed each other for life. What had Mimi said about true love biting me on the ass? Oh, yeah, that it would. And I’d be thankful. I believed her now. I searched the area for Emma Grayce, but she didn’t seem to be around. My grandmother was, though, kibitzing with a couple of her cronies. Did women classify as cronies, or was that only old dudes? A question for another day. I sidled up to Mimi and snagged a piece of barbeque from her plate. She slapped my hand.
“Don’t you have some pretty young thing to bother?”
I gave her my most charming grin. “You’re the only pretty young thing I see around here.” I kissed her check because I knew she secretly liked it, and peered up at the sky. “Sure is a pretty day for an outdoor wedding party.”
“Hmph. You came, you fed me some of your malarkey. Now skedaddle. Go find your girl and canoodle a spell.”
I had to chuckle. “Canoodle?”
“Boy, your cheese done slipped off your cracker for that girl. Now, go figure out what to do about it.”
Smart woman, that grandmother of mine.Bossy, but smart. How she knew I was in love almost as soon as I did was anybody’s guess.
I had an idea what to do about it, though. The ideas had swum in my head all night, interrupting my sleep. When I woke this morning alone and grumpy, I had a plan. It was vague, and I needed Emma Grayce’s cooperation. I gave myself a pre-game pep talk and got to work.
After a bit of a search, I found Emma Grayce with Colleen and her husband, Flynn, who held a baby in the crook of his arm. His other hand lay lightly around what was left of Colleen’s waist. I was surrounded by symbols of love today. It was enough to make a bachelor shudder.Or move in closer.
I stepped up to Emma Grayce’s side, said my hellos to everyone as a group, and handed her a cup of cocoa. Surprised, her smile escaped before she could rein it in. Colleen nudged Flynn in the ribs then made their excuses and stepped away.
Emma Grayce looked into her cup, eyebrows raised.
“Mmm, marshmallows.” She took an experimental sip.
“Who doesn’t go for dessert? I figured I was safe.” We strolled a bit, my hands deep in my pockets. We’d both needed a chance to calm down after last night when she got her moment, I wanted to clear the air, have my moment too, and here we were.
