Page 31 of Tempt
What was it about her that took all the oxygen from a room? Not to mention the way she sent blood rushing to my crotch. The sight of her brought back memories that caused my cock to surge.
But I couldn’t let on.
Immediately I’d seen how flustered Millie was, how uneasy Mason appeared, and my instinct to protect kicked in. I thought I’d done a good enough job smoothing things over—just the one error about the drink, and Millie had corrected course there.
Now, as I walked behind her, admiring those curves I’d been dreaming about since the night we’d met, I thought how fucked-up this situation was. She was Mason’s ex-girlfriend? What were the chances?
It was easy to see how we didn’t put it together—I didn’t even know she was from Michigan, let alone that she was a wedding planner. And she’d had no idea I had a newly found adult son getting married. A guy that she’d dated. A guy that she’d slept with.
Jesus.
I’d wanted to see her again. But not like this.
Even as my gut turned over, I hurried past her to get the door, and she murmured her thanks without making eye contact as she moved through it. Remaining in place, I held the door for everyone else. Mason and Lori were last, and we walked together toward the barn.
“Thank goodness the rain stopped, but it’s chilly, isn’t it?” Lori rubbed her arms and hurried ahead. “I’ll meet you guys in there!”
Mason and I walked shoulder to shoulder. I sensed his discomfort but didn’t know what to make of it.
“So it’s weird that you met Millie before,” he said.
“Small world, I guess.” I tried to sound casual.
“And you had a drink.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s it? Nothing happened?”
I glanced sharply at him. “Happened?”
“You know. Between you and Millie.” He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Sorry if this is weird to ask, I just got a strange feeling in there that there was more to the story.”
“There wasn’t. There isn’t.”
“I guess it’s not my business anyway,” he said. “You’re both adults, and it’s not like you knew that she was my ex-girlfriend, or she knew that you’re my father. I just... I guess I just like things to be out in the open. I’ve spent so many years of my life feeling like things were hidden from me. Wanting to know the truth and never getting answers. I hate that feeling.”
“I understand.”
We reached the door and he put a hand on it but didn’t pull it open. He looked me in the eye. “It means a lot to me, your honesty. We can’t change the past, but we can set the tone for the future. So if you give me your word, I’ll believe you.”
If I was going to tell the truth, I had to do it now—but there was no way I’d do it without Millie knowing. I had to keep up the lie. “You have my word. Nothing happened.”
He smiled, looking younger than twenty-eight, giving me a glimpse of the boy he’d been. “Okay. Thanks.”
* * *
For the next forty minutes or so, Millie and I successfully avoided eye contact. The room was all set up for the ceremony tomorrow, rows of white chairs set up on what was probably a dance floor at the far end of the room with a gold runner between them. A large arch made of greenery and decorated with white flowers stood at the head of the aisle in front of massive windows, and beyond it the autumn landscape of the farm was visible, trees aflame with scarlet and gold and burnt orange. It reminded me of seasons many years past, making me a little nostalgic for my early childhood in Ohio.
I mostly stayed out of the way as Millie went over the order of who’d be seated when, how the wedding party procession would go, and the timing of it all. She answered tons of questions from Lori and her mother in a reassuring and professional manner. Obviously excellent at her job, she impressed me even more because I knew that her mind must be reeling.
“So it goes groom and groomsmen in position, Lori’s grandparents seated, Lori’s mom seated, bridesmaids, maid of honor, flower girl and ring bearer, and then Lori and her dad,” Millie said. “Should we walk through it?”
“What about Zach?” Mason asked. “When does he get seated?”
“Oh.” Millie checked a clipboard, like the answer might be there somewhere. “Um, he could be seated... after the grandparents, before Lori’s mom?”
“I really don’t need to be recognized.” I put up my hands, inwardly hoping Mason would reconsider. “I don’t feel right about it, honestly.”
