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“Abby,” he said roughly.
She shook her head, took a moment and cleared her throat. “I’m just getting ready to head to the room, Rick.” Abby answered, taking a step back from Tucker. “Can you give us a minute?”
How the hell could she sound so in control when her chest still heaved and her hair was all over the place?
“Sure,” Rick answered. “I’ll just drink this here cocktail that you won’t be needing. Actually. I’ll just maybe take it inside.”
Tucker ignored his cousin, flush with satisfaction because the woman in front of him looked as if she’d been thoroughly kissed.
A few seconds passed as the two of them regarded each other in silence. Tucker had no idea what was going on inside Abby’s head, but he sure as hell was glad she couldn’t see what was going on inside his. Because it was all about naked bodies—his and Abby’s.
“You might want to wait a bit before you head up to our room, Mr. Simon,” she said softly.
Tucker glanced down at his straining erection, and then back up at her.
“You might want to wear underwear tomorrow, Miss Mathews.”
She looked surprised for about a second and then laughed, a beautiful, musical sound that made his chest tight. Had she always sounded like that? As if she had the ability to lighten everything with the sound of her laughter?
Slowly, Abby stepped away from him, that generous mouth still curved into a smile. “You’ll just have to kiss me again to find out.”
Should Tucker be surprised by her bold statement? By the kiss they’d just shared that had pretty much rocked more than anything in recent memory?
Maybe he should have been. Maybe he should have been ashamed of himself for taking something that he had no right to take. Instead, he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks and watched her disappear into the shadows surrounding the hotel.
He turned back toward the ocean, but this time as he gazed over the waves and watched them crash onto the beach, he didn’t feel the melancholy or the darkness that he usually did. He felt something else. Something light and airy. Maybe even a little bit happy.
It took him a moment, but then he realized that what he was feeling was hope.
Chapter Ten
The bride was beautiful and the groom handsome as the late afternoon sun touched the guests gathered for cocktails just inside the old antebellum mansion. The wedding had taken place a few hours earlier, photos had been taken, and now it was time to celebrate.
The bridesmaids’ dresses were sheer perfection—old rose in a classic and simple strapless design that flattered the four women who wore them—and the flowers were gorgeous, white and pink peonies. The groomsmen were rakish in coattails, the guests distinguished, with a healthy balance between celebrities, politicians and people like Abby—plain old folk.
Music played softly while waiters worked the room, laden with trays of succulent scallops, mouth-watering mushrooms or crab and avocado canapés, and jumbo shrimp cocktails. There was a slight breeze that was perfect, just enough to cool Abby’s hot skin and that was a welcome relief.
God, it felt as if her cheeks had been burning since she’d woken up this morning to sunshine, the smell of fresh coffee and the memory of a kiss that had rocked her to the core.
Tucker had already been up, showered and ready to head out when she’d stumbled out of bed. For a moment, the two of them had stared at each other and she knew exactly what he was thinking.
Wasn’t hard. The slow, sensual smile that crept over his face had left her knees weak and her stomach in knots. Last night had been a game changer, but in the bright light of the morning after, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for anything to change. Or rather, Abby wasn’t so sure she would survive it.
God, how had she gotten herself in this mess? Jesus. She knew better than to drink wine. It always loosened her tongue and opened up that box full of inhibitions she kept hidden away.
A moment had passed. Then another.
And then she’d mumbled something unintelligible before hightailing it to the bathroom like a scared kid.
“Crap,” she muttered, touching her flushed face as she ducked behind a large palm tree near the large foyer. Leaning against the cool wall, she closed her eyes in an effort to calm her nerves.
You’ll just have to kiss me again to find out.
“I can’t believe I said that,” she groaned, biting her lip.
“What would, that, be?”
Her eyes shot open and her vision filled with six foot two inches of blond male beauty. Cooper Simon smiled, head cocked to the side as he loosened his tie and undid his top button.
