Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)(10)

"Fine," she said. "And you?"

Instead of answering the question, her sister put a hand on her arm. "I know this is hard for you."

Sleeping? Not so much. Most nights it was amazingly easy. "What is hard for me?"

"Seeing me with Alex."

"I've had nearly a year to get used to it."

"I know, but this is different. We're getting married. I know you thought you'd marry him."

"Not anymore," Katie assured her, silently begging the elevator to return and rescue her. "I'm fine."

"Mom had to buy you a date."

Katie sucked in a breath. "Jackson isn't an escort. No one paid for him." At least she didn't think so. "He's a friend of the family." Sort of.

"Still." Courtney looked both sympathetic and pitying. It wasn't a combination designed to make Katie feel better. "It's just so sad that more guys don't see beyond appearances. I couldn't stand it. You must be lonely."

Kill me now, Katie thought. Or maybe just Courtney. Before she could make a decision, the elevator arrived and she practically threw herself into it.

As the doors closed, Katie promised herself she was having wine with lunch.

Five

Katie fluffed her curls and sprayed them for the third time since using the curling iron. As long as she avoided open flames, she would be fine.

Tonight's dinner was to officially welcome the rest of the family members who had arrived that day and to serve as a celebration for the happy couple. The event was somewhat formal, so she'd chosen a cocktail dress that fit her perfectly. She'd paid extra for tailoring, but it had been worth it, she thought as she put down the hair spray and turned so she could see herself from the back. In the right light, and wearing her three-inch heels, she could almost pass for tall. Given how her day had begun, she deserved a little sass in her evening.

Although to be honest, after a hideous start, her day had gone reasonably well. She'd spent the morning welcoming the rest of the family members as they'd arrived. Jackson had been a friendly and handsome escort for lunch. They'd been seated at a table that didn't include Courtney and the willowy Ariel hadn't been seen. Katie was willing to call that a win.

She left the bathroom and walked toward her purse. As she reached it, someone knocked on the door.

Jackson, she thought, her heart beating a little faster than it should. Right on time.

Sure enough, her date for the weekend stood in the doorway, looking handsome and sexy in a dark suit, white shirt and gray tie.

"Is this formal enough?" he asked. "I brought a tux."

"You look great," she said honestly, thinking it didn't get much better than a good-looking man who was prompt and owned his own tux. "I'm going to have to provide a physical barrier between you and Aunt Tully."

"I'd appreciate that. Although I noticed at lunch she seemed more interested in the groom's father."

"Well, wouldn't that cause some fireworks." Katie made a mental note to pass on the info to her mother. Not that she'd forgiven the other woman for the sexual outburst in the elevator. Knowing about parental sex was one thing, but having to hear about the details was just plain wrong.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

She checked that her room key was in her small beaded evening bag, then pulled the door shut. "I'm fine. Counting down the days until it's all over. What about you?"

"It's not my family," he pointed out. "Although I have decided that when I get married, I want a simple ceremony. And everything done in a day."

"I agree. This is like a special kind of hell--it never ends."

As the party had grown larger, their dinner was to take place in one section of the small ballroom. The ceremony would be held there on Saturday, with the reception to follow in the bigger ballroom.

As they got closer to the party, Katie heard the sound of laughter and the clink of ice in glasses. She mentally braced herself for a whole night with her extended family. When she would have entered the room, he drew her back into the hallway.

"I want you to know you look amazing," he said, staring into her eyes.

She could see his thick lashes, the light of appreciation in his gaze. Even though she'd always wished to be taller, she had to admit there was something to be said for having a man tower over her. At least this man.

"Thank you," she murmured. "You're nice."

His dark brows pulled into a frown. "Excuse me?"

"You're really nice."

The frowned deepened. "I tell you that you look great and you insult me?"

Although he looked fierce, she saw the slight tug at the corner of his mouth. As if he were trying not to smile.

"Who does that?" he asked sternly. "I'm leaving."

She fought back the urge to giggle. "Jackson, wait. I'm sorry. You're not nice."

The frown didn't budge.

"You're actually..." She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Bad. Very bad. You're the guy my mom warned me about."

"Better." His tone was grudging. "Just remember that."

He leaned in to kiss her. Her muscles tensed in anticipation of a really good time, her breath caught and the nerve endings in her trembling lips did a fair imitation of yearning.