Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)(4)

"You say that now, but you have no idea what you're in for." She smiled. "Maybe I should confiscate your car keys before I say any more. So you can't run screaming into the night."

"That bad?"

"Let's just put it this way, my sister is only happy when there's drama surrounding her and I have an aunt who has a habit of seducing other women's boyfriends and husbands. As I'm sure your mother told you, the groom is my ex-boyfriend. And that's just for starters."

"Sounds like fun."

"You have no idea. Want to make a run for it?"

"I can handle it. Do you doubt me?"

Not when he looked at her as if she were something delicious to eat. Which he couldn't possibly be, so it had to be a trick of light. Maybe a problem with his glasses.

"We should, ah, check you into the hotel," she said. "Have you been to Fool's Gold much in the past few years?"

"Not since our last meeting."

"But you grew up in Sacramento," she said. "It's so close."

"I went the other way after college. Toward the coast." He glanced around at the lobby. "The resort has a reputation for good skiing in winter."

"You ski?"

"Some. I like it more than I'm good at it."

"Me, too," she said. "It's easier than snowboarding, at least for me. I love trying different sports, but so far I haven't found one I'm very good at."

She led the way toward the front desk. "There are several excellent runs here during the winter. This time of year, the draw is more hiking and camping. The hotel keeps busy with things like weddings and various theme weekends. They fly in five-star chefs or art experts. That sort of thing. Then people come in from all over to hear lectures or go to demonstrations."

"You work in travel in your spare time?"

Katie laughed. "I live in town. It's not hard to keep track of what's going on."

"You grew up here and never wanted to leave?"

She tilted her head, considering. "Not really. I went to Ashland College and while I loved it, I couldn't wait to get back. Fool's Gold is home for me."

Katie spoke with certainty, as if her belief was unshakeable. Jackson had been comfortable growing up in Sacramento, and later at MIT. He'd lived on the East Coast for a while, but when he'd been ready to start his software company, he'd gravitated west. There was something about California.

Now he lived in Los Angeles and while he liked the city, he couldn't say it was home with Katie's obvious passion.

She was nothing he'd expected. There was an energy about her, as if she enjoyed everything she did. Her blue eyes sparkled with intelligence and humor. She was curvy to the point of being a walking, breathing temptation just by standing in the room. There was something about the way she moved--purposeful, with a subtle sexiness that made parts of him grumble hungrily.

At thirteen, she'd terrified him. Fourteen years later, she tempted him, not that he would do anything about it. The daughter of his mother's best friend was completely off-limits. Not only would both mothers want to monitor any potential relationship, he could only imagine what his mother would say if she suspected he was about to break the heart of her best friend's daughter.

Too bad, he thought with more than a little regret.

"The family is in a block of rooms," Katie was saying as they approached the front desk. "However, I made sure you weren't close to them. We don't want Aunt Tully sneaking into your room at night." Her smile turned impish. "You're still young enough that the thrill of Aunt Tully might do lasting damage."

"I don't know if I'm looking forward to meeting her or ready to bolt."

"I'll protect you."

He checked in quickly and was handed an old-fashioned key.

"You're through here," Katie said, pointing to the elevators on the far wall. "Brace yourself because it all starts tonight. There's a party." She paused and gazed up at him.

"Parties are fine."

"A fifties-style theme party. A costume has already been delivered to your room."

A costume party? He could see his mother had left out more than a few details. "Sounds great," he lied.

She laughed and touched his arm. "Don't worry. It's only a short-sleeved white T-shirt for the guys. Jeans are fine and if you have loafers, all the better."

"With white socks?"

"That would complete the look."

Her fingers were warm against his skin. He liked that she was a toucher. It made him want to touch back--to take control of the situation.

His gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered there. Her lips were as curvy and full as the rest of her. Katie defined lushness.

"I'm stuck wearing a poodle skirt," she continued. "With a twinset, if you can believe it."

An interesting image, he thought, still looking at her mouth. He'd never been turned on by anything retro before, but he had a feeling Katie would make a believer out of him.

"We should probably get our stories straight," she said, her voice slightly strained.

Reluctantly he raised his gaze to her eyes. Her pupils were slightly dilated and she seemed to be a little breathless.

"About how we met," she added.