Page 31 of The Wedding Planner's Manny
For a moment, my heart stopped still in my chest, and then it started beating again, harder than it had before. Ethanactuallythought I was handsome. Or was he just saying that to be polite? I squinted at him.
“What?” he asked. “Don't believe me? Have you heard of these things called mirrors? You should try looking into one sometime. That'll tell you I'm right.”
I stared at him. How could he throw out compliments like that so casually? Like he was simply stating the truth. Did he even mean anything by it? Probably not.
So why did I want to kiss him so bad?
“Is something wrong?” Ethan asked. “Don't tell me no one's ever told you how handsome you are.
You've been married.”
Yes, andtechnicallyI was still married. Not that it mattered. “My husband used to show his affection mostly through gifts and gestures rather than words.”
A frown creased Ethan's forehead. “You're seriously telling me you don't know how handsome you are...” He took a step toward me, until he was close enough I was inhaling his alpha scent with every breath I took. I wondered if he knew what effect that was having on me. I wondered what he was about todo,standing so close to me. “Let me be the first to tell you,” he started, gazing at me intently,
“that you're one of the most handsome omegas I've ever met. Don't believe anyone who tries to tell you differently.”
A shiver went down my spine at his words, at the way he looked at me. Was that desire in his eyes?
For me? When I left my husband, I didn't think I'd find another alpha who would look at me like that.
Certainly not so soon. And certainly not one who was so different from Jeremiah.
But I liked that he was different.
“Thank you,” I said softly, not quite trusting my own voice.
“You're very welcome.” Ethan smiled again, and, for just a second, it looked like he was going to reach out and kiss me.
And then the dog barked, breaking the moment.
Ethan withdrew, as if shocked out of whatever mood he’d been in. I kept my expression neutral, even as I wanted to glare at the puppy. “I think he wants down,” I made myself say.
“Yeah, I guess. Better hurry up and get to the pet shop.”
“Yeah.”
Ethan started walking again, and I followed, as if nothing had happened between us. Well, nothinghadhappened, but it might have if the dog hadn’t interrupted! But now we’d missed our chance and I wasn’t sure if there was going to be another.
I knew I shouldn’twantthere to be another.
But I did.
1 1
R H Y S
The last week of November came and went, and the further we got into December, the more I found myself looking forward to the festivities of the season. Preparing for Christmas was the perfect excuse to keep my mind from obsessing about other things. Naturally, I volunteered to take care of all the decorations at both Dean’s and Ethan’s houses.
Carrying bags full of Christmas baubles and other assorted Christmas tree ornaments, I arrived at Ethan's place one beautiful Friday morning, only to find thatsomeof the house had already been decorated after all.
Someone had wrapped red and green garlands around the railings of the stairs.
Eyeing the festive decoration, I put my bags down next to the door as an excited puppy ran up to me to greet me. “Hey there, cutie, you miss me?” I cooed at the dog, picking him up. He licked my face in response. “Aw, you're such a good boy.”
“Is he?”
I looked up at Ethan's voice.
