Just Curious by Jude Devereaux Read Free Book Online Page A

laughing.
    They led her past heavenly rooms with huge fireplaces that blazed cheerfully, then up a grand staircase, down two halls to a wide white door. Steve opened it. “He’s all yours,” he said, laughing, then pushed her inside and closed the door behind her.
    Taggert was in the room, their suitcases were already placed on luggage racks, and there was only one bed. “There’s been a mistake,” Karen said.
    Mac frowned down at the bed. “I’ve already tried to rectify this, but it’s impossible. The house is full. Every bed, cot, and couch is already assigned. Look,” he said, frowning, “if you’re afraid I’m going to attack you in the night, I can see if a hotel room can be found for you.”
    There was something about his attitude that always seemed to rub her the wrong way. “At least with a full house if I scream, I’ll be heard.”
    He gave her a little half-smile then started unbuttoning his shirt. “I need to take a shower. The wedding rehearsal is in an hour.” He was looking at her as though he expected her to be a heroine from a Regency romance and flee the room in fear at the very thought of a man undressing. But she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her. “Please don’t steam up the mirror,” she said, chin in the air, then turned away as though sharing a room with a strange man was of no consequence to her.
    With a bit of a chuckle, he went into the bathroom, leaving the door ajar for the steam to escape.
    When he was out of sight, Karen let her breath escape and her shoulders relax. The room was lovely, all green silk and Federal furniture, and as she heard the shower running, she happily unpacked suitcases. It wasn’t until she was finished that she realized that, out of habit, she’d unpacked Taggert’s case too. As she put his shoes in the closet next to hers, Karen almost burst into tears. It had been so long since a man’s shoes had been next to her own.
    When she turned, Taggert was standing there, his hairwet, his big body encased in a terry-cloth robe, and he was watching her.
    â€œI, ah, I didn’t mean to unpack your case, but, uh … Habit,” she finally managed to say before escaping into the bathroom and firmly closing the door behind her.
    She took as long as she dared in the bathroom and was very pleased to see that he was gone when she reentered the room. After dressing as quickly as she could, she left the bedroom and ran down the stairs to join the rest of the wedding party, who were piling into cars headed to the church for the rehearsal.
    All the way to the church, her annoyance toward Taggert built. If she was supposed to be his fiancée, shouldn’t he be showing her some consideration? Instead, he dropped her at the front door and expected her to find her own way among strangers. No wonder so many women refused to marry him, she thought. They were all obviously women of sense and intelligence.
    At the church the rehearsal went off smoothly until at the end, when Taggert was to be the first to start down the aisle. He was to walk to the center, offer his arm to Karen, then walk with her out of the church. Maybe he hadn’t heard what was said, but whatever his excuse, he walked to the center of the aisle, then started down alone, without Karen.
    It was too much for her. “You know how Taggert is,” she said, “he thinks he can partner himself.”
    Everyone in the church burst into laughter, and Taggert, turning, saw his mistake. With a great show of gallantry, he returned, bowed, and offered his arm to Karen.
    â€œGetting me back for all those weekends of typing?” he said under his breath.
    â€œGetting you back for all those women who were too timid to stand up to you,” she said, smiling wickedly.
    â€œI am not the monster you think I am.”
    â€œI shall ask Elaine’s opinion on that. By the way, when is she