Damn, he looked good. Once again he wore close-fitting breeches, but today they were topped with an open-necked blue shirt the same vibrant shade as his eyes.
Felicity’s heart clutched when those eyes met hers. It took every ounce of her willpower and self-control not to look away. Instead, she said in a voice admirably even, “Reed, this is my photographer, Bo Harrison. Bo, Reed Kelly, the owner of Rosedale.”
“Bo,” Reed said, extending his right hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Kelly. I appreciate the opportunity to work here.”
Reed smiled. “Where did you want to start?”
“Maybe you could just give us a tour of the place,” Felicity suggested. “Give Bo an idea of what’s here?”
Reed gave her a dubious look. “Are you planning to walk around in those shoes?”
“And risk my Blahniks? Are you crazy?” Felicity grinned. She’d shopped far and wide for the perfect complement to her shimmery sundress in shades of turquoise, violet and gold. “I brought some others.”
She reached into her tote and extracted a pair of New Balance cross trainers, exchanging them for her strappy gold sandals.
Soon they were off, Reed leading the way and explaining what each area’s function was. Felicity was glad they’d decided on a morning tour, for already the sun was getting uncomfortably warm. As they walked, she couldn’t help being impressed with the scope of Rosedale. It was truly beautiful, and far more comprehensive than Felicity had imagined from Emma’s sketchy description the one time they’d discussed what Reed did for a living.
Come to think of it, Emma hadn’t talked about Reed much at all during their engagement, other than to say they’d been there or done that. The omission should have been Felicity’s first clue that all was not well between them.
Had Reed sensed Emma’s misgivings? Because surely she’d had them for a while, even if she hadn’t been able to articulate them or share them with Felicity. Wondering how long it would take him to get over Emma, Felicity shot Reed a furtive look.
And caught him looking at her with the oddest expression on his face.
Startled when their eyes met, she could feel her face coloring and quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in the quarantine and layup facility he had just pointed out.
What had he been thinking just now?
She swallowed. Damn, she wished she had been capable of restraining her baser instincts yesterday.
For the remainder of their tour she studiously avoided looking at Reed. He unnerved her, and she didn’t like the feeling, even as she liked him far more than was good for her.
Telling herself any future interaction with Reed that didn’t involve business would complicate her life in ways she absolutely did not need, Felicity thanked him when the tour was over, said goodbye to both him and Bo, and drove away from Rosedale without looking back.
Reed stood outside and watched the departure of Bo and Felicity. An idea had struck him this morning, one that, on the surface, seemed outrageous.
And yet…was it that outrageous?
He didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that Felicity was as attracted to him as he was to her. Just the way her gaze darted away every time it met his—well, maybe not every time—would have told him she felt the same things he did.
So what if she had no interest in marriage and he did? All he wanted right now was something new. A brief liaison, one that would satisfy both of them and be a hell of a lot of fun in the process.
Sex with no strings.
He grinned.
Sex with no strings. They’d both get something they wanted and wouldn’t have to worry about any messy entanglements or hurt feelings afterward.
And if he presented his proposition to her on that basis, she might just say yes.
Three
Felicity headed straight for the powder room when she reached the club. She felt overheated by her excursion to Rosedale. Or maybe the heat had been caused by her impossible-to-deny attraction to Reed.
God, he was sexy.
Just looking at him made her feel weak in the knees.
Well, no matter what had caused this unwelcome heat, she needed to put herself together again before facing the Debs, some of whom were way too perceptive. Of course, no one had to know where she’d been earlier today. In fact, she absolutely did not want them to know, because the last subject she wanted to discuss, in front of Emma or anyone else, was Reed.
After repairing her makeup and repositioning her violet rhinestone butterfly hair clip, Felicity felt ready to make her appearance.
Walking past the Emerald Room’s malachite bar, she waved to Harry, the bartender, who waved back, and headed straight for the table where she and the other Debs always sat.
Sure enough, two of them were already there—Emma, wearing a powder-blue dress that set off her silky black hair and violet eyes, and Lily Miller Cartwright, who was now seven months pregnant and radiant in a yellow maternity dress that hugged her rounded belly.
Felicity used the few moments before her friends noticed her approach to study them. She couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy at the happiness evident on both faces. A happiness caused by being deeply in love and knowing they were loved back.
But I don’t want to be married. I don’t even want a long-term commitment. So why am I envious because they’ve both found their soul mates?
Just then, Lily turned and saw her. “Felicity!” she exclaimed, giving her a beaming smile.
“Hi, Fee,” said a quieter Emma.
As Felicity leaned down to kiss first Lily, then Emma, she wondered at Emma’s more restrained greeting. Was it possible she suspected something about Felicity’s whereabouts today? Her inappropriate feelings for Reed? Was she even now wondering if Felicity had harbored those feelings all along, even when Emma and Reed had been engaged?
Oh, don’t be ridiculous! How could she possibly suspect anything? That’s just your guilty conscience bothering you.
Besides, Felicity thought, even if Emma did suspect something, why would she care now? She hadn’t wanted Reed. She’d wanted Garrett. And Felicity had absolutely no interest in Garrett Keating. But even after telling herself this, she still felt uncomfortable. After the debacle with Sam, she hated deception of any kind, even when it was rooted in an omission rather than an outright lie.
Telling herself to chill, Felicity sat next to Emma and when their waiter approached, ordered a glass of her favorite German Riesling, then joined in the conversation, which centered around an upcoming baby shower for Lily.
“It’s being hosted by Jack’s cousin Jennifer,” Lily said happily. She absently pushed an errant strand of curly auburn hair under her yellow
