How to Lose a Groom in 10 Days by Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock Read Free Book Online Page A

like that, the temperature in the room spiked. The dynamic between them shifted. He’d known her long enough to feel the sexual hum of awareness, and he felt his restraint slide away. He’d missed her so much the night before. Had dreamed of being with her today—as husband and wife.
    He must have made a sound. Or moved toward her. Because suddenly her eyes locked with his. Awareness sparked. Flamed.
    “Want some?” She held out half the marshmallow to him, sticky white liquid encased in a flaky dark shell.
    “I think you know I do.” His eyes never left hers as he braced himself for a retreat.
    “I don’t like denying myself any more than you do,” she confessed unhappily.
    “So why do it?” He shoved aside leftover dishes. Tossed a towel next to Polly to keep her feeling safe. “I don’t see how not touching each other is going to suddenly help us think more clearly. If anything, the wanting is a distraction that’s tough to see past.”
    He kept his hands to himself, not making his case in the most convincing manner, but he was trying to be fair. Let her decide.
    For a long moment, they stared at each other over the marshmallow, flames crackling in the fireplace beside them. And then, slowly, she nodded.
    Only then did he take Melanie’s hand and bring her fingers to his mouth, white sugar coating two of them. He heard her breathing quicken. Felt her pulse race under his thumb where he held her wrist.
    She watched him, her lips parted, as he cleaned her fingers with his tongue. Slowly. Thoroughly. All the while, she breathed harder. Faster. Until her tongue darted out to trace along her upper lip and nearly undid him.
    “I could eat you up.” He spoke into her ear, his mouth grazing the impossible softness of her neck, then skimmed her lips. “But only if you want me to.”
    At the words, he felt Melanie turn rigid. The progress he thought they had been making was quickly fading.
    “I…I can’t, Grady.” Her words were soft, barely spoken above a whisper against his mouth before she eased back out of his arms.
    Her unmistakable conviction slammed into him. One kiss hadn’t gained him anything more than to send her running again. Faster. She gathered Polly in her arms, shot to her feet, and retreated into the smaller bedroom. Leaving him alone. On his wedding night.
    Damn it. This was not how he wanted things to be between them. He had to convince her that this was right. That they were right. If he could only just get her to talk to him. To trust him.
    He fought the urge to charge after her. Moving too fast was what had gotten them into this mess in the first place. He would let her sort through her feelings tonight. The day had been taxing on both of them. But tomorrow…tomorrow he would resume his campaign to win her over.
    *
    Once the door was closed and locked behind her, she slumped onto the hotel bed, the plush duvet poofing underneath her. With a wet nose, Polly nudged her hand. Absently, Melanie scratched the puppy’s head, finding calming and comfort in the animal’s soft fur.
    Of all the ways she had pictured her wedding night, this scenario had never entered her mind. There was a door between her and her husband. A door she had put there. To protect herself. To protect him.
    But that didn’t make it any easier.
    She hugged Polly closer as sobs clogged her throat and her nose burned with the tears building up inside her. She blinked hard to hold them back. But no luck. Tears mixed with the remainder of her eye shadow and mascara streaming down her cheeks. She slumped back into the pile of pillows, so much softer than a tent floor.
    Good. She felt like she deserved it for causing the hurt to darken Grady’s normally warm cinnamon eyes. He was so kind, so generous. But she was all wrong for him. She couldn’t be the one to tie this man down to a future he didn’t want. Melanie wouldn’t do that.
    She refused to continue to cause him pain. It was too cruel, too selfish to hang onto