The Sometime Bride

the pavement. Carrie St. John headed down the path in strappy black sandals, a formfitting tee and cuffed denim shorts. She certainly was revealing a lot more flesh than she had been earlier, but not nearly enough for Mike’s satisfaction, he thought, sitting up to disguise his reaction that would have been otherwise quite evident through his swim shorts.
    “You’re not swimming?”
    “Can’t,” she said with a congenial smile. “Still got lots of telephone calls.”
    A buzz of panic shot to Mike’s brain. “But I thought we—”
    “Oh yes… I mean, no.” She blew a soft breath that sent a loose tendril spiraling. “I’m not backing out of our deal or anything like that.”
    Mike sat back against the lounge chair, relieved. He’d actually been looking forward to playing Carrie’s fiancé. Especially, he thought, eying her well-formed bosom through her unforgiving cotton top, once he’d learned about that touchy-feely part.
    “It’s just that I’ve still got a lot of calls to make, and I want to try to catch the businesses while they’re still open.”
    Mike raised his eyebrows.
    “Flower shops, the caterer… You would not believe all that goes into a wedding!”
    “No.” Mike gave her a melancholy smile. “Guess I’ve never gotten that far.”
    “Oh, sorry,” Carrie said, bringing her hands to her flaming cheeks. “Didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
    Actually, Mike thought, Carrie did a pretty fine job of making him feel terrific. “It’s all right,” he assured her. “But I thought you weren’t going to cancel those things until after the shower?”
    “The sooner, the better,” she told him. “Unless I want to get stuck footing the bill for a wedding that doesn’t happen.
    “You’re really sweet to agree to be my fiancé tomorrow. Really very sweet. You were absolutely right; I needed to buy myself some time. Once I’ve taken care of canceling the other arrangements and smoothing out all the wrinkles, breaking the news to my family won’t be as hard.”
    “Glad I could help,” Mike said, feeling as if he should stand but still not exactly trusting what his body was doing. Carrie St. John had an unusual effect on him. Though she was certainly not the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, she was definitely one of the most womanly. There was something very sensual about the way her feminine curves suited her just right. Curves he found himself itching to get his hands around.
    “Gonna cool off,” Mike said, startling Carrie by bolting to his feet and diving in a split-second lunge into the pool.
    “Fine!” Carrie called after him as he popped his head above the water. “I’ll be back at the inn. Maybe we can meet for dinner and plan out tomorrow?”
    “Absolutely!” Mike called after her before dunking his steaming head back under the surface.

Chapter Five

    Carrie dropped down on all fours and searched the oriental carpet for the back of her earring. This was ridiculous. Really! Five minutes until dinner and Carrie was quaking in her sandals like a nervous teenager. You would think this was her first date and not a mere business arrangement with a friend.
    And that’s strictly what it is, she thought, finally locating the jewelry piece and standing to insert her earring in the mirror. Strictly business. She and Mike Davis had made a deal, a pact to help each other out in this uncanny time of distress for the two of them. He would butter up her family, and she, in turn, would schmooze with his prep school cronies. Next weekend would be over before she knew it, and her loosely knotted affiliation with Mike Davis would be over altogether.
    Carrie frowned at her reflection, wondering what would have become of her and Mike Davis if Mike had truly occupied Wilson’s slot all this while. Of course, she wouldn’t have met Mike in New York, but then, as he lived closer, perhaps their relationship would have been better maintained than her and Wilson’s weekend-style affair.
    Carrie watched herself color at the thought of maintaining any kind of affair with the hunky Mike Davis. Criminy. Blushing like a schoolgirl, and he wasn’t even in the room!

    Mike tossed his Polo shirt onto the bed, thinking it was really too damn preppy. Not only that, he reminded himself, at this sort of place, one had to wear a tie.
    Mike walked over and thumbed through the hanging clothes in the mirrored armoire that served as his closet. A sports coat and light starch button-down