The Honeymoon That Wasn't. Debbi Rawlins

her dress. “The same moron who invented high heels must have come up with this gem.”

      “Fair is fair.” Tony couldn’t resist. Not that he was particularly fond of ties. In fact, he hardly ever wore them—only when he absolutely had to.

      Wendy smiled at him. “You are so damn cute. I can’t believe Dallas kept you from us all these years.”

      Heat crawled up Tony’s neck. Thankfully he knew he wouldn’t turn red. He didn’t embarrass easily but Wendy was something else.

      “Now that Dallas has ditched me, I’m looking for a roommate if you’re interested.” Wendy gave him an impish grin, shifting so that their legs touched.

      “Hey, he’s already taken,” Nancy said, rubbing a familiar shoulder against his.

      He gave her a sharp look. So did Dakota.

      Nancy laughed. “My six-year-old thinks he’s it. She lights up like the Fourth of July every time she sees him.”

      Tony reared his head back. “Megan’s six already?”

      “Yep, she had a birthday two months ago.”

      “Man, then I haven’t seen her in almost a year.”

      “You should come by sometime.” Nancy smiled. “It would make her day.”

      “Yeah, maybe next weekend. I owe her a teddy bear for her birthday.”

      Wendy spoke up. “Nanc, I didn’t know you were married. I thought you were one of us.” When she frowned, Wendy added, “You know, single.”

      “I’m divorced,” Nancy replied. “Does that count?”

      “Oh, yeah. Definitely.” Wendy peered out the window at the impeccably manicured greens and small man-made lakes, stretching on for acres. “Wow, this place is awesome.” She looked at Dakota. “Do you know if any Broadway people were invited?”

      Dakota shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

      “Just the boring legal types, huh?”

      Trudie groaned and darted a look at Dakota. “Wendy, would you shut up?”

      Dakota just laughed. “I know what you mean.” She faked a yawn. “Bunch of long-winded, pontificating blowhards.”

      Everyone got quiet and stared at her.

      Tilting her head to the side and smiling, Dakota added, “With a few exceptions, of course.”

      God, she was gorgeous. Tony just stared. He couldn’t look away. With that soft smile on her peach-tinted lips, the way the late-afternoon sun filtered into the windows and lit her hair, she should have been spread out across a billboard. Wouldn’t matter what product she peddled. Hell, even nail clippers. Any red-blooded guy would buy it.

      Obviously he wasn’t the only one with that opinion because Wendy said, “Jeez, Dakota, why aren’t you modeling like Dallas?”

      “I like what I do.”

      “You can practice law later. Make the easy bucks now while you still have the looks.”

      Trudie shook her head with disgust. Apparently she also noticed Dakota’s defensive posture. “What part of keep quiet don’t you understand?”

      “Come on, Trudie, I’m just saying—”

       “Hey, we’re here. There’s Dallas and Eric.” Tony’s timely interruption was met by a quick smile from Dakota. He winked back and she abruptly turned away, and he could’ve sworn her cheeks had started to pinken.

      But she hid it while stepping out of the limo and leading them to the foyer to stand in the reception line where people were already waiting to congratulate the bride and groom.

      Why the rest of the wedding party had to stand there was beyond him. Nobody cared if they were there or not. But now wasn’t the time to question the tradition so he obediently positioned himself between Nancy and Trudie as Mrs. Shea instructed.

      After more pictures were taken and everyone had had a crack at Dallas and Eric, the wedding party was finally allowed to enter the private dining room. More like a ballroom with tables and chairs for at least a hundred and fifty guests. Fresh flower arrangements, mostly orchids, were everywhere. Two bars were set up on either side of the room, manned by bartenders wearing tuxedos. He couldn’t imagine how much this had set the Sheas back. Of course that kind of money was no sweat to them.

      “Hey, where are the balloons?” he asked Dakota.

      She gave him a weird look as if she hoped he was kidding but wasn’t sure. And then surprised him by asking, “Do you want a drink?”

      “Sure.”

      “Come on.”

      He followed as she led him around the guests who had already lined up in front of the bars. Several white-gloved waiters stood to the side and she whispered something to the short husky one who nodded and smiled ecstatically as if she’d just agreed to have his children.

      Tony watched the guy abruptly turn around and then disappear through a side door that blended with the wall and had been invisible to Tony. “Where’s he going?”

      “To get our drinks.”

      “Ah.” He nodded. “Come here often, do you?”

      She arched a brow at him. “You want to wait in that line?”

      “No, ma’am.”

      “All right then.”

      “Do we stay right here and wait or is there a rendezvous point?”

      A smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t worry. You won’t get mobbed. This is a very civil bunch. They’ll only complain to management.”

      “That I can handle. By the way, tell me you didn’t order me champagne.”

      “I didn’t order you champagne.”

      “Not to sound ungrateful.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      The waiter reappeared holding a small tray in one hand, and used the other to hand Dakota a glass of white wine and Tony a bottle of beer, his usual. Without a glass, too. Obviously she’d noticed what he was drinking last night.

      The weekend was starting to look up.

      Maybe she planned on taking Dallas up on her offer of a free minivacation with him. Before bringing it up, he glanced over his shoulder to make sure Tom wasn’t around. No, but Wendy was headed their way.

      Damn.

      The only consolation was that Dakota looked just as disappointed.

      Her red hair windblown, Wendy smelled faintly of tobacco as she approached. She looked from the glasses in their hands to the increasingly long line at the bar. “Where did you get the drinks?”

      Dakota gestured vaguely over her shoulder. “A waiter was walking around with a tray.”

      “Cool.” Wendy wandered off in the direction Dakota had sent her.

      Tony chuckled.

      “I didn’t lie.”

      He didn’t care. She’d gotten rid of Wendy. That’s what counted. Not that he didn’t like Wendy, but he wanted Dakota to himself. He wanted to lose himself in those sexy gray-blue eyes, and bask in the anticipation of tonight. Miles away from here. Alone. Nothing to do but get to know one another. Spend long leisurely hours of exploring each other’s bodies.

      That line of thinking had to stop. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to stop the blood from rushing south. He took a healthy gulp of icy cold beer and then met Dakota’s amused eyes.

      Dakota smiled and took another sip, her lashes long and thick resting on her cheeks. She barely