The Agent (The Consultants #3) - Nancy Herkness Page 0,4

“But we wouldn’t have had the pleasure of sharing your joy, so thank you.”

“Group hug,” Dawn commanded.

Amid the perfumed billows of satin, lace, and chiffon, Natalie took comfort in the strength of these two amazing women and wished for them all the happiness she had been unable to find.

Chapter 2

When the bride and groom finally departed in a glossy stretch limousine, showered by torrents of birdseed, Natalie joined the crowd of guests meandering back to the ballroom in order to retrieve her purse and wrap. She dropped into her chair at the dinner table to pour herself a glass of water from the cut-crystal pitcher set out in the middle. Leaning back, she admired the arrangement of exotic lavender and white blossoms that cascaded down from a six-foot-high crystal pedestal in the center of the table and thought how wonderful it would feel to take off her high-heeled silver sandals.

She sat up straight when Tully settled himself in the chair next to her. “That looks like a good idea,” he said, grabbing a glass and filling it. He lifted his water goblet to touch hers with a clink. “Helluva wedding!”

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” she said.

“It got me like a mule kick to the chest.” His voice sounded as though he was holding back his emotions.

She nearly laughed at his vivid image. “They’re going to be very happy together.”

“As long as they stay out of trouble.” He shook his head and she knew he was remembering how close Alice and Derek had come to being shot by a crazy computer hacker.

She took a sip of her water but watched him over the rim. His black silk bow tie was untied but still draped around his neck, allowing his collar to stand open down to the first stud in his pleated shirt. He’d shed his tux jacket and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. She couldn’t help noticing the shift of muscles in his neck as he drank or the dusting of brown hair over the tanned skin of his forearm where it rested on the white linen tablecloth. She had a powerful urge to touch his skin in both places to test its textures.

She choked on her water.

“You okay?” He leaned forward in concern.

“Fine,” she sputtered. “Just went down the wrong way.”

He drained his glass. “Can I offer you a ride home?”

She studied him, trying to decide if he was asking her because he’d felt the flare of attraction between them or if he was just being polite. Alice and Derek had put a limousine at her disposal for the entire day, so she had a ride. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to accept after that unexpectedly heated dance.

Then she thought of the creepy anonymous emails and walking into her empty house late at night while the darkness pressed around it. The prospect of having Tully’s big, powerful presence nearby when she got home was appealing.

Irritation flashed through her. She hated the anonymous creep who was making her afraid to go home alone. It stirred up feelings she’d worked hard to push into her past.

“A ride home would be appreciated, thank you.” She hoped that made it clear that the ride was all she was accepting.

Should she ask him about the emails on the drive back to her house? No, she didn’t want to mar the joyful afterglow of their friends’ wedding with such unpleasantness.

He nodded before he pulled out his phone and tapped at it. “My car will be out front in five minutes.” After shrugging into his jacket, he pulled out her chair and offered his arm. “Shall we?”

“We’re not walking down the aisle any longer.” Natalie picked up her purse and the fine wool wrap that matched her dress before she slipped her hand through his proffered elbow. She might as well enjoy the chance to feel the muscles in his arm again.

“That wedding planner made us rehearse so often, it’s a habit now,” he said with a grin.

He would have made the same gesture regardless because he exhibited an old-fashioned gallantry toward women. It must be a cowboy thing. Living in New Jersey, Natalie hadn’t met many cowboys. She found it hard to reconcile Tully’s down-to-earth speech with the high-powered consultant in custom-tailored suits. Yet he wore the suits with the same ease and confidence he did his ornately stitched boots.

They chatted about the success of the wedding as he swept her across the rented mansion’s marble-floored hallway and through the front door. Idling