Second Chance for Romance полностью

“Wow,” I said at last. “It’s beautiful.”

“If you like that sort of thing,” Tessa’s brother said.

I managed not to scowl at him.

Gina smiled patiently and took my hand. “Let’s go see.”

“Philistine,” I muttered.

“Be nice,” she whispered back.

We climbed the steps of the formal garden terrace. I marveled at the house and absorbed hundreds of little details that my brain barely registered.

Inside, I felt like I’d stepped into architectural nirvana.

The others? Not so much.

Tessa’s brother and the Virginia couple were bored in less than five minutes. They started talking about Atlanta nightlife.

“Just ignore them,” Gina told me quietly.

The others seemed to enjoy it more, but even they were ready to leave after a cursory tour.

“Go on down to the garden,” Gina told them. “We’ll catch up with you.”

“All right. Have fun,” Tessa said.

“Thanks. See you in a bit.”

“Cheerio.”

I thanked Gina when they’d gone.

“My pleasure. I like seeing things through your eyes. You really love it, don’t you?”

“What’s not to love? I mean, look at this floor! See how the architect’s hidden the air vents in the pattern with the dark marble? And here, this staircase is gorgeous. It’s practically floating.”

We strolled through the rooms again, and I soaked up the mansion’s ambiance. I could’ve spent hours just on the main level, but Gina eventually looked at her watch and squeezed my hand.

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “Time to go.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay. It’s all up here.” I tapped my temple. “I’ll draw it later, while it’s still fresh.”

“Tonight?”

“No. I… um… was hoping…”

Her dark eyebrows twitched in amusement. “Oh you were?”

“Not that,” I said quickly. “I was hoping to spend some time with you.”

“I know,” she said with a laugh. “Me too.” She hugged my arm, and I was acutely aware of the swell of her breast. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Good. But we’d better hurry. Kara will kill me if we’re late.”

The Swan House actually had a person whose job was to coordinate weddings. She was a prim and immaculate thirty-something woman.

Mark and I chatted while she organized the wedding party. Tessa’s brother and the Virginia cousin stood nearby. Our job as ushers was fairly simple: friends of the bride on the left, of the groom on the right. We also had to seat family in the first three rows, but that was about it.

When the coordinator guided us into place for the processional, I learned that I had a bigger role than I’d thought. Elizabeth and I officially started the ceremony. Well, she did. I was just her escort.

“Are you ready for this?” I asked as we marched down the aisle at a stately pace.

“I hope so.”

“You’ll do fine,” I said. “You’re the most important woman here. Well, after Kara.”

“You’re such a dear.” She glanced at me sidelong. “You and Gina seem to be getting on well.”

“Don’t plan our wedding just yet,” I said with a laugh.

“God, no! Let us get through this one first.”

“That’s the spirit.” We reached the first row. “This is where I leave you.”

She sat and crossed her legs.

I gave her a wink and finished my circuit around the left. My job was done.

We ran through the whole ceremony twice, from beginning to end.

Afterward the coordinator made sure everyone knew where and when to

arrive. (The bridal party had to arrive before noon. I only had to be there two hours early, at two o’clock.)

Gina appeared beside me. “Do you mind if I ride with you to dinner?”

“Um… sure. Lemme just find Erin.”

“Oh, she’s riding with Leah and Mark.”

“Ah. Gotcha.”

We joined the crowd heading to the cars.

“So,” I said, “how’ve you been?” I felt like an idiot, but didn’t know where else to start.

“Good. Busy with school. My classes are a lot harder now.”

“Tell me about it.”

“How about you?”

“The same. Projects. Deadlines. Studying for exams. You know how it is.”

“Yeah. I’ve already started studying for the MCAT. They say it’s brutal.”

“So you still like pre-med?”

“Definitely. I’ve been talking to Kara a lot. It’s a lot of work, but she enjoys it.” She glanced at me. “What about you? You still love architecture.”

“Gee, what was your first clue?”

“Oh, I dunno. I think it was when you gushed for an hour up in the house.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I told you, I like seeing things through your eyes.”

I opened the Cruiser’s door and helped her climb in. She smoothed her dress out of the way, and my eyes fell on her dark, slim ankles. She was wearing silver high heels, and I wondered if Christy had a pair like them.

Gina gave me a curious look.

“Just admiring your legs.”

Her lips pursed with a smile.

I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. I started the engine and shifted into gear. “So, you still like LA?”

“I do. The weather’s amazing. We can go to the beach almost year-round.”

“So you still have tan lines?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” she laughed.

“Well, I have to file a report. You could lose your nudist’s license.”

“You don’t say?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Well then, I’d better hope they make an exception.”

“They might. You’ll have to undergo a thorough examination, though.”

“Oh, really?”