IN SEARCH OF A GROOM

Lilli Barclay needs a groom—and she needs one now. Not for herself, of course, but for her mother’s glamorous wedding-themed benefit. Then Lilli can get back to what really matters, earning a promotion at work. Just her luck that Max Sanders, the ideal candidate, still holds a grudge against her for an incident that happened twelve years ago.

Persuading Max to volunteer will take longer than Lilli thought. Much longer. And the more time she spends with him, the further she ventures down Memory Lane. Pretty soon Lilli can’t help wondering if Max could be more than a pretend groom. He still makes her heart race. But will he ever be able to forgive the past and consider a future…with her?

Lilli stared up at Max, her heart beating rapidly.

With a frown, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. She rested her palms on his chest and sank into the kiss, falling for Max a little harder. But just as she slid her hands to his shoulders, he pulled away.

“Not a good idea,” he said, his voice low, clipped. “I should go before I do something stupid.”

“Like kiss me again?”

He closed his eyes. “I’m not the right guy for you. You need promises. A sure thing. I’m not that guy.”

“You could be.”

He stepped back. “I need to go.” He opened the door and slipped away before she could think of any words to stop him.

She leaned her forehead against the cool door, eyes closed. Did he regret coming here tonight? Kissing her? Did he want more between them, or would he always blame her for a past she couldn’t change?

Dear Reader,

I so enjoyed creating the characters in Orange Blossom Brides. Lilli and Max had plenty of obstacles before getting their happily-ever-after, but doesn’t every journey have a few bumps along the way? That’s what makes life so interesting.

The inspiration for this story came when a friend dragged me to a spring fashion show. The room, filled with bright flowers, soft harp music and decorated in a wedding motif, caught my attention. As I sat there, observing the well-dressed guests chatting before the models took the runway, suddenly this story idea came to mind. I love weddings (who doesn’t?) so I decided to take the fashion-show theme and make it my own. I invite you to Tie the Knot—A Montage of Vintage Bridal Fashions through the Decades. No RSVP needed, just turn the pages and enjoy.

I’d love you to visit me at www.tararandel.com. Stop by and leave a message.

Tara Randel

Orange Blossom Brides

Tara Randel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TARA RANDEL

has enjoyed a lifelong love of books, especially romance with a bit of mystery, so it came as no surprise when she began writing with the dream of becoming published. Family values, mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. This is her first book for Harlequin Heartwarming.

To my beautiful daughter, Megan, who always dreamed of being a bride.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

THE EARLY-MORNING SUN warmed Lilli Barclay’s shoulders as she stood in front of the Cypress Pointe Historical Society building, arms full of charity event files she’d just received from the secretary. She’d have to finish the job sooner rather than later, but later sounded so much better. Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath before speaking into her cell phone.

“Does this have to be done today?” she asked her mother, Celeste, who had taken off to deal with another one of Aunt Marian’s legal issues instead of staying here in Florida to coordinate her latest fund-raiser. “I have a full schedule at work.”

“He’s the only groom who hasn’t given me an answer. He’s perfect, Lilli. The ladies will adore him, and the model will love walking arm in arm with him down the aisle.”

“I could just call him. I’ve already missed more hours from work than I can afford with this fund-raiser.”

Lilli had recently found, and hoped to sign on, a new client for the marketing firm where she worked. A project that would not only be a profitable account, but would land her the coveted promotion she’d been working toward. She loved research and the creative part of marketing, but she really wanted to work directly with the customers as an account executive.

The job entailed finding new customers and maintaining relationships while catering to their advertising needs. To climb up the corporate ladder, she’d worked long hours and made herself available to the point of having no social life. Since her five-year plan had gotten derailed a year ago, she’d started over with a new plan to get her life on track, and this promotion would be the first step in that direction.

She wasn’t a shoo-in, especially with two other people in the office actively seeking the same promotion. The first, Nate, had a few more years’ experience than Lilli. Definite competition. The other, a woman who had recently been hired, was new to marketing. A long shot. Still, Lilli took nothing for granted.

Filling in as charity coordinator for her mother didn’t fit the plan, but her mother had sounded desperate. Lilli hadn’t been able to say no. Never had. Only now her mother’s request might very well get in the way of this promotion.

“You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t an emergency.”

Yes, she knew that. For as long as Lilli could remember, her mother had been involved in some type of charity activity. She’d spend weeks on a project, leaving Lilli to snatch a few hours of quality time here and there, and even then, her mother would be preoccupied. That meant a lot of time alone. But how could she be upset with her mother when the woman did so much good for others? And how could Lilli not help when her mother asked? Since her parents’ divorce, it seemed like the only connection they shared.

“So you’ll take care of this for me?” her mother asked.

Procrastinating, Lilli opened the thick file in her hand and narrowly avoided spilling the collection of papers. Her gaze stopped on the top line of the official invitation: Tie the Knot—A Montage of Vintage Bridal Fashions Through the Decades, to be held at the prestigious Cypress Pointe Country Club. Bad enough her mother had asked her to fill in as coordinator for this event in her absence, but the country club? How could Lilli ever set foot in that place again?

She scanned the list given to her by the historical society secretary. She loved lists, herself, so she felt a degree of relief that she didn’t have to start from scratch. Everything from timetables, committees and local businesses supporting the show to couples serving as models were listed. Each woman would wear a bridal dress, either from her family legacy or donated by a member of the historical society. A clever idea. One of her mother’s best.

But a wedding-themed benefit? Lilli cringed. She’d put visions of silk and lace, cake and fondant, and happily ever after out of her mind this past year. Getting dumped at the rehearsal dinner made a girl leery of wedding dreams.

And still, the worst part of her duties lay moments ahead of her: getting an answer from the final volunteer groom on her mother’s list. A groom not obligated to marry his paired bride. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true for any guy? No commitment and a bunch of fun? The participants were local businesspeople or town elite, except for the last man in question. He had recently set up shop in town. Celeste had yet to pin down a definite yes from the man. Apparently he’d been dodging her calls. So, today, the recruitment duties fell to Lilli.

She closed the file and stuffed it into her purse. She’d go through it later. Right now, she had historical society business to take care of before she could get back to ensuring her promising future at KLC Media Enterprises.

“Yes, I’ll take care of it, but I’m going to call his office,” she said, decision made.

“That won’t do any good.”

“Why not?”

“Every time I call, his secretary tells me he’s out.”

“Maybe that’s because he is out. After all, he is a...” Lilli shuffled through the purse again until she found another file. Her stomach dropped when she read his name. “Max Sanders. Private investigator?”

“Yes, dear. I mentioned to you that I’d hired someone to take care of the security system at the historical society office. It’s in the information I left behind.”

Lilli stared down at the familiar name. It couldn’t be, could it? He’d left town years ago. How many Max Sanderses could there be?

“You’ll have to go to his office and ask in person.”

Oh, boy. Her mother had to know how sticky this would be. Why would she even consider him as a volunteer groom in light of their history? The Max Sanders she’d met twelve years ago would not be happy to see her, let alone agree to anything she asked. She’d be lucky he didn’t kick her out of his office right from the get-go.

“You do remember who Max is, don’t you, Mom?”

“Of course. So I had him thoroughly vetted.”

Ironic, her mother hiring a P.I. to do a background check on a P.I.

“Lilli, please. This is important.”

“Why?”

“Because he has a new business here in town. We have to support our own.”

“Willie Anderson is single and owns a toy-train store, but you haven’t targeted him.”

“That’s because Willie is thirty-five and still lives with his mother. None of the volunteer brides will walk down the aisle with him.”

Okay, that was true.

“And I’ve met with Max. He’s handsome. The women will love him.”

Bottom line: if Max’s presence would help sell tickets, her mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. Coming from a marketing standpoint, Lilli could appreciate that.

Asking Max to participate was just a formality. Everyone in town knew that once Celeste had her mind set on charity matters, you couldn’t ignore her. She hounded folks until she wore them down. After so many years “suggesting” they help, it became town tradition to commit first and ask questions later. Since Celeste now served as president of the historical society, she wouldn’t back down on this particular event.

Still...benefit or not, facing Max Sanders would not be the highlight of Lilli’s day. She grasped at any excuse not to visit him. “His secretary can just as easily put me off there.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to demand that he see you. Be firm, Lilli. Let them know you mean business.”

Lilli blinked. “You expect me to strong-arm him into it somehow?”

“I’m sorry. Sometimes I get so carried away with my charities I forget I have boundaries.”

Boy-oh-boy, these historical society women took charity events to a whole new level.

“The historical society ladies and I want to work with Max,” her mother continued.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Lilli had to take care of this so Celeste would stop worrying and Lilli could coordinate the fund-raiser while still giving the necessary attention to her job. Multitasking had just become her middle name. It wouldn’t be that bad, right?

“Also, I spoke to Max about providing security the night of the benefit, but we didn’t finalize the particulars. If he hesitates about attending, suggest he look at volunteering as undercover work. As a groom, he’ll be able to keep an eye on the event with no one the wiser. Between the designer wedding gowns and the Wingate jewelry, I have a lot riding on this night, Lilli. You know if this weren’t an emergency, I’d be there. Honestly, I’m depending on you.”

Lilli stifled a groan. Could her life get any more complicated? “Max might not want to work with me.”

“What happened is in the past. You both moved beyond the incident. I spent enough time with Max to see that he’s gotten his life together and is now a respectable member of society. Besides, he’s a businessman. He’ll do what he must.”

Her mother was banking on that. And what Celeste wanted, Celeste always got.

Unlike Lilli.

Lilli’s childhood had been far from simple. Her father, a corporate lawyer, and her mother, a stay-at-home mom who mostly flitted about as a society charity queen, rarely saw eye to eye on anything. Their marriage, difficult at best, worked when they weren’t in the same room. Lilli spent her vacations with one parent or the other.

She longed for a real family, to have Thanksgiving dinners together instead of going to a different resort every year, alternating parents. She dreamed of her family sitting before the twinkling tree on Christmas morning, opening the presents they’d given each other, of knowing without a shadow of a doubt that her parents loved her because she was their daughter, not a bargaining chip to use against each other.

Prior to her mother’s most recent phone call, Lilli had spent twelve months excelling at a job she loved, and living the calm, quiet life she craved after growing up in a home mired in emotional chaos. She’d spent years as the object of her parents’ arguments. What should their only child should do? Where should she belong? Their ideas had differed vastly from what Lilli wanted.

Not that they’d asked. And not that they’d put her first in their lives. She’d been an obedient daughter, had tried to give them what they wanted, but failed at every task. So she’d set her mind on being the best student, best employee, best...everything so they’d be proud of her. And still they hadn’t been able to work out their problems to keep the family whole.

After her parents’ divorce, Lilli had worked hard in high school and college to cover the hurt and disappointment. She might be what some called an overachiever, but going after specific goals kept her mind focused. She’d realized she could only depend upon herself. This promotion would prove her resourcefulness. And it had nothing to do with her parents. Or this fund-raiser.

“I’m counting on you to get this done, Lilli. Give me a call when Max is confirmed.”

That one night with Max had been out of character for her. And now, all these years later, she’d pay for it.

“That’s assuming he agrees.”

“We’re on a deadline, Lilli. Confirming Max is your first priority.”

Yeah, after getting on with her day job, nailing the promotion, living her life and enduring Max’s wrath. “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” she muttered, even though her mother had hung up.

One phone call and her life tilted out of control. Her resolve to create emotional steadiness in her life went by the wayside. Her world had suddenly turned messy, and she didn’t like messy. Except for the year she spent planning her doomed wedding, she’d achieved that long-awaited stability. She dated “safe” men, when she dated at all. At twenty-eight, you’d think she had it all together.

Until her mother called in a panic. That call thrust Lilli back into the craziness of her mother’s world and Lilli had an ache in the pit of her stomach to show for it.

With a sigh, she glanced at her watch. Just past 9:00 a.m. With any luck she could get to Max’s office, coerce a firm yes from the man without a major degree of difficulty and get back to work with productive time still left in the morning. The research on the organic dog biscuits wouldn’t get done by itself. Nor would the itinerary for the town business forum her boss had asked her to put together, plus planning her strategy to land the Danielson account.

Nine in the morning, and she already had a headache.

Three weeks until the benefit.

Could she do this?

* * ** * *

MAX SANDERS RUBBED his weary eyes, hoping the letters on the computer screen he’d been staring at would stop swimming. No good. He hit a key to close the file and downed the remainder of his coffee, flinching when the cold mouthful hit his tongue. How long had he been concentrating, anyway? With a grimace he swallowed, then rose from his chair to get a refill.

In his cramped second-story office overlooking Main Street, he slid out from behind the desk, tripped over a stack of unpacked boxes and bumped into the lone wooden straight-back chair reserved for clients before he reached the door. He really needed to take thirty minutes to straighten this place up.

His secretary, Blanche, ran the clerical end of the business. Her desk, a couch and a small coffee station filled the main office just outside his door. Talk about looking like a movie set out of a 1940s B movie. Raymond Chandler’s idea of a hard-nosed investigator he was not.

Thankfully, Blanche had filled the pot before she left for an appointment. From the first day she’d come to work for him and tasted his version of coffee, she’d forbidden him to touch the machine ever again. Today he needed caffeine too much to worry about secretarial retribution.

Last night he’d stayed at the veterinarian’s office until the early morning hours, waiting for his black Labrador, Jake Riley, to be out of danger. According to Doc Williams, the Lab had tangled with a cane toad and been poisoned. Jake Riley, resilient and stubborn, pulled through with the help of the vet’s knowledge of poisonous toads. Max, on the other hand, was tired and out of sorts. Doc had suggested Max leave Jake at the clinic so the staff could keep an eye on him. Later this afternoon the dog could go home.

Max took a sip of the coffee, savoring the warm brew as he enjoyed the unusual quiet. He could handle things himself, even though Blanche would probably beg to differ. After all, he’d made it to twenty-nine without a major mishap—depending on who you talked to—through a stint in the navy and years on the job as a cop in Atlanta. He’d already landed a few cases since he opened his doors. He had his mentor—Cypress Pointe police chief, Bob Gardener, fondly known to the town as the chief—to thank for that.

Max had returned to his desk when he heard the outer door open. He didn’t have any appointments scheduled this morning. Blanche usually dealt with clients before they saw him, but in her absence he would have to play host. Hoping for new business, he put on his game face, stopping short when he spotted the gorgeous female who’d just walked in.

This day was looking up.

She hesitated at the door as if she didn’t know what to do next until she locked gazes with him. Her eyes, a pretty shade of green, opened wide and the tentative smile playing at her full lips went flat. A flash of a memory teased the back of his mind as she gracefully sauntered the few steps toward him. He couldn’t help but check her out. Dressed in a soft blouse that matched her eyes, a skirt and impossibly high heels, she stopped before him, tucking a lock of her tousled, shoulder-length reddish hair behind her ear. He caught a whiff of her rich floral scent—a pretty, unforgettable perfume. Or maybe it was the woman who was unforgettable.

“Max Sanders?” she asked in a soft voice.

“That would be me.” He extended his hand, taken off guard by a rush of heat from her soft skin as her fingers slid against his. Interesting. He hadn’t expected that. Nor had she, evidenced by the way she quickly let go.

No doubt about it, she’d piqued his interest the minute she’d come through his door. No one in their right mind could ignore the confident sway of her walk, the slim hand with ruby nail polish and the overall pretty package beaming back at him. Something about her...

He watched her with curiosity. Victim of a home invasion while her husband worked out of town and now needed a security system? His quick glance to her left hand indicated no wedding band. Something else, then?

“Did you have an appointment? My secretary must have forgotten to tell me you were coming.”

“She didn’t know.”

Even more interesting. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“No, thanks. I’m in a time crunch but I need to speak with you.” The airy tone of a few minutes before disappeared and she became all business. “I’m sorry. I didn’t call before arriving because I hoped to catch you in person. It’s important.”

Good, she needed his services. “In that case, come on back to my office.”

He led the way, sweeping a pile of electronics magazines from the chair in front of his desk, motioning for her to take a seat. He rounded his desk before settling back in his leather chair, observing her as she gazed around his office, from the papers piled on his desk, to the boxes in the corner. Finally, her eyes widened a fraction as she read his wall calendar. Then she looked down at the chair he’d pointed to, wrinkling her pert nose as she reached out to brush the wood seat before sitting. He frowned. The office might be cluttered, but it wasn’t dirty.

“I usually make office or house calls, so I’m not completely organized yet.” He’d ignored Blanche when she’d nagged him about decorating to impress the clients. Man, he hated it when Blanche was right.

He settled in and took another long look at this prospective client. That elusive memory still niggled the edges of his mind. Then it hit him, hard and fast.

“It’s you.”

Her cheeks flamed. “Yes.”

“I can’t believe it. It’s been twelve years.”

“That’s about right.”

“That’s exactly right.”

“And it’s in the past.” She squirmed in her seat. “I was hoping we could look beyond that.”

Wishful thinking. His gut burned with memories. “I don’t think so.”

“It was an...unfortunate night.”

“Especially after the police showed up.”

“That, too.”

A bonfire. Mischief. A pretty girl and a stolen kiss. Great times, until the cops broke up the party. And he’d ended up spending a few nights in juvenile detention because of her.

“You ratted me out.”

“It was either that or get in trouble for something I didn’t do.”

“You could have forgotten my name.”

“I could have, but I didn’t.” Her face colored. “It was all a misunderstanding.”

“You were a far cry from a misunderstanding.”

“It was a long time ago. I was hoping today we could calmly discuss business.”

“Calm isn’t at the top of my list right now.”

Her eyes closed for a moment, and when she met his gaze again, he saw the reluctant yielding there.

Okay. So she didn’t want to walk down memory lane. Neither did he. He’d been angry with her for a long time after that night. What had started out as a flirty game of teasing ended with both of them in trouble, questioned by the police for a few hours before she went home to her family. He’d never found out why she dropped his name so she could go free. He’d asked, but the chief had been closemouthed about the details. All he knew that night? She’d caused him a world of trouble.

Now, all these years later, he was about to find out why. “Now, tell me, Miss... Miss...”

She rolled her eyes. “Barclay.”

“Right. You’re related to Celeste Barclay? The woman who keeps calling?”

“That would be my mother,” she said, her business tone ratcheting up a notch. “I’m here on behalf of the Cypress Pointe Historical Society.”

“I’ve already installed the new security system at the office. Your mother made sure I had it completed before the loaner gowns arrived.”

“That’s not why I’m here. You haven’t returned her follow-up calls.”

He inwardly groaned. “For the charity thing, right?”

“Yes. She’d like an answer.”

“The chief said your mother wouldn’t stop calling until I talked to her.”

“Then you know just how persistent she is. That’s why she sent me here.”

“Not to cause me more trouble?”

“Of course not.” She lifted her chin.

“Miss Barclay... It is Miss?” he couldn’t help asking. And thinking, why was her marital status important? In light of their history, he shouldn’t care, but found that he did. And wanted to kick himself for it.

“Yes.”

Even though she owed him, she didn’t seem inclined to elaborate. One glance at her set mouth and he decided to bide his time. He picked up a pen and tapped it on a notepad. “Your mother mentioned that she wanted me to volunteer for the benefit. What did she have in mind?”

She looked at the pen in his hand, then back at him. “You already know the Cypress Pointe Historical Society is holding their annual fund-raiser in three weeks.” She handed him a white invitation. “Tie the Knot charity wedding fashion show. At the Cypress Pointe Country Club. My mother has requested that you act as one of her volunteer grooms for the night. She felt that in your capacity as security for the event, this role as a groom would work out well. She’d be sure to have someone watching over the expensive donations during the event, but not calling attention to your undercover status. She doesn’t want to upset the guests. ”

He stared at her, trying not to flinch. No way. No possible way. “Are you kidding?”

She tilted her head. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression your answer is a formality.”

“I agreed to upgrade security at the historical society office and for the jewelry collection. Nothing else.”

“And the night of the benefit? At the club?”

“We hadn’t exactly nailed down the details for the night of the event. Your mother and I keep playing phone tag.”

“She had to go out of town and she asked me to handle it.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“You know the history of the Wingate jewelry?”

“Yes.” He nodded at his computer. “I read the file.”

“Then you know the collection is worth a lot of money.”

Oh, yeah. He’d noticed.

“We can go into the particulars at a later date, but I need to know that you’re on board and you’ll have things under control the night of the benefit.”

A fresh rush of anger swept over him. “First you show up at my office, now you question the quality of my work?”

Her eyes went wide. “No. Of course not.” She ran a hand over her skirt. “I’m sorry. My mother recently put the responsibility of the benefit in my hands and I’m playing catch-up.” She tried for a smile. “And it would really help us out if you volunteered.”

Hmm... Well, he supposed it would be a good way to keep an eye on things. But still... “Volunteer groom, huh?”

“It is a town tradition, after all.”

He snorted. “I don’t think I could pass as a groom, volunteer or not. I’m not a settling down kinda guy.”

She shifted, giving him the once-over. If he read her right, she silently agreed with him. “You do realize it’s just for one night. And afterwards, your P.I. business will get publicity.”

“Private security consultant.”

She pulled some papers from her bag. “My notes read P.I.” She looked at him, confused. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

“My major focus is security, but I do some investigating on the side.”

He did P.I. work while waiting for the security end of the business to build up, so he could focus on that full time. He’d piled all of his own savings into this venture so he needed these short-term cases to generate revenue. Once he landed one large account, the word would get out and he’d be on his way to making Sanders Security a high-end firm.

“That’s all well and good, but I need a commitment from you. The money raised will go toward deserving organizations. Did I mention this year the funds will help the local animal shelter as well as the historical society?”

He groaned. Animal shelter? He’d found Jake there, half-starved and in desperate need of a home. His home. He’d never forget those beautiful pleading eyes staring up at him. Just like the pair staring at him now.

Okay, he had to take time to consider this. Volunteer groom aside, was his pride more important than his empty bank account? More important than proving his services were needed in this town? Right now, he needed to capitalize on being the sole security consultant in town. But would the exposure bring in business, or would his professional image take a hit with the whole cheesy-groom thing? He might not be taken seriously after that.

Considering all that, he studied her. Did she think she had him? With her composed smile, he couldn’t tell.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t want to let those poor defenseless animals down. We’re only asking for a few hours of your time.”

The alluring female had grabbed hold of his attention and wouldn’t let go. Just as she had that night twelve years ago. Their gazes clashed, but she gave nothing away. All business, not trying to flatter him or outwardly flirt with him, not trying to use her womanly wiles to get him to say yes. Wait. Why wasn’t she flattering or flirting? He didn’t want the answer to that particular question.

“The animal shelter?” he asked, dragging out the minutes.

“Yes,” she replied, cool victory evident in her voice. He detected a small curve of her lips, ready to smile in triumph the moment he acquiesced. If he acquiesced. “It’s a very good organization, I can assure you, since I work with them.”

He hadn’t gotten a hard-nosed reputation for nothing. And she looked as though she could use a little shaking up, if her buttoned-up-tight persona gave any indication. What had happened to the fun girl he’d met on the beach that night long ago?

Lost in the staccato beat of the tapping pen, Max pretended to mull over her request.

“Must you keep doing that?”

The pen stopped midair.

“Doing what?”

She nodded toward the pen.

“Sorry.” The tapping may be bothering her, but her starchy condescension peeved him. Instead of saying yes, so he could get back to work, he decided to go another way. One that would give him long overdue satisfaction. “And you’ll be attending? As a bride?”

“Not as a bride.” Her eyes widened for a second before that less-than-confident smile slipped back into place. She tucked her hair behind her ear again. Great. Even her earlobes were cute. “As I said, I’m coordinating the event.”

“So, you’re not going?”

“I didn’t say that. It depends if my mother is back in town by then.”

He pondered his decision, purposely dragging out the minutes, before saying, “My answer is still no.”

“But what about security for the jewelry?”

“That I can do, but not as a groom.”

“My mother really wants you to do this. Think of it as a plug for your business. I can certainly do some publicity work for you that won’t give away your status during the event.”

“The job she hired me to do didn’t include groom duty.”

“It’s just a minor change. You’ll hardly be inconvenienced.”

“Unlike the night we met?”

She pursed her lips. The regret in her eyes said it all. And for some perverse reason, even though it shouldn’t matter now, he needed to know why she’d turned him in.

“It was confusing. Look, I also ended up in the back of a police car,” she told him, her voice tight and controlled. “Then sat at the police station for hours with you fuming and not speaking to me.”

“Really? You want to complain? Where did you go afterward?”

Her face colored again. “Home.”

“Right. I went off to juvenile detention. So I think you need to make that up to me.”

Her posture went all stiff. “How do you propose I do that?”

“I propose you accept that I will not be a groom. Not for the benefit. Not ever.”

Displeasure crossed her face. “I could ask someone else.”

He may have started out making demands for payback, but now he was just having fun. “You could, and you should. I’m out.”

She considered that for a second. He’d expected a snarky reply, but instead she said, “Fine. You’re right. You’re aren’t the groom type.”

“And you know that how?”

“By the fact that you’re being very disagreeable.”

“I’m sure there are lots of disagreeable grooms. Doesn’t make me a type.”

She frowned then asked, “Do you own a tux?”

“Never needed one.”

Her gaze dropped to his faded T-shirt. “Any formal attire?”

She gave him an assessing look, cringing over his less-than-designer jeans and faded T-shirt and boots, his usual stakeout attire, which he wore for the job he had scheduled for later this morning. Or maybe the stubble he’d failed to shave. Okay, so maybe he needed a haircut, but he’d been too busy to worry about it. Still, she didn’t have to look down that impertinent, freckled nose of hers.

He scrubbed a hand over his chin.

She had a standoffish look about her that rubbed him the wrong way. And the prissy way she perched on the chair, like she didn’t want to get her skirt wrinkled? Well, that toasted him, too.

It took a few seconds for him to respond. Poised on the tip of his tongue hovered “none of your business,” but how juvenile would that sound? “I have nice clothes. In fact, I just ordered work shirts with Sanders Security stitched on the front.”

She smirked at him, clearly thinking she had the upper hand.

“Right. Whatever. Look, I’ll be at the historical society offices tomorrow to test the system, and I’ll drop off a proposal for the security of the jewelry collection. Nothing more.”

Her lips tightened a fraction before she said, “That’s your final answer?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yep. Final answer.” He didn’t owe her more than that. He and Miss Prickly had nothing in common except a night on the beach that had ended before they’d had a chance to get started.

She stood. Something about her, a vulnerability she couldn’t disguise, made him think of the carefree girl he’d once met. It also managed to soften the hard edges of his heart.

“Thank you. The historical society appreciates your support.” She gathered her things and rushed out of his office, a waft of alluring perfume in her wake.

Max sat there for a moment, trying to ignore the twisting in his gut. Her walking through the door had caught him off guard. To be honest, he hadn’t thought about her in years. Even when he’d decided to return to Cypress Pointe, he’d had only a passing notion that he might run into her again. But this way? Because of a charity event?

Working for the historical society meant access to future clients, just by word of mouth alone. Cypress Pointe was a small town, after all. He’d make connections, secure a few more jobs. Positive. But the negative? Working with the new charity coordinator, a woman who happened to be from his past. A past he’d worked hard to overcome, although sometimes it felt as if he’d fallen short.

Sitting back in his chair, he realized that his life had taken a hard right turn when she’d walked into his office. No. Today’s visit had only ramped things up. Really, it’d started for him the night at the beach. The anger still simmered, but when he pictured her pretty face, a surprising spark of interest ignited.

No. No way. He had to put her out of his mind. They might be connected by this historical society project, but he didn’t have to like it.

CHAPTER TWO

OF ALL THE rotten luck.

Why did the one guy she needed to convince to attend the benefit end up being the guy she met on the beach twelve years ago? One night. One night she goes all crazy and sneaks out of the house, only to end up in police custody.

See, that’s what happens when you try to be something you’re not. You end up flirting with a cute boy who grows into an even more attractive man. At least now she was smart enough not to end up in a police car at the end of the night.

She hoped so, anyway.

She entered the historical society office, still shaking her head over her meeting with Max.

“How did it go, dear?” Mrs. Rumpold asked before Lilli made it all the way through the door.

“He refused.”

“Oh, no. Your mother won’t be happy.”

Yeah. Lilli already knew that.

“Didn’t you use your feminine charms to convince Max? It’s my experience that no man alive can resist a woman if she sends out the right signals.”

Okay. First, female charms had nothing to do with it. Max didn’t want to be a groom, as he’d so adamantly let her know. Now she had to figure out what to do, because knowing her mother, his refusal would definitely upset her well-organized life. Even, if she didn’t factor in the old anger at how that night had ended, he’d made it clear he would only attend Tie the Knot in a security capacity. She rubbed her temples.

And second, right signals? Lilli regarded the older woman with surprise. She hardly seemed the type of woman with...experiences. Not that Lilli would ask.

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking,” Mrs. Rumpold said. The historical society secretary had to be seventy if she was a day. “I may be a bit worn around the edges, but there are a few tried-and-true tricks to catch a man’s eye.” At least five inches shorter than Lilli and two times as wide with a halo of short, curly gray hair, there was clearly more to Mrs. Rumpold than met the eye.

“Mrs. Rumpold, what are you suggesting?”

“Please, call me Mrs. R.” The older woman gave a saucy grin, as if she were about to reveal some truly juicy secrets. “And I’m not suggesting anything. I’m saying. First of all, there’s the eye wink. Make sure you wear lots of mascara to make a statement. Next, the finger wave.” She demonstrated, and Lilli suppressed a groan.

“And the hair flip,” Mrs. R. continued. “Shows your fun, flirtatious side.” With a flick of the wrist she tossed her silvery curls. Since they were permed tight, not much happened, but Lilli got the idea.

“It works every time,” Mrs. R. intoned with sage wisdom.

Lilli held back a smile. Maybe in the nineteen-fifties, but not today. Today if she did that, people would think she had serious problems. And besides, she had no interest in catching a man’s eye right now.

“I can’t imagine any single men able to resist a lovely young woman such as you.”

Yeah, Lilli knew that by the oodles of men lined up at her door. Right now she only concentrated on her job. The promotion. The added headache of the charity event. She had enough on her plate—she didn’t need Max Sanders. He’d directed his smoky gaze at her once before, and she’d melted on the spot. Look where that had gotten her. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

But for a split second she’d wondered if he would find her attractive after all these years. Would he even want to flirt with her again? No. Not after the way she’d turned him in that night at the beach. She couldn’t change the past any more than he could, but his reaction when he’d recognized her said he definitely didn’t want anything to do with her.

“The display wedding dresses will be arriving this weekend.” Mrs. R. changed the subject as she rambled on. Her wrinkled face beamed with pleasure. “What a stroke of luck that you know the curator of the vintage collection. I’m sure you can’t wait to see the how they look.”

Actually, wedding dresses weren’t high on her priority list at that moment in time. Hard to get excited when she’d been dumped the night before her wedding, not to mention that she wasn’t even dating at the moment.

Mrs. R. jabbered on. “They will be exhibited here all spring and summer. We were so fortunate to get vintage gowns from the private collection of Renata Ogilvy. What a boost for the society. Your mother pulled out the stops this year.”

“Yes, she did,” Lilli agreed, more overwhelmed than impressed. But then, her mother often rubbed elbows with high-profile people like Renata, a retired fashion designer who had set the New York fashion scene on fire during her heyday.

Even though her mother knew the designer, Lilli had a connection to the curator, Gabrielle, an old friend from college. When her mother first thought up the wedding show, she’d batted around some ideas with Lilli. Since Lilli kept in touch with Gab and knew she worked for Renata, she offered to get in touch. After a few calls, Lilli got the go-ahead to showcase priceless vintage gowns, Renata’s own along with other famous designers’, from Renata’s private collection. She’d thought that would be the end of her involvement with the benefit. Until her mother had left town.

“Oh, before I forget.” Mrs. R. thrust a full-to-overflowing accordion folder at Lilli, who barely caught it, glossy photos spilling onto the already messy desk. As she gathered them together, a flurry of lace and satin bridal designs dredged up an interest she refused to acknowledge. “Keep the file so you can give it a look-see. You’ll need the pictures when you write up the fashion show fliers and program.”

“When I what?”

“Your mother didn’t get that far before she left on her emergency, so you’ll have to do it. It’s all right there on the list.” The older woman tapped the paper she’d clipped to the side of the file. “You already do that for your day job, don’t you?”

She nodded. Lilli did media research on products and wrote up reports, sometimes put together descriptive brochures or information booklets for clients and worked to find ways to best promote her clients. Besides being involved through her contact with Gab and the designer gowns, she’d done some of the publicity for Tie the Knot at her mother’s request, playing up the charity and the chance to view one-of-a-kind wedding gowns and exquisite jewelry.

“There are also ideas for the reception decorations in there. You know, flowers and doodads that make up the whole wedding experience.”

“I have to plan a mock reception, too?”

“Oh, yes,” Mrs. R. nodded.

Please. Like she wanted to do that all over again.

“Some of the ladies have opinions, but your mother has been cutting ideas out of magazines for months now.” Mrs. R. leaned closer to Lilli, her tone conspiratorial. “A word of warning—Marisa Vandermere wanted to fill in as coordinator, but your mother turned her down. She’s not happy about that. She’ll most likely think she’s still in charge, because, well, she’s Marisa. Don’t let her railroad you. We’re on a tight schedule. The benefit is less than three weeks away.” Mrs. R. nodded at the file. “Everything you need to complete the fashion show is in the file.”

Great. She had to coordinate dresses, write fliers and plan an entire reception in just three weeks while trying to get a promotion at work. Now she had to work with her childhood nemesis, as well?

What have you gotten me into, Mom?

Lilli closed her eyes. She couldn’t renege now, not when her mother needed her. Just as Lilli had needed Celeste the night of the rehearsal dinner, doing damage control and canceling the wedding after Lilli fled the scene, demoralized beyond words. Yes, her mother had come through for her when Lilli needed her most. So she’d do the same as stand-in coordinator. Once the entire event ended, she’d go back to focusing entirely on her job.

With a sigh Lilli glanced at her watch. Just past ten. Her boss had given her this morning to deal with historical society business, but he wouldn’t be too pleased if she screwed up the Canine Candy presentation for the Natural Puppy account.

“Is there anything else, Mrs. Rumpold?”

“Mr. Sanders will be here tomorrow to test the security system. I’m assuming he told you.”

“He did. I can’t be here, but he is going to drop off a proposal I’ll need to read.” She couldn’t afford to take more time off. And, she admitted, she didn’t want to be around Max unless absolutely necessary.

Coward. Yeah, there was that, too.

Mrs. R.’s face went all dreamy. “I’ll make sure he leaves it here.”

Lilli blinked, then hid a smile. Someone had a crush.

“And don’t forget the event committee meeting. Nine o’clock Saturday morning. At the club.”

Of course. The club. She’d stayed far away from that place, hoping distance would dilute the miserable memories of the night Rob had dumped her. Time had anesthetized her heart, but her mind still carried the images as if they’d occurred yesterday.

“I’ll be there” she replied glumly, before escaping to work.

* * ** * *

AFTER MRS. R. DROPPED the news that she’d be planning the mock reception, Lilli sat in her car, staring at the file. More documents to add to the already overflowing files her mother had provided. She needed to get a huge tote bag to hold all this stuff. Sighing, she dug her mother’s files from her purse to place in the passenger seat until she had a chance to get a bigger bag. As she moved them, the top folder flipped open, revealing a newspaper article. Curious, Lilli started to read.

The article—eleven years old, she noted—from the Cypress Pointe Weekly, announced Max Sanders’s admission into the navy. Her gaze moved over the picture. Tall and lean, with short dark hair and austere features, a very masculine Max Sanders filled out his uniform. His stern expression said, “Don’t mess with me.”

And she had.

She slapped the file shut.

The guy still got to her, although she couldn’t say why. Then or now.

When she’d met him that night at the beach, he’d spelled trouble. The long, shaggy hair and cocky attitude had been the first sign. But when he focused on her, with that lopsided grin and those intense gray eyes, he’d had her. She’d ignored the warning bells clamoring in her head. She’d always been the good girl, the one who’d gotten straight A’s and never made her parents miserable. She’d already had her goals set out, knew which college she would attend.

That evening long ago, her parents had gotten into the worst argument ever, and per standard operating procedure, had drawn her into the middle, the convenient pawn in their troubled game. This was the first time divorce had come up in the conversation. As much as she had anticipated a split between them, it had still rocked her world. Disgusted and angry at the situation her parents had put themselves and her in, Lilli hadn’t thought twice when her friend Nealy had called to see if she wanted to sneak down to the beach.

She hadn’t known what to expect, since she’d never done anything like that before. Then Max walked by and the earth shifted. He stopped to talk to Nealy and the guy she’d come to hang out with. Then he glanced at Lilli. Their eyes met. Her stomach tilted and tipped. A slow smile spread over his lips, and he made his way over. Her inner flirt, which she didn’t even know existed, materialized. They bantered and teased. For the first time in her life, Lilli felt powerful and in control.

And when he kissed her? Let’s just say she’d experienced a little bit of heaven.

Lilli frowned down at the folder. This time her stomach burned with regret. Never in her wildest imagination had she thought she’d ever run into Max again. And when she did? He still held a grudge.

Against her better judgment, she opened the file to stare down at his photo again.

The young man in the picture had matured from the teen she remembered. The uniform and serious expression threw her off, because she still recalled him as the cocky guy who’d swept her off her feet. After years of hanging around country-club boys, she’d found Max’s bad-boy vibe very exciting and had fallen for his charm.

When the group of boys decided to throw firecrackers, which were illegal on the public beach, into the bonfire, her excitement level skyrocketed. Why had she missed out on all this fun? Her parents didn’t care about her. Why should she care about them? She had the attention of a cute guy and she’d never felt more alive.

Soon, firecrackers progressed to cherry bombs, with a few bottle rockets thrown into the mix. It wasn’t until she sat in the squad car, with the police chief calling her parents, that reality set in. Some wild girl she’d turned out to be.

After that night, especially when she’d been sent away to a new school, she’d had time to think. Her walk on the wild side had been reckless and breathtaking, but not practical. Not for the girl who made lists, planned out her future with exacting care, never expecting anything less than accomplishing it all. So she’d reverted back to dating the type of guys she knew were safe and drama-free.

She may not have seen Max again, but in the very depths of her soul, she never forgot him or the excitement of that night. And always wished she hadn’t told the police chief that Max was involved.

She closed the folder and started the car. Already late for work, she needed to get her mind on more serious matters. She drove to the office, thinking about the adult Max.

His choice of office dress was downright appalling, as if he’d thrown the idea of professionalism out the door. But she had gotten a whiff of his tangy cologne, which had affected her more than she cared to admit. And the way he’d needled her? She wanted to...to...scream.

She parked and hurried into the building, more than ready to get back to her desk and finalize her workload. An hour passed, and she should have been focused on the dog food account, but her mind kept going back to Max and their meeting in his office. He’d come across as annoying and rude. A pain in her...shoulder?

A constant poking brought her out of her snit.

“Earth to Lilli.”

Lilli shook her head to clear the images of Max superimposed over the graphics on her computer screen. “What?”

She blinked, having forgotten she sat at her work desk or that the intern’s current choice of hair color was a deep plum with streaks of pink. The outrageous do framed large hazel eyes and brought out the natural blush on the girl’s cheeks. With her wild hair, fun personality and desire to work hard, Jewel had become a welcome addition to the KLC family. Also a good friend.

At the lowest point in her life, Lilli only left her apartment to go to work, until her mother threatened to come over to cheer her up. Not happening. So she’d thrown on an oversize T-shirt, baggy shorts and flip-flops to wander downtown, window shopping to get her mind off the sad state of her life.

She hadn’t liked the lack of direction in her life, but couldn’t seem to drag herself out of her funk. The scent of freshly brewed coffee had snagged her attention as she passed Cuppa Joe, so she’d ventured in. After placing her order, she’d taken a seat on the couch located in the corner just as Jewel breezed in. Before Lilli knew it, Jewel had engaged her in conversation and somehow managed to drag Lilli, kicking and screaming, back into the real world. For that, Lilli would be forever grateful.

After the horrible night when Rob left her, she’d questioned herself and her decisions. She knew he’d have preferred she stay home rather than work. He’d wanted someone to take care of him and had seen her job as competition. They’d had a few arguments about her quitting, but she’d attributed that to the wedding stress as the date drew near. The night of the wedding rehearsal, he told her the truth. The excuses about her working were a ruse. He didn’t know what he wanted out of life, but knew he didn’t want to get married. At least, not to her. It had taken her two-point-five seconds to realize she couldn’t marry him, either. She’d finally found her identity after years of hiding in her parents’ shadows. Finally found peace with who she had become. She wasn’t going to give that up for any man.

If she did ever manage to fall in love, the man would have to prove to her, without a shadow of a doubt, that she came first in his life. Until then, her job gave her purpose, and when she’d found out about the promotion, she’d gone all-out after it.

The poking stopped. “You’ve been out of it all morning,” Jewel said. “Ever since you got back from your meeting. How about we take a break? Go get some lunch?”

“It’s lunch time already?” Lilli frowned. “I should skip. I haven’t gotten much done, and Jim needs my report by the end of the day. He’s finally on board with me going for the promotion and I can’t blow it. Not with Nate after the same job.”

And she wouldn’t. She had all the qualities to make a good account executive.

She had a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She was calm under pressure. Being well-organized and self-motivated was a plus when hunting for new clients. She communicated with skill, although her mother might argue that fact since Lilli couldn’t get Max to volunteer as a groom. And lastly, she worked well with others. A team player. Until she got placed on her mother’s team, apparently.

“What’s up with you, anyway? You’ve been here in body, but your mind is elsewhere.”

“Hmm? Oh, I have a lot of things to think about.” Like brides and grooms and handsome private-security consultants, to name a few.

“Your mom’s project?”

“For one. She’s got this list and committees and...way too much for me to handle while working full time. Did you know my mom has a volunteer committee working for her? Working for her! And still she wants me to handle all the little details. Has she ever heard of delegation?”

Jewel’s perfectly arched brow rose.

“Her lists are so detailed she must have spent hours putting them together. I have to admit, they’re almost better than mine, and that’s saying a lot. After seeing what she has in store for this show, I realize handling all this is a big deal.” Blowing out a breath, she rested her chin on her upraised hand, sure she conjured up a picture of pure dejection. “Can I run a fashion show and go after that promotion without messing up? Especially when there are others in the office after it, too?”

“If anyone can do this, you can. The timing is perfect. It’s been a year since, well, never mind. Look at this as your get-out-of-the-rut card.”

Lilli laughed. “I hadn’t looked at it that way.”

“You should. And it’s my job, as your friend, to be there for you. You know, to remind you to get out and have a life. To meet guys. Although I have to admit, you’ve been too picky in the men department, but I’ll keep on trying.”

“Along with my mother,” Lilli said dryly.

“Well, you’re not easy to work with. All guys aren’t like Rob. If you’d give someone a chance you’d find out.”

Yeah, her head knew that, but her heart hadn’t made the leap—witness the wave of unwelcome memories plaguing her this morning. She realized she didn’t want to go down that road again. Not if the ache in her stomach that had started at the mention of the country club became a permanent ailment. Eventually she’d have to step into that place, but not right this moment. Steering the conversation back to the present, Lilli told her friend, “You know, just for spite, I should make you help me out.”

A flash of surprise lit Jewel’s eyes, then a slow grin spread across her magenta lips. “This could work, you know. I do have an eye for fashion.”

Lilli scrutinized the bohemian outfit of layered black and fuchsia tank tops matched with a flippy cotton skirt and sparkly sandals before glancing down at her own conservative outfit. What had happened to her sense of style? Standard blouse and skirt. Blend into the wall, why don’t you?

“Hey, we all can’t dress like we walked out of Vogue.”

She loved her young friend. Jewel’s fashion sense? Not always. But right now, her own wardrobe needed a major overhaul, so who was she to balk?

“I was thinking more of you helping me here, in case I get behind or if Jim starts piling on the work.” She flashed a pleading smile. “Please?”

Jewel laughed. “I can do that—as long as I get a shot at working the benefit.”

Lilli thought about it for a few seconds, glancing at the file folder sitting on her desk. Getting Jewel to help might not be a bad idea. She nodded to the file. “There are all kinds of reception pictures in there. Why don’t you take a look and put together some ideas for me?”

Jewel’s eyes lit up. “You’d trust me to do that? I’m still an intern here.”

“An intern who is about to be hired on as staff. You’ve proved yourself. Enough said. There’s already a committee set up to do whatever I need, but give me some ideas and we’ll go from there.”

“I still can’t believe Jim decided to hire me.” Jewel grabbed the large file, hugging it to her chest. “And now this. Thanks.”

“Well, that’s two jobs down for today. Since I bombed on the first one, knowing you’ll help has lessened my anxiety level.”

“Two?” Jewel asked as she took a seat and explored the file.

“I’d hoped to get my number-one priority out of the way this morning.”

“You mean getting your mother’s stuff from the historical society?”

“Yes and no. I got the lists, but first I was supposed to talk Max Sanders into volunteering as one of the grooms.”

Jewel’s head popped up and her eyes grew wide. “Max Sanders? The hunky new P.I.?”

“Private security consultant,” Lilli corrected.

“You know him?”

Boy, did she know him. She wasn’t ready to fill Jewel in on the details. She still needed to process the events of the morning.

When Lilli didn’t respond, Jewel continued. “I met him at Cuppa Joe last week. You know me—never met a stranger.”

Or a prospective date for Lilli. “You didn’t mention him.”

Jewel bent her head, busy searching the file. “Guess it slipped my mind.”

Hardly. Good-looking guys never slipped Jewel’s mind.

“Is there something wrong?”

Jewel’s head jerked up again. “No! Why would you ask that?”

“Because you didn’t try to introduce us.”

A few beats passed before a knowing grin flashed across Jewel’s face. “You’re interested in him.”

“I didn’t say that.” Nor would she ever admit it because that would lead to heartache. She didn’t do heartache anymore.

“You’ve never asked me about a guy before.”

Lilli shrugged. “I kind of have to work with him for the fund-raiser. I’m curious.”

“So am I. Now.” Jewel dragged her chair to Lilli’s desk. “Details.”

“My mother wanted me to confirm Max as a volunteer groom. That’s all.”

“And...?”

“He refused. I used my strong powers of persuasion, and he still turned me down.”

Jewel eyed her with skepticism.

“Okay, so my mother hired him to update the security system at the historical society office and provide security for the obscenely expensive jewelry she insists on showcasing at the benefit. But even if he hadn’t already signed up to work for my mother, I was still persuasive.”

Sure you were. Right up until he all but said you should take a hike.

He wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of being part of the fashion show. She couldn’t blame him. She wouldn’t want to model in front of all those people, either. Her mother hadn’t gone as far as asking her to participate as one of the brides. Lilli would have refused. Wearing a wedding dress again would make the memories all too real.

But Max could look at this as a working gig. A great way to gain clients. So why turn down the opportunity? He may have been a bad boy years ago, but it looked as if he’d cleaned up his act and become responsible. She could give his business a boost by promoting Sanders Security around town, the least she could do for causing him trouble all those years ago.

She grinned when she remembered his appalled expression at the mention of wearing a tuxedo. It had been worth the visit to his office to see the look on his face. And when they shook hands... She shivered in memory. She couldn’t deny the thrill when those smoky gray eyes focused on her alone. His clean-scented cologne and the promise of excitement hung in the air between them. She’d been mesmerized. And alarmed at her strong reaction to the man. The rugged tough-guy thing? Too much. So not Orlando Bloom. So not her type.

Maybe he should be, an impish voice taunted her.

Lilli caught Jewel grinning at her. “What are you smiling at?”

“Nothing.”

Riiight.

“So, as of right now, phase one of mission ‘Return Favor to Celeste Barclay’ is a failure.”

“You’ll just have to come up with a better plan.”

“Like what?” Lilli asked.

“I have no idea. That’s your department.”

Lilli thought back to their conversation. “He was adamant about not being a groom. I wonder if the vision of him and all those brides locked in one room made him nervous?” She paused a beat. “Oh, wait, that’s my nightmare.”

Jewel chuckled. “So, what’s he like?” she asked, scooting closer to Lilli’s desk so she could settle in to hear all the dirt. “I only got a few minutes in Cuppa Joe with him. Not a chatty guy. More interested in getting his morning coffee and heading out the door.” Lilli knew perfectly well her friend wouldn’t budge until she had her fill of information. “A real bad boy, right?”

“How would I know?” But yeah, a bad boy. She’d known that the first time she’d laid eyes on him. Today’s meeting only confirmed her first impression. Because of that, she had a hard time loosening up around him and probably came off sounding very starchy. But he just oozed masculinity. Did he have to be so good-looking? And smell so good? Exceptionally good. When their gazes had connected over the desktop, she’d had to ignore the urge to ask what he’d done with his life since the summer they’d met.

Jewel continued. “So, we know he’s gorgeous—”

Yeah, that, too.

“—if you like that kind.” Jewel eyed her with suspicion.

“What kind?” Lilli had lost track of the thread of conversation.

“Tall, built, alpha attitude?”

Oh, yeah. All those things.

“You got all this at a coffee shop?” Lilli asked, busying herself with papers on her desk, hoping to hide her sappy smile.

“It’s the vibe he sends out. Can’t miss it.” Jewel watched Lilli tidy up. “So that’s why you haven’t gotten any work done.”

“Huh?”

“And you’ve got the look.”

“What look?”

“Interested.”

“No way.” Did she? She hadn’t been dwelling on him all morning, just snatches of time here and there. “And I can prove he’s not my type. Not only did his clothing leave something to be desire—”

“What was he wearing?”

“What was he what?”

“Wearing? Obviously it bothers you.”

“I don’t know. Faded jeans. Tight black T-shirt. Five-o’clock shadow first thing in the morning.”

Jewels eyebrows arched. “I didn’t know shaving qualified as a fashion accessory.”

“It’s just unprofessional.”

“He’s a private investigator.” Jewel threw her a look. “The last thing he wants to do is stick out in a crowd.”

“I guess.” Lilli pursed her lips, exasperated by her friend’s interrogation. Cringing, she hoped she hadn’t come across as uptight with Max, but she was very afraid she had. “Then explain this. When we were in his office, I noticed a wall calendar. Penciled in every Saturday is a woman’s name. A different woman’s name. Cards with Terri. The gazebo with Margaret. Drive with Carolyn.”

“Which means what?”

“I don’t know. He’s a player?”

Jewel laughed.

“What?”

“That sounds so funny coming from you.”

“Hey, I can be hip if I want to.”

Jewel continued laughing. “Keep telling yourself that, but I know better.”

“You know I don’t go out with guys like him.” Even to herself Lilli sounded uppity.

“Problem is, you don’t go out at all,” Jewel muttered, then flushed at Lilli’s hurt expression. “I’m sorry. I call ’em like I see ’em. And you’ve got Max on the brain.” Jewel placed the wedding file back on the desk. “Let’s go eat. You need a break from all this charity-event talk and I want to check out the new place downtown, Pointe Café.”

Lilli glanced at her computer screen again, knowing she wouldn’t get any more work done. Max Sanders had captured her thoughts, thanks to Jewel’s prodding. She needed a change of scenery. After saving her work, she stood. “Let’s go.”

Lilli grabbed her purse, knocking over the accordion file Mrs. Rumpold had given her earlier. Wedding gown photos spilled to the floor. Exasperated, Lilli knelt down to collect the pictures, her eye catching on an image of a beautiful gown. The white strapless creation hugged the model’s body before flaring out in an embroidered trumpet skirt and train.

“Coming?” Jewel called.

“Be right there.” She took one last look at the gown before scooping up the remaining pictures, securely placing them in the file and out of her sight before her resolve to stay unaffected by weddings unraveled.

CHAPTER THREE

MAX HELD THE PRINTOUT with the particulars of the Wingate collection in his hand. He perused the information, realizing this collection was not just fancy jewelry. The pieces, which showcased several diamonds and sapphires, were more like artwork, he noted. His eyebrows rose when he saw the estimated value of the collection. Unbelievable. Why on earth would Clare Wingate loan her collection to a friend? Benefit or not? Thankfully, the collection had full insurance coverage. That lowered his heart rate some.

He’d do everything in his power to keep the collection safe, but couldn’t deny he’d be glad when the pieces were returned to their owner.

Tossing the fax onto his desk, Max leaned back in his chair and stacked his bootheels on the windowsill, taking a moment to contemplate the scene from his office window. From here, he had an unimpeded view of the beach and the Gulf waters. If he’d realized all the stress that went into starting his own security firm, he might have had second thoughts. He’d loved police work, being something of an adrenaline junkie, but when word of his grandmother’s bad heart had reached him he decided to come back to Florida.

Laverne Sanders had raised him after his father died and his mother couldn’t deal with a son who tended to get into mischief. He grinned. His grandmother’s kind description of his actions. Most people had plain-out called him trouble.

His old friend and mentor, the town police chief, called to inform Max that he’d assisted Gram after a fainting spell in the produce section of Winn Dixie. Apparently she’d been dealing with some health issues and hadn’t told Max because she didn’t want to worry him. He also found out her finances were a mess, so he came home to pitch in and help, whether she wanted him to or not. Each was all the family the other had. She’d always been rock solid for him, now he would take care of her.

Another reason to make sure his business became successful here in Cypress Pointe. Folks of this fine town might remember him as a hoodlum, but Gram knew better. The burden of proving he’d changed would be tough, but he’d always liked a good challenge.

She’d be miffed when she found out he’d turned down the groom position for the charity function, since she’d been telling him he needed to get out and meet people. Women people, to be exact.

Right now he had to concentrate on his security business. The longer he was in town, the more he realized the need here. And he would make himself indispensable. Even if it means volunteering for the wedding fashion show? The thought made him shudder, until one particular bewitching redhead came to mind.

Max had to admit, working undercover might be his only option to guard both the jewelry collection and the vintage gowns, but he wouldn’t give in easily. He ran a hand through his hair and drank the last of his coffee. Gone stone-cold again, along with his mood. The more he thought about Miss Barclay—which he’d done pretty much nonstop since she’d waltzed into his office, dragging the past with her—the more he vowed to prove himself to the folks of Cypress Pointe. He rose and walked to the outer office to get another mug of coffee just as Blanche breezed through the door.

“I’m back, boss.”

“I could have used you about two hours ago.”

“Why?”

“I had a visitor try to talk me into volunteering as a groom at that charity function.”

She stopped just inside the threshold, closing the door behind her. The middle-aged control freak with short, spiky blond hair regarded him with an amused tilt of her lips as he explained Miss Barclay’s visit. “I’m gone for the morning, and this place falls apart.”

“You don’t even know the half of it.” He told her how he turned Lilli down flat. “She pretty much ran out of here.”

“After such a heartfelt refusal? What a shocker.”

Max scowled at his secretary, not missing the sarcasm in her tone.

“Hey, I agreed to security. Nothing more.”

“Even if it means spending time with a pretty, young, single woman?”

“How do you know all that?”

“Please, you’ve forgotten that this is a small town.” Blanche grinned. “Remind me never to leave you alone again.”

He scowled at her.

She shook her head as she crossed the room to her desk. “Really, though, you should take advantage of these events. Look at it more as a business opportunity and less as getting wrangled to volunteer for Celeste.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Max, you were under the mistaken belief that you can say no to this event. I know those historical society ladies. They’re going to figure out a way to con you into volunteering, and they won’t stop until you give in. And the chief warned you. Celeste Barclay expects results.”

“She didn’t ask me. Her daughter did.”

Blanche shrugged. “Doesn’t matter who did the asking. It’s town tradition to volunteer and we all know what happens when you buck tradition.”

“I don’t.”

“You don’t get any business. Trust me on this.”

“Like I have time for ridiculous stuff like escorting fake brides down the country club aisle,” he grumbled. “I’m going to be working that night.”

Blanche ignored him. “Think of Jake Riley and the animals at the shelter. How would he feel if you refused?”

He stared at her. “He’s a dog. He doesn’t care.”

“Honey, there’s just some things that are implied and this is one of them.”

Shaking his head, he raised an eyebrow at the petite, bossy secretary. “This is crazy.”

“This is Cypress Pointe.”

No matter what he decided, this had all the signs of a disaster in the making.

Blanche crossed her arms over her chest. “Sorry, Max. You’ll have to go.”

The finality in her words made him cringe. She wasn’t sorry. Not in the least.

“Okay, but I don’t have to tell her right away.”

Blanche shook her head in resignation at her boss’s stubbornness.

Refusing to talk about it any longer, he handed her his mug in defeat. “More coffee?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

He returned to his office and sank into the chair, closing his eyes to once again picture Miss Barclay with her cool smile and cooler eyes. Dressed in something that reminded him of the shade of summertime. A summer that had changed his life.

He couldn’t back down. Not so quickly. He may still have trust issues with the woman—okay, major trust issues—but dressing up as a groom? He shuddered.

He glanced at the wall clock and jumped up when he saw the time. Grabbing the tools of the trade he needed to go undercover, he sprinted through the office. “Gotta take care of that surveillance case.”

Blanche held up his mug. “What about your coffee?”

“Hang on to it until later.” He stopped and stared her down. “And please don’t volunteer me for anything before I get back.”

Blanche chuckled. “Sure. And you keep your mind on the job and off a particular pretty woman.”

Easier said than done. Max hurried down the stairs and stepped into the late-morning sun.

* * ** * *

ONE MORE MOVE, BART. Then you’re mine.

Max folded the newspaper he’d been pretending to read, placing it on the bench beside him, his eyes never once leaving his quarry. Muscles tense, he waited patiently. Bad Bart, the town pickpocket, was about to mess up. Max could feel it in his bones. And when he did, Max would catch it all on tape.

“C’mon. Just do it,” Max muttered under his breath while he waited for Bart to relieve his unsuspecting victim of his belongings.

If anyone had told Max that small-town life held as much drama as the big city of Atlanta where he had worked as a detective, he wouldn’t have believed them. He’d been involved in undercover stakeouts in the most dangerous sections of the city, where he didn’t dare take his hand off his firearm for safety’s sake. He’d dealt with demanding bosses, low-life criminals and every type of perp who claimed he didn’t do it. He’d taken it all in stride, until two cases, coming on the tail of each other, made him rethink his career.

He’d been called to assist a multiple homicide. A mother and her two sons. Victims of domestic abuse. Max hated family violence. Long estranged from his mother, he couldn’t help but think he could have ended up like one of those boys had fate not intervened.

Max had been on hand for many of the calls to the apartment. He’d always hoped the mother would leave the guy, for the boys’ sakes as well as her own. He’d encouraged the brothers to help their mother leave and had struck up a tentative friendship with them. From time to time, he stopped by the park near their building to watch them play baseball.

The mother finally decided to leave her boyfriend after he’d managed to mess her up pretty badly, and not just her that time. Once the guy went after one of her boys, she’d wanted out. Thinking he’d be gone all day at work, she’d gathered the boys and their few belongings. She’d made it as far as the car when her boyfriend came home unexpectedly. He went into a rage and shot them all, including himself.

The next case had hit even closer to home. A teen with an already growing record had stolen from his neighborhood convenience store and been caught on tape. Max and his partner went to the teen’s apartment, only to find him arguing with his mother. She told Max to take the kid away. She was done worrying about him. Hadn’t Max heard those same words, only from his own mother? Too many times to count.

They’d taken the kid to the station and booked him. As he always did, Max talked to the teenager, hoping he could get the kid to see the error of his ways. He never knew if he reached any of the young people he spoke to, but he hoped they would listen. Max visited the boy a few times, thinking he’d made some headway. Then, shortly after, Max learned that while in lockup the boy had been killed in a gang attack.

Max’s story had played out differently after he came home from juvenile detention. His mother had packed up and gone, leaving Max homeless. If not for his grandmother, who knew where he might be today? In jail? Or worse, like the teen he’d tried to help?

Max had wondered what he could have done differently to help the boys in both instances. Logically, he knew he couldn’t have done more. Still, the memories had haunted him enough that he knew he had to leave the city. That’s when he’d begun thinking about starting his own security business.

Life in Cypress Pointe promised to be calm, serene, even. Getting the security business up and running would take time, but he was eager to get going. Until Bad Bart.

Cliché? You bet. Bad Bart Bradbury had named himself and the nickname stuck. Pickpocket Bart was more appropriate.

He was a thorn in the side of the Cypress Pointe Merchants Association, Max’s current client. They wanted this scourge of society off the streets. When Max heard this description, he wondered what kind of menace terrorized the streets and why on earth his grandmother hadn’t warned him about the criminal element. Then he’d gotten his first glimpse of Bart. A scourge? Far from it. Slippery? Oh, yeah. But Max hadn’t met a criminal he couldn’t capture and bring to justice.

Determined to close the case file today, Max sported his new spy-cam sunglasses. A perk in his line of work. He loved playing with high-tech gadgets. When Bart proved to be a worthy adversary, Max had purchased the surveillance kit. With the camera mounted on his belt, he resembled another tourist jamming to an MP3 player when he was actually recording Bart’s movements. When Bart slipped up—and he would—the proof would be given to the association, his job done and a check sent to him in the mail.

Max regarded his subject, shaking his head. A nice enough kid, Bart worked as a busboy on the breakfast shift in a downtown restaurant. Five-eight, shaggy hair, maybe all of nineteen. Somewhere along the way he’d grown tired of his ho-hum life and decided picking pockets made him the center of attention in an invisible life. He didn’t keep the money or the items he pilfered—a wallet here, a cell phone there. Max knew the items “anonymously” appeared on the counter at the police station before anyone could nab Bart. He just wanted people to acknowledge him.

Maybe he needed a girlfriend.

Or an hour with Max’s grandmother. Laverne would fuss over him, urge him to stop his pickpocket ways and turn his life around. She’d given Max a talking to on more occasions than he cared to remember, and when he’d thought he’d burned his last bridge with her, he’d finally listened.

Squinting against the bright April sun, Max focused on Bart as he headed toward the new eatery in town. Max had observed that Bart finished his shift in the early afternoon, then mingled with the tourists who were out in large numbers looking for a place to eat or shop. Instead of following a mark, which was his normal M.O., today Bart waved at two women as they turned the corner to join him on the sidewalk. Max’s eyes narrowed and surprise kicked through him. No way. Miss Charity Coordinator herself.

He shook his head, not sure if he should growl or groan. Not wanting his quarry to escape without getting the action on tape, Max jumped up from the bench. With a determined stride, he crossed the pavement, edging closer to what he hoped would be the end of this assignment. So far, Bart’s elusiveness had proved to be a wrinkle in his plans. Max was so close to catching Bart. He couldn’t let Lilli Barclay interfere with his goal.

Oh, yeah, he’d remembered her name once the shock of seeing her had worn off. Then he’d dug around for more. What kind of self-respecting security consultant would he be otherwise? He’d called the historical society office. The lady answering the phone had told Max everything he wanted to know, from Lilli’s family, to where she worked and what coffee shop she frequented. Like he needed to know her coffee preference. But at this point, gaining the upper hand in every situation was the name of the game. And this pretty, pesky society babe constituted a situation.

Now he had to deal with her again, in a most inconvenient scenario.

Weaving through the tourists milling around the shop windows, Max focused on his target, stealthily moving closer, working hard to keep his distracted gaze from resting on Lilli. What was wrong with him? He loved this part of the action. The takedown. The adrenaline. But with her nearby, he found it impossible to concentrate.

Zooming the lens in closer to catch everything on tape, he saw Bart chatting with the two women as if they were all old friends. What was the guy up to? Putting his mark at ease so he could steal a purse when least expected? Could Lilli be his intended mark? He experienced an unexpected wave of protectiveness toward her.

Only Bart didn’t do anything. He stood with his hands at his sides, in the open, talking to a young woman with...pink streaks in her hair? Lilli stood beside them, listening to their conversation, her eyes going wide when she spied Max. He held one finger up to his lips. She barely nodded before turning her attention back to Bart.

Relieved she understood his signal, Max walked right past them, ducking into the first open door he found. He scanned the store, recognizing the cluttered gift shop as Milly’s Gifts and Things. A tourist haven, but a bad place to hide.

He strode to the large storefront window to continue his surveillance. Watching. Waiting for Bart to do something incriminating. But Bart just continued to talk. Max’s blood pressure spiked every time Lilli sent worried glances around her. She had no way of knowing she stood with his quarry.

Please don’t give me away.

“You need something, hon?” a cheerful voice asked behind him.

He glanced over his shoulder at a woman smiling at him. “No, just browsing,” he told her, turning back to peer out the window, trying to see through the array of dream catchers and crystal pendants reflecting the bright sunlight.

“Can’t do a good job of it if you’re looking outside,” she told him. “If you’d give me an idea of what you’re looking for, I’d be more than happy to help you find it.”

He turned to face the proprietress, an ample woman with her hands on her hips. He didn’t need this attention right now. He sidled to the exit, apologizing to the woman. “Uh, wrong store. Sorry. I’ll be leaving.”

Stepping out the door to the sidewalk, Max came face-to-face with Lilli. She opened her mouth to speak but he clamped a hand on her arm to lead her away and explain the situation. Her eyes rounded and a clip dropped from her thick hair, leaving it to fall around her face.

He leaned down, his mouth close to her ear. “Now is not a good time to talk. I’m working.” He couldn’t afford an obstacle. Especially an attractive one.

She frowned up at him, pushing her hair from her eyes. “Working?”

“Undercover,” he said, glancing over her shoulder. Bart still stood engrossed in conversation, unaware of the surveillance focused on him.

Her eyes grew wider. “Who are you after?”

“I can’t say,” Max said, still holding Lilli close.

His fingers brushed over the soft skin at the edges of her short-sleeved blouse. She hadn’t pulled away yet, her gaze still locked with his. All over again he felt the heady rush he’d experienced that night at the beach when she’d looked up at him with those wide, gorgeous eyes. The light from the bonfire had cast a shimmering glow over her face and he’d been sucker-punched right then and there.

He blinked away the memory and the dizzying connection between them broke. With reluctance, Max loosened his grip. A light blush covered her cheekbones and she fussed with her hair, moving back to put some distance between them.

Max bent down to retrieve her hair clip, his line of vision to Bart broken. He straightened and held the clip out of reach. “Here you go, Lilli.” He grinned. “Yeah. I remember.”

She snatched the clip from him. “Thanks.”

As Max looked around her again, he noticed the young woman with Bart peering in their direction.

She turned, following his line of vision before a surprised gasp escaped her. “You’re following Bart?”

“Shh.”

“What do you think he’s going to do?”

“Right now I’m worried about what he’s not going to do.”

“And that is?”

“Commit a crime.”

“Oh, please.” She snorted. “Bart?”

“He’s a criminal.”

“Well, clearly you don’t know him.”

His sharp gaze pierced hers. A mistake. Her beguiling eyes held him captive. A sea green the same striking shade found in the calm Gulf waters bordering Cypress Pointe. His breath left him in a rush as he tried to cover his reaction. “And you do?”

“Sure. Everyone does. This is a small town.”

How had he lost control of this situation? The green-eyed siren had to be the cause. “Here’s the deal. I have a job to do here. So please go back to whatever you were doing and forget you saw me.”

Jostled by a passing couple, Lilli’s purse slid down her arm. As she grabbed for it, Max caught hold of the strap at the same time. Their fingers touched and the same dizzying jolt from moments before zapped him again. She must have felt it, too, because her eyes grew wide and she shuddered, taking a step back. He still held his hand out toward her. “I was trying to help.”

She hugged her purse close to her midsection. “I’m fine.”

He lowered his arm. Shoppers passed them, oblivious to his plight. Another tourist brushed by Lilli and she moved out of the way, closing the distance between them again, distance he needed so Bart wouldn’t notice him. “You’re missing the whole concept of undercover,” he told her.

“Then enlighten me.”

“Maybe when I have more time.” Max moved toward the gift store, hoping to blend in with the crowd. He noticed the shop woman watching them through the window before she turned away. So much for going unnoticed.

“Please, go back to your friend and forget I’m here.”

“It’s too late,” Lilli informed him.

Before Max had a chance to slip away unnoticed, Bart and the other woman joined them. If Bart suspected anything fishy, he didn’t show it, beguiled by his smiling companion.

“Hey, Lilli, is that who I think it is?”

Lilli looked back and forth between Max and the woman, not sure how much to give away.

“Hey, Jewel. Um, yeah, it is.”

Max groaned. Just shoot me now and get it over with.

Jewel frowned, sizing Max up. “I thought you were kidding about his clothes. He’s—”

“Working.” Lilli spoke the word with emphasis. Okay, she might not like his clothes but at least she didn’t give him up.

“Leaving,” Max corrected, looking at Lilli to relate his secret thanks. “We’ll talk later.”

Lilli opened her mouth to respond, but not before a uniformed police officer approached them. Max watched Bart’s eyes flare in panic. Had the officer caught Bart in the act before Max?

“Excuse me,” the officer spoke to Lilli. He thumbed in Max’s direction. “Is this guy giving you a hard time?”

She stared at the officer for a moment, stunned. “No. We were talking.”

“We received a call that you might need help.”

“A call?” She glanced up at Max, confusion knitting her brow.

The woman from Milly’s Gifts and Things appeared at her door and pointed at Max. “That’s the man, officer.”

Great. Max couldn’t nab Bart if the police wanted to question him.

“He’s been skulking around,” the woman continued. “He came into my store, casing it. I just knew he was going to rob me until this young lady stopped him.”

“That’s not true,” Max told the officer.

“Then, clear as day, I saw him grab that woman’s purse,” the shop lady added, on a roll of accusations.

Max read a guilty verdict in the eyes of the people who stopped to watch the unfolding drama. He sure looked the part of a shady character. If he was a cop—and he had been—he’d believe the store owner in a heartbeat.

“No,” Lilli assured the officer. “He stopped to help me.”

“Help himself to your belongings,” the store owner countered. “I saw him grab on to her purse strap not five minutes ago.”

Lilli tried to defend Max, but the store owner didn’t believe her.

Max scrubbed his hand over his face, wondering how his simple surveillance had gone haywire. Trying to make his case to the officer, who tried to get everyone to stop talking at the same time, Max pleaded innocence. No one listened. The store owner started yelling about a bad element plaguing their town. By the time Max realized his stakeout was a lost cause, he’d taken his attention from his suspect for too long. Bart had disappeared.

“Where’d he go?” Max asked no one in particular. He turned in a circle on his bootheel, running a hand through his hair, frustrated no end.

He turned to face the crowd gathered around him. The officer frowned at him.

Max held his hands up. “I can explain everything.”

“Sir, let me see some ID,” the officer said, unimpressed with Max’s urgent declaration.

Max groaned. He went to pull his wallet from his back pocket. Only it wasn’t there. Stunned, his eyes locked with the pesky woman who’d disrupted his world twice today.

“Bart took my wallet.”

CHAPTER FOUR

STANDING IN AN OFFICE at the police station, Lilli watched Max as he paced in front of the police chief. The chief had suggested they all move from the sidewalk to the station to straighten out the misunderstanding. Especially when the crowd grew bigger.

Every so often Max cast a frown in her direction. While that should’ve bothered her, instead, her heart beat rapidly. If anything, Max had caused her nothing but trouble today. First, by refusing to be a volunteer groom, then when she’d inadvertently got caught in his stakeout. Shouldn’t she be upset with him? Her stomach flip-flopped. From all the excitement, she reasoned, not because of totally gorgeous Max. His dark, unruly hair kept falling over his forehead after he unsuccessfully brushed it back. Could he be any more adorable?

No. He’s making your job more difficult, remember? Because of him, she’d have to find another suitable volunteer groom. Her mother would not be happy that Max hadn’t jumped on board with her idea, which meant an earful for Lilli.

Yep, Max Sanders had made her life complicated. Again. But she did feel bad that he’d lost his wallet.

When they’d arrived at the station, Max had removed his sunglasses and glanced at her. She’d gotten up close and personal with those stormy gray eyes. For a fleeting moment his annoyance had vanished, replaced with...what? Curiosity? Interest in her, perhaps?

She’d tried not to react, but how could she not? He was seriously good-looking. Throw in the broad shoulders, six feet of muscular build—obviously the man worked out—and long denim-clad legs and...well, she noticed.

Yet she had to ignore his undeniable appeal and how it affected her. Even if she had wanted this tug of awareness to go somewhere, the unresolved past between them would make that impossible.

“I can’t believe he’s been spying on Bart,” Jewel fumed as she shot the hunky Max another glare. “Why would anyone want Bart tailed?”

Bart came across as a nice enough guy, but had trouble with his “confusion of ownership” issues. Amused by Jewel’s passionate defense, Lilli listened, letting her friend vent. She’d never seen Jewel this charged up before.

The chief, a tall bear of a man, with distinguished gray hair and a ready smile, moved their way to join the tail end of the conversation. He hadn’t changed much since the night he sat her in the squad car while he called her parents. At least this time she wasn’t in trouble. “Max was doing his job,” the chief explained.

Jewel simmered down, but her lips pursed in mulish displeasure.

“This is all just a misunderstandin’,” he assured them.

“Bart would never hurt anyone,” Jewel insisted. “Sure, he’s a little different, but that’s his appeal. Not everyone follows their inner voice.”

Not everyone’s inner voice told them to pick pockets, either. Lilli glanced over at her friend. “Since when did you become so interested in Bart?”

Pink covered Jewels cheeks. “I’ve run into him around town a few times. We went to high school together,” she explained. “Recently we reconnected. I even invited him to join us for lunch today...before we were interrupted. But he turned me down.”

Interrupted by Max. Lilli peeked over at him again, her stomach fluttering. For the second time in her life, Max Sanders caught and held her attention, but she resisted the lure. She had a lot on her plate, which didn’t include getting tangled up with Max again.

“The officer has your statements, ladies, so if you’ll excuse me, I should probably get back to Max.” The chief excused himself.

“Isn’t that peachy,” Jewel grumbled.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Lilli told her friend.

“Bart’s not even here to defend himself.”

Lilli decided not to point out the fact that his disappearing act looked suspicious. While Jewel complained, her attention went back to Max.

He stood only a few feet away, so she couldn’t help but hear the chief laughing while Max spoke in a low tone. He frowned and seemed put out, while the chief enjoyed the entire situation, especially when he handed Max a square brown object that could only have been the pilfered wallet. Max’s neck grew red as he shoved the billfold into his back pocket. Lilli chuckled at his disgruntled expression.

He headed in her direction. Uh-oh.

“Look, things got out of hand. Thanks for not blowing my cover.”

“Are you appreciative enough to be a groom?”

“No way.”

“You know, I could have told the officer you were causing trouble.”

“I still would have ended up here. Like the last time the police brought us both in.” His eyes narrowed. “You seem to have a special ability for getting me in hot water.”

“Hey, I didn’t plan to.”

“Today? Or years ago?”

“Neither. And I resent the implication.”

“You’re trouble, pure and simple.”

“And you’re not?”

The chief chuckled. “Should I leave you two alone to work things out?”

She grimaced. “No, thanks.”

The chief still grinned. “That’s good, ’cuz Max here doesn’t like being cornered.”

By his scowl, Lilli knew she’d managed that. Twice in one day.

“I still lost Bart,” Max groused.

“Are you implying it’s my fault he got away?” Lilli planted her fists on her hips. Max leaned toward her and she couldn’t deny the sparks flaring between them as they squared off. Every flash of potent energy threw off tantalizing heat, yet she didn’t back down.

“No, I’m flat-out saying it.”

They were still glaring at each other when the chief stepped between them.

“Bart’s a slippery one, I’ll give you that. But I have no doubt you’ll get the job done.” He slapped Max on the back, as if giving Max his cue to leave. Max’s neck grew red again. He sent Lilli a curt nod and strode off.

“Our lunch hour is completely blown.” Jewel told Lilli as they left the station. “But watching you push Mr. Security Consultant’s buttons? Worth not eating.”

“Did I do that?” Lilli asked innocently while batting her eyelashes.

“Like a pro.” Jewel held up her hand for a high five. Lilli slapped her hand against Jewel’s. “So really, what’s going on between you two?”

Lilli adjusted her purse strap, her gaze following the path Max had taken. “Nothing.”

Jewel snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“I sort of know him.”

Jewel’s eyes went wide. “Explain ‘sort of.’”

Lilli squirmed. “We met twelve years ago. Just once. At the beach.” She laughed. “I got him into trouble with the police.”

“Do I even want to know?”

“It’s a long story. Suffice it to say, he’s still holding a grudge.”

“And now you’ve reconnected. Interesting.”

Lilli frowned. “There’s nothing to be interested in.”

“So you say.”

Okay, so maybe she missed their verbal skirmishes already. She squirmed under Jewel’s smug scrutiny, not wanting to delve too deeply into the matter here in the middle of the sidewalk. Bad enough she’d provoked the guy. She didn’t want to uncover the reasons why.

“Let’s not go there,” Lilli said.

“I knew it. You’re totally crushing on Max.”

“Am not.”

“Are, too. Why are you denying it? What are you afraid of?”

Flashbacks of the night on the beach were quickly overshadowed by the catastrophe that had been her wedding rehearsal dinner. The pain and humiliation. Afraid? Yes. But she’d never admit it out loud.

“My relationship with Max, if you could call it that, is difficult.”

“Looks like it.”

“He’s infuriating.”

“That’s half the fun.”

Lilli glanced down the empty sidewalk. “I knew you’d say that.”

* * ** * *

BACK AT WORK, Jewel continued her running commentary about Bart while Lilli tried to concentrate on the Natural Puppy account. She’d hoped that Jewel’s evaluation of Lilli’s attraction to Max would prove wrong, but with reluctance, admitted she might be right.

What was she going to do about it?

As the question swirled around in her brain, an annoying chime sounded from her purse. Digging through the tan leather bag, she found her cell.

She squinted at the caller ID, sighing heavily. Her mother’s timing could be uncanny. “Mom, I’m in the middle of a deadline,” Lilli said by way of greeting. “I can’t talk about the benefit right now.”

“Of course you can,” Celeste Barclay informed her only daughter in her cultured tone. “It’s for the good of the society.”

Lilli gripped the phone tightly. “I don’t even belong to the society.”

“Of course you do. I added you to the roster years ago.”

Lilli clenched her teeth. Of course she had. With her mother, every answer started with, of course you do. Or can. Or will. Of course you can swim, just pump your legs. Of course you’ll attend the ballet, we bought you a ticket. Of course I can upset your life, I’m your mother and I love you.

“You promised you’d be back in plenty of time for Tie the Knot,” Lilly reminded her.

“No, dear. I promised to do everything in my power to get back in plenty of time. My ladies are counting on you.”

Her ladies. Lilli rolled her eyes. Just because they were her mom’s ladies didn’t mean Lilli should inherit them. “So are you saying you won’t make it back in time?”

“If your father hadn’t left his tennis bag on the floor right by the balcony of our suite, I wouldn’t have tripped over it.”

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