LITMIR.BIZ

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the way her breasts all but heaved out of the front of the dress—and carried her up the stairs of the church.

      “You are so going to regret this,” she said. “And if I weren’t so busy trying to breathe, I’d probably enjoy it.”

      Trevor tapped the door of the church with his shoe and focused straight ahead. He really must have been overseas too long, because just the sweet pressure of her sequin-clad fanny against the front of his body was enough to make him very glad his dress uniform included a long jacket. He tapped the door with a bit more force.

      Finally it cracked open, revealing a sea of melon sequins, teased hair and flower bouquets. Trevor was tempted to just shove her inside and make a run for it, but Kate emerged through the throng like a white-chiffon swan.

      “Thank goodness! I was worried I’d lost my matron of honor and Mike’s best man!” She sounded giddy bordering on hysterical as the sequin-and-satin sea parted to allow him to enter. Kate’s giddiness dissolved the instant she spied the woman in his arms. “Who is that? Christy?” She raised glassy eyes to Trevor. “What’s going on here?”

      “Christy?” Trevor repeated helplessly.

      The woman in his arms smiled sweetly at him, and bent her fingers in a little wave. “That would be me.”

      “But—Holy—” Trevor bit off the oath, conscious of his surroundings. He was usually able to control his temper; in fact his job demanded he keep his cool under the most trying circumstances. But his special ops training hadn’t prepared him for neurotic brides, AWOL bridesmaids…and sleeping beauties.

      He set his jaw and carefully placed the woman in his arms on her feet. “I went to the address you provided and picked up—”

      “Kidnapped,” Christy corrected.

      “Picked up,” he repeated, “the one and only female resident, whom I naturally presumed to be Vivian, and brought her here as you requested.”

      Kate immediately swung her tear-filled gaze to the woman wobbling next to him. He reached out to help steady her, but was glared into withdrawing his offer of assistance. Fine, he’d just leave them to it, then. Except he couldn’t. He’d brought her here and had refused to listen to any explanations on her part. At the very least he owed it to her to stand by until the situation was resolved.

      “Why didn’t you tell him you weren’t Vivian?” Kate demanded, her bevy of bridesmaids watching the exchange as avidly as fans at a tennis match.

      Christy folded her arms, then thought better of it when her chest came dangerously close to spilling forth. “I tried, believe me.”

      But Kate was losing it completely and didn’t seem to hear. “And why are you wearing Vivian’s dress? I can’t let you go into the chapel dressed like that.”

      Trevor had to bite off the surprising urge to smile when he saw Christy’s hackles all but rise off the back of her neck. Well, this should be good. He was guilty as all hell in this matter, but he’d make his apologies after the firestorm died down. In the meantime, Christy looked fully capable of delivering the speech about what happens when people intrude on other people’s lives. A lesson he needed to learn only once.

      “Oh, I have no intention of going into that chapel. But your hired hound didn’t allow me the luxury of getting dressed before he kidnapped me from my bed. Or Vivian’s bed.” She waved a dismissive hand, making him duck or get smacked. “So I put on the only thing available.”

      “Well, I’m very sorry you were dragged here unnecessarily, but I had no idea you were at Viv’s house. Where is Viv?” she demanded.

      Now Christy’s eyes narrowed. “You must be crazy if you think I’m telling you that. If she wanted to be here and let you manipulate her life after you swore you wouldn’t, she’d be here. Trust me, it cost her plenty to walk away from her obligation to you, but when you went back on your word, I didn’t see any reason for her to keep her word.”

      “You didn’t?” Kate took a step forward, but her dress prevented her from coming any closer. “You told her about Eric? How did you find out?”

      “Eric happened to make the unfortunate assumption that I would back your little scheme and wanted me to help make sure Viv went to the reception. I, on the other hand, totally championed her desire to get away from the whole affair.” Christy immediately calmed down when Kate began to cry in earnest.

      Trevor watched her exhale a weary sigh and for the first time noticed the fatigue clear in the depths of her dark eyes. The heavy-lidded eyes and puffy lips he’d attributed to a sort of exotic beauty were in fact signs of a bone-deep weariness, which made him feel like a complete heel. She had been sound asleep in the middle of the day for a good reason apparently. He, on the other hand, had no good reason for handling things as poorly as he had.

      Christy took a wobbling step forward and placed a hand on Kate’s arm. “Listen, I know your heart was in the right place,” she said gently, “but you shouldn’t have interfered. I’m really sorry. I’m sure you two can patch this up when you get back from your honeymoon.” She rubbed Kate’s arm, surprising Trevor with her sincerity considering her own treatment today. “You have a man in there who loves you and wants to marry you,” she went on. “That’s what this day is all about. There will be time later to sort the rest out. Trust me.”

      Kate sniffled. “You think she’ll forgive me?”

      Christy nodded confidently and gave her a little nudge, almost falling over when Kate smiled and moved away from her toward the door to the chapel at the same moment.

      Trevor’s quick reflexes saved Christy from diving facefirst into Kate’s train.

      “I’m really sorry about the misunderstanding,” Kate called out over her shoulder.

      Christy just waved her off, her smile evaporating as soon as she turned to face Trevor. “Shouldn’t you be inside helping your buddy get married?” She eyed his hand on her arm, then looked up at him.

      “That was nice, what you just did for her. She didn’t deserve the kindness and neither do I. But I’d like to try and—”

      “Listen, save the apologies until after the ceremony. You can grovel when you drive me home on your way to the reception, okay?”

      Trevor didn’t know whether to laugh or swear. She’d handled this a lot better than most women would, and though he felt like a total ass and planned to tell her so, he suddenly found himself in no hurry to leave her. “Where will you be?”

      She smiled dryly. “Leaning on whatever wall you prop me up against.”

      “Maybe I can find you something more suitable to wear?”

      The organ music paused, then made them both jump as it suddenly resumed with the thundering opening strains of the bridal march. “No time for that. Get in there and do your thing. I’ll be fine.”

      Trevor felt even worse that she was being such a good sport about this. She must have read his mind, because her smile brought back those feline comparisons…the ones with bared teeth and claws.

      “However, if you come back to find me sleeping standing up, it’s on your head if you wake me again. And you already have quite enough on your head at the moment, if you know what I mean. I hope you grovel as well as you kidnap.”

      “I’ve never had to grovel before, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something.” He helped her away from the throng of bridesmaids queuing up to go inside the chapel, over to a far corner, away from the front door, as well. “Are you sure—”

      “I’m sure,” she cut in, eyes already drooping shut.

      “What if you took off the shoes? Would that—”

      “They’re strapped on. Just go,” she said, not bothering to open her eyes.

      He should. He knew that. But he really didn’t want to.

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