Bachelor Auction (36 page)

two parted. Melody shook a finger in that lecturing

manner he’d come to know, and Charlotte nodded,

wiping away another tear as she moved aside for the

Jamisons.

Her eyes met his across the hood of Spencer’s

car before she turned to climb the church steps. But

in that brief moment he saw a wealth of pain and

regret.

“She’s sure been crying a lot.”

Marcus shrugged, not bothering to ask who

Chad meant. He hadn’t been very discreet in his

observations this afternoon. She seemed different

somehow, more in tune with the woman he’d

thought to uncover. Still, he’d tried to harden his

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heart against her; what was left of it anyway.

“Women cry at weddings.”

“No, I mean since you two got back from Aspen.

Mel told Spencer she cries all the time now.”

Marcus dragged his gaze from where she’d

stopped at the top step to watch the progression

alone. “What do you want me to do about it?”

“Talk to her.”

“Believe me, she doesn’t want to hear anything I

have to say.”

“Not if you keep acting like a prick.”

Spencer rounded the front of the car, saving

Marcus from having to reply or kick his brother’s

ass, and Mitch stepped forward to hand him a

twenty-five pound bag of rice. “They won’t let us

throw this stuff anymore, but I couldn’t let you get

out of here without making sure you’re set for the

future. We want lots of nieces and nephews.”

Chad thrust a brown paper sack forward. “And

this is to make sure you get to enjoy your marriage

for a while before all that fertility kicks in. I figure

these might last through the honeymoon.”

Spencer looked inside at the box of condoms

they’d sprung for and laughed. “Only
twenty.

Doesn’t say much for what you guys think of my

stamina.”

“It’s not your stamina we’re worried about. It’s

actually your impatience. Any protection you have is

probably packed in the trunk, and we didn’t want

you to use the decorations off the car.”

Marcus slipped an envelope from the inside

pocket of his coat. “And last but not least.”

“What’s this?”

“A list of hotels in every town between here and

Galveston where you can find a room already

reserved and paid for under the name of Mr. and

Mrs. Spencer Preston. In case you can’t wait until

you board the ship.”

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“Come on, guys. Let him go,” Melody shouted

over the cacophony of noise around them. “I promise

to bring him back in one piece.”

Laughter burst from all four, and Spencer slid

behind the wheel. “You guys are the best.”

Marcus stood silent beside his remaining

brothers, already feeling the separation from

Spencer as he drove out of sight and into another

phase of his life. He wondered if Mitch was

remembering the day he’d married Julie, if he still

hurt from her betrayal and resulting death. And

Chad, well, there was usually only one thing on his

mind. He was probably lamenting Spencer’s loss of

bachelorhood and the ability to live for the moment.

There wasn’t a doubt in Marcus’s mind that

Spencer would be happy with Melody. They shared a

love so special, it was almost impossible to watch

them and not ache for something even remotely

close. Until recently he never believed he would

settle for anything less.

He risked another glance at the top of the

church steps, but she was no longer there. After

today, he doubted he would see her much. Just as

well.

“I need a drink,” Mitch said, yanking the tie

from around his neck. The bitter edge in his voice

confirmed where his thoughts had been.

Chad slapped his hands together, rubbing them

briskly. “We’ll toast Spencer’s marriage and the

fortunate fact that we’re still single. What do you

say, Marcus? You up for a celebration?”

Hell, he could use a drink or two. Anything was

better than the alternative, which was going home to

stare at four walls and think about all the mistakes

he’d made with Charlotte. “Sure, but I’ll have to

catch up to you. I promised Natalie a ride home.”

Both Mitch and Chad lifted a brow.

“What?”

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Mitch stuffed his tie in his pocket. “You should

distance yourself from that one before someone gets

hurt.”

“Nat’s just a kid.”

“With a rack like that?” Chad snorted. “Come

on.”

Mitch nodded. “She was like a hound at your

heels during the reception.”

At the ranch, too. He’d been meaning to talk to

her, but somehow never found the time or the right

moment. “It’s just a ride home. But you’re right. I’ll

talk to her on the way.”

“I’ll call and let you know where we end up.”

Chad peered past him, his brown eyes crinkling, and

waved. “How about you, darlin’? Want to shake up

the city with us?”

Marcus turned as Charlotte, now wearing a coat

over her bridesmaid dress, strode toward them. Her

gaze locked with his, determined, solemn, searching,

even after she stopped in front of him.

That’s how she’d been throughout the reception.

When she wasn’t directing the catering staff or

doling out punch, she’d kept to herself, quiet, almost

subdued. Not at all the Charlotte from before.

“Uh, okay then,” Chad said behind him. “We’ll

leave you two...to it.”

The silence continued to grow even after his

brothers left. Finally, he cleared his throat. “You

look lovely.” It wasn’t what he meant to say.

Her eyes flickered over the parking lot, her

cheeks flushed pink. “Thank you.”

“I saw your mom. How is she?”

She fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Taking

one day at a time.”

Aren’t we all
? “She didn’t stay for the reception.”

She shook her head and looked down at the

sidewalk. “No, she’s only been home a few days and

wasn’t ready to face the champagne. I’m staying

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with her through the holidays, or until she gets her

bearings.”

“Do you need a ride home?”

Her head jerked up, surprise evident in her

expression. Right. Probably not a good idea with the

kid in tow. Maybe he could get Chad to take Natalie

home. He indicated with a nod to the parking lot. “I

didn’t see your car.”

Emotions flitted across her face so fast he

couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw hope in her

pale blue eyes then disappointment before they went

blank.

“No, I traded the Viper in last week.” She

pointed to the lime green Volkswagen Beetle parked

a few cars away. “I like this better.”

“Ah.” What else could he say? The sleek red

sports car had been her trademark ride for so long

he had a hard time picturing her in anything else.

He wondered if it was one of the many things she’d

hidden behind.

“Melody said you picked up several new clients

last week.”

So his sister-in-law had made it her mission to

keep Charlotte abreast of the happenings in his life.

Much like Spencer had done the past two weeks with

him. Even a certain little blonde imp had filled him

in on her comings and goings at the hospital. He

pretended otherwise, but he relished every bit of

information relayed. “Only one is new. The other

three were actually returning clients.”

“Ones my father stole.”

He shrugged. What was the point in stirring an

already dead issue? “So did you finish your

dissertation?” He knew from Spencer she hadn’t, but

he was reluctant to end the conversation.

“I have a little more research, but I’m looking at

early spring.”

He nodded and couldn’t stop himself from

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tucking that stray curl behind her ear. “I’m proud of

you.”

Her gaze lifted, and she stared at him with a

yearning that made him want to throw caution to

the wind. He couldn’t hurt any more than he already

was.

“Charlotte, we—”

“Marcus, I’m—”

She bit her lip and darted a glance toward the

church. He’d never seen her so unsure of herself.

Nervous fidgeting wasn’t her style. Obviously she

had something on her mind. Did she regret how

things ended in Aspen? Maybe she wanted to work

things out, take the risk of letting him love her.

Maybe even love him in return.

His heart pitched, but he quelled it with reason.

More likely she was looking to ease her guilty

conscience. If so, he wouldn’t make it easy for her.

He thrusts his hands in his pockets to keep from

reaching for her and waited.

Finally, she looked at him, hers eyes filled with

uncertainty.

“I-I wanted to apologize for what happened in

Aspen. I shouldn’t have done...pushed you to...”

He swallowed the resentment welling inside

him. He didn’t want her apology. But neither did he

want her to make herself sick over it. He wanted to

tell her to forget it. That he really hadn’t done

anything he hadn’t wanted to do since the moment

he met her, which was nothing short of the truth.

“What happened was—”

She held up her hand. “No, please. Let me

finish.”

But again she only stared at the ground, at her

hands, anywhere but at him, and he couldn’t stand it

any longer. He couldn’t wait for her to trample his

heart again. Better to get it over with. “It was

inevitable. The chemistry between us was too

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strong.”

She blinked, her lips parted in a soft gasp, and

he waited once more while she struggled to form

words, wanting them to be the ones he longed to

hear. “Yes, well, I thought maybe you could—that we

could try to...oh...” More of the light in her eyes

dimmed. “You said
was
.”

“Is.” He ran the back of his knuckles across her

cheek, hating to see her so vulnerable. He thought

he knew where she was going, or at least he hoped

he did, and now he wanted to ease the path for her.

But carefully. “I don’t think it’ll ever die.”

Those lips, painted dark red to match her dress,

lifted slightly. “Me either.”

Okay, so he’d dive right in. “Before you say

anything else, I have something I need to tell you.”

“Marcus, your mom wants to talk to you before

we leave.”

At the sound of Natalie’s voice, he jerked his

hand to his side. Charlotte looked from him to Nat

and back again, the uncertainty he’d seen moments

ago back tenfold. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“She needs help getting your grandmother to the

car. Mitch and Chad already left, and she doesn’t

want your father or Melody’s dad trying to lift her.”

Charlotte straightened the strap of her purse on

her shoulder. She looked ready to bolt. “You should

go.”

He glanced toward his parents’ car parked in

front of the church then to the top of the steps where

his mother and grandmother waited. He couldn’t

leave his grandmother in the cold and Nat was right.

Grandma Preston could be a bit ornery when she

was in one of her moods.

Turning back to Charlotte, he said, “I’m sorry.

This shouldn’t take but a minute.”

“That’s okay. I need to get home anyway.”

“No.” He pinned her with a look he hoped

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conveyed his need for her to stay. “I’ll be right back.

Don’t leave.”

Charlotte

nodded.

“Don’t

keep

your

grandmother waiting.”

Marcus turned and sprinted across the street

and up the steps of the church, pausing once to look

back at her as if he were afraid she would disappear.

She might have smiled had Natalie not stood

watching her. Instead, she met the girl’s serious

gaze and forced a smile. “Thank you for manning the

groom’s table.”

“I didn’t mind at all. Spencer’s like a brother to

me.”

The subtle reminder of Natalie’s connection to

the Preston family found its mark, bringing with it