Doctors in the Wedding

It took only half a lap for him to draw up beside her. He made no effort to surge ahead, though she conceded in resignation that he could have if he’d tried. Instead, he kept pace with her, nearby but staying out of her way. She didn’t know how long he’d been swimming before she’d joined him, but he showed no signs of tiring. The man definitely had stamina. Not that she’d had any doubt he was in excellent shape. She had a very clear memory of every muscle she’d felt while pressed against him last night.

If being that close to him fully clothed had been such a memorable experience, she could only imagine what it would feel like now—wet flesh to flesh. For just a moment, her strokes fumbled, losing her rhythm so she had to make an effort to get back into sync with him.

“Okay?”

“Fine,” she sputtered, and swam a little faster to relieve a sudden surge of hyper energy.

Her endurance was beginning to flag a few laps later, and Jason must have noticed. She felt a hand on her leg, a tug on her ankle. Considering the electricity she sensed between herself and Jason, she wouldn’t have been surprised if the water conducted a shock when their skin made contact. Or maybe it had, explaining the tingle coursing through her body when she lowered her feet to stand and face him.

“I’d love to stay longer, but I have a few calls to make before we leave for the ranch,” he said with visible regret. “Guess I’d better go take care of them.”

She nodded, reminding herself she would be seeing him again soon—though it would be different when they were surrounded by other people rather than alone here together. “I should get ready, too. BiBi would strangle me if I’m late.”

He chuckled. “None of us have the nerve to annoy BiBi, especially this weekend.”

“Ah. So you know the bride as well as the groom,” she teased.

He nodded. “I’ve known them both for years.”

It would be tempting for her to grill BiBi later for more information about Jason, but that seemed rather impolite. Besides, BiBi would want to know all the details and would probably make more of Madison’s interest than was justified, not to mention that BiBi had picked out someone else to keep Madison company this weekend. All in all, it was better—and definitely more fun—to just keep this flirtation a little secret between herself and Jason.

She turned toward the steps. “I’ll see you at the ranch, then, if not before.”

He caught her arm, and though he was barely touching her, she was still as affected as she’d imagined by the flesh-to-flesh contact. Honestly, Madison, get a grip, she scolded mentally. One would think she’d never had an instant connection with a handsome man before. Okay, maybe she hadn’t experienced anything quite like this, but still, there was no need to get so carried away.

“Was there something else you wanted to say, Dr. Jones?” she asked, keeping it light.

His gaze focused on her smile. Was he, too, remembering last night’s kisses in the moonlight-bathed, aromatic garden, wondering if they would be just as powerful here in this brightly lit, chlorine-scented room?

Something beeped from a small table near the end of the pool, and Jason released her arm. Madison told herself it was just as well they’d been interrupted. She could only imagine the gossip that would ensue if she were seen kissing Jason in the pool after meeting him only last night.

“That’s the alarm I set on my phone to remind me of the calls I have to make.”

“I’ll see you later, then.”

He reached out to trail a wet fingertip down her cheek. “I look forward to it,” he murmured.

Her body temperature rose another few degrees. She swallowed a sigh as she watched him climb the steps out of the pool, water streaming from his lean, toned body, his trunks molded over a very tight butt.

The laughing glance he gave her over his shoulder let her know he was fully aware she was watching him. She grinned and dove back into the pool.

When she left the pool room a short time later, her limbs were pleasantly tired, and her tummy reminded her that she should have breakfast soon. The day ahead seemed especially inviting now. She’d thought the ranch excursion sounded like fun, anyway, but the anticipation of spending time there with Jason was especially appealing. She couldn’t wait to see him on horseback.

Hannah stepped out of the workout room at almost the same time Madison entered the hallway. Exchanging cheery good-mornings, they moved together toward the elevator.

“Have you eaten breakfast yet?” Hannah asked.

Madison glanced at her watch. A quarter to eight. Plenty of time yet before the nine o’clock departure. “No. I’m going to shower and dress, then head down to the breakfast buffet before we leave for the ranch.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you down there.”

Madison pushed the call button. “I can be ready in half an hour.”

“Same here.” Hannah pushed back a strand of hair that had escaped her red braid during her exercise session. “I thought I saw Jason D’Alessandro leaving the pool room a little while ago. Did you meet him?”

Though this was the first time she’d heard Jason’s last name, Madison nodded. “I met him at the party last night.”

“I met him last night, too. BiBi introduced us. I think you were dancing with Carl’s cousin at the time. Jason seems like a nice guy. Good-looking, too.”

“Yes, he is.”

“I can see why Corinna is so hooked on him.”

Madison almost stumbled stepping into the elevator. She righted herself quickly, punching her floor button with a little more force than necessary. “Umm, Corinna?”

“Yeah. He’s the guy she and BiBi were talking about last night. Didn’t you know? Apparently, Corinna’s had a thing for him for ages. From what I’ve gathered, their families have known each other for, like, generations, and everyone thinks Jason and Corinna would be a perfect match. You know, both living here in Dallas, him being a doctor and her a pharmacist, both from big Italian families.”

Madison stared hard at the numbers flashing above the elevator door. Jason was a doctor? “Hmm.”

“But I don’t know, watching them together last night? I’m not sure BiBi’s right that he’ll change his mind about Corinna. He was nice to her and all, but there didn’t seem to be any chemistry between them. He treated her more like a cousin, or a kid sister, maybe.”

“Hmm.”

Hannah laughed self-consciously. “I shouldn’t be gossiping about them. Just an observation.”

The elevator bumped to a gentle stop and Madison moved toward the opening doors in relief. “I’ll meet you downstairs in half an hour, Hannah. That should give us just enough time to eat before we’re supposed to join the others in the lobby.”

“Okay, see you down—” The elevator doors closed behind Madison before Hannah could finish the sentence.

Moving robotically, Madison walked to her door and shoved the key into the slot. She muttered a curse beneath her breath when she realized she’d inserted the card upside down. Turning it over, she tried again, then shoved the door open.

Wouldn’t you know, she thought wistfully, closing the door behind her, that the one man who’d brought out the reckless fun in her since … well, almost longer than she could remember … was the one man who was totally off-limits this weekend?

It wasn’t as if she’d expected anything serious to come of her flirtation with Jason, anyway, she assured herself, heading for the shower.

But, oh, it could have been a fun three days.

Two buses had been secured for transporting the guests to the dude ranch some twenty miles from the hotel. BiBi and Carl had invited the entire wedding party, several of their family members and a few miscellaneous others to attend, for a total of about forty people, as far as Madison could determine. BiBi insisted that the men should load into one vehicle and the women into the other—and again, no one argued with her. She was practically giddy with excitement about the entertainment she had arranged for her guests. Apparently the ranch specialized in hosting wedding parties, family and class reunions, company retreats and other such gatherings, and had offered a long list of activities for BiBi and Carl to select from.

Madison had dressed for the day in a three-quarter-sleeved, scoop-neck green T-shirt with jeans. The temperature was predicted to climb into the high seventies, and it was already too warm for a jacket, so she had tucked a thin sweater into her tote bag in case she needed it that evening. She didn’t own a cowboy hat, but she’d worn a pair of brown leather boots that were vaguely Western in style. It had been a few years since she’d been on horseback; she only hoped she’d remembered enough of the basics so she didn’t embarrass herself.

She’d arranged her honey-blond hair into a tidy French braid to keep it out of her face during the day’s activities. Maybe she’d spent a bit more time than usual with her makeup—trying for a casual, but flattering look—but that was only because she knew BiBi’s crowd wouldn’t be caught dead without mascara and blusher. She certainly hadn’t primped with anyone particular in mind, she assured herself sanctimoniously.

When she saw the other women, she was glad she’d made the effort, whatever her motivation. Texas women were fussy about their hair and makeup, BiBi had always said, and that was in evidence today. Though jeans and Ts or button-up cotton shirts were the primary garments of choice, she saw a few shiny Western shirts festooned with rhinestones and appliqués, and enough new pairs of pointy-toed boots that she didn’t doubt some of the guests would be limping a bit through the next day’s events.

The bus seats were plush and roomy, but still rather cramped for the very pregnant woman who sat next to Madison. Madison remembered seeing her at the party last night, though they had not actually met.

“I’m Madison Baker,” she said with a smile, raising her voice just enough to be heard over the excited chattering around them.