She sighed and pushed a hand through her hair. “You know why I turned down your invitation to dance, Jason. I just didn’t want to call any attention to us.”
“You’ve danced several times with other people. I’ve been on the dance floor once or twice, myself. I wouldn’t think anyone would find it the least odd that I would ask you to dance with me, considering we’ll be walking down the aisle together tomorrow.”
“Oh, so someone filled you in on your responsibilities for tomorrow?” she asked before she could stop herself.
His eyebrows rose. His response was equally blunt. “That was a bit cattier than I would have expected from you.”
“Sorry,” she said, though she wasn’t particularly. She was getting tired of walking on eggshells this weekend. Around BiBi and Corinna and Jason, too, for that matter.
Looking aggrieved, he said rather curtly, “I’ve apologized to everyone for missing some of the rehearsal this afternoon.”
“Some of the rehearsal?” she repeated. “You missed all your own part.”
“I think I can handle walking unrehearsed,” he shot back. “And I’m getting tired of groveling because I had to take a call.”
She held up a hand. “You’re right. You certainly don’t owe me any apologies or explanations. BiBi’s the one who was upset.”
“I’m getting damned tired of tiptoeing around BiBi, too,” he snapped, far from mollified. “I know it’s her weekend, and I understand bridal jitters and such, but come on. Refusing to dance with me because it might anger BiBi because it just might upset Corinna, to whom I have absolutely no obligation and who looks quite happy dancing with Brandon McCafferty anyway? That’s carrying things a little too far, don’t you think?”
“You don’t understand.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand. It was just a dance.”
“And maybe it wouldn’t have caused any problems at all. I just wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
She sensed him withdraw even more into himself. Surely he understood that she had to put BiBi’s feelings ahead of his, considering that she had known him only a few days.
He took a step backward, his expression shuttered. With his new position, the shadow of a potted palm tree fell over the upper half of his face, so that only the glitter of his dark eyes and the hard set of his mouth were visible to her. “I won’t put you at any further risk of being seen with me. Good night, Madison. I’ll see you at the ceremony tomorrow.”
She groaned. “Jason—”
He turned and walked away without giving her another chance to…what? Apologize again? Explain again?
“Oh, forget it,” she muttered, jumping to her feet. She started toward the ballroom, then made herself pause a few minutes so she wouldn’t be seen entering immediately after him.
Okay, maybe her exaggerated caution was sort of silly. Maybe he was right that she was worrying a bit too much about BiBi’s overwrought s
ensibilities. It would be hard for any guy to understand the complicated history she and BiBi shared. But whether justified or not, it was entirely her decision how much she wanted to cater to her friend.
Deciding enough time had passed, she entered the ballroom and headed straight for BiBi. She would say her good-nights and then go up to her room. She was suddenly very tired. She only hoped she would be able to sleep in the bed that now held too many disconcerting memories.
Though she wasn’t yet asleep, she had already crawled between the sheets when a quiet knock came on her door. Having no doubt who stood on the other side, she hesitated a moment before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She knew he would take the hint and go away if she didn’t answer. But she crossed the room anyway, and it wasn’t only because she didn’t want anyone to see him standing outside her door.
She hadn’t bothered with a robe, but he’d seen her in less than the short emerald satin chemise she now wore. She opened the door and motioned him inside.
As he had the night before, he’d changed before coming to her room. His dark suit had been replaced by a black T-shirt and jeans that were no less flattering on him. The cross expression he’d worn when she’d last seen him had also been replaced; now he looked rueful, faintly penitent, even a little grateful that she had invited him in.
“I’m sorry,” he said almost before she had the door fully closed behind him. “I was out of line.”
“You were annoyed because I turned down your invitation to dance.”
He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t that. Not exactly. It was just…well, like I said, I’m sort of tired of tiptoeing around to keep from upsetting BiBi, especially for such a ridiculous reason. I mean, I’ve known her pretty much since we were both in diapers. It feels like I’m having to kiss up to one of my sisters or cousins, and I wouldn’t want to do that, either.”
“I can sort of understand that,” she admitted. “I’ve never been one to mince words with my siblings, either. If Meagan had gone ‘Bridezilla’ on me during her wedding, I probably would have cut her down a size with a good talking to. I just didn’t want to make any waves with BiBi this weekend.”
“I get that. And at first it didn’t bother me. Like we said, the clandestine part was kind of fun. At first. But tonight…well, I would have enjoyed dancing with you. I didn’t care who knew that I liked you and enjoyed being with you. And to be honest, I’m not so sure Corinna cares anymore, either. I think she has taken a closer look at me and decided I’m not really worth all the effort, and she’s probably right. I think this big drama is all in BiBi’s head…or maybe yours,” he added candidly.
“Trust me, it’s not all in mine,” she muttered. Maybe BiBi had apologized for bringing up Steve Gleason’s name, but that didn’t mean she’d forgotten about him.