A Matchless Romance (Aisle Bound) by Christi Barth Read Free Book Online

guess. On a date. But I’m not trying to get a date. I just want to interact better with females in general. Or at least have you vouch that I do. Whatever it takes to keep Quest on target for its launch.”
    Tabitha waved away his comment the same way she did the pesky gnats that circled at dusk on sticky summer nights. He might not think he wanted a date. But she’d change his mind. It’d be good for him. And even better for A Matchless Romance. Not to mention that setting him up would remove him from the realm of temptation. Because right now, the bride in the next room was the only thing stopping Tabitha from sitting on his lap and tasting those full lips of his.
    “The motivation doesn’t matter. But don’t just brag about yourself. Be sure to start by asking the other person what makes them special.” It was a killer line. One that no woman could ever resist.
    Unbuttoning his jacket, he pulled out his smart phone and tapped away with both thumbs. “Got it,” he said, almost under his breath.
    “Got what?”
    “The rules you just gave me.” Drew slid his phone back away. Then he stood to rebutton his jacket. “Physical input of data significantly increases mental retention of the facts.”
    Tabitha bit back a grin. Tried to, anyway. How adorkable was that? “Glad to see you’re taking this whole thing seriously.”
    His jawdropped. Then he stalked the length of the room, all the way to the closed bedroom door. Flinging his hands out, Drew turned back to face her. “What part of my participation level didn’t already scream serious to you? I’m paying you a considerable fee. I’m not working. I’m not training. And you’ve dragged me to a social event that, no matter how I try to skew the possible outcomes, promises to be utter boredom at best.”
    “Sheer torture being the other possible outcome?” she guessed. Drew was fun to tease. Tabitha stood to refill her champagne.
    “Don’t joke.” Those long legs ate up the distance between them in a blink. His eyes darkened to midnight blue. Drew stopped so close her taffeta skirt rustled against his legs. The lace bow at her bodice brushed his Team USA patch with every breath. So close that even in her heels, Tabitha had to tilt her head up to watch those dark eyes spark with angry star fire. He glowered down at her. Temper pulsed from him, a heat she could almost touch. “Nothing could make this wedding into a good time for me.”
    “Nothing?” Tabitha stood on tiptoe, until her lips were lined up just below his. It was stupid and dangerous. A little like poking a bear with a honey-drenched stick. But damn it, she couldn’t resist any longer. So she licked her glossy red lips and tilted them up at the corners in a hint of a promise. “Are you sure—being so smart and all—that if you thought really hard, you couldn’t think of a way to have a good time tonight?”

Chapter Three
    “Milo, are you out there?” Ivy called as the bedroom doors banged open.
    Crap. Tabitha’s mind knew Ivy’s interruption to be perfect timing. Fate saving her from her own recklessness. All the tingly parts of her body, however, disagreed. She didn’t exactly jerk away from Drew, but she didn’t take her time about backing up a few steps, either. Better that Ivy didn’t jump to any conclusions. Since nothing had happened. “He left.”
    “Rats. I wanted him to take a picture of Ben so I can be prepared for just how handsome he’ll look, waiting for me at the altar.” The soft scratching from the petticoats as Ivy walked into the room sounded like a hundred satin-covered grasshoppers in a mating dance. She stopped, posed in front of the windows on a twirl. The purplish hue of sunset pooled around her, picking up the contrasting dark and light purple hydrangeas that made up her bouquet.
    The perfect dress had been expected. As a wedding coordinator, Ivy spent many a day schmoozing every bridal shop in town. She’d earned early access to next season’s