In theory, squelching the attraction should be a simple matter of remembering the fiancé who’d left her at the altar. But David was the last person who popped into her head when a simple brush of her hand against Dominic’s had her heart thrumming. All she could think about Sunday afternoon was what if he kissed her one of these days? Could she pull back? Tell him to behave? Or would she melt?
The intelligent part of Audra Greene recognized that adding sexual chemistry to her simple schoolgirl crush had created some sort of firestorm that was sucking her in like a black hole. That part of her knew the smart thing to do would be to get away from him. That meant either give back the check and get out of his life, or keep the check but keep her distance.
But if she kept her distance, would she be keeping Joshua away from the man who was supposed to be his daddy?
On a groan of frustration, she drove to the Wedding Belles offices and entered the townhouse with the check squished in her coat pocket. Part of her genuinely believed she needed to give Dominic back his money and get the heck away from him. Another part equally believed she was strong enough to resist a little flirting. She might still have a few weeks left with him, but she could be very strong when she needed to be. Why was she so afraid?
“Good morning, Audra!” At her desk in the foyer, which served as a reception area for the business, radiant, happy Julie beamed at Audra.
Audra pasted on a smile. “Good morning.”
“Everybody’s getting settled in the conference room for the emergency meeting you called on Friday.”
Audra stopped dead in her tracks, turned and faced Julie again. “Meeting?”
“You sent out an e-mail on Friday morning, saying we needed to have an emergency meeting. Then you left for the day and when you called saying you wouldn’t be back until this morning everybody assumed that meant you wanted to have the meeting first thing today.”
She’d forgotten all about that e-mail. Now she had the Belles sitting in the conference room, waiting for her.
“Sorry I can’t join you,” Julie added, pointing at the stack of envelopes on her desk. “Mail came early.”
Audra nodded, feeling the hand of fate at her back. In her head, she might be able to tell herself she could resist Dominic, but her heart wasn’t convinced. She was afraid. With Julie busy at the reception desk and the Belles gathered for a meeting, it was as if fate had created the perfect opportunity for Audra to admit they were out of money. Then Audra could call a temporary nanny service and make arrangements for someone to be at Dominic’s house that night, give back his check and save herself from a situation that was beginning to feel all too familiar.
Squaring her shoulders, she headed down the hall. With one quick meeting she could settle this problem once and for all. Head high, she walked into the conference room.
“Hey,” Callie Philips-Faulkner said. Blond with green eyes that sparkled with life, Callie was one of Audra’s best friends. “It’s about time you got here.”
Audra set her briefcase on the table and reached for the buttons of her coat. “I was a bit delayed.”
“Yeah, an hour,” Natalie Thompson said with a laugh. A petite blonde with a smattering of freckles, Natalie was the fresh-faced innocent of the group. “You’re never late for work.”
Mug of coffee in hand, stylish Serena James slid in beside Audra. “That’s so not like you! What’s up?”
Audra took a breath. “Belle, would you mind closing the door?”
Belle rose from her seat at the conference table. Though Belle was the owner of Wedding Belles she was also a true Southern belle, with a warm heart and a generous personality. “Sure, sugar.”
Audra took another breath, her gaze going from one smiling, expectant face to the next. But before she opened her mouth to tell them about their dwindling funds, something incredible struck her.
This time last year, she had been the one happily in love. Every one of the ladies in front of her had been alone. Today they were all married or engaged.
Floral designer Callie had married Harry Faulkner.
Photographer Regina and her husband Dell O’Ryan had patched up their difficulties.
Cake whiz Natalie had married Cooper Sullivan.
Master dressmaker Serena had fabulous Kane.
General assistant Julie was engaged to the love of her life, Matt.
Even Belle had Charles Wiley.
And Audra—the one so smitten with David that she hadn’t realized he’d been panicking and about to dump her—was alone.
Except she was smarter now. Having been dumped had changed her. Made her wary. Wasn’t she wary of Dominic? Of course she was. She wasn’t flirting with him. Didn’t show any signs of actually melting in his presence. She felt things but didn’t act on them. She wouldn’t date another guy like her ex. She really had learned her lesson.