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His chest swelled with unexpected possessiveness at the thought.
Tonight she’d stood tall, and Landon felt damned proud of the way she’d held up during the photo session.
She’d smiled, she’d acted with class and style, and the kiss she’d delivered had been so scorching, so real, she’d left him hot and bothered and eager to stake his claim on her once and for all.
In the quiet moonlight as she chatted with Kate, Beth’s face had lost its paleness and her cheeks now glowed a soft pink. She looked so pretty he worried it would…haunt him.
“You’re determined to go through with the wedding.”
“Yes,” he said, emphatic.
“Why?”
He’d asked himself a dozen times. Why did he want to marry her?
Because she made him want revenge…because he never tired of staring into her blue, blue eyes…because there was something about Bethany, plain and simple as he’d thought she was, that just got to him. And every minute was getting to him more.
“She deserves better than this, Garrett,” he said, honestly. Better than loneliness, lies and Halifax.
Across a handful of shoulders, he watched Bethany push a wheaten strand of hair behind her ear… “Christ, she’s so sexy.” He dropped his head back in exasperation, closing his eyes for a second. “She’ll be sleeping sixteen steps away from my bedroom door starting tonight—I doubt I’ll sleep an hour.”
Garrett burst out laughing, then pounded Landon’s back with one hand. “So, what are you going to do about it?” he asked.
Patience, Landon thought. Cold showers and more patience.
“You’ve never romanced a single woman in your life. They all came to you, just like Beth did.”
“Obviously, Bethany’s different.” She didn’t want him. Did she? She needed time.
She was a woman rediscovering herself, taking her first steady steps to seize the things she wanted. And Landon needed, had to make sure, that those steps lead her to him.
He caught her watching from afar, her eyes shining with excitement. Then she gave him one of those shy, we’ve-got-them smiles.
Slowly, he returned it. While he did, his heart boomed loudly, his blood stirred, and his mind was pulled in all kinds of directions which led to the same end.
Beth, in bed, with Landon.
“You know what I think?” Garrett offered, though God knows Landon hadn’t asked for his opinion. “I think you’re falling.”
Landon grimly shook his head.
“You’re falling.”
He tipped his glass up to his lips, but when no liquid came forth, he snatched a new glass from a passing waiter. “Negative, little brother. I’m merely interested.”
He thought of the torment of romancing her, night after night, watching her defenses crack, one by one, and his insides turned to fire. Yes. He’d do it gradually, so methodically she wouldn’t even realize how fiercely he wanted her….
“You’re not seducing her already, and that’s not like you. Why isn’t she in your bed? I’m telling you. You’re falling.”
“Garrett?”
Garrett continued to nod direly. “Falling big-time, bro.”
“Shut up, moron.”
But his brother had a point here, a very valid point.
If he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall for his own fake wife before he’d even bedded her.
