"Yes, well, he's cutthroat just like his father," Julia sniffed. "Danielle, did you get a chance to visit him?"

"We had lunch," Danielle said, a cat-like smile on her face. "You know, catch up on old times. Why not once did he mention you, Jessica? I find it very interesting with all of this display of affection now."

"You know how private Kyle can be," I fired back, giving her a sweet smile. I could play b.i.t.c.h as well; Gretchen had taught me how to be nice nasty. "It must be nice to catch up with old friends." Danielle's faade broke, allowing me to see the plotting woman underneath for a moment, knowing full well I would have to watch my back the rest of the weekend.

"Yes, well, Danielle knows Kyle better than anyone," Julia replied, patting the younger woman's hand. "But we are glad to have you to share this excitement this weekend, Jessica."

"Yes we are," Nicole chimed in, her smile the only real one at the table. Gah, no wonder Kyle hadn't visited this woman in a while. It was going to be hard enough to stomach her fakeness this weekend and I was glad my turn with her would be done. I almost could feel sorry for the girl that Kyle would ultimately call his wife as she would have this dragon of a mother-in-law to deal with. My chest ached at the thought, but I shrugged it off, knowing that it was going to come sooner or later. We had really good s.e.x and I could almost say we had become good friends, but that's where it stopped. Though I had true feelings for him on my end, I wasn't expecting to have them returned to me. I would give him everything I could in the meantime and at least at the end of this adventure, he would have felt love. It was apparent it wasn't coming from the woman across the table.

How sad, I thought as Nicole handed me a menu. No wonder Kyle had thrown out all kinds of warnings before we got here. I wasn't finding anything warm or exciting about his parents at all.

Chapter 10.

"He's not destined for the likes of you."

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and faced Julia, who was giving me her best I hate you stare. Now I knew where Kyle had gotten his glares from. "Excuse me?"

"You are not going to be my daughter-in-law."

"Ma'am, Kyle and I haven't even talked about marriage yet but I am sure if that happens, you will be the first one to know," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. I had walked out onto the back deck while Kyle napped in the room, his golf trip seemingly as successful as my shopping trip had been. Neither one of us really wanted to talk about it. The look on his face when he had gotten back told me what I needed to know. My heart ached at what he had endured living with the woman before me, how it had affected his current lifestyle.

"Do not get smart with me," Julia fired back. "You, you are nothing but a diversion for him. He will marry someone of his stature."

"I wish you knew your son," I said softly, determined not to stoop to her level. "He's a great guy, a great lawyer. He's well respected and awesome to be around. I am sorry you don't see the reason to be happy for him."

Julia gave me one hard look and I inwardly cringed, waiting for her blast once more. Instead, a glimmer of tears caught my eye as she hastily blinked them away, rubbing her arms with her hands. "You love him, don't you?"

"I..." I started, confused at this turn of events. "Yes, I love him very much." And I did. I loved him more with every pa.s.sing day and the thought terrified me.

"I can hear it in your voice, see it in your eyes when you talk about him. I've failed him, we've failed him and I am surprised he's still speaking to us." She then moved toward the railing, where I had been standing. "We had such high hopes for him. He's his father's son, strong willed and hard headed. We tried to keep him close, but only succeeded in pushing him farther away. It's always been our dream to see him marry Danielle, live right down the street and follow in his father's footsteps. Now, now I can't even get him to answer my phone calls."

As I listened to her, I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for what she was going through as well. This was a new turn of events from the woman who had been so harsh earlier. "Listen, I'm sure Kyle doesn't hate you," I lied, looking at her. "Perhaps if you just spent some time with him then you could talk."

"It's too late for us," she replied with a long sigh. "But it does make me happy that you will be there to take care of him in my absence."

I gave her a faint smile, now hating the fact that we were lying to her. She only wanted the best for her son, just struggled on how to show it to him. If neither one of them ever budged on their stance, however, they would never get any kind of reconciliation going. "Your son needs to understand why he gets nothing but bitterness from you," I finally said, pushing away from the railing and moving back toward the door. "And I'm not going to be the one to do that, you need to be. If you value any future with your son, with his wife, or any future grandkids, I would work out the differences now." As soon as I said it, I realized I hadn't inserted me in there, but his wife, which wouldn't be me.

Julia gave me a long, hard look and I held my breath for the onslaught of questions that were sure to follow. "If my son is as smart as I think he is, he won't let you go, Jessica," she finally said, though a tiny part of me knew that she knew that this wasn't a conventional relationship. Parents were not born yesterday. "I hope that you will fight for him in the instance."

"All I can guarantee is that right now, he is loved," I said softly, meeting her stare. There was no need to lie to her anymore nor was I scared of what she thought. "Even if he never knows it."

"I understand," she answered, giving me a grim smile, understanding the words that I veiled in that one statement. "And if you need anything..."

"I will be fine," I interrupted, holding up my hand. I didn't want her sympathy for what was going to happen with this relationship, but I didn't get the impression that she was upset that we had deceived her.

"I am sure you will," she finally said. "Good night, Jessica."

"Good night," I answered and escaped into the house before I started bawling in her presence. What a mess, what a hot, holy mess.

"Come back here, we aren't done yet."

I giggled as Kyle grabbed ahold of my wrist and pulled me toward him, causing me to snuggle against his hard chest once more. Not that I was complaining. At this point, I couldn't think of anywhere else I would rather be. "They are going to think we are avoiding them, Kyle."

"I am avoiding them," he said, his hand drifting into my hair. "I would much rather spend the day in bed with you then to be forced to spend it where I am not wanted."

"But it's your family," I protested softly, feeling the heat of him against my cheek. My body was sated, my heart nearly bursting from the tender lovemaking we had just experienced and I didn't care to leave the bed either, afraid that this bright spot in my life would be over and done with. I drifted my fingers over his bare stomach lightly, receiving a satisfied grunt in response. "Besides, the bluegra.s.s festival starts this evening and I want to eat something horribly bad for me tonight. Maybe a greasy deep-fried something."

Kyle's chest shook with laughter and I slapped his abs, knowing exactly what he was thinking and it had nothing to do with food. "Come here." He grabbed my arm and pulled me against him, all of his hard body fitting into my soft one, sending a shaft of heat shooting through my body. Gah, I didn't think I would ever get tired of him if he was mine all the time. "I will get you whatever you want," he grinned, kissing the tip of my nose. "As long as you wear something short and easy accessible."

"I don't know how I am going to keep up with you," I sighed as his fingers drifted over my shoulder and down the middle of my back. "You are going to wear me out with all of this s.e.x."

"Just as long as it's me," he said, some of his easy grin sliding into something more serious.

"Of course," I smiled, pushing at him lightly before moving out of his reach. "Besides you keep me in bed enough of the day already. I don't have time for anyone else." He chuckled and released me, allowing me to climb out of the bed and move into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I cut on the shower and leaned against the door, hating the way I was feeling about this and the easy ways I was falling into a pattern with him, becoming more and more comfortable in his presence. Staying in this comfort zone with him wasn't going to be an option after we finished out this weekend, it was never part of the plan to begin with. The question was, how was I going to be able to walk away?

"You look beautiful, Nicole. I would die for a body like yours."

"You look great as well, Jess. That green is gorgeous on you." I smiled as I looked down at the green strapless I had brought, glad that Gretchen had thrown it in the suitcase at the last minute. Kyle's hungry gaze had been enough for me to silently thank my best friend.

The night was warm and perfect for a night at the square, Nicole and I walking side by side as the guys walked ahead of us. My heart jolted at the sight of Kyle's lean profile in the streetlight, the way he joked with Reese as we walked down the street. His parents had declined to walk with us and for once I was grateful, though my perception of them had changed. It wasn't my place to try and mend the fences between them and Kyle, but I was glad that I understood both sides now.

"You know we will be expecting your invite in the mail by next year," Nicole said, hooking her arm with mine. "By the looks of it, I would say a ring will be coming soon."

"I wouldn't bet on it," I muttered, dismissing the notion about any sparkling diamond in my future. I wouldn't even entertain those thoughts. h.e.l.l, we were sleeping together, but that was it. There was no relationship, no sharing of tender feelings. I loved him yes, but he hadn't alluded to anything other than the favor I was returning to him and the satisfied kisses after the hottest s.e.x imaginable. But just the tiny bit of hope flared in my chest at the thought of this continuing, that this could become something serious. Could I really compete with all of those women back home? Could I be enough for him?

Tuning out my thoughts, I saw that the entire downtown had been lit up with lights of all kinds, the strains of bluegra.s.s music intermingling with laughter from the people around us. Vendors lined the street as we joined the crowd, the tantalizing smells of barbeque, hamburgers, and chicken causing my stomach to rumble appreciatively.

"Welcome to Friday night on the square," Nicole smirked as we stopped in the midst of it all, reaching the Reese and Kyle. "And our joint semi last night as single people group."

"Oh my G.o.d," I exclaimed, stopping in my tracks. "Why didn't you tell me? This is so not what a bachelorette should be." Not that I had been to many, but I had seen the parties on TV. They involved flashing b.u.t.tons, hot guys, and lots of alcohol. Besides I a.s.sumed that she had already had one. Only a fool would have it the night before their marriage.

"No, no, it's fine really," she laughed, grabbing my arm. "We didn't want to have to go through the hoopla of the traditional marriage festivities, like parties and the like. This will be all of it rolled into one."

"But what about your friends?" I asked. If I ever did walk down the aisle I would want Gretch at my side before the wedding. So far, I had seen not one member of the bridal party.

"We didn't want a big bridal party so we ditched those too," she said sheepishly. "Mom put up a fuss of course but my closest friends will be here in the morning. You will be wishing you never asked. They were all in love with my brother in high school."

I smiled then, glad that I wouldn't have to be pulling anyone's hair out over Kyle tonight. Gah, there I go again. I was being overly obsessed with my boss but hey, I knew what he looked like naked. There was no way I was going to share that with anyone else. Kyle's smile nearly knocked me down as I reached him, casually sliding my hand into his and grinning like a fool when he squeezed back. This was more than showing off in front of his family. We had them in our back pockets with our fake relationship.

"So let me show you around before dinner."

"You got thirty minutes!" Nicole exclaimed as we walked away.

"Don't make us late or she will never forgive us," I replied as we strolled down the middle of the street among the crowd. "What's all of this about anyway?"

"First of the month block party," Kyle explained, nodding to nearly everyone we pa.s.sed. "It's tradition. We come out of our big homes and mingle like real people for at least one night. Everyone gets drunk and then we go home to do it all over again the next month."

"A drunk fest, awesome," I smiled.

"I remember the last time you got good and wasted," he teased, pulling me against his side, wrapping his arm around my waist. "And you survived a night, in my bed, with your clothes on."

"Don't remind me," I groaned, remembering my botched wine-induced night. I knew his toilet very, very well.

"Well, next time the results will hopefully be better," he said softly.

I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him, my heart in my throat. "What?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"This, this thing between us, what is it to you?" I asked softly, my hands smoothing the imaginary wrinkles on his shirt. I was well vested in this relationship, probably more than I should be, but what he felt, I didn't know. I was scared to know.

"Well, we have some amazing s.e.x," he grinned, some of my hope fleeing out of the window. Yeah, exactly what I was afraid of.

"Well, I am glad you didn't pick Shirley," I finally said, taking the hurt out of my voice. What was I expecting? This wasn't even a real relationship. I signed up for this, I took my panties off one leg at a time every step of the way.

"Yeah, me neither," he smiled, putting a finger under my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. "Hey, are we okay?"

"Just fine," I gave him a false smile and quickly averted my eyes before he could see any of the emotion in them. "Come on, show me this one-street town before dinner."

Thirty minutes later, we walked into the restaurant right behind the soon to be married couple to shouts of "surprise" as the lights came on in a cozy little Italian place off the main thoroughfare, packed to the gills with smiling faces that looked equally excited to see the couple.

"Oh my G.o.d," Nicole exclaimed as Reese hugged her close. "This was... I wasn't expecting this..."

"Exactly," Reese finished for her, a smile on his face. "Surprise, love. I know you said you didn't want a rehearsal dinner, but your friends wouldn't let it go. They insisted on throwing you a surprise rehearsal party so here we are."

"I'm glad you did," Nicole exclaimed happily, kissing him on the lips. A group of women immediately surrounded her as they moved deeper into the restaurant, their eyes straying to us. Great, the ones I had been warned about a day early.

Julia and Brent also appeared, though they made no move to embrace anyone in particular. I did catch the faint nod she sent my way, glad to see that I didn't dream up our little talk. Another older couple approached and I could tell immediately that it was Reese's parents. The resemblance was striking between him and his father.

"Ah, the other happy couple. So glad you could make it. Love your dress, Jessica, it flatters your figure so well."

Danielle's voice drifted over me and I forced a smile on my face as I turned toward her voice. Barf, I wanted to jump across the room and scratch her eyes out. Apparently, her claws were out to play as I surveyed Danielle's skin-tight red dress that barely covered her you know what, the V-neckline just barely above being s.l.u.tty. While most redheads would stay away from the color, she had embraced it, completing the look with red lipstick and black pumps that could not be comfortable. "Danielle, how nice of you to say that. It's nothing compared to your dress though."

She gave me a false smile and sidled up to Kyle, who either was not seeing the show before him or choosing to ignore it. "Kyle, daddy wants to see you for a second. You don't mind, Jess?"

"Not at all," I said through clenched teeth as she dragged him away. Kyle gave me a grin and allowed Danielle to pull him away into the crowd, leaving me to move aside lest the giggling crowd of girls run me down. "Be right back." Yeah, sure, I knew what she was thinking. Territorial flags went up in my head but I shrugged them away. There was no reason for me to act like this, no reason whatsoever. I might be in love with the man, but this wasn't a real relationship, this wasn't anything that would go beyond our plane ride back to Texas.

"I know what is really going on here."

I sighed as I recognized Danielle's haughty voice, wondering if the night was going to get any stranger. Kyle had deposited me at this table an hour ago before being pulled away by one person or another, the entire town trying to reconnect with him. I had watched him laugh and shake hands with nearly everyone in the room, like a politician on election night. Not once had he attempted to introduce me, which was fine. It wasn't like I was ever going to see these people again anyway. I should be thinking about my future, my next job instead of Kyle's killer grin and beautiful chest under his shirt. "What would that be?"

"I know the truth," Danielle smiled as she came into my view, sliding into the seat in front of me. "I know you and Kyle are not the lovey-dovey you are putting on for the rest of these people. He didn't mention you at all on my last visit. I didn't see any of your stuff at his house nor did I get the vibe from him that he was involved with anyone."

"I'm sure snooping around someone's private property is against the law," I replied, taking a sip of my water.

"You know, Jessica, you are not as smart as you hope you are," she said, looking at her fingernails. "I see the way you look at him, the hope in your eyes. Honey, I am here to tell you that Kyle will never say the 'L' word to you. He will never choose anything over that precious job of his and the fun he can have by staying unattached." She then shot a searing look in my direction, dropping her voice dangerously low. "I know firsthand. I loved that man more than anything. I followed him to Texas, gave him my virginity and my heart. I held onto the hope that he was going to put a ring on my finger straight out of law school. Instead, I got the boot, just like every other woman in his life. Don't think that whatever you are trying to pull will stick when you leave."

"If you know so much about him, why did you stay all those years?" I asked, unaffected by her rant. She sounded like a wounded ex-girlfriend to me and wasn't telling me anything I wasn't either already aware of or prepared for. I knew his love life was a revolving door, I knew that he wasn't serious about anyone or anything other than his job. I had worked for him long enough to know better, though a small piece of me, a very small piece, thought something might be different this time.

"I loved him," she said softly, some of the fight leaving her face. Instead, I saw a mirror image of me in a week or so and hated what I was seeing. "Listen, I know I haven't been the best person to you in the last few days, but I am going to tell you straight up what I have experienced. Get out and don't hang on to what might be. It didn't work for me and all you end up with is a shattered heart and wasted time on something that was never going to happen in the first place." She then slid back into her smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes as she stood, adjusting the hem of her dress in the process. "This does not mean we are friends by any means, I hope you know that."

"I appreciate your honesty," I told her as she turned to go. She nodded tightly and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me with my water and not much else.

Chapter 11.

"Reese looks nervous. They have been together ten years, why would he be nervous now?"

"Hush," I said, elbowing Kyle in the ribs. "It's sweet. He loves your sister very much."

"He better," Kyle muttered as the music swelled. I smiled and squeezed his hand, so glad that they were having such a beautiful day for the wedding. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a soft orange glow that mingled with the soft candlelight that surrounded the backyard. I had watched from the window as the hired wedding help had worked all morning transforming the s.p.a.ce into the romantic setting that it was now. It was simple and perfect, just like the love that this couple was about to make official. A small group of about fifty were standing as the bridal march started from the three-piece orchestra in the background, with Kyle and I right next to his parents. He looked too handsome for his own good in a gray pinstripe with a shirt and tie to match his eyes. I had chosen a blue dress of my own, a gauzy number that left one shoulder bare and hugged my curves. The look on Kyle's face when I emerged from the bathroom told me what his mind was already thinking.

Unfortunately, we would have no time for hanky-panky afterward. Our suitcases were already packed and our boarding pa.s.ses printed out for the last flight out of North Carolina tonight. There was no reason to stay any longer once he saw off his sister on her honeymoon. It saddened me to know that it was almost over, that we would be returning to reality in a few hours.

Nicole and her dad walked down the petal covered aisle toward Reese, and I sighed at how beautiful she looked in her simple gown, how Reese wiped back a tear as she approached the altar. Kyle pulled me closer to him and I resisted the urge to lay my head on his shoulder, instead watching as their father placed Nicole's hand in her soon to be husband's. In the span of a few minutes, it was all over and Reese was kissing Nicole, while everyone else was wiping their eyes and clapping.

"Just beautiful," Julia was saying, clasping her hands together as they walked back down the aisle. "Not what I would have wanted, but it suited them."

I chose not to respond as Kyle tugged me out of the aisle and toward the ma.s.sive tent that would house the reception. "Why do women always cry at weddings?"

"Because we hope ours is just as beautiful," I said softly as we walked hand-in-hand behind his parents. "And that we will be so lucky to find someone that loves us the same."

"Have you found that someone, Jess?" Kyle asked softly as we neared the entrance.

"That's a silly question, Kyle. If I had, I would already be married." I laughed hollowly, though my heart knew I had found someone very special indeed. "So lucky for you, I am still free and clear to do your dastardly deeds."

Kyle grunted and pulled us out of the line, away from the crowd and in the shadow of the house. "I haven't properly thanked you for this weekend, for all of your help."