Page 32 of Tempt
“But it’s important to me,” said Mason. “And you should sit in the front row.”
“I know,” said Lori’s mom, a well-dressed woman in a burgundy suit. “Why doesn’t he escort me to my seat? That way my husband can stay with Lori.”
“That’s perfect.” Lori nodded enthusiastically. “Great idea, Mom.”
Mrs. Campion walked over to me and smiled. “Okay with you, Zach?”
“Of course.”
Laughing, she offered me her arm. “Should we practice?”
“Yes,” said Millie, moving with efficiency to line everyone else up. “Lori and Mr. Campion, you’ll be out of sight over there. Gentlemen, you’ll line up with best man and groom last and head up the aisle to your place to the right of the arch. Ladies, flower girl, and ring bearer, you’ll be with the bride—line up with maid of honor and kids last.”
I did my part, walking Mrs. Campion up the aisle, leading her to her seat in the front row on the left, and then taking a seat in the first row, as Mason had requested.
The rest of the rehearsal went quickly, and then everyone headed back to the main lobby of the inn. I tried to linger behind in the hopes of catching a minute with Millie alone, but she stayed with the group, leading the way back across the path. It was dark now, and a few flurries were drifting down from the sky.
In the lobby, the group reassembled and made plans for driving over to the restaurant where dinner was being held. “Want to ride with us?” Mason asked me.
“No, thanks. I’ll meet you there.” I gave him a stiff smile. “I’m just going to use the men’s room before I leave.”
“Okay,” he said, helping Lori with her coat. “No rush—our reservation isn’t for another half hour, so we’ll probably hang out in the bar first. You’ve got the address?”
I nodded. “All good.”
Millie was still talking to Mrs. Campion, so I wandered out of the lobby toward the bar at the back of the inn. It was dark and intimate, and I wished more than anything Millie and I could spend the evening sitting at a corner table getting to know each other better...and then getting naked back in my hotel room.
But that was impossible.
She was Mason’s ex-girlfriend.
Grimacing at the thought, I ducked into the men’s room off the hallway. When I came out, I stopped short at the sight of Millie sitting at the bar by herself. That long wavy hair cascading down her back sent a pang of longing through me.
I glanced toward the front door, where I should’ve been heading, and back at her, where I wanted to be. In a split second, I made my decision and crossed the room in her direction.
I touched her shoulder. “Hey.”
She turned, surprised. “Oh! Zach, hi.” Glancing around me, she said, “I thought everyone left.”
“They did. I stayed back a minute. I was hoping to talk to you.” I looked down at the empty stool next to her. “Can I sit?”
“Of course.” She already had a martini in front of her, and she lifted it for a sip.
“Are you waiting for your dad?”
“Ah, that was a bit of a fib. I thought it best if I didn’t go to dinner, given the, um...” Her eyes dropped to my crotch for a half-second. “Circumstances.”
“You’re probably right.” The bartender approached, and I ordered an Old-Fashioned, figuring I had enough time for one quick drink.
“So this is a weird coincidence, huh?” She stirred her drink with the olives on the pick.
“To say the least.”
“I mean, I had no idea you were—” She shook her head and didn’t finish the sentence. “Not in a million years.”
I fought the urge to stand closer to her. “You know, I thought I saw you downtown last night, crossing a street. Then I was like, nah...couldn’t be.”
“Oh my God, same!” Her eyes went wide. “I thought I saw you this morning in a parking lot, going into a gym.”
