It made no sense.
“Happy anniversary—” Peter’s singsong voice drifted into the room.
Dressed in a pair of casual shorts and a sloppy T-shirt, Marsha turned to face Peter. “Happy anniversary? Anniversary of what?”
“We’ve been dating three weeks now.”
Dominic lowered his forehead to his palm. Good God, his brother really had been a sap. Dominic was just about to stand to switch CDs, when Joshua began to giggle. This time when he screeched, it was a happy screech.
“Oh, you like that, huh?”
Joshua laughed.
“Come on, Marsha. Open your gift.”
Marsha sighed. Dominic laughed. He’d never realized it before but Marsha was a lot like Audra. Prim and proper and logical. Peter had been the first guy to really get her to come out of her shell. He’d romanced her until she had become accustomed to having him around and she’d stopped thinking so much.
Dominic snorted a laugh. He’d tried romancing Audra, but though she’d loved the pajamas he’d bought her, she hadn’t loved their romantic dinner.
He frowned. That wasn’t true, either. That night had been perfect. She’d been so darned happy. And, if he remembered correctly, she hadn’t wanted to leave the dance floor. She’d wanted to say in his arms.
She’d wanted to stay in his arms.
As Joshua giggled at the people on the screen, Dominic closed his eyes for a second and savored the memory of just holding Audra. He remembered feeling as if there was nobody else in the world. He remembered how happy he’d been.
Eyes closed, he let himself savor the memory, because he wasn’t sure he’d ever feel that way about anyone else again.
His eyes popped open.
He couldn’t see himself feeling this way about anybody again because he wouldn’t feel that way about anyone else again!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE next morning Dominic walked up to the door of the townhouse for Wedding Belles. The April sun warmed him, but that didn’t help the jittery feeling in his stomach. He took a breath. He had to do this.
He opened the door, and a bright-eyed, strawberry-blonde greeted him. “Welcome to Wedding Belles,” she said as if she were surprised to see him. “I take it you’re someone’s groom?”
He swallowed. “No. I’m here to see Audra Greene.”
“Oh, my gosh! You’re one of those nasty IRS people she’s so terrified of, aren’t you?”
Dominic laughed. “No.”
Another blonde came barreling into the small foyer—which Dominic now realized served as the reception area for the business. Holding a huge bouquet of flowers, she blew her bangs out of her eyes.
“Julie, I…” Noticing Dominic, she paused. “Who is this?”
“Someone to see Audra.”
The blonde smiled craftily. “Oh, really.” She stretched out her hand. “I’m Callie. Audra’s best friend. What can I do for you?”
“Is she here?”
“Yes.”
“Then you can show me to her office.”
Callie’s smile widened. “My pleasure.”
From the eager expression on her face, Dominic expected to be grilled as they walked down the hall and up a long stairway. But she didn’t say a word—though a woman with pins in her mouth and another holding a cake peered out of open doors as if he were a specimen on exhibit.
Enormously relieved when he and Callie stopped at a closed door, Dominic blew his breath out on a sigh.
Callie laughed. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what’s going on between you and Audra, but good luck. She’s in a mood.”
And he was at fault.
And he was potentially about to make things worse.
“I don’t know how anybody can come back from the tropics angry, but somehow our Audra managed it.” Callie opened the door.
Framed by butter-yellow curtains, Audra sat behind a huge desk that dominated the room. When she saw him, her eyes widened with pleasure, but that expression was quickly replaced by wariness.
“What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I think we’ve said everything we had to say to each other at your house the other night.”
“At the time so did I. But being without you hasn’t been easy. Joshua—”
Her expression changed to one of fear. “Is Joshua okay?”
“He’s fine, but—”
“But you don’t want to have to spend so much time with him.” The disappointment in her voice cut to Dominic’s heart and angered him.
“You knew I was turning into a very good father when you left. Nothing’s changed.”
Audra sagged with relief. “I’m glad.”