Gorgeous Grooms: Her Stand-In Groom / Her Wish-List Bridegroom / Ordinary Girl, Society Groom

“But it wasn’t too late.”

“No. Derek wanted to gloat.” Lyle smiled again when he added, “His Achilles’ heel.”

“And I made the most of it.”

“It obviously never occurred to him that you would beat him at his sleazy game.”

The lawyer shifted uncomfortably after he said it, apparently realizing the unintentional insult his words contained. Glancing at Catherine, he said, “My apologies, Mrs. Danbury, that came out wrong.”

“An understandable mistake,” she replied graciously, even as Stephen watched the color stain her cheeks.

“My congratulations and best wishes to both of you.”

“Thank you,” she said.

The other man fiddled with the handle of his briefcase for a moment, then cleared his throat. To Stephen, he said, “I’ll be resigning as your legal counsel, and I’ll understand if you want to take action against me, legally or with the bar.”

Stephen was quiet for a moment, considering. “I have no plans to do either. As you know, that pair tends to bring out the worst in people. I’d appreciate the name of a good firm, though.”

Lyle’s face brightened. “I know one of the senior partners at Rockwell, Martin, Stanwood. It’s an old and respectable firm. I can have them brought up to speed in no time.”

Stephen nodded.

“Do you want me to stay for the meeting with Fieldman’s?”

“No need.” It was Stephen’s turn to grin. “I canceled it yesterday.”

“Of course you did.”

Lyle was chuckling as he walked out the door. When Stephen closed it behind the man and turned to face Catherine she swore the room got smaller.

“You didn’t have to come.”

It didn’t sound like a criticism, but the intense way in which he watched her made her uneasy, defensive.

“I felt I did.”

“Satisfied with the payback?”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“No?” He’d walked forward as they spoke, and now he stood near enough that she was forced to look up, despite the stylish Italian pumps that added nearly three inches to her height.

“I thought you might need me.”

Something flickered briefly in his eyes and one side of his mouth lifted. “Worried about me?”

“I hear that’s what wives do,” she said lightly.

She thought of the other things wives did and nearly blushed. Just for a moment she was tempted to reach out, trail a fingertip over his chest and then use his very tasteful silk tie to pull him forward for a kiss. God, the man wore clothes well, which made her curious about what lay beneath them. They could lock the door, request that his secretary hold all calls. A vivid picture of what could come next filled her mind, shocking in all its sensuous detail.

She blinked and took a step back. What was wrong with her? She’d never entertained thoughts like this before. Indeed, she hadn’t thought herself capable of sexual fantasies. But this one was a doozy, not to mention highly impractical. After all, a desktop had to be incredibly uncomfortable.

She was sleep-deprived; that was it. And there was no denying that Stephen was an attractive man. Stress. She filed the excuses away, satisfied that at least her brain still seemed capable of functioning. She’d wondered for a moment there.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Fine. I’d better be going.”

“Busy day today?” He said it without the sneer that she now realized Derek had often used when referring to her work.

“Yes, I have a meeting at noon to discuss Project Christmas.”

“Project Christmas? It’s August.”

“The end of August. And Danbury’s has had wool sweaters on display for at least a month.”

“Touché.”

“Planning takes time if you want to do something right. I don’t believe in doing things halfway.”

She watched one dark eyebrow lift, but he said nothing. And again she thought about his desk and the sizzling fantasy that her sleep-deprived, stressed-out brain had manufactured. Catherine was not a woman known for her spontaneity, and yet she wondered if planning were required to do something like that right.

She had to clear her throat before she could reply. “We can count on Danbury’s to host our drop boxes again this year, I hope?”

“Of course. Project Christmas is a great cause.”

She nodded in agreement, grateful for the return of a steady heartbeat. “No child should have to go without gifts at Christmas, which is why I know Danbury’s will also be generous with its corporate donation.”

He smiled. “You’re very smooth. I almost didn’t feel you pick my pocket.”

“Thanks.” She pulled the thin strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Well, I should go.”

“Yes.”

They stood facing each other for an awkward moment.

“The move going okay?”

“Yes, fine.”

She’d spent the better part of the previous evening unpacking the boxes the movers had brought, which had given her the perfect excuse to stay in her bedroom for the remainder of the night. Not that it had mattered. He’d left shortly before six and had not returned by the time she’d called it a night at ten o’clock. Where had he gone? For the first time she’d wondered if Stephen had a girlfriend. Rosaria had said Catherine wasn’t his usual type. What or who was?

She found herself in an odd sort of conundrum. She didn’t want to spend time alone with Stephen, and yet she liked even less the idea that he might be spending his time with someone else.

“I’m going to see my parents tonight. I have to tell them before a reporter calls for comment. I thought, if your schedule is clear, we could go over there this evening. That’s if you want to go with me.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to go alone.” He tucked his hands into the front pockets of his dark gray trousers and tilted his head to one side, looking oddly nervous. “How do you think they’ll take it?”