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God, she was gorgeous. Tony just stared. He couldn’t look away. With that soft smile on her peach-tinted lips, the way the late-afternoon sun filtered into the windows and lit her hair, she should have been spread out across a billboard. Wouldn’t matter what product she peddled. Hell, even nail clippers. Any red-blooded guy would buy it.
Obviously he wasn’t the only one with that opinion because Wendy said, “Jeez, Dakota, why aren’t you modeling like Dallas?”
“I like what I do.”
“You can practice law later. Make the easy bucks now while you still have the looks.”
Trudie shook her head with disgust. Apparently she also noticed Dakota’s defensive posture. “What part of keep quiet don’t you understand?”
“Come on, Trudie, I’m just saying—”
“Hey, we’re here. There’s Dallas and Eric.” Tony’s timely interruption was met by a quick smile from Dakota. He winked back and she abruptly turned away, and he could’ve sworn her cheeks had started to pinken.
But she hid it while stepping out of the limo and leading them to the foyer to stand in the reception line where people were already waiting to congratulate the bride and groom.
Why the rest of the wedding party had to stand there was beyond him. Nobody cared if they were there or not. But now wasn’t the time to question the tradition so he obediently positioned himself between Nancy and Trudie as Mrs. Shea instructed.
After more pictures were taken and everyone had had a crack at Dallas and Eric, the wedding party was finally allowed to enter the private dining room. More like a ballroom with tables and chairs for at least a hundred and fifty guests. Fresh flower arrangements, mostly orchids, were everywhere. Two bars were set up on either side of the room, manned by bartenders wearing tuxedos. He couldn’t imagine how much this had set the Sheas back. Of course that kind of money was no sweat to them.
“Hey, where are the balloons?” he asked Dakota.
She gave him a weird look as if she hoped he was kidding but wasn’t sure. And then surprised him by asking, “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure.”
“Come on.”
He followed as she led him around the guests who had already lined up in front of the bars. Several white-gloved waiters stood to the side and she whispered something to the short husky one who nodded and smiled ecstatically as if she’d just agreed to have his children.
Tony watched the guy abruptly turn around and then disappear through a side door that blended with the wall and had been invisible to Tony. “Where’s he going?”
“To get our drinks.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “Come here often, do you?”
She arched a brow at him. “You want to wait in that line?”
“No, ma’am.”
“All right then.”
“Do we stay right here and wait or is there a rendezvous point?”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t worry. You won’t get mobbed. This is a very civil bunch. They’ll only complain to management.”
“That I can handle. By the way, tell me you didn’t order me champagne.”
“I didn’t order you champagne.”
“Not to sound ungrateful.”
“Uh-huh.”
The waiter reappeared holding a small tray in one hand, and used the other to hand Dakota a glass of white wine and Tony a bottle of beer, his usual. Without a glass, too. Obviously she’d noticed what he was drinking last night.
The weekend was starting to look up.
Maybe she planned on taking Dallas up on her offer of a free minivacation with him. Before bringing it up, he glanced over his shoulder to make sure Tom wasn’t around. No, but Wendy was headed their way.
Damn.
The only consolation was that Dakota looked just as disappointed.
Her red hair windblown, Wendy smelled faintly of tobacco as she approached. She looked from the glasses in their hands to the increasingly long line at the bar. “Where did you get the drinks?”
Dakota gestured vaguely over her shoulder. “A waiter was walking around with a tray.”
“Cool.” Wendy wandered off in the direction Dakota had sent her.
Tony chuckled.
“I didn’t lie.”
He didn’t care. She’d gotten rid of Wendy. That’s what counted. Not that he didn’t like Wendy, but he wanted Dakota to himself. He wanted to lose himself in those sexy gray-blue eyes, and bask in the anticipation of tonight. Miles away from here. Alone. Nothing to do but get to know one another. Spend long leisurely hours of exploring each other’s bodies.
That line of thinking had to stop. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to stop the blood from rushing south. He took a healthy gulp of icy cold beer and then met Dakota’s amused eyes.
Dakota smiled and took another sip, her lashes long and thick resting on her cheeks. She barely wore any makeup, didn’t have to. Her features were almost perfect. High cheekbones, a pert nose, full lips, her skin so flawless it was almost translucent. Her eyes were smaller than Dallas’s, more gray than blue and deeper set, but she was every bit as gorgeous.
Man, he’d like to see the faces of everyone the first time she walked into a courtroom. Not the typical lawyer, that’s for sure. Unless she always dressed for work the way she had last night, conservative and drab.
A trio of violinists in the corner started playing elevator music, but at least they kept it low-key. Up front there were two stages, one slightly elevated with band equipment and the other a parquet dance floor.
“Uh-oh.” Tony saw Mrs. Shea heading toward them with obvious purpose. “I think we’re about to be summoned.”
Dakota looked over her shoulder, immediately tensing. “I have a feeling she wants me.”
Interesting how tense she got at the mention of her mother. He knew a little bit from Dallas about the formidable Mrs. Shea, prominent college professor and demanding mother. The woman had done one really good thing for her girls. She’d encouraged them to go for an education instead of trade on their extraordinary looks. Had to give her credit for that.
Dakota sighed. “I’d better go see what she wants.”
“I have a better idea. Let’s take a walk.”
She looked at him, the disbelief in her eyes slowly fading to uncertainty. “We just got here.”
“So. Do you want to ditch her or not?”
Her lips parted in indignation, but a flicker of excitement sparked in her eyes. She briefly glanced over her shoulder again, caught her mother gaining on them and said, “Let’s go.”
3
DAKOTA LED Tony out of the banquet room to a side patio, knowing she’d pay hell for the disappearing act. In fact, she wouldn’t put it past her mother to hunt them down. Except it was getting cold outside, with nothing on the fairway to block the biting wind, enough that it might insure them some privacy.
She swallowed. Was that what she wanted? To be out here alone with him? This was foolish. She knew how it would turn out. They wouldn’t just talk. Facing him, she smiled. “Bad idea. It’s a little too cool.”
“Here.” He shrugged out of his jacket, the white dress shirt straining against his broad chest. “Put this on.”
“No, really, that’s okay. Then you’ll be cold. Let’s go back—”
He slipped the jacket over her shoulders, and then turned her to face him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see his expression. The patio was very dimly lit by a pale blue glow, courtesy of the parade of solar lights staked along the perimeter. The thought infused her with a dangerous excitement that made her nipples tighten and her resolve weaken.
“This should keep you warm.” He pulled the lapels together and she stumbled toward him, steadying herself with her palms against his chest.
“Sorry,” she whispered and straightened, reluctantly letting her hands fall away.
He released the lapels and cupped her shoulders, then ran his palms down her arms. “You smell good.”
She shivered when his warm breath fanned her cheek, and he took her cold hands, sandwiching them between his slightly callused ones. She’d never been with a man with work-roughened hands. How would they feel touching the tenderest part of her body? Stroking the area around her nipples? The soft skin between her thighs?
He lowered his head and her breath caught when his lips brushed hers. But only briefly before he whispered, “I can’t wait for later.”
“Later?”
The sound of the French doors opening had them guiltily jumping apart. Thankfully it was Dallas, the long white gown obvious even in the dim light.
“Hey, you guys, dinner is going to be served in twenty minutes.”
Dakota sighed. “You came out here to tell us that?”
“Better me than Mother. Anyway, Dakota, I need to talk to you.”
“Now?”
“Yep. Sorry, Tony. I need her for five minutes.”
He gestured with his hand. “I’ll see you inside.”
“Here’s your jacket,” Dakota said, pushing it off her shoulders and then handing it to him.
“Keep it while you’re outside.”
“I’m not staying out here. It’s cold.”
“Trust me,” Dallas said, “it would be better if we talked out here.”
Dakota didn’t like the sound of that. Even Tony frowned as he tried to give her back his jacket. She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
After shooting Dallas a curious look, he left them alone. Dakota was pretty curious herself. “What’s going on?”
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Okay.”
“It’s kind of big, but I really, really need you to do this for me,” Dallas said. “Okay?”
“Well, what is it?”
“Promise me you’ll do it first.”
Dakota snorted. “Right.”
“Come on, Dakota, have I ever asked you for anything? You’re my sister. It’s my wedding, and I need this favor badly.”
“What already?” She waited, but Dallas’s chin stubbornly went up, and the truth was Dakota would never refuse her sister anything. “All right. I promise.”
“I need you to play decoy for me tonight after the reception.”
“Why?”
“You know how Eric’s friend Tom likes to play practical jokes. We’re pretty sure he’s going to try and sabotage our honeymoon.”
Dakota shook her head at her sister’s paranoia. “He wouldn’t do something so juvenile.”
“He’d think it was hilarious. I know him, and you need to help me out.” Dallas rubbed her bare arms. “It is cold out here.”
“So you want me to do what exactly?” Dakota asked as her sister linked an arm through hers and steered her toward the entry into the banquet room.
Dallas opened the door and the light inside illuminated her smile. “Go on my honeymoon for me. With Tony.”
DAMN THAT Dallas. As soon as they got inside someone called to her sister and she was off with no further explanation other than she’d already packed a bag for Dakota. As if the matter were settled.
Dakota headed straight for the bathroom, her thoughts spinning so quickly she literally felt dizzy. Or maybe it was the excitement of what lay ahead? The whole idea was crazy. And perfect. A weekend with Tony? She couldn’t have come up with a better plan herself. Except she had a lot going on at work, and it wasn’t as if she could just not show up on Monday.
Two older women, colleagues of her mother whom she vaguely knew, stood at the mirror talking and applying lipstick. Dakota smiled at them and then hurried into a stall, put the seat down and sat on the john. She hadn’t even asked her sister if Tony knew about the plan and if he’d agreed to go. Is that what he’d meant by “later”? She straightened. If he’d known about this before she had that would really tick her off.
She took a deep breath. Dallas had purposely waited to tell her. Just so she wouldn’t have time to come up with an excuse not to go. She was a coward. She admitted it.
Dallas was the independent one. She did as she pleased. Dakota, however, was the good little lamb. Always doing what she was told.
She still didn’t like it that Dallas had conspired with Tony. For that reason alone she ought to tell her sister to find some other flunky. Yeah, right. Like she wasn’t ready to leave the reception right now, get him alone and rip off his clothes.
Feeling a little flushed, she bent over, crossing her arms over her knees and breathing deeply. She was crazy for even considering doing this. But she’d be even crazier for refusing the opportunity. The ladies’ room door opened and she heard someone murmur about dinner starting. She had to go or someone would surely come looking for her.
Straightening, she smoothed back her hair, and then checked the front of her dress. Smiling, she stood, ready for the games to begin. She’d go but that didn’t mean she’d go easily.
“Guess what Mother wants.” Dallas met her partway.
Tony followed Dallas, who gave him an exasperated look.
