Seducing Her Brother's Best Friend (Tea for Two Book 3) Read online

  Her face was blurring in front of his eyes, and his legs felt slightly wobbly. He could hardly process what she was saying. “Casual?”

  “Yes, casual! I don’t care if you don’t really know what you want. I don’t care if it’s a normal guy thing to hedge all his bets in case something better comes along. You don’t get to do that with me. You don’t get to screw me and then not take me seriously.” Her teeth were practically snapping, she was so angry and outraged with him.

  She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  “Carol!” Ginny called from the room. “Get back in here! We need to take pictures.”

  Carol turned her head at the voice, but then she gave Patrick one last glare. “So that’s all I have to say to you.”

  Patrick finally found his voice as she was walking away. He bellowed, “What?”

  ***

  Carol closed the door on Patrick’s outraged face and unnecessarily loud exclamation.

  When she turned around, her friends and the photographer were staring at her.

  “What was that about?” Ginny asked, looking excited and intrigued.

  “Nothing. I just told Patrick exactly what I thought about him.”

  “You did?” Emma asked, adjusting the skirt of her dress. “He didn’t sound too happy about it.”

  “He wasn’t. But I don’t care. I needed to tell him anyway.” She gave a little nod, ludicrously pleased for herself for finally saying exactly what she felt.

  “Did you let him say anything?” Emma asked, her face torn between concern and amusement.

  “No. I didn’t. I wanted to say a few things myself without letting him get me all flustered. Now are we going to take some photos or what?”

  They posed for the photos, and Carol’s heartbeat finally started to slow down. She was glad she’d said what she’d said to Patrick. She’d needed to say it.

  But she was starting to wonder what Patrick had taken her out into the hallway to tell her.

  She would have to worry about it later because they were soon done with the photos and had gone back into the dressing room to give themselves one last primp. Soon it would be time to line up to process.

  The church sanctuary was filling up. Music was wafting down through the hallway.

  Emma and Noah were about to get married.

  That was the most important thing right now.

  When she stepped out of the dressing room, someone was waiting for her. He took her by the arm and pulled her down the hall and around a corner so they were out of sight of anyone else.

  Carol stared up at Patrick with wide eyes. He had her backed against the wall, and he seemed bigger than usual. Strong and hard and intense with flashing dark eyes and a muscle fluttering in his jaw.

  She was so attracted to him she lost her breath, her knees went weak, her hands started to tremble.

  “What do—”

  He didn’t let her finish her breathless question. He made a sound in his throat, almost like a growl. “Now I have a few things to say to you,” he said thickly, stepping a little closer so she could feel the heat from his body.

  Quite without volition, her hands went up and flattened against his chest.

  “First,” he went on, that same delicious texture to his voice, “I didn’t screw you. I never screwed you. It wasn’t anything like that, and you damn well know it. Second, I never said a word about it being casual. What kind of insanity is that?”

  He paused to take a breath, and she felt a flash of defensiveness. “You said we should play it by ear, see what happens. That means casual. I’m not an idiot, you know.”

  “I never said you were an idiot. And I never said I wanted something casual with you. I said I wanted to be with you, and that’s what I meant. I was trying to be…” For the first time, his fierce expression flickered with something like self-consciousness, something a lot more Patrick-like. “I was trying not to pressure you or say something to scare you. I didn’t think you’d want to hear everything from me right away.”

  She clutched at the lapels of his jacket, trying to stay on her feet and not slide to the floor in a puddle of emotion and excitement. “Hear… everything?”

  “Yes, hear everything. I was trying… I never said I wanted it to be casual. Of course I don’t feel casual about you. I’m crazy about you. Out of my mind crazy about you. There’s nothing casual about how I feel.”

  “There’s… not?”

  “Of course not.” His eyes were fierce again. Fierce and deep and warm and slightly ironic and so incredibly kind. “I love you, Carol. I… just love you.”

  She gaped at him, her mind exploding in a burst of feeling that left her completely paralyzed.

  “Patrick! Where are you? You’re supposed to be at the front of the church!” That was Ginny’s voice, sounding annoyed.

  Carol tried breathing and was amazed she actually could.

  Patrick had looked over at Ginny’s voice, but now he turned to face her again. “So there. That’s what I have to say to you.”

  Ginny called for him again, so he started toward the sound of her voice.

  Carol stared at his retreating back until she could finally get a word out.

  She let it out in an outraged bellow. “What?”

  ***

  Patrick desperately wanted to turn around so he could see Carol’s expression. He’d thought—he’d hoped—that she wanted to hear what he had to say, but part of him was terrified that he’d gone too far, said too much, admitted something too deep, too intense. And she would run away from him in terror.

  He actually started to turn around, but Ginny had caught up with him, and she was rushing him down the back hallway and toward the door in the front of the sanctuary so he could hurry over to stand next to Noah and Ryan and the preacher.

  The church was full. Everyone stared at him as he positioned himself. He was the thoughtless groomsmen who was late for his best friend’s wedding.

  And he’d just told the love of his life how he felt about her.

  He had no idea how she would respond.

  He had no opportunity to focus on it because soon the processional music was beginning. First there was a pretty little flower girl—a cousin of his and Emma’s who was so proud of her role in the wedding. Then there was Ginny coming down the aisle with her bouquet and a little smirk on her face.

  Then there was Carol. He couldn’t look away from her. She was pretty and flushed with a smile on the corners of her mouth, and her eyes kept darting over to where Patrick was standing.

  As she got closer, he could see more details about her appearance. The curve of her hips. The shadow and cleft of her cleavage. The strands of hair slipping out of her bun. The way her hands were shaking slightly.

  Her eyes met his for a long moment before she turned to take her place.

  Patrick’s heart flipped in his chest several times.

  She was excited.

  She was happy.

  She was his.

  At least he hoped she was.

  It certainly didn’t look like he’d scared her off.

  The music changed just then, and Emma started to process. She was beautiful and beaming, and he was momentarily distracted by how incredibly happy she looked.

  She deserved it, if anyone did.

  And Noah beside him looked just as happy, like he was dying to reach out to get to her.

  That was what Patrick wanted too.

  He wanted it with Carol.

  He glanced over toward her and saw she was watching him. His heart did several more flip-flops.

  The actual ceremony was quite short. Just a hymn, a three-minute homily, the vows, and the exchanging of rings.

  Patrick was feeling so much he felt for sure like his soul would break the bonds of his body and finally be free.

  When Emma and Noah kissed, he dared another quick look at Carol. She wasn’t smiling now, and it suddenly worried him.

  What if he’d been wrong?

&nb
sp; What if she wasn’t actually happy about what he’d told her?

  What if she was going to try to let him down easy?

  There was no easy way down for him. If he came down, it would be with a crash that would level him, cripple him emotionally.

  His breathing sped up as the preacher pronounced Emma and Noah as husband and wife.

  The people in the church cheered as the music grew rousing and Emma and Noah recessed up together. Ginny and Ryan followed them, holding each other’s hands.

  Then Patrick stepped forward to meet Carol in the middle of the aisle.

  He stared at her while the music played.

  She stared back at him, her silver eyes wide and full of feeling.

  He loved her so much.

  He opened his mouth to say something, but she didn’t let him. She suddenly reached up to take his head in both hands and pulled it down into a kiss.

  Right there in the middle of the sanctuary.

  Another cheer went up from the people watching as Patrick grabbed Carol to pull her even closer.

  She was his. She was his.

  Just as surely as he was hers.

  She finally pulled away from him, flushed hotly red and giggling. Patrick turned sheepishly to look and saw Ginny and Ryan and Emma and Noah all standing at the end of the aisle, laughing and clapping their hands.

  They were happy for them. Genuinely happy.

  Almost as happy as he was.

  Ten

  Carol couldn’t stop giggling.

  She giggled all the way up the aisle, clinging to Patrick’s arm as they walked together back up the aisle while everyone in the sanctuary watched them.

  She giggled as Emma and Ginny hugged her in the foyer, and she giggled as they all went together into the big dressing room so guests could be dismissed to the reception.

  She was still giggling as Patrick pulled her into a fierce hug once the dressing room door had closed.

  Hugging him back, she buried her face in his shoulder, torn between her giggles and tears.

  He loved her.

  He’d told her that he loved her, and it was perfectly obvious that he meant it.

  She still hadn’t told him that she loved him back, although he had probably figured it out by now.

  When she finally straightened up and pulled away from Patrick, she realized that the others were all staring at them, smiling.

  Carol was a little embarrassed that her special moment with Patrick had been witnessed by the entire world but not enough for it to bother her. “Why are you staring at us?” she asked as Patrick reached for her hand, twining his fingers with hers. “Emma and Noah are the ones who just got married.”

  Noah had both arms around Emma, and he was smiling like he was never going to stop. “Sure, but this wedding was planned for months. We didn’t know this was going to happen.” His nod toward Carol and Patrick made it clear what “this” he was referring to.

  “I knew,” Emma said, her eyes soft and laughing. “I knew it would happen eventually, if Patrick could ever get his head out of his ass. I just didn’t know it was going to happen today.”

  “My head wasn’t in my ass,” Patrick muttered.

  “Did we hog the spotlight?” Carol asked, momentarily worried. “We should have waited until the wedding was over. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t you dare be sorry. You waited long enough,” Emma replied, no trace of resentment on her face. “I’m not some sort of bridezilla, you know. And nothing could make me happier than seeing you and my brother finally happy together.”

  Carol gave her friend a wobbly smile and sniffed a little.

  “Okay,” Patrick said in his typical grumpy voice. “Carol and I need to talk for a minute before you make her cry from sappiness.” He tightened his grip on her hand and started to pull her out of the dressing room.

  “Just get her back in time for the photos!” Noah said.

  Carol laughed and waved at the others as Patrick dragged her away, down the hall and into an empty Sunday school room.

  “Patrick,” Carol said, still overflowing with giggles. “What are you doing?”

  He backed her up against a side table on which paintbrushes and child’s scissors were piled up with stacks of construction paper. “I told you. We need to talk in private for a minute.”

  “About what?”

  His eyebrows shot up. “About what? I came out and told you that I love you an hour ago, and you haven’t said a thing in return.” His voice was mildly outraged, but his brown eyes were incredibly soft.

  “I didn’t have a chance to say anything,” she replied primly. “If you hadn’t noticed, we were in the middle of a wedding.”

  “Well, the wedding is over now,” he grumbled. “And you still haven’t said anything.”

  “Oh. Well.” She paused for a minute, reaching up to take his face in her hands. “I love you too, you stubborn, clueless, adorable man.”

  She could see the response on his face, how something inside him was suddenly set on fire. But he kept control of his expression and muttered, “Adorable? I thought you said I was sexy.”

  She still couldn’t quite keep from giggling. “You are sexy. And adorable. And the most infuriatingly stubborn man I’ve ever known in my life.”

  “I can live with that,” he murmured, just before he kissed her.

  The kiss was soft and deep and absolutely delicious. Carol pulled away flushed and melty.

  Patrick stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I never really believed you could love me for real.”

  She shook her head. “I know that’s what you thought. And I know it’s because you still see yourself as something that you’re not. But I love you for who you are all the way down to your soul. And I happen to really like the outside package too.”

  He chuckled and nuzzled her hair. “Do you?”

  “Yes, I do.” She sighed, releasing a kind of tension she’d scarcely been aware of. “I liked it back when I was thirteen too, you know.”

  “I was pretty pathetic back then.”

  “You were not pathetic! Don’t you say that about yourself. I thought you were really cute, and I loved that you were smart, and I got happy every time you smiled at me.”

  He shook his head, clearly amazed to hear that such a thing was true. “You made me smile, even back then. The only reason… the only reason I didn’t answer you when you asked me to that dance was because I was too nervous and embarrassed.”

  Her eyes widened. “I thought you just didn’t want to go with me.”

  “I couldn’t get any words out. Girls scared the crap out of me back then. Maybe they still do.” His lips quirked up wryly. “The only reason I didn’t answer was because I didn’t know what to say, and I was too scared to say anything. And that’s the reason I kept pushing you away recently. I know I was wrong. I know I hurt you more than once. I don’t deserve for you to forgive me.”

  “Well, it’s been a month and a half. Exactly how long do you expect me to hold a grudge?”

  “I know you weren’t holding a grudge. You were living your life without me, exactly as you should have done. And let me tell you, I was miserable the whole time, having finally admitted to myself that you were the one I wanted, just in time to lose you.”

  “You didn’t lose me.”

  “Well, remind me to never lose you again—because I just can’t make it without you.” He was smiling as he leaned into another kiss.

  This kiss was just deep and tender, and it lasted even longer. Carol was starting to get into it, rubbing her body against Patrick’s and clawing at the back of his jacket. Patrick was getting into it too, if the bulge she could feel at the front of his pants was any indication.

  Then there was a loud tap at the door. Ginny’s voice called from the hallway, “Just a general announcement that we need to take photos pretty soon, in case anyone in the vicinity is interested in that piece of information. So if any carnal activities are occurring in the surrounding rooms, that
would be completely understandable, but maybe they could be put on pause for a little while!”

  Carol and Patrick broke apart, both of them breaking into helpless laughter.

  Patrick had to take a minute to get his body back under control, but then he nodded at her to indicate they could go.

  He smiled and reached out for her hand.

  She took it.

  He was hers.

  Patrick Stevenson and all his brilliance and heart and grumpiness and stubbornness was finally hers.

  They walked out of the room together, returning to their friends and family to take the rest of the photos.

  Carol hadn’t known it was possible to be as happy as this.

  ***

  A week later, Carol was humming to herself, straightening the tins and boxes of tea and coffee on the shelves in Tea for Two.

  Business was pretty slow for a Friday afternoon, and she hoped it would pick up a bit when five o’clock hit and the downtown offices got off work for the day. Days earlier in the week were often slow, but Fridays were usually better than this.

  She reminded herself not to worry too much. There were always fluctuations in business, and overall the shop had done better this first year than she and Ginny had ever dreamed of.

  Carol was smiling when she turned around as the bell to the shop jangled.

  The woman who entered was Jill, the little blonde who lived upstairs. Today she wore a short, pleated skirt and thigh-high argyle stockings Carol loved but could never have gotten away with herself. Jill was beaming as she approached the counter.

  “Hi, Jill,” Carol said. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks.”

  “I know. I was in California for work, but that’s the last work trip I’ll have to make. I got it! I got the job!” Jill looked like she was about to burst with the news.

  “You got the job with Patrick?”

  “Yes! He just called me fifteen minutes ago. I start two weeks from Monday!” Jill clapped her hands together.

  “Oh I’m so happy for you. You’re going to love working for him.” She’d mentioned Jill to Patrick when the job ads went out last month, but she hadn’t even thought about it since. If Patrick had hired Jill, then it was on her own merits. Emma had said he had a really good applicant pool, so Jill must be really good at her job to have gotten the position she wanted.