“I mean,” he continued, “what am I supposed to think when I find my estranged wife waiting for me naked in my bed?”
“That I made a mistake?”
“In judgment or location?”
Her gaze darted to his.
“Because if you hadn’t meant to be in my bed, why did you make love to me two”—he rubbed his chin—“or was it three times? Do we count that delightful attention you gave me when we were waiting for room service to arrive?”
Her eyes flared with annoyance at the same time as her cheeks turned a deeper rose color.
“I thought it was Del’s bed. Okay? Is that what you want to hear?” Then she bit her lip as if she wished she could take it back. “Oh, God, but don’t tell him. He doesn’t know I … I mean, he and I haven’t been … he doesn’t even know I think that way about him.”
His eyebrow quirked up. “You really believe that?”
She stared at him in shock.
“You made it clear to him in college, before you met me, that you had a thing for him.”
“But that was a long time ago,” she said.
“You don’t really think he’s forgotten, do you?”
“Well, ever since you and I met, he’s been a friend, and only that. Even after you and I separated.”
“Yes, I know. He was your shoulder to cry on.”
He couldn’t help the resentment in his voice. Even though he was glad Del had been there for her so she hadn’t felt so alone. Liam wished he had been the one she could have leaned on. But that didn’t mean he was happy about the closeness between the woman he loved and his best friend.
“Please don’t tell Del.”
He sucked in a deep breath. “Tell another man that my wife waited in his bed to seduce him? Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Liam took the cover off her breakfast and poured her a cup of coffee.
“Go ahead and eat before it gets cold.”
* * *
Abi showered and dressed, then grabbed her makeup bag and went down to Claire’s room where Abi, Jaime, and Claire were going to help each other with hair and makeup.
“Ah, this is great,” Jaime said, settling back in one of the chairs at the round table. “With Dad and Sally taking care of the kids for me, maybe I’ll actually be ready on time.”
“That was the plan,” Claire said as she picked up an empty cloth tote bag and the ice bucket. “I’m going to grab some sodas from the machine. Any requests?”
“Surprise us,” Jaime said.
As soon as the door closed behind Claire, Jaime grinned.
“So…? How did it go last night?”
Damn, this was what Abi had been dreading.
“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth, hoping Jaime would leave it at that.
But that was a hope doomed to failure.
Jaime leaned forward. “Honey, you know I’m going to need more than that. I bet he was thrilled to find you in his bed. Was it everything you’d hoped for?”
“Jaime, I’m not comfortable talking to you about this.”
“Because I’m your older sister? Come on. I’m not asking you to tell me all the intimate details”—she grinned—“though if you want to, I’m all ears. I just want to know if you’re happy.”
As Abi stared at her fingers, Jaime tipped her head.
“And it’s becoming very clear that you aren’t happy.” She reached out and took Abi’s hand. “Tell me what happened.”
“I’m not telling you what happened between Del and me. How would you like it if I asked what you and Dave did in bed last night?”
“Well … last night we had two munchkins in bed with us, so believe me, nothing exciting happened. But last Saturday, after the kids went to sleep…” She grinned. “Dave does this thing with his tongue that—”
“Oh, my God, stop right there. I do not want to know.”
Jaime grinned. “You sure? Because if I tell you how he does it, then you could tell Del about it and—”
Abi covered her ears. “I said stop,” she pleaded.
Jaime laughed. “Okay.” Then her expression grew serious. “But really, Abi. I want to know. What went wrong?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Talk about what?” Claire said as she stepped in the room with cans clanking in the cloth bag and the ice bucket in her hand.
“Nothing,” Abi said.
“Not nothing.” Jaime turned to Claire. “As you know, I suggested that she make a move on Del. So yesterday I arranged to move Del to the ninth floor and I set Abi up in the connecting room. To make her decision a little easier.”
“Really? So did you do it, Abi?”
Abi’s hands clenched into fists.
“So what words did you not understand when I said I don’t want to talk about it?” Her voice rose in frustration.
“I’m sorry, Abi,” Claire said. “I’m just surprised, and a little confused.”
“Because you didn’t think I’d do something like that?” Abi asked, trying to calm her breathing.
“Well, that, too. But mostly because Kurt told me that Del and Liam switched rooms last night.”
Jaime’s head swiveled toward Abi, her eyes wide. “You didn’t.”
CHAPTER SIX
Abi wiped tears from her eyes. The bride was beautiful. The vows were beautiful. Everything was beautiful.
God, her life sucked.
But she watched her brother, his face beaming with joy, kiss his new wife. Abi was so happy Kurt had found Suzanne and that the two of them were starting a new life together.
After the ceremony, they all went outside to the garden where the photographer took pictures of the happy couple and the wedding party. Claire slid her arm around Abi’s waist.
“Don’t worry. You’ll find your happiness, too. Sometimes it just takes time.” Claire squeezed. “You know, maybe what happened between you and Liam last night was destiny. I really think you two are meant to be together.”
“Claire, please. I’m mortified it happened and completely embarrassed. I don’t want to think about it.”
“But the two of you are so right together—”
“Claire, you don’t know what it was like. You don’t know how much it hurt. When I lost the baby and he abandoned me—”
Claire
