Misadventures of a Backup Bride

“I have to go to work.” I disentangle myself from her soft curves and leave her sprawled and naked on the bed as I head to the shower. But walking away is a fight.

Not surprisingly, she follows me, caressing her way down my back. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Just a lot on my mind.” And not about the things I should be worrying over.

“Anything I can help with?”

I’m really tempted to say something. In fact, I know I should. It’s stupid to be insecure about her feelings if I don’t bother to ask, and the fact that she even wants to listen to me says something. But is that about her attachment to me or her general compassion as a human being?

I start the water in the shower, trying to get my head on straight, and change the subject. “Kendra texted me yesterday.”

Ella tenses. “What did she say? Has she started school yet?”

“Not until Monday. But Greek activities have already started and she’s been busy with those. She asked me how things were going with you. And apparently, she met a guy who’s involved in ROTC. He wants to be a naval officer.” I sigh. “They had coffee together last night. He asked her out tomorrow.”

She pauses. “How do you feel about that?”

“Relieved. I told her she should date him. I don’t want to hurt her, but I don’t want to marry her. She doesn’t want to marry me, either. But she can’t be the one to end our engagement or she loses millions. Ditto here.” I shake my head. “One of us will have to flinch first.”

“We’ll figure it out. I’m here to help, remember? What you need is to convince Shaw to take an interest in Sweet Darlin’ without making you and Kendra both miserable.”

“I’ve tried, but maybe if you and I are convincing tonight, he’ll relent and let the deal proceed without this stupid corporate wedding. I don’t know. When he told me to bring the woman I’d fallen for, he was calling my bluff. So I suspect he’ll have some scheme up his sleeve. He isn’t the sort of man to go down without a fight.”

“Don’t worry about it now. Focus on your day. We’ll deal with the rest as it comes at the benefit tonight.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” The words fall off my tongue. I’m struck by how much we sound like a real couple. I talk. She listens. We exchange ideas and a touch and…life continues.

I reach for the shower door since I see steam filming the clear glass. I expect Ella will put on her short blue robe and head to the kitchen to make something both healthy and protein-based that I’ll pretend to complain about but actually enjoy. Then I’ll kiss her and head off to the office and spend my day wishing I were with her. She hasn’t even left the room yet and I already miss her.

Instead, she enters the shower behind me.

“Do you mind?” she asks as she eases against me, sliding her water-slick skin over mine.

“That you’re here with me?” I shake my head. “Not at all.”

Ella’s smile is sunny as she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me softly.

I wrap her in my arms, caress the soft line of her spine, skate my palms down to the curve of her hips, and drag her closer.

Again, I can’t help but wonder where this is heading. My life is here, and hers is in Los Angeles. My head knows that, but I’ve been subconsciously imagining our future together—and trying to figure out if I can make it a reality. Yes, Gregory Shaw worries me. If I don’t play this right, he can crush me in his fist. But that isn’t my only consideration.

The stark reality is, there’s nothing for me on the West Coast anymore except some friends and memories. Mom and Craig are gone, my childhood home sold. On the other hand, what’s in North Carolina for Ella except me? I can’t ask this woman to give up her dreams. She lights up when she talks about them.

The smart thing to do would be to get through tonight, then put distance between me and the “girlfriend” I’m paying. Turn away the sex, shut off the emotion, toss up a mental wall or two.

When it comes to Ella, I don’t know if I can be smart.

“Tell me something. What’s your fallback plan?” I ask her. “If you never make a living at acting, what else would you want to do with your life?”

She cocks her head. “I’d probably teach drama and theater to kids. I did a few camps last summer with children hand-selected from their respective schools as the brightest and most talented. We put on a couple of small productions throughout the summer and ended the session with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They really enjoyed it, and it was so rewarding to work with youngsters who have their whole lives ahead of them and such amazing voices and theatric gifts.”

“That sounds great.” I rinse my head under the spray and give her words some thought.

A camp like that is something she could do anywhere. And the glow on her face when she’s talking about molding kids and helping to shape their futures hits me square in the chest. It takes me a moment, but I realize why. I want to make Ella Hope happy, and her memories of last summer very clearly do.

Any chance she would be happy here with me, teaching kids how to develop their inner thespian?

Maybe, but after two days with this woman, I’m getting way ahead of myself. I’m on the verge of asking her to give up her life in California, her potential stardom, and whatever else she’s got going on out there for me—a man who can’t seem to work up the courage to tell her that he might be falling in love with her.

“It was really rewarding. I took the job because it gave me some great connections and a steady paycheck for a few months. But I think I got way more out of it than that.”

“You’d be great with kids.”

Her face softens. “Every one of them deserves attention and praise, and after my own upbringing…”

She feels compelled to make every child feel important and valued. It’s something I admire about her. I’m terrible about getting caught up in my day-to-day life. I don’t always stop to think about the people around me, what they’re going through, what they need. I should be better. Everyone around me should expect it. I’m glad Ella has made me realize it.

“You ever think about settling down, getting married and all that?” I reach for the shampoo like this is a nonchalant conversation.

But my heart is racing.

She shrugs. “Sure, as much as the next girl, I guess. That’s definitely in my ‘someday’ category.” Suddenly, she gives me a rueful smile. “But right now, I’ll bet you’re thinking a lot more about getting married than I am.”

Did she read my mind? Does she know that I’m resisting the notion of picturing my future without her? Then I realize she means Kendra.

“Yeah. It’s no

t that I don’t want to get married someday. I’m thirty. I think I’d be ready…with the right person for the right reason. Gregory Shaw’s sorority-house daughter to cement a business deal isn’t it.”

“I’m kind of looking forward to meeting her tonight, just to see her for myself.”

Kendra will be more than happy to meet her, too. Hell, my supposed fiancée would probably throw the entire line of the Rockettes my way if it would get her out of marrying me.