Chapter 25

Eloise’s hair fell in chaotic curls over her bare shoulders, the ends brushing past the sweetheart neckline of the strapless white bodysuit Alice had chosen for her. When she turned in a slow circle, the black sequined miniskirt sparkled in the afternoon sunlight.

She eyed the long-sleeve cream dress covered in dainty black flowers she’d brought with her. The outfit Alice had suggested was fun and flirty, while Eloise’s dress reflected her plain and simple style.

But after the way Nate had made Eloise feel last night, she didn’t want to be plain anymore. She wanted to be fun and flirty, damn it.

But this outfit? Eloise bit her lip. It came with a hefty side of sexiness that wasn’t usually her wheelhouse. She didn’t even have the right underwear. The high cut lines of the bodysuit crotch had revealed a swathe of her sensible, cotton panties.

“Are you ever coming out of there? Can I see?” Alice called through the closed barn-style door.

Eloise sighed. “I don’t think so.”

“Owen’s not going to let you move into the walk-in robe.” Eloise didn’t need to see Alice to pick up on the smile that was surely on her face.

Eloise looked around the medium-sized space filled with hanging racks and oak drawers. Her friend had downsized her wardrobe several times—each sale benefitting a different charity—but she still had more clothes than Eloise could ever imagine owning. And Alice had never heard of the phrase ‘over the top’ when it came to fashion. Right now, she was sitting outside in wide-legged pink culottes, a black turtleneck and a silver velvet bolero with short sleeves. No wonder Owen could never take his eyes off his love. Or his hands. Alice was unapologetically herself, and while Eloise knew it hadn’t been an easy road to total self-acceptance for her friend, she was still jealous.

“I’ve got to get ready too, you know.”

Fine. Alice would help her bury a body if she asked her too. And she wouldn’t laugh at how ridiculous she looked. Eloise took a deep breath and slid the door open.

A wolf whistle greeted her. “We’ve got to stop doing this. All my clothes look better on you.”

Eloise tugged at the bottom of the skirt. “It’s too short.”

Her father might have a heart attack. Although, she had to make it out of the walk-in first.

“For Joanie, yes. Tell her no when she asks to borrow it. But for you? With those legs? Hell no. Pop on a pair of black tights so you don’t freeze and Nate will be eating out of the palm of your hand.”

Eloise flushed remembering the feel of his beard against her thighs, his eyes on hers.

“Woah. What was that look all about? You didn’t!” Alice squealed. “Oh my God. You totally did. I want to know everything.”

“Even though he’s basically your brother-in-law?”

“Good point. Not everything. Just the important stuff. Did you have fun?”

Eloise hadn’t been able to stop thinking about all the fun she’d had. “So much. Multiple times, in fact.”

Alice’s hoot made Eloise giggle.

“Verrrrrry nice.” Alice waggled her eyebrows. “I’m surprised you can walk today.”

“Oh no. We haven’t done that yet.”

“Why not?” Alice rummaged through one of the drawers near the door.

That was the question Eloise had been asking herself ever since she’d woken up alone in Nate’s bed this morning. Her panic had eased a little when she found a note on his pillow.

Early meeting. Didn’t want to wake you. I’ll be in the Nate Space. Coffee and fresh bread in the kitchen for you. – N.

He’d seemed fine when she saw him walking back to the house, the beams of early morning sun casting a glow around him, his steps even and measured. He’d kissed her cheek and pulled her up off the stool she’d been sitting on for a hug that had ended with his hands under her top, her fingers in his hair. Eloise’s body began to hum from the memory. “We just haven’t.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, what?” One of the best things about her friendship with Alice was that Eloise regularly knew what her friend was thinking. And right now, Alice was obviously wondering why the same thing Eloise had been asking herself all day.

“Nothing, I just kind of thought that given the way you both look at each other when you don’t think anyone is watching, you’d be all over each other. And you’ve been friends for so long. Taking your time isn’t a bad thing.”

Eloise brushed an imaginary piece of lint off the stretchy fabric of the bodysuit. “He knows I have some”—she swallowed—“confidence issues because of what happened with the other guys I’ve been with. I think he’s just trying to be respectful. And you know, make sure that we’re on the same page.” She did her best to push aside the whisper of worries that blossomed. That she was already too invested. That he didn’t feel as strongly as she did. That once she was gone, he’d go back to thinking of her as a friend. “I suspect he’s also worried about Charlie’s reaction, but I think he’ll be fine,” she said to save face.

“Surely Charlie just wants you both to be happy?”

Eloise accepted the pair of opaque black tights Alice handed her and rubbed the silky fabric between her fingers.

“Exactly. But I’m leaving soon, and I don’t want to waste what little time we have together now. I don’t want to go slow.”

And maybe if she could show him how good they could be together, he really would wait for her.

Alice slipped her arm around Eloise’s waist and twisted them so they were both facing the floor-length mirror again. “Then you should talk to him. Someone very wise once gave me the same advice. You might remember, considering you were the only other person in that conversation.”

Eloise reached down to get her silver heels.

“Nope, nope, stop. Okay. The skirt’s too short for bending. Stand there and look gorgeous. I’ll get them.” Alice swished over to where she stood.

“Maybe I should wear my dress.” There was being flirty and fun, and then there was just looking like she was trying way too hard.

“The rest of the bridal party is made up of cheerleaders and socialites. A few sequins won’t scare them. Although you should probably pack a bib for Nate. Dude’s gonna have a drool problem. But you need a G-string. Do you have one?” Alice pulled open a different drawer.

Eloise’s eyes widened. “Uh, I draw the line at borrowing your underwear.” A nervous giggle escaped at the thought of Nate seeing underwear that his brother also had. Which her best friend had worn. That was too weird, and her life was plenty weird already.

“Oh my God, you’re hilarious. Here.” Alice tossed an unopened package to Eloise. “Someone sent me these to review. You can have them.”

She turned it over in her hand. It was a three pack of flesh-coloured G-strings that were the ‘world’s best seamfree underwear’.

“I don’t know.”

“Nate’s going to swallow his tongue when he sees you. And trust me, if he’s anything like his brother, you’re gonna want to be best friends with that tongue.” Alice’s blue eyes sparkled, a cheeky smile stretching across her face. “But you probably already know that, don’t you?”

Ahem.

“No comment. I should get going,” Eloise said.

“Not before you get changed and sit your ass down over there. I’m going to do your make-up. Nate James is going to be putty in your hands tonight.”

* * *

Nate checkedthe time on his phone. “You almost ready?” he called down the hallway.

“One second!”

He looped a charcoal tie around his neck as Echo glared at him. “I wasn’t in charge of the guest list. I’d bring you along if I could.”

He turned his head when he heard footsteps and … holy shit.

If anyone had asked Nate for his name right at this moment, he genuinely couldn’t have told them.

Standing in front of him was a supermodel. Wait, no. A vixen with wicked red lips and legs that were at least four kilometres long, silver heels dangling from her red fingertips.

Nate was going to need to light the fire and get some smoke signals going or acquire some carrier pigeons or learn Morse code because … fucking hell. He shook his head and tried to clear the fog.

“Do I look ridiculous?”

Nate grabbed Eloise’s wrist with one hand and held the other up like a stop sign because words were still too difficult.

For someone who called himself a writer, Nate couldn’t form a single sentence. He’d always loved Eloise’s casual, no-fuss approach to fashion because it highlighted her natural beauty, but this? This made her backless dress from the meet-the-family dinner at her folks’ place look like a nun’s habit. He dragged his eyes away from the heels that made him think very naughty things. He shook himself out of his lust-infused stupor when he saw Eloise’s face.

Which was covered in uncertainty.

And that just wouldn’t do.

“I don’t think I can be a writer anymore,” he said.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m supposed to be good with words and all I can think right now is how am I going to do the talky-talking tonight when you’re standing there looking like that? Christ, I’m supposed to give a welcome toast.” He scratched his beard.

“The talky-talking?” Eloise’s red lips quirked upwards. “That’s not a word, Nate.”

“I’m finding words hard right now. Other things too.” He breathed out slowly, tried to stop his cock from tenting the front of his pants.

“Really?” Eloise lowered her extra dark lashes, and he adjusted his trousers. When she smiled widely, Nate was this close to biting one of his knuckles and howling so loudly Echo would think there was a wolf outside even though Australia didn’t have wolves.

“You look amazing.” It was a paltry offering, a totally inadequate representation of his real thoughts, but it was the best he could do with such limited blood flow to his brain.

“Thanks.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and he had to get her out of here because there were far too many flat surfaces. Couches, countertops and beds. Hell, even the walls were dangerous right now.

“We should go.” He tipped his head towards the front door.

Eloise swallowed. “Could you, ah, help me with something?”

Anything. Whatever you need. Forever and ever.

“Sure.”

“Do you think you could …” She held her shoes up in front of her chest which, spoiler alert, also looked way better than amazing underneath the clingy white fabric of her top. The swells of her tits peeked out and holy shit, soon he was going to have to put his whole damn hand in his mouth.

And she wanted him to touch her?

Nate crouched down, clamping his jaws together when Eloise lifted a foot, her hands gripping his shoulders for balance. She slid her foot into the high heel, butterknives replacing his fingers as he tried to untangle the strap. Vanilla surrounded him, the heady scent more intoxicating than it had ever been before. He breathed in and out of his mouth and moved to her other foot, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the floor.

His head was millimetres from her pussy, and if he didn’t get the hell out of here, he was going to look up, shove the tiny scrap of fabric she was pretending was a skirt over her hips and convince her no one would notice if they skipped tonight’s engagement party that doubled as a rehearsal dinner. Charlie and Sera had specifically waited until now so most of their international guests would be able to attend.

“Nate,” she whispered. “You ready?”

He was ready to bend her over the back of the couch, drive into her, make sure she knew it’d always been her and it always would be.

But instead, he nodded, his knees creaking and protesting as he stood. Or maybe that was his resolve? His cock was downright livid. He twisted away and tried to adjust himself subtly, his lungs filling and emptying too quickly, any chance of coherent thoughts evaporating when those ruby-red lips of hers said, “Maybe we should take my car? I don’t think I’ll be able to climb up into yours.”

His fingers closed around the globe dangling from her keychain. The smaller backseat was definitely a good idea too just in case he totally lost his damn mind.

* * *

“I feellike I barely know you anymore,” Charlie said as he sat down next to Nate and passed him a glass filled with amber liquid. He’d obviously graduated from drinking the winery’s award winning vintages to the harder stuff.

His best mate’s eyes were glassy, a hint of dark shadows under them. “First, you shack up with my sister, and now I find out you use”—he paused, sniggering and gesturing to the rest of his groomsmen, which included Ryan—“Big Sexy Hair products. Joanie told me.”

“I think you should take it easy on the booze tonight.” Eloise leant forward, her shoulder brushing past Nate’s chest as she snatched her brother’s glass from his hand.

The function was taking place in the largest reception room at the Wattle Valley Winery, which was also where the wedding reception would be held the next week. Waiters circulated between the long tables that stretched from one end of the room to the other. Tendrils of purple flowers and green vines danced above their heads from the hanging floral installations—merely an appetiser for the flowers at the wedding Sybella had proudly announced in her speech—which scented the air with a perfume that made Nate’s nose itch.

Or maybe it was because he’d spent the night trying not to stare at Eloise and count down the minutes until he could peel her out of those sexy clothes. When a guy he recognised from the buck’s party tried to engage her in conversation, Nate clenched his jaw.

“Does it come with one of those fancy fluffy headbands so you can put your moisturiser on easily? Should we be using a night cream given we’re about to hit thirty?” Charlie asked.

“Hilarious.” Nate tried to play it off like he didn’t care, refocusing on the crème br?lée in front of him, shards of caramelised sugar and vanilla custard coating his spoon.

“Have you thought about doing an ad for them? Maybe you could offer a special discount if customers surrendered in their man card at the same time? Hand in your balls and get a lifetime supply!” Ryan held his hand up for a high five, but Charlie pushed him away like maybe he sensed the teasing had gone too far.

“That’s enough,” Eloise warned, her hand settling on Nate’s thigh, the warmth from her palm seeping through his wool trousers.

“What? It’s just a joke,” Ryan said, standing and gesturing for the group that it was time to get another drink from the bar, but Charlie didn’t move.

“Not all jokes are funny.” Eloise’s chiding tone made Nate smile. He linked their hands together underneath the table, where no one could see them.

“It’s okay,” he said. Then Nate did what he always did. He brushed the teasing away, locking it in a box in the back of his mind. He tried to tell Eloise with his eyes that he’d appreciated her defending him. When she leant into his touch briefly, their gazes steady on each other, he knew she’d got the message. A light pink blush dusted over her cheeks. Nate smiled tightly, stealing a peek at his watch. They’d be able to leave as soon as the desserts were cleared. No one said anything. Half of the guys were too busy looking at Eloise like they’d never met her before and well, add that to the list of things Nate did notlike at all. He smoothed the serviette on his lap and squeezed Eloise’s hand.

“I think you’re all worried I’m going to kick your ass on the golf course tomorrow and embarrass you all in front of Dalton.” He kept his voice light, making sure he’d removed any hints of the frustration simmering underneath his skin. Eloise shifted closer, pressing her shoulder against his.

Charlie took a long sip of his drink before he replied. “I’m sorry, buddy. We were just mucking around.”

“It’s fine,” Nate said.

“It’s really not.” Eloise looked up at him, questions in her eyes. “Come on,” she said, pulling him up out of his chair. “Let’s dance.”

* * *

“I don’t understandwhy you let them do that.” Her words were muffled against Nate’s chest as they shuffled around the parquet dance floor that had been set up underneath the marquee and overlooked Wattle River. The flaming torches attached to the edge of the deck behind them burned brightly. There was a crowd around the cigar bar at the other end and Dalton’s big, booming laugh mixed with the soft jazz the string quartet was playing.

“Ehhh, it’s harmless. They don’t really mean anything by it.” Well, Ryan did. But the others were all good guys.

“But it isn’t. And you never tell them to shut up.” She shivered in his arms.

“Here.” He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He tried not to notice how her skirt was barely visible underneath it.

How was it possible to both love and hate an item of clothing so much?

“All this is taking more of a toll on Charlie than he’s letting on.” Nate gestured back towards the crowded deck and dance area. “I think he’s uncomfortable with how over the top all of this is and just looking for a bit of fun. I get it.” Years ago—in albeit different circumstances—Nate had been in the same boat Charlie was in now. Trying to make sense of his place in a world filled with wealth and status. Meaningless sex had been his coping method; teasing was Charlie’s. At least, he’d apologised and recognised that it was heading in a direction that wasn’t funny.

“It’s no excuse.” Eloise paused in front of him, forcing him to stop as well. When she huffed, her breath tickled his chin before she looked away.

“What?” he asked.

Eloise turned back towards him, twisting her mouth from side to side. “Nothing.”

He closed the small distance between them. Using his thumb, he tilted her face towards his. “What?” he asked again.

“Is this why?” Her arms spread wide, gesturing all around them, past the crowd of people he didn’t know but who all thought they knew him, the big tables laden down with undoubtedly expensive gifts and trays of champagne flutes. This was just like his old life.

The life he’d willingly left behind because it was too much, too stifling.

“Why what?”

Eloise dragged him off the dance floor, past the dude who slapped him on the back and yelled “Go Mustangs”. She didn’t stop until they were halfway down the path to the river-viewing pontoon, the sounds of the party fading.

“Why do you try to keep yourself small?”

How did Eloise do this? See right through him. Of course, it shouldn’t have been such a surprise that Eloise had picked up on this. They’d known each other for so long now. He’d spent years noticing everything about her, and he was starting to realise she’d been doing the same thing.

“I don’t do that.”

“You always ask people about themselves, but when anyone wants to know about you—the real you—you shut down. You make everything about other people. And if someone teases you, you never call them on it. Why do you always put yourself last? Is this why …?” Eloise pressed a hand against her chest and shook her head, looking off into the distance.

The cold night air slipped over Nate’s shoulders. “Why what?”

Light swept across Eloise’s face as she looked up at him, her curls tumbling over the shoulders of his jacket.

“Is this why we haven’t had sex yet? Because you’re worried I’m going to get too attached?”

He stepped out of the shadows into the patch of moonlight that highlighted all the pebbles and sticks on the path beneath their feet. The thought of telling Eloise the truth made his stomach roil. So, he did the one thing he’d promised himself he wouldn’t do to her, hating himself before the words even left his mouth.

He lied to her, just like all the lies he’d been telling himself.

“The only reason we haven’t had sex yet is because I didn’t want to rush you.”

Really, it was because he was already scared that he wouldn’t be able to survive watching her leave.