Beth Kery - If I Can't Have You

“No,” he replied levelly, refusing to allow her to prick his temper. “But I can think of a few things that might cause one of them to hit the pause button if the information was presented in just the right way.”

“Like what?’ she asked suspiciously.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m not picturing anything traumatic. Do you think I would ever purposefully hurt my sister?”

She hesitated, but when she finally resumed pacing and answered, she sounded honest enough.

“No.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he said, forcing himself to look away from the distracting sight of her scissoring thighs.

She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to tell me what you have in mind or not?”

“It’s simple enough. We just make sure Liam and Natalie encounter the type of thing that would make any rational person stop and consider before leaping impulsively into marriage.”

“What? Force them to watch old documentaries about failed celebrity marriages? Remind them repeatedly of how much Brad said he adored Jennifer before Angelina woke him up?”

“No. But not too far from that. Has it ever occurred to you that we’re mutually acquainted with couples who have gone from head over heels to heading to divorce court in record time?”

She paused and studied him. He leaned back in his desk chair, musing.

“It might be…prudent for Liam and Natalie to observe some of those jaded couples firsthand. We can start off by asking a few of them to the engagement party,” he said.

“I beg your pardon?” she asked, her forearms crossed beneath firm, generous breasts.

Definitely not like the typical mother of his patients.

“The engagement party you and I will be throwing Liam and Natalie,” he said reasonably. “We should plan to have it as soon as possible. Maybe even next weekend, given the short period of time we have before the wedding.”

He pretended to misunderstand her incredulous—or was it horrified?—expression.

“Sorry. I just assumed.... Somebody is going to have to throw them an engagement party, and we’re the most likely candidates. Don’t you want to? I thought that was the right thing to do.”

“I…of course, it’s…” She made a sound of frustration. “Don’t tell me what the ‘right’ thing to do is, Reyes. Who made you the leading authority on correct wedding etiquette?”

“I’m far from being an expert. That’s why I need your help so much,” he said as humbly as possible. He rocked back in his chair, thinking. “I want my sister to have the best of everything. She deserves that, and more. But I really believe they should consider hitting the slow-down button before taking the big plunge.”

“Maybe,” Colleen muttered after a moment of silently wearing down his carpet with her treading feet. “But I’m not agreeing to anything malicious. If they’re determined to get married after only knowing each other a few months, there’s absolutely nothing anyone can do to change their minds.”

“I agree one hundred percent,” he said. “It’s not meant to be hurtful. Just…a wake-up call.”

“Other than that, we’ll give them a wonderful party.”

“Are you kidding? We’ll throw them the best engagement party Harbor Town has ever seen. The best wedding and reception, as well.”

She stood directly in front of him, her jean-covered thighs slightly spread. “Do you promise that’s the only thing you’ll do? Try to subtly encourage them to extend their engagement? Because I’m not agreeing to anything dishonest.”

“I promise. I despise dishonesty,” he said truthfully.

He waited while she studied him closely.

“Okay,” she finally conceded. “Mari, Marc, you and I will be responsible for the cost and planning of the engagement party. As for the wedding and reception, can you speak with Natalie and get some of her thoughts on decorations, budget, that sort of thing? I’ll do the same with Liam, just so we’re all operating on a consistent plan.”

He nodded. “I understand the bride’s family is traditionally responsible for the finances. I’m Natalie’s whole family, so I’ll be paying for the wedding.”

She paused, her mouth hanging open.

“That’s very generous of you to offer,” she said slowly after a moment. He couldn’t decide if he should be flattered or insulted by her expression of surprise and grudging respect at his offer. “But couples finance their weddings a lot of different ways these days, and I’m sure Natalie would agree you’re under no obligation. Plus, I doubt Liam would ever expect you to pay for everything, but that’s something we have to clarify.”

“I agree,” Eric said.

She nodded once firmly, despite her doubtful expression. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Let’s have lunch tomorrow,” he declared when she started to walk out of his office.

“Why?” she asked, spinning around.

“To plan the engagement party. And, of course, how we implement our ideas for promoting careful consideration instead of impulsive haste with Natalie and Liam.”

Her eyes flickered over him warily.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked.

“Nothing. It’s just…I had no idea you were such a cynic when it came to the idea of true love, Reyes. I suppose I should have suspected it.”

“I like to think of myself as a realist, not a cynic. Besides, you’ve admitted you agreed about this. Committing to another person for a lifetime requires some serious contemplation. There’s no such thing as love at first sight. Right?”

“Of course not,” she said, bristling.

“So, what’s your excuse?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your excuse for being a cynic when it comes to hasty marriage?”

A shadow fell over her features, and he immediately regretted his words. He’d just been trying to get to know her better. Instead, he’d unintentionally struck a bad chord, Eric realized. Colleen had been burned by romance in the past. Maybe she was still sensitive because her husband, Darin Sinclair, had been killed in action.

“I am not a cynic,” she said stiffly. “I just think Liam and Natalie need more time to make sure this is what they truly want.”

He struggled to get back on the right track again. “So, we’re on for tomorrow at lunch?”

“All right. I guess that’ll work,” she said. He lowered his hands and sat forward in his chair when he noticed her further hesitation.

“What is it, Colleen?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just…are you certain Brendan will be okay?”

He exhaled slowly to give himself a few seconds. Seeing Colleen vulnerable wasn’t something he was used to, so he hadn’t adequately prepared himself for the experience.

“He’s not just going to be okay,” he said. “He’s going to be great. I’m even more confident in saying that now that I’ve seen how well the tissue cleaned up. I know you won’t take my word for it, but time will prove my case.”

A smile flickered across her lips; just the hint of it had him longing to see its full, blazing glory.

“I do trust you…about Brendan,” she added softly before she walked out of his office.

Eric leaned back again and brought up his feet on his desk, his gaze fixed on the door that had just closed behind her. He’d told her he hated liars, and it’d been the truth. Eric didn’t like subterfuge and was only planning a few reality checks in the midst of these wedding plans because he cared about Natalie so much. Other than that, he’d do everything in his power to give his little sister a wedding that would make every woman in Harbor County green with envy.

Despite the fact that he disapproved of Natalie’s quick wedding plans, he found himself anticipating having a good excuse to spend time with Colleen. He didn’t think that qualified him as a liar, necessarily, because he hadn’t revealed that morsel of information to her. If he had, she wouldn’t have consented to work with him on the wedding in a million years.