Joan Hohl - A Man Apart

The days leading up to the big event were out. There was the rehearsal late in the afternoon the day before the wedding, to be followed by the rehearsal dinner. That night was out, as well. Justin knew full well his family would make a lengthy celebration of the dinner.

Naturally, the actual day of the wedding was out.

The day-or night-after the wedding? Justin mulled over the problem, allowing his body to cool down a few degrees. He was in no hurry to get back to the ranch, he could spare a few days for fun and games.

Not in a hotel room. Justin gave a sharp shake of his head against the pillow. Not with Hannah. He didn’t want to delve into why it mattered. It never bothered him before where he spent time romping with a woman-a hotel room, motel room, her apartment, it made no difference to him. This time, if there were to be a time with Hannah, it did matter.

So then, if not the hotel, where?

He could probably have the use of Mitch’s apartment, seeing as how he and Maggie were off the day after the wedding to one of those island resorts exclusively for couples.

No, that wouldn’t do. Mitch’s apartment was on the top floor of the casino, and there was no way Justin would escort Hannah either through the front entrance of the casino or up the back stairs.

Without knowing how he knew, Justin felt Hannah was definitely not a back stairs kind of woman. Scratch Mitch’s place. The same for Maggie’s attic hide-away. He felt positive that Hannah would not for a second even consider her friend’s home for what he had in mind.

Suddenly he was struck by a memory. There was an apartment two floors below Maggie’s place. Karla had lived there before marrying Ben. It hadn’t been rented since then. So they would have privacy for their baby, Ben and Karla were staying in it now. They were planning to leave the morning after the wedding, as well.

Perfect. All he had to do was inform his brother of his intention to stay in the apartment for a couple of days after the wedding. It would be empty. Besides, the house belonged to the family, and he was a member, wasn’t he?

The best part was he had already laid the groundwork by telling Mitch he would be looking for female company while he was in town.

Suddenly Justin laughed aloud. Damned if he wasn’t planning a seduction. Hell, he had never in his life made plans to actually seduce a woman. He had simply homed in on a female who appealed to him, made his move and, if the woman was willing, let it all happen.

His laughter faded as fast as it had erupted. Of course, everything depended on when Hannah was planning to return to Philadelphia and, more important, if she would be willing to spend some mutually entertaining time with him.

Of course, Hannah hadn’t appeared overwhelmed by his masculine appeal. Come to think of it, she had barely spoken or looked at him during dinner. But he had a feeling something shimmered between them from the moment he touched her hand. And damned if he wasn’t going to give it his best shot.

“So, I understand our family’s going to go off in separate directions right after the big day,” said Justin who was seated at a small table in Mitch’s office the following morning. He’d called his brother and invited himself for breakfast. They had finished their meal, and Justin sat back in his chair, sipping at a mug of steaming coffee.

“Far as I know, everybody’s taking off about the same time,” Mitch replied from opposite Justin, his hands cradling a matching mug. “Aren’t they?”

“I’m not.” Justin took another sip. “Ben can take care of things at the ranch, so I think I’ll lug my gear over to the apartment Ben and Karla are presently occupying and camp there for a couple days.”

“Why?” Mitch raised his eyebrows.

Justin gave him a slow, suggestive grin. “I do recall telling you I’d be on the lookout for some female companionship, didn’t I?”

Mitch grinned back. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Not at all,” Justin denied. “I’m just hot to trot, is all. You don’t mind if I use the place for a while?”

“Why should I mind?” Mitch shrugged. “The house belongs as much to you as it does to me.” He gave Justin a wry look. “As long as you wait until everybody has left to track down a playmate.”

“Everybody?” Before Mitch could respond, he went on, digging for information. “Just the family, or does that include other guests?”

“Other guests?” Mitch frowned. “What other guests? Since Maggie’s parents decided not to fly in from Hawaii after we informed them we’d stop by on the way to our honeymoon, the only other guests are employees and a few local residents.”

“And Hannah.” Justin kept his voice free of inflection, other than a slight hint of disinterest.

“Oh, yeah, Hannah.” Mitch pursed his lips. “Hmm…you know, I don’t have a clue as to her plans. Maggie hasn’t said a word. I’ll have to ask her.”

“Is it important?” Justin had to focus to retain his near-bored tone. “I mean, does Hannah come under your no-shock edict?”

Mitch pondered the question for a few seconds, then said, “I haven’t given it a thought. Does it matter?”

“Only if it’s going to cramp my style. Such as it is.”

Mitch shook his head. “I wasn’t aware that you had a style. I thought you just jumped the first woman that appealed to you.”

“Only if she’s willing.”

Mitch raised his eyes, as if seeking help from above. “You are not to be believed.” His lips twitched. “My very own brother, a philanderer, of all things.”

“Hey,” Justin objected. “I am not a philanderer. I’m a normal male, with a healthy sexual appetite. And do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve appeased it?”

Mitch let rip a deep, rich laugh. “I don’t think I want to know anything about your sex life, thank you.”

“Sex life? Who the hell has a sex life?” Justin chuckled. “I talk to horses most of the time, and most of the time I don’t mind. But, every now and again, a man needs a woman. And in my case, buddy, it’s been months.”

“Okay. Okay.” Mitch held his hand up in surrender. “I give up. Have your R and R, but try not to lose the ranch at the tables downstairs.”

Justin didn’t bother to respond. Mitch knew damn well he wasn’t stupid; he would set a limit, a fairly low one, and stick to it. He hid an inner smile. “If things break my way, I’ll be too busy with more important-and a helluva lot more interesting-things than gambling.”

Friday arrived much too soon to suit Hannah. Although they talked almost nonstop, there hadn’t been nearly enough time for her and Maggie to catch up with each other’s lives. Not once had either one of them run out of things to say.

The rehearsal was scheduled for five in the small church just a few blocks from the big Victorian house. Dinner would be at the Bullock Hotel immediately following the rehearsal.

By four o’clock Maggie was a nervous wreck.

“All this over a rehearsal?” Hannah said, trying hard to contain a laugh. “I can’t wait until tomorrow. You’ll probably be a basket case. Instead of walking in front of you, Karla and I might have to walk behind, in case you collapse on the way down the aisle.”

“Not at all,” Maggie said, giving a dainty but superior sniff. “Don’t forget, I’ll have Mitch’s brother Adam to walk me down the aisle.” She no sooner had the words out, when she burst out laughing. “And believe me, friend, Adam’s big enough to handle delicate little ol’ me.”

“Shall we be off?” Hannah asked.

“I suppose we’d better,” Maggie agreed.

Giggling like two teenagers, they clattered down the stairs and out of the building to Hannah’s rented SUV.