Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (5 page)

“Are the men in your hometown crazy?
 
I’ll tell you what the truth is.
 
The truth is that you are totally hot, and if I can’t have your lips soon, I’m going to go out of my mind.”
 
Their eyes locked, he slowly began to lower his head.
 
He was a fraction of an inch away from her mouth.
 
He was so close, he could taste her breath.
 
Time stood still.
 
Her lips parted, ever so slightly.
 
Alex felt his cock rise to the occasion, knowing that this was going to be the sweetest, most arousing kiss of his life.

They didn’t hear the car pull up.
 
They had eyes only for each other.
 

“Scarlet!
 
You’re here!” The bride had arrived.
 

Alex growled his frustration.
 
Damn!
 
He pulled back, leaving her looking at him with the dreamiest expression that he had ever seen on the face of a woman.
 
She looked at him like she was seeing her first Christmas tree or her first falling star.
 
And he was determined to follow through.
 
There was nothing in the world that would stop him from giving her everything that she wanted.
 
He couldn’t keep from smiling, for he knew what Scarlet wanted.

Scarlet wanted him.

“I’m going to let you go now, sweetheart.
 
But I want you back in my arms.
 
Tonight.”

♥ ~
Chapter II
~ ♥

Annalise’s view of the couple had been hampered by a strategically placed azalea bush.
 
Before she was close enough to make anything out, Alex had stepped away from Scarlet.
 
He had no desire to share their magic with anyone else, not yet.
 

Scarlet was amazed.
 
She was shaking with excitement.
 
Could this beautiful man really want to kiss her?
 
Suddenly, she had her doubts.
 
This had to be something else.
 
She was so ignorant of the ways of a man and a woman, she just couldn’t be sure.
 
It could be part of his apology, trying to make up to her for what she had overheard him saying on the phone.
 
Worse, he could be making fun of her.
 
Like prom.
 
Like any number of incidents over the years, where boys had pretended to like her for a few laughs, for a joke.
 
That was probably it.
 
A joke.
 
And if it was, this was going to hurt worse than anything ever had.
 

Later, she’d have to thank Annalise for her timely arrival.

“I’m so glad to see you.”
 
Her sister enveloped her in a huge hug and Scarlet was equally thrilled to see Annalise.
 
“I’m getting married!”
 
Scarlet laughed as her sister twirled in a state of absolute joy.
 
She exchanged glances with Alex, who was watching his future sister-in-law with affection.
 
He gave Scarlet a private wink.
 
Her heart turned over in her chest.
 
“What are you doing out here?
 
Let’s go in.
 
Alex, isn’t she beautiful?
 
I told you she was beautiful.
 
Will you get her bags, Alex?
 
Can I see my dress?
 
Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.”
 
Annalise was talking ninety to nothing, giving no one else a chance to inject a word.

Alex went to get the boxes and luggage, faithfully following Annalise’s instructions.
       

“Isn’t he absolutely gorgeous?”
 
Scarlet leaned in to listen as her sister whispered conspiratorially.

“Yes, he is.”
 
The truth was the truth.
 
Lowering her voice, Scarlet whispered intently.
   
“Please don’t tell him that I’m beautiful.
 
I’m not and it’s very embarrassing.”

“But you are.”
 
At Scarlet’s intent, serious stare –Annalise relented.
 
“Okay, I won’t say it anymore.”
 
Putting her arm around her sister, she changed the subject.
 
  
“How was your drive?”

“Great.
 
I sang all the way.”

“Did you practice my wedding songs?”
 
Annalise asked.
 
Alex caught up with them, put the bags down and opened the front door of the B&B.
 

“You sing?”
 
He looked right at Scarlet, imagining what her voice sounded like.

With a flourish, Annalise gestured for Scarlet to step over the threshold.
 
“Welcome to my new home.
 
And yes, she sings like a dream.
 
Deep, throaty, smooth as velvet.
 
I’ve asked her to sing two of my favorite songs at the wedding:
 
Unchained Melody
and
Love
Me Tender
.”

“Elvis.”
 
Alex said, knowingly.
 
“I love Elvis.”

Scarlet glanced at him with new appreciation.
 
He didn’t have to like her – just as long as he liked Elvis.
 
Anybody that loved Elvis was OK in her book.
 
Walking into the lobby of
The Lost Maples,
she inhaled sharply.
 
“It’s breathtaking.
 
You have a beautiful home.”
 
And it was.
 
The B&B was decorated in a Country French flavor, favoring white wood, blue accents with a hint of lemon yellow here and there.
 
“Living here must be a dream come true.”

“It is heavenly,” agreed Annalise.
 
“Especially being with Ethan.”
 
Alex snorted playfully.
 
Turning to glare at him, Annalise promised.
 
“Just wait till you fall in love, Alex.
 
You’re going to fall so hard, and I’m going to enjoy watching every minute of it.”

While Annalise teased him, Alex watched Scarlet hungrily.
 
“You may be right.”

“I can’t stand it.
 
I’ve got to see my dress.”
 
Annalise scurried around, hunting the large box that contained her dress.

“Is this what you’re looking for?”
 
Alex held it up over her head, teasing her.

“Yes!”
 
She jumped, but he was too tall.
 
He finally placed it into her outstretched arms, giving Scarlet another tender smile.
 
Annalise sat flat out on the floor and opened the box.
 
“Oh. My. God.”
 
She jumped up, pulling the ornate gown out the box.
 
Yards and yards of organza and lace flowed from her fingertips.
 
“Scarlet, this is the most beautiful dress that I have ever seen.”

“It’s not completed, yet.
 
There are thousands and thousands of seed pearls still waiting to be sewn on.”
 
Scarlet enjoyed Annalise’s joy.

“I’m going to go try it on.”
 
She dashed from the room, the dress over her arm.

Scarlet started to follow her, but Alex stopped her with a gentle touch.
 
“I’m not an authority on wedding gowns, but that dress looked incredible to me.
 
You’re very talented.”

“Thank you.”
 
Scarlet leveled her gaze on his chest, he was wearing a soft burnt orange University of Texas T-shirt and it molded every luscious muscle of his chest and shoulders.
 
“I enjoyed making it for her.
 
Every girl dreams of wearing a beautiful wedding dress and I‘m glad I could make my sister’s dream come true.”

“Do you dream about your wedding, Scarlet?”
 
Alex’s voice was hypnotizing.
 
As he said the words, he marveled that they had come out of his mouth.
 
He was allergic to weddings and to brides.
 
Once divorced, he had carefully avoided any and all close proximity to matrimonial affairs – until his brother had been reunited with his soul mate.
 
Now, it seemed different somehow.
 

Scarlet answered without thinking.
 
Some questions need to be pondered; this one was easy.
 
“No, I don’t dream about my wedding.
 
I won’t be getting married.”

Before he could ask her why she felt that way, she retreated from the room.
 
Her answer had left him speechless, and for some odd reason, strangely bereft.

“So she heard what you said?”
 
Ethan sat by his brother, drinking a cup of steaming coffee.

“Every word.”
 
Alex stated matter-of-factly.
 
“That incident has to rank as the stupidest thing that I’ve ever done.”

“I wonder why LeBeau fed you that crazy line about Scarlet being plain and mousy?”
 
Ethan and his brother spoke frankly, about everything.
 
They were one another’s best friend.
 
“She isn’t mousy is she?”

Alex looked at his brother steadily.
 
“No, she’s stunning.
 
In fact, she is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen in my life.
 
Her face is incredible and her body . . .” His voice trailed off; leaving himself wide open for Ethan’s teasing.

“My God, you’re smitten.”
 
Ethan grinned, enjoying his brother’s predicament.
 

Alex had to laugh.
 
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
 
He reached for the pot and freshened both of their cups of coffee.
 
“She has no idea that she’s beautiful.
 
I don’t believe that anyone has ever told her, before.”

“And you have?”
 
Ethan wasn’t going to cut his brother any slack.
 
“Already?
 
And you’ve known her how long?”

“Long enough.”
 
Alex had broad shoulders; he could handle anything his brother dished out.
 
“You know, Scarlet is oblivious to the fact that she has anything a man could want.”

“I guess you’re going to enjoy enlightening her to that fact,” Ethan said dryly.

“It’s my new mission in life.”
 
Alex pulled another chair around, so he could prop up his long, strong legs.

“How long do you think they’ll be in there trying on wedding finery?”
 
Ethan was getting hungry, he was always hungry.

“Till the cows come home.”
 
A dry wit ran in the Stewart family.
      

“We don’t have any cows.”
 
Some were wittier than others.

“Exactly.”
 

“Please don’t try to set me up with Alex, Annalise.
 
I’m begging you.”
 
Scarlet looked at her sister imploringly.
 

“By the way that he was looking at you, I don’t think that I’m going to have to do a thing.”
 
The bride-to-be carefully hung her wedding dress up on a hanger.
 
Looking over at her sister, she could tell that the subject was closed.
 
For now.
 
“Will you cook for me?”

Scarlet softened.
 
“Of course I will.
 
What do you want?”