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Since “unhand my fiancée” seemed a little over the top, he settled for, “Weren’t you supposed to be helping Dad make martinis? Mom thinks he’s using too much vermouth. Why don’t you go check up on him.”
“I’m sure he’s doing just fine.” Dane winked at Caroline as she pulled her hand free. “I was just admiring your fiancée’s ring. She said you picked it out.”
“Yeah, so what?”
Simon squeezed into the narrow gap between Caroline and Dane, glad the limited space gave him the excuse to crowd his body against hers. Ignoring his brother, he offered her the martini glass. She took it in both hands, her gaze searching his face, but he couldn’t unclench enough to reassure her with a smile.
Dane shrugged. “I’m a little surprised you didn’t go bigger.”
“It’s big enough,” Simon retorted, raising his eyebrows at Dane to let his big brother know the stone was larger than Francine’s.
“I think Simon did a great job,” Caroline chimed in, extending her hand to admire the ring. “It’s exactly what I would have bought if he’d taken me along.”
“See, Dane?” Simon slu
ng his arm over the back of the couch and shot his brother a triumphant smirk. “It’s all about making the lady happy.”
“Have you two set a date?” his mother injected, making a small face after tasting her martini. “I’ve always been partial to May weddings.”
“No.” Caroline rushed the answer, and when everyone focused on her, she raised the glass to her lips and drank.
“What she means,” Simon began, lifting his voice to be heard over her coughing fit, “is that she needs to finish law school and get her career established before she’s going to be able to concentrate on planning a big wedding.” He plucked the martini from her hand and sipped the drink his father had made. It was awful. “I keep telling her we should run off to St. Barts and get married on the beach—”
“Don’t you dare,” his mother interrupted from the other side of the room.
“But she wants a church wedding and to walk down the aisle in a long white dress…” His voice trailed off as the picture he was painting became all too vivid. Details popped into his mind of exactly how she would smile at him as he held her hand and spoke his vows. Of the kiss they would share after being pronounced man and wife. Of how her body would feel beneath his on their wedding night.
“Simon?”
He looked down into her gray-green eyes and sucked in a breath. What had just happened? Tearing his gaze away, he slapped a smile on his face and stood.
“I had some terrific wine shipped from Australia. Is anyone up for trying a dry Riesling?” As agreement echoed around the room, he captured Caroline’s hand and pulled her to her feet as well. “Come help me, darling.”
Once they were out of the room, he slowed.
“Are you okay?” Caroline quizzed, squeezing his hand and gaining his attention.
He stopped dead. No, he wasn’t okay. Anything but. His brother had been flirting with Caroline. Was Dane messing with him, or was it something more serious? His brother had been engaged to Francine for three years without setting a date. Maybe she’d been right to think things weren’t going well between them. Was he looking to break their engagement?
Or was Dane going to fill Caroline’s ears with negative stories about his younger brother’s antics? Try to convince her that Simon wasn’t the right man for her?
He wanted to shove Caroline behind him and face off against his brother. To warn Dane to keep his opinions and hands to himself. What the hell was going on? Saving damsels was Dane’s job. Simon was the charmer. The one women couldn’t hope to hold on to long term.
When had he and Dane switched roles? When had the scoundrel become the knight in shining armor?
“I’m fine,” he snapped, pulling her into his space so they wouldn’t be overheard. Her soft ginger scent tickled his nose, reminding him how she looked sleeping in his bed. Her lean form sagged against his chest. Her lips parted in unconscious invitation. The chaos in his body intensified. “I just have one favor to ask.”
“What?”
Her whispered question shot through him like a bullet through glass, shattering his composure. An ache throbbed blow his belt. His escalating hunger for her combined with their hands-off agreement drove spikes of frustration into the most sensitive parts of his anatomy.
“I’d really appreciate it if you could keep from falling in love with my brother while we’re here.”
* * *
Falling in love with his brother?
What the heck was Simon talking about? Caroline started to peel herself off him, but found he’d snaked an arm around her waist, trapping her to his tense, rock-solid body. Her heart darted around in her chest, but not in fear, something a lot more unnerving. She liked being this close to him. Liked it way too much.
