Page 26 of Unpredictable
Not after her night with me.I thought of unraveling her, undoing her. I liked her put together and mussed up. She might be guarded and closed off, but I’d never describe her as uptight or high-strung.
“She’s actually very calm, considering her profession. Maybe she’s freaking out on the inside, but she never lets the clients see it. She’s poised, graceful.”Beautiful, I didn’t add.
“Hmm. Interesting.” He was scrutinizing me.
“What?”
“That look.” He pointed at my face, being an obnoxious ass. “You like her.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling a bit like I was back in middle school. “I do not. I respect her. Actually, if she weren’t a wedding planner, I think she’d make a good athlete. She’s disciplined, stays calm under pressure.”
Landon had invited us to attend one of her weddings over the weekend, and I’d certainly been impressed. Everything ran smoothly, and the event was wonderful—or maybe that was just the event planner. Juliana had been in her element, and though I’d barely gotten to see her, she’d seemed happy.
“She sounds perfect for you.”
My eyes widened. “Do you really think I’m dumb enough to get involved with my daughter’s wedding planner?”
“Yes.”
I sighed. “Reg, just drop it, will you?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Oh shit.”
“What?”
“You already are involved with her.”
“I’m not—” I pinched the bridge of my nose. Reg had a big mouth, and I did not need this getting back to Olivia. But I knew I couldn’t lie to him either. “I slept with her—once. Before I knew she was going to be Livie’s wedding planner.”
He covered his mouth, though nothing could muffle his booming laugh. “This keeps getting better and better! Man, next thing you know, she’ll be planningyourwedding.”
I rolled my eyes. “She’s more likely to run away than run to the altar.”
He stopped laughing and frowned. “What does that mean?”
I thought back to the night we were together and the way she’d begged me to help her forget. And at our meeting, she’d shut down when Olivia had asked about her dream wedding.
“Something’s holding her back, weighing her down.”
“What do you think it is?”
I blew out a breath. “Not what, but who.”
He arched an eyebrow, but his lack of comment was most telling.
“You better not say anything to Livie.” I glared at him. “I don’t want to pull a Cam and take away from her special day.” Luckily, Olivia had forgiven me for my outburst at the restaurant the other day. Scoring an appointment withtheJuliana Wright had certainly gone a long way to getting me back in her good graces. I wasn’t going to fuck it up now.
“Dude. I’m not telling Livie her dad’s boning the wedding planner.”
“Jesus, Reg. I’m not ‘boning the wedding planner.’ We slept together once. I’d like to see her again, but she’s…” I settled on, “Skittish.”
“So, what you’re saying is that she doesn’t fall all over you like most women?”
“It’s part of the reason I like her,” I admitted.
“You always did love a good challenge.”
I shook my head, giving his shoulder a hearty shove. Juliana was more than a challenge; she was a puzzle. I shouldn’t want to know more about her, but I couldn’t seem to say no when it came to this woman.
