TheTemptationNotJustifiedAReFinal (11 page)

Chapter
Nine

Celeste
went to her room before Derrick returned, and she remained there until a few
minutes before the commencement of the wedding ceremony. She and Derrick sat
next to each other on white-covered chairs with red sashes. Pink and red rose petals
were sprinkled on the white aisle runner leading up to the decorated wedding
arch where the minister, the groom, and the wedding party stood.

The
sounds of a solo saxophone drifted on the air as Roarke escorted his sister
down the aisle. The dark suit and tie enhanced the power of his height and
build, drawing her eyes to him instead of the radiant bride.

Despite
mentally scolding herself not to dwell on what could have been, she wondered
what it would be like to be the woman in his life. In truth, she already knew.
A man like Roarke would spoil his woman. She had experienced a sample of it
today. Perhaps it was because of the romantic nature of the wedding ceremony,
but she knew without a doubt, if he loved her, and she could spend the rest of
her life with him, she could look forward to a lifetime of unselfish
thoughtfulness and kindness. Words she’d never known in a relationship before.

The
wedding planner had timed the event perfectly, so that the burnished orange
glow of the setting sun adorned the sky as the bride and groom kissed and the
minister announced them to the audience. Afterward, all the attendees except
the couple and the wedding party moved to the clear-top tent. Later in the
evening, the starry sky would be visible through the ceiling.

No
expense had been spared for the nuptials. A bartender mixed drinks, and servers
glided around the room with pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres. A band played modern
hits on a stage in front of a white dance floor. Lights looped along the
ceiling, and red flowers in white vases decorated the tabletops.

“Rum
and Coke.”

The
words made Celeste’s breath hitch as she stood in front of the bartender,
waiting for a glass of wine. He must be directly behind her. She could almost
feel the heat from him, warm, like the sound of his voice. Other guests flanked
her, but she was only aware of Roarke.

“Are
you okay?” he asked close to her ear. She felt the brush of his breath along
the back of her neck, exposed by the updo hairstyle.

“Why
wouldn’t I be?” she murmured over her shoulder, but never looked at him.

She
couldn’t. She worried the extent of her feelings would show in her eyes. Her
body hummed with the need for even the smallest bit of contact from him. She
wanted to lean back into his embrace and have him nuzzle her neck, letting the
hairs on his face graze her skin.

“Because
of what happened this afternoon. I don’t want to create problems between you
and Derrick.”

“Don’t
worry about it. We’re fine.”

What
did these other people order?
Celeste thought impatiently. If the bartender would hurry up and pour her
drink, she’d be on her way.

She
heard Roarke exchange greetings with someone, then silence.

The
bartender handed her drink over the shoulder of the woman in front of her.
Quickly, Celeste turned to escape, but he stood right behind her, and she
bumped into the solid wall of his chest. Brought up short, wine spilled over
the top of the glass onto her fingers.

Staring
at his tie, she said, “Excuse me.”

“You
can’t look at me now?”

She
tightened her clasp on the stem of the glass to steady the shaking of her hand.
She stared down into the clear liquid.

“I
enjoyed the tour today . . . but we both know . . .”

“Know
what?”

“We
shouldn’t have.”

“Nothing
happened. It was perfectly innocent.”

“I
know.”

“Is that
the problem?” His voice had dropped even lower, caressing her senses. The
people around them seemed to disappear, as if she and Roarke were the only two
people standing there.

Celeste
swallowed with difficulty. He didn’t have any idea how much torture he inflicted
with his words and close proximity. She needed to get away from him. She
finally looked into eyes. His stared intently into hers.

“What
are you thinking about?” he asked.

The
temptation to bare her soul and spill the secret about how much she wanted him,
cared for him, weighed on Celeste. Her heart was beating at an unsteady pace,
and she felt the ridiculous need to cry.

“I
think you need to leave me alone and let me pass,” she said.

She
couldn’t think of another time in her life when the words she spoke had been
such a painful contradiction to what she felt. For a moment she regretted them when
she saw the transformation in him. His face tensed just before he stepped aside
to let her by.

Roarke
stood against the wall, watching the guests circulate as they waited for the
wedding party. He’d taken the requisite pictures before the ceremony, but the
photographer wanted a few more of the bride and groom now that night was falling.

Actually,
he wasn’t watching the guests. He watched Celeste.

Someone
clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, Roarke, how’s it going?”

“Just
fine, Uncle Reese. How about yourself?”

“Good,
good. You did a fine job with little Miss Cassidy. She grew up to be a mighty
fine young woman. I’m proud of you.” He winked and moved on.

Uncle
Reese’s words put a nick in Roarke’s conscience. He wouldn’t be very proud of
Roarke if he knew how hot with lust he was for another man’s woman. He’d barely
resisted the urge to drop kisses along the back of her neck, or move the strap
of the sleeveless dress she wore out of the way so he could run his tongue
along her shoulder.

He
swallowed some of his drink.

This
obsession with her wasn’t healthy. The last thing he should do is watch her,
wishing she were his date instead of his brother’s. Ever since he saw them
together after the trek around the island, he’d been unable to avoid the truth:
the jealousy and rage inside him had more to do with his heart than his groin.

Yes,
he wanted her. His lust-addled brain imagined a repeat of their all-night
lovemaking at the Ritz. But more than lust drove him; he enjoyed her company.
He wanted to spend time with her and took pleasure in making her laugh just as
much as making her come.

Even
though he knew she had cheated, he had fallen for her. It had to be the least
intelligent thing he’d ever done in his life.

There
might be a slight chance she had feelings for him, but she acted as if she
didn’t want to look him in the eye. Something must have happened between her
and Derrick to cause such a reaction. Or maybe she regretted the day they’d
spent together.

Maybe
he should challenge Derrick to a duel. The thought made him laugh.

“What’s
so funny?” Matthew asked as he walked up.

“Nothing,”
Roarke replied.

“You’re
going to bore a hole into the back of her head if you keep staring at her like that.”

Roarke
paused the drink halfway to his mouth. “Who?”

“Is
he pretending he doesn’t know what you’re talking about?” Xander asked. He and
Lucas walked up on Roarke’s other side. Both men attended the wedding as
guests, but Xander owned a bakery. He’d given the four-tier white cake with red
and pink roses, and the groom’s
tres leches
cake, as wedding gifts.

“Yes,”
Matthew answered. To Roarke he said, “You’re not doing a good job of hiding how
you feel about her, bro.”

Damn.
Was he that obvious? “She’s with Derrick,” Roarke said.

“And
was with you last week,” Lucas pointed out.

“Doesn’t
matter.”

“Then
why can’t you take your eyes off of her?”

Roarke
drained his glass. Apparently, he was that obvious.

“I
know your grandmother and Aunt Iris aren’t allowing them to stay in the same
room, are they?” Xander asked.

“No,”
Roarke answered. “She has her own room. The one Lorena was supposed to have.
Lorena and Cassidy are sharing a room.”

“In
the same bed?” Lucas asked.

Roarke
nodded.

“Am
I wrong for being a little turned on by that?” Three sets of eyes turned to
Lucas. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

Celeste
stood in a corner, talking to one of the other guests.

“What
are you going to do?” Xander asked, following his line of vision.

“He’s
going to forget about her,” Lucas answered. “Look, she’s in a relationship and
didn’t tell you. Worse, it’s with your own brother. Do you really need another
reason for Derrick to hate you? I know you like her, but those are the facts.
You might as well hook up with one of these lovely, single Georgia peaches just
waiting to have a wedding story to tell their girlfriends when they return
home. Make sure you mention you’re
Dr
. Roarke Hawthorne when you
introduce yourself. Women love titles.”

Matthew
nodded his agreement. “Weddings are the perfect opportunity to get laid.”

Xander
shook his head Lucas. “I can’t believe they pay you to give advice. Not every man
is trying to see how many women he can nail before he dies.”

“Says
the man who married his high school sweetheart and hasn’t had sex with another
woman since then,” Lucas said.

“I’m
happily married.”

“Good
for you. Not everyone wants that particular noose around his neck.” Lucas
wrapped his fingers around his own throat in a mock choking gesture.

“Why
didn’t you hook up with Celeste’s friend—what was her name . . . Gwen?”

“Too
aggressive. I like my women a little more docile.”

Matthew
laughed. “Maybe you should invite her to one of your workshops.”

Lucas
stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm . . . maybe I should.”

Lucas
wrote a successful relationship blog called
Why He Won’t Marry You
and
an advice column in a national magazine. Occasionally, his speaking engagements
took him on tour across the country. Men idolized him, but angry women viewed
him as a pariah.

“Guys,
I appreciate your efforts to cheer me up,” Roarke said sarcastically, “but I’m
fine. Pretty soon she’ll be gone, and what happened will be behind us.”

Matthew
turned his eyes on his brother. “Until she shows up at another event with
Derrick.”

The
same thought had crossed Roarke’s mind. If this relationship lasted between her
and Derrick, she would be at other family functions, and he would have to
pretend not to care. His chest tightened.

“I
may have my father’s name, but I’m nothing like him. She and Derrick are a
couple. She’s with the man she wants to be with, and whatever the attraction
was between us, nothing can be done about it now.”

As
he said the words, he recollected her face, and the way she wouldn’t even look
at him. There was no doubt in his mind something had changed. But what?

Minutes
later, the wedding planner announced the bridesmaids and groomsmen, who came in
and took their places on either side of the entrance.

Lots
of cheering and loud clapping filled the space when she said, “Mr. and Mrs.
Antonio Vega!”

The
group of ten walked down the middle of the tent to the dance floor. All of a
sudden, the beginning strains of a recorded version of Michael Jackson’s
“Thriller” came through the speakers. The guests looked around in surprise at
the action taking place up front. The wedding party moved in zombie formation,
getting into position.

“No,
she didn’t! That’s my sister!” Matthew hollered.

The
music picked up, and the group started the choreographed dance. For the next
four minutes, Roarke watched in awe the precision of the zombielike movements,
pelvic thrusts, and sweeping arm gestures. They shimmied across the floor, and
the more they danced, the more the audience became excited.

Anyone
who had been seated was on his or her feet, and thunderous applause greeted the
end of the routine. Cassidy’s beaming face turned toward her brother. Roarke smiled
at his little sister. With a heavy heart, he realized this was the last time
she would turn to him, seeking his approval. He gave her the thumbs-up just
before her husband swept her up into his arms.

*
* * *

Last
night, Celeste read her daughter a bedtime story over the phone. Tonight, because
of the wedding festivities, Arianna was already asleep when she called.

Celeste’s
mother gave her a rundown of Arianna’s day and told her that her ex-husband had
called. He promised Arianna he would come get her so she could spend the summer
with him in Washington.