An Impractical Match (Match #2) Read online

  “Are you sure?” Jillian turned one way then the other in front of the mirror. “They’re not very flattering.”

  “They’re cute,” Katie insisted. “They make you look younger.”

  “I’m not sure looking younger is the objective.”

  “I thought all old ladies wanted to look younger?”

  “Old lady? Excuse me? I’m twenty-six.”

  “Like I said, old. You’re gonna have to trust me on this.”

  Jillian gazed at the jeans. “I’m not old,” she huffed.

  “They’re perfect,” said Katie.

  They were definitely comfortable. And Jillian supposed they did have a certain casual impertinence that made her look edgy.

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  “Shoes next,” said Katie.

  They found a pair of treaded, pale purple, suede trainers, ankle-cut, with metallic blue laces.

  “I feel like I’ve joined the Army,” Jillian complained.

  “They’ll be great in the dirt.”

  “I suppose.” They did have a certain off-road durability to them.

  “Devlin will like them,” said Katie.

  Jillian glanced sharply up. “Who said anything about Devlin?”

  “Come on. I got eyes in my head. He touched your ass yesterday, and you didn’t deck him.”

  “I don’t deck people.”

  “I’ve seen you look at him. And he’s hot for an old guy. I say you should go for it.”

  Jillian glanced down at her feet, keeping her tone light and joking. “And you think these shoes will do the trick?”

  Katie laughed. “I think ‘hello’ would do the trick. I’ve seen him look at you, too.”

  “You’re impertinent.”

  “If that means I tell the truth, then yeah.”

  “Here’s a question.” Jillian decided they’d better move on. “And I want the truth. What are you wearing to the reception tonight?”

  Katie shrugged.

  “You have a dress?”

  She sneered. “I’m not wearing a dress.”

  “You said yourself that dirt and makeup aren’t mutually exclusive.”

  “I didn’t say anything about dresses.”

  “I tell you what.” Jillian slipped her feet out of the trainers. “I’ll buy the shoes, if you’ll agree to try on some dresses.”

  Katie considered for a moment. “Try them on only? No commitment to buy?”

  “If you like one, I’ll buy it for you. And, of course, I’ll try to talk you into the best one.”

  Katie pursed her lips, obviously calculating. “Only if you’ll let me pick out your top.”

  Jillian considered the risks. “Nothing pornographic.”

  Katie’s face broke into a grin. “Give me a break.”

  “Okay. I’ll go for you choosing my top. But you have to let me buy you a dress.”

  The girl frowned again.

  Jillian moved boldly forward, pressing her point. “Shake the boys up a little. Show them you’ve got legs.”

  “Only if it doesn’t look stupid.”

  “These shoes look stupid.”

  “They’re awesome.”

  Katie decided Jillian should wear a cropped white T-shirt with capped sleeves and swirls of metallic purple across the chest. As Jillian stared at herself in the mirror, Katie popped a white ball cap on her head.

  “What?” Jillian exclaimed. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

  “Look closely,” said Katie.

  Jillian moved to the mirror.

  “Plus, it’ll keep you from getting heatstroke.”

  Jillian focused on the small rhinestone object on the front of the cap. It was a motorcycle, and it winked at her under the store lights.

  “It’s perfect,” Katie declared.

  Jillian couldn’t help but grin. “You’re just as whimsical as I am. Okay, your turn now.”

  They found the perfect dress. It was ice-blue chiffon, with a softly fitted bodice, spaghetti straps and a high, jeweled waist. The skirt flared gently to the middle of her thighs, fading to white at the hem.

  “Silver shoes,” said Jillian, unable to mask her excitement. Katie had a beautiful figure. “And we so need to get your legs waxed.”

  Katie wrinkled her nose. “I feel like Cinderella.”

  “You’re supposed to feel like Cinderella.”

  “Not in a good way.”

  “You look fantastic.”

  Katie turned, gazing worriedly at her reflection in the three-way mirror. “I don’t want them to laugh at me.”

  Jillian moved around her, taking in every angle. “When the boys see you in this, they’re going to do a lot of things. Laughing will not be one of them.”

  Katie looked unconvinced.

  “You need earrings,” Jillian declared. “And a delicate little necklace.”

  “I’ve unleashed a monster.”

  “Fair is fair.” Jillian glanced at her watch. “We have to find shoes and a salon.”

  At the salon, Katie gave in and actually seemed to enjoy herself. They both got their legs, nails, hair and makeup done. When they finished, there was barely enough time to stop at Jillian’s hotel and throw on her own dress.

  Katie called her parents from the car. They were thrilled to learn she’d bought a dress. At the hotel, Shari was waiting, tapping her foot, but she nearly fell over when she got a look at Katie.

  “You’re a fairy princess,” she exclaimed.

  “Not the reaction we wanted,” Jillian called warningly over her shoulder as she rushed into her bedroom.

  “You look hot and cool, both at the same time,” Shari amended.

  Jillian laughed as she tossed the department store bags on her bed. She ditched her bra and changed into a pair of black lace panties then retrieved her ivory chiffon evening dress. It was strapless, fitted, heavily sequined, with gold at the bodice, streaking to black in the body, with sprays of both colors flowing down to the full skirt’s jagged hem.

  She zipped herself in, stepped into gold, spike-heeled sandals and pushed dangling crystal earrings into her ears. Two minutes didn’t seem like enough time to get ready for such an important event, so she double-checked her appearance in the full-length mirror.

  She couldn’t see any glaring deficiencies. So, with a thought to how Devlin might like the dress, and maybe later the panties, she grabbed a small purse and rushed out of the bedroom.

  Chapter Ten

  Dancing with Jillian in his arms on the clubhouse patio, Devlin tried to hold off the questions about their relationship that swirled in his mind. But he couldn’t ignore them much longer. After the weekend, he’d lose her. If nothing changed, she’d go back to DC, and he might never see her again.

  He might not understand the technology behind Aunt Hannah and her eccentric friends’ matchmaking algorithm, but he did know one thing: The damn contraption had worked on him. He might not be the right guy for Jillian, but she was definitely the right woman for him. He was in love with her. There wasn’t a question in his mind on that.

  “Did you see Katie?” she asked, tipping her head back as they swayed to the slow song. The night was starry, the lights muted, the desert air crisp and clean.

  “I nearly didn’t recognize her,” he admitted.

  “Did you see Spike and Riley?” Her laughter tinkled around him. “I thought their jaws were going to hit the floor.”

  “Turns out, she’s a girl.” Devlin was less shocked by her beauty than by her willingness to dress up.

  “She’s dancing with one of the racers right now.”

  “That’s Tuff Miller. He’s a rock star in the motocross world.”

  “Good for her,” said Jillian.

  “I bet he’s surprised to find out she races.” Devlin wouldn’t have minded being a fly on the wall for that revelation. “So, how’d you talk her into it?”

  “It wasn’t hard. She’s actually got her head on pretty straight about a lot of things.”

>   “That’s good to hear.”

  Maybe Katie had some advice for him. He couldn’t help but wonder if a makeover might help. Then again, Jillian had seen him in a suit. She’d seen him in a tux at the wedding. It wasn’t like he could trim his hair, tie a full Windsor and shock her the way Katie had shocked the boys.

  The quartet’s music drew to a crescendo then died away.

  “Jillian?” came a male voice.

  Devlin released her hand and turned, coming face to face with a thirtysomething man, well dressed, good looking, with sandy blond hair. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at Devlin.

  Her hand convulsed against Devlin’s shoulder. “Edmund? What are you doing here?”

  Devlin’s blood turned to ice.

  “Owen told me about you and NMAC,” said Edmund.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Is there somewhere we can talk?” Edmund gave Devlin a dismissive once-over.

  Devlin stared squarely back, keeping his arm firmly around Jillian’s shoulders.

  “This is Devlin Camden,” she introduced. “He’s also involved in the event.”

  Involved in the event.

  The words echoed through Devlin’s brain. She hadn’t said friend. She hadn’t said boyfriend. She hadn’t said lover.

  “Is there somewhere we can talk?” Edmund repeated.

  She glanced to Devlin.

  He kept his expression studiously even.

  “I, uh, guess,” she told Edmund.

  Devlin let his arm slip away.

  The music came up again.

  Her gaze swung to Devlin, both guilt and apprehension clouding her expression. She was probably afraid he’d give away their relationship. Well, no worries. He didn’t kiss and tell.

  “I’ll see you later?” she asked him tentatively.

  “Sure.” His response was tight. “Whenever.”

  Her gaze went to Edmund. “There’s a lounge through the lobby.”

  “We could dance,” Edmund offered.

  Jillian didn’t immediately say no.

  Devlin stepped away, turning his back, pacing to the edge of the dance floor, directly to the bar where he ordered a double Jack Daniel’s. There was no way in hell he was sticking around to watch Jillian dance with her perfect man.

  As soon as his drink was served, he cut past the garden, around back to where the lawn sloped down to the golf course.

  Through the swirl of anger inside his brain, he thought he heard Katie’s voice.

  “I said no.”

  Devlin quickly glanced around, looking for her.

  “Let go of me,” cried Katie, from what sounded like the opposite side of an outbuilding.

  Devlin ditched his drink and broke into a jog.

  He swung around the corner in time to see Riley under the light. It took a second for the scene to sort itself out in his brain. When it did, he stopped dead.

  Katie looked pale and frightened in the shadows, while Riley had Tuff Miller up against the wall. Tuff was slightly taller, but Riley had drawn himself up, pure rage contorting his expression, his knuckles white where they gripped Tuff’s collar.

  “Back the fuck off,” Riley commanded.

  Tuff balled up his fist and pulled it back, but Riley grabbed it in midair. He forced Tuff’s hand back against the wall. “I’m asking you nicely, because somebody I respect told me to do it that way.”

  Devlin drew back, hoping to stay out of sight.

  “But if you ever, ever,” Riley ground out, “look sideways at Katie again, I’m going to drill you into the ground.”

  Tuff glared at him.

  “Got it?” Riley asked. “You fuckin’ got it, asshole?”

  Devlin couldn’t help but think he should object to Riley’s language. Then again, his chest was just about bursting with pride. And Tuff did seem to be behaving like an asshole.

  “Got it,” Tuff spat from between clenched teeth.

  Riley stepped back.

  Tuff smirked down his nose at Katie. “She’s a frigid bitch anyway.”

  Riley slammed him back into the wall, laying his forearm across Tuff’s throat.

  Devlin jerked forward, thinking he might have to intervene.

  “Now, you gotta apologize,” said Riley.

  Tuff made a strangled sound.

  “Apologize,” Riley repeated.

  “Riley,” came Katie’s shaky voice. “It’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay,” said Riley. “He doesn’t treat girls that way. Not you, not anyone. Apologize.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tuff gasped.

  Riley stepped back once again.

  This time, Tuff wasted no time in taking off in the other direction.

  “You okay?” Riley asked Katie.

  “Yeah,” she responded on a whisper.

  Devlin took a quiet step back, further into the shadows.

  “You want to go back to the party?” asked Riley.

  “Yeah,” she nodded. “I’m okay.”

  “We could dance or somethin’.”

  Devlin eased around the corner, hearing Katie answer, “Sure,” just before he made it out of earshot.

  He felt guilty and elated and amazed, all at the same time. Riley was going to be a great guy. He was already a great guy.

  But then Devlin remembered Edmund.

  He made his way back to the patio, quickly checking out the dance floor. They were gone. He scanned the perimeter, catching sight of them entering the breezeway for the lobby. Edmund had his hand on the small of her back. The sight gave Devlin a nearly overwhelming urge to slam the man into the nearest wall and put his fist through his face.

  But he told himself the lounge was that way. There was every chance they were simply going to talk in the lounge. There was no reason to conclude they were leaving together.

  He forced himself to wait five long minutes. Then he strode down the breezeway to the lobby lounge. It was nearly empty. There wasn’t a single sign of either Jillian or Edmund.

  Devlin took up a stool at the bar, ordering himself another Jack Daniel’s. He was racing in the preliminaries tomorrow, so alcohol was a bad idea. But he couldn’t bring himself to give a damn.

  o o o o

  “I can’t believe you’re giving him another chance,” said Shari, her bare feet propped up on an ottoman in the hotel suite.

  “I never said I’d give him another chance.” Jillian’s mind was whirling. It wasn’t even midnight, but it felt like days since she’d changed into her evening dress and left for the reception.

  “You didn’t say you wouldn’t,” Shari pointed out, coming to her feet to refill both of their wineglasses.

  “It came totally out of the blue,” said Jillian. “All of a sudden, there he was. I was dancing with Devlin—”

  “What did Devlin do?”

  “I don’t know,” Jillian admitted. “He left the dance floor, and I didn’t see him again.”

  “He’s got to be pretty ticked off.”

  “I don’t know,” said Jillian, reaching for her wineglass. “We never really talked about, you know, us.”

  “What? You were simply jumping in bed together over and over again?”

  “It wasn’t that often.”

  “Jilli, you’re having a fling with the man.”

  “Exactly. A fling. There’s no future there. We both know it ends on Sunday.” Somehow, saying the words out loud made Jillian even more miserable.

  “Did you tell Edmund?”

  “Tell him what?”

  “That you’ve been sleeping with another man, of course.”

  “It didn’t come up. And he was sleeping with Marsha.”

  “What did he say about that?”

  Jillian took a drink. “That Marsha was a mistake. He got cold feet. He made a mistake, and he’s profoundly sorry. He said all the right things, Shari.”

  “Did he have the ring?”

  “Yes.”

  Shari went silent.

  “What am I g
oing to do?” Jillian whispered on a moan. She had loved Edmund. She had loved the life they’d planned together. Even with more than two months passing, she hadn’t yet planned a new life to replace it. Maybe she’d subconsciously been waiting. Maybe she’d hoped all along that he’d come to his senses. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t been able to accept that it was over.

  Shari rocked the ottoman back and forth with her feet. “If you say yes to Edmund, you can never sleep with Devlin again.”

  Jillian turned her head sharply to stare at Shari.

  “Think about that.”

  “That has no bearing on my decision.”

  “Well, it should. I’m not saying you’re choosing between the two. I know you’re not. But if you can even think about sleeping with another man, never mind want to sleep with another man, then you have to say no to Edmund.”

  “You never liked Edmund.”

  “Edmund’s fine,” said Shari. “He’s just a little, I don’t know, perfect.”

  “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being perfect.” A person shouldn’t be penalized for perfection.

  “I mean perfect, as in dull. Edmund’s dull.”

  “Edmund’s predictable.” Though, even as she took up Edmund’s side, Jillian wondered why. She wasn’t convinced she should go back to him. She wasn’t convinced of that at all.

  “You know,” she finally concluded, “there’s no way I’m going to decide this tonight. I’m a little drunk. I’m a little blindsided. I’m a little befuddled. And I’m going to sleep on it.”

  “Not for too long,” Shari warned. “We need to be at the racetrack at seven.”

  Jillian came to her feet. “I’ll be ready.”

  She abandoned the rest of her wine, making her way to the bedroom then directly into the shower. She scrubbed her skin, washed her hair, and tried desperately to get both Edmund and Devlin out of her mind.

  By the time she finished drying, thoughts of Edmund had retreated. But Devlin was still there, front and center. She’d expected to sleep in his arms tonight. She knew their time was running short, and she’d planned to spend every possible minute with him. Once she was back in DC, she’d wanted all those memories to sustain her.

  She tumbled naked into the soft bed, then she dreamed about Devlin, waking up twice during the night, her chest aching with disappointment when she realized she was alone. The alarm jangled at six, dragging her from a fitful sleep and another dream about making love with Devlin. He’d been smiling down at her, whispering they were a terrible match, then laughing at the absurdity of their relationship.