Claiming Colleen (Home to Harbor Town 3)

Her cheeks burned at his sarcasm. If his kiss had been any hotter, she might have spontaneously combusted. And he knew from experience how furious she became about that stupid “princess” reference.

“I’m not going to stand here and praise your sexual prowess, Reyes. I’m not interested. Now, do you want to play Dr. Don Juan, or do you want to plan this party and wedding with me?”

He dropped his arms and walked toward his desk. “I’m definitely going to be in on the plans. This is my sister we’re talking about.”

“Fine,” she said, her anger fizzling slightly at his refusal to fight with her. “Just…just keep your distance from me. This is family business only.”

He paused behind his desk and met her stare across the room.

“I’ll only get as close as what’s required. I promise.”

She nodded her head once in agreement and fled the room and was halfway down the hall before she realized the ambiguity of his solemn pledge.

Chapter Four

Mari Kavanaugh bustled into Colleen’s kitchen, her high heels tapping briskly on the tile floor. The sounds of the band Eric had hired for the engagement party filtered through the swinging doors. Luckily, the event had fallen on a gorgeous fall evening. Colleen’s terrace and family room had been transformed by a colorful silk pavilion, with lush autumn flower arrangements, glowing lanterns and flickering tea lights. Three giant heat lamps, donated by Eric, kept the terrace comfortable, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Before she’d entered the kitchen a few minutes ago, Liam and Natalie had been the first to begin dancing.

Colleen had watched Liam and his fiancée dance, smiling wistfully just like every other guest at the party. The couple’s love and desire for each other had been so evident it created an ache in Colleen’s chest.

Her gaze had shifted when a tall figure moved into her line of sight. Colleen had watched a smiling Janice Tejada swaying in Eric Reyes’s arms. Her sappy smile had evaporated.

She’d headed to the kitchen and began attacking a particularly grimy saucepan.

“We need more sweet-and-sour sauce,” Mari said breathlessly as she flung open the refrigerator door. “The Asian dumplings are a big hit. I can’t figure out how you’re such a fabulous cook when your brother’s idea of culinary preparation is dialing for takeout.”

Her sister-in-law looked sophisticated and typically beautiful tonight, wearing a rust-colored dress and brown suede pumps. Colleen had been friends with Mari since they were i

n elementary school. They hadn’t seen one another for fifteen years following the car crash, in which Mari’s parents and Colleen’s father had all been killed. Mari and Colleen had immediately connected again when Mari returned to Harbor Town, however. Colleen had been thrilled to see that Marc and Mari’s passion for one another had burned brighter than ever. She wasn’t a romantic, but it had seemed nothing but right in Mari and Marc’s case when the star-crossed lovers finally got their happily ever after.

Mari kicked the refrigerator door shut and paused when she saw what Colleen was doing.

“Colleen, don’t! Let the assistant Marc hired clean up. I can’t believe you’re doing dishes in that gorgeous dress,” Mari scolded.

“Amanda is busy serving. Besides, I needed something to do.”

Mari gave her a concerned glance. “Is everything all right? You seem preoccupied. All this party and wedding planning has been too much for you, hasn’t it? Especially after all you did for Marc’s and my wedding.”

“I’m not too busy. I swear. I enjoy it,” she insisted when she saw Mari’s doubtful glance.

“I feel terrible. I’m Natalie’s matron of honor, and Marc is Liam’s best man, but you and Eric have been doing the lion’s share of the work. It’s not fair.”

“It hasn’t been difficult at all. Eric and I are here in town, and you’re not. Mom has been helping out, as well. Here, stir it up before you serve it,” Colleen directed, handing Mari a whisk for the sauce.

“I was surprised to hear Eric has been so involved in the planning,” Mari said as she gave Colleen a sideways, speculative glance. “Hasn’t that been…challenging for you?”

In truth, she had been spending too much time in Eric’s presence lately. She’d been spending too much time thinking about Eric lately. Being forced into his company as they planned the upcoming nuptials had been both annoying and…stimulating.

“The two of you have always been like oil and water,” Mari added.

“Or a lit fuse and dynamite?”

Mari chuckled. “I remember how worried I was about both of you working at The Family Center.”

“I can’t imagine why. Did it have anything to do with the fact that I slugged him in the parking lot of Jake’s Place a few days before you hired me?” Colleen muttered wryly.

Mari paused and leaned her hip against the counter, a curious expression on her face. “You know, I always wondered about that. I’ve never known you to act that way. I mean, emotions were certainly running high that night. But while you’ve always had a temper, I’ve never known you to get physical. Why does Eric bother you so much?”

Colleen scrubbed at the pan extra hard. It was a good question, and she wasn’t sure how much she should reveal. Mari didn’t know that she and Eric had kissed on Sunset Beach just weeks before she’d punched him in a whirlwind of fury and bewilderment.