Susan Mallery - Dream Wedding

Arizona told himself it wasn’t polite to stare, but Ms. Chloe Bradley Wright was very easy on the eyes. Tall, at least five-eight or -nine, slender with big brown eyes and a cascade of reddish-brown curls that tumbled to the middle of her back. She might not have a lot of curves, but she was woman enough to get his blood pumping.

If he had a type, she would be it. Fortunately he didn’t have one, nor was he looking for anyone to keep him company during his brief visit to Bradley.

“I’m trying to convince Arizona to stay with us while he’s here,” Charity said, picking up the conversation where they’d left it when Chloe had arrived home. “I’ve explained there’s plenty of room and he won’t be any trouble at all. What do you think?”

Chloe was staring at him again. Whatever the reason for her attention, he found he liked it. She blinked twice, then looked at her aunt. “What? Oh, sorry. I was—” She took a sip of her soda. “It’s just I’ve been staring at your picture all day. I can’t believe you’re sitting here in my kitchen.”

Her words hung in the room like dust motes floating on a sunny afternoon. The silence lengthened. Chloe sucked in a breath and flushed, as if she’d just realized what she’d said.

“That came out wrong,” she said quickly.

“Not to me it didn’t.” Arizona winked. “The fan club can always use a new member. Did I mention I often take care of initiation myself?”

He was teasing...for the most part. Chloe’s flush deepened. Maybe the little town of Bradley would be more interesting than he’d first thought.

He glanced over and saw Charity’s speculative gaze. Ah, so his friend was thinking about a little matchmaking. He drank his beer, unconcerned by her efforts. He’d dealt with much tougher than her in the past. As they said in Australia—no worries.

Chloe cleared her throat. “Now you’ve seen me at my worst, or close to it. I don’t usually make a habit of putting my foot in my mouth. What I meant was I’m a reporter with Bradley Today magazine. The writer who was going to follow you around for the next couple of weeks and write the article won’t be able to do it. Our editor assigned me this morning. I’ve been busy doing research.”

A reporter. Assigned to him. He liked that. “Should be fun.”

“Yes, well, I left a message at your hotel explaining the situation.”

“I’ve been with Charity most of the day,” he said. “I’ll be sure to listen most attentively when I get back to my room.”

“You do that. There’ll be a quiz in the morning.”

She smiled then. A real smile without thought or purpose. Her face lit up, her eyes sparkled and he found himself leaning toward her, already planning what he could do to make her smile again.

Chloe reached for her briefcase and unzipped the leather, unconstructed bag. “I believe we have an appointment at the gem exhibit at nine-thirty in the morning. Does that still work for you?”

In more ways than you know, he thought, but only said, “Yes.”

“Good.” She made a notation in her date book. “It will take me a couple of days to get up to speed. I have Nancy’s research, of course, but I want to do some of my own. I’ll try not to be a pain with all my questions.”

“My life is an open book,” he said.

Charity coughed. “Really, Arizona? Oh, good. I was afraid there were some stories you wouldn’t want me telling, but with your life being so accessible and all...” She turned to her niece. “Later I’ll tell you about the time a tribal elder’s daughter paid him to teach her how to please her husband. It seems that there was a problem with—”

Arizona groaned. “Charity, have you no shame? That is private.”

“I thought you were accessible. I thought you wanted to share yourself with the people.”

“Not that much of myself. There are some things Chloe should learn on her own.”

Chloe raised her eyebrows. “How kind of you to say that, but don’t worry. I’m not interested in any lessons on pleasing the men in my life.”

“They’re all satisfied?”

“Completely.”

In her tailored slacks and linen jacket, she looked professional and confident. He wondered if Charity saw the slight tremor in her niece’s hand as she picked up her can of soda. Chloe was lying through her teeth. Which either meant she wasn’t pleasing her man, or there wasn’t a man to please. He found himself wanting it to be the latter.

Charity chuckled. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m giving you completely the wrong idea about Arizona. It’s true that he can be a charmer when he wants to be, but for the most part he’s a decent and kind man.”

Arizona winced. “I thought you were my friend.”

“I am.”

“You’re talking about me as if I were the family dog.”

Chloe leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “So you don’t want to be thought of as decent and kind? Secretly you long to be—” She pressed her lips together.

Indecent. His brain filled in the word and he shifted in his chair. What was going on between himself and Chloe? This didn’t make sense. The banter was fine—he enjoyed people who were fun and funny. But the sexual innuendo wasn’t his style. Too obvious. Was it the lack of female companionship in his life, or was it something else? Something about Chloe specifically?

Before he could analyze the situation, the front door opened and a female voice called out a greeting.

“That’s Cassie,” Charity said, rising to her feet. “My other niece. She’s the baby of the family.”

“That’s hardly fair,” Chloe protested. “She’s younger by all of six months. You make her sound like she’s still a teenager.”

“Or that you’re an old woman,” Charity teased.

“Thanks.”

A young woman entered the kitchen. Her gaze settled on Arizona. “I saw you on television this morning,” she said and grinned. Her short dark hair accentuated her large eyes. Where Chloe was tall and slender, Cassie was a good five or six inches shorter, with plenty of curves.

A nice enough young woman, Arizona thought as they were introduced, but not intriguing. Not like her sister.

“So you’re a famous explorer,” Cassie said as she reached for a pitcher of iced tea and poured herself a glass. Heart-shaped earrings glinted at her earlobes.

“That would be me. Larger than life.”

Cassie settled next to him and sighed. “Do women gush when they meet you?”

“Only if they’re incredibly discerning.” He glanced up and caught Chloe’s smile.

“Are you married?” Cassie asked.

“Cassie!” Chloe frowned at her sister. “Don’t be personal.”

“Why not? Well, are you?”

“You proposing?”

Cassie sipped her tea, apparently unruffled by the conversation. “No. I’m involved with someone. But Chloe is single.”

Arizona shot her a glance. So there wasn’t a man in her life. Funny how that piece of information was suddenly fascinating.

“Thanks for sharing that particular detail,” Chloe said and rose to her feet. Her aunt stood by an electric frying pan sitting on the counter. “Can I help?” she asked.

“I’m doing fine. I’m cooking Arizona’s favorite for dinner,” she said.

Chloe glanced in the pan, then over at him. “Pot roast?”

“Yup. You’d be amazed how hard that is to find in some places.”

“I’ll bet.”

“There’s chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert,” Charity added. “Both you girls will be staying for dinner.”

It wasn’t a question. The sisters exchanged knowing looks, and Arizona was pleased that he wasn’t the only one Charity bossed around.

“You don’t have to if you have other plans. Although I would very much like the company.” The latter comment he addressed to Chloe.