The One from the Wedding--A one night stand workplace romance Read online

  Leo brought her down on his lap and she straddled him.

  She shifted, but he stopped her. “Not yet. I want the chance to explore every part of you in case I screw up later.”

  She put her hands on either side of his face and looked into his eyes. There was a honesty there that ripped right through her. “I want that, too. You won’t screw up.”

  “Don’t. I’m not sure what I’m doing right now. I just know that I can’t let you go,” he said. He pulled her head down to his, his tongue pushing deep into her mouth. She reached down to take him into her hand and pushed her hips forward and down until she was impaled on him. She stayed still. This was what she’d needed.

  “Now you can take your time,” she whispered in his ear.

  * * *

  The One from the Wedding by Katherine Garbera

  is part of the Destination Wedding series.

  Dear Reader,

  I’m so excited for you to read Danni and Leo’s story. Have you ever said something off the cuff and had the remark come back to bite you? I hate to admit it but I definitely have. Usually, it’s more along the lines of “I don’t get Ed Sheeran” and then a few weeks later I love “Tenerife Sea.” But in this case, it’s Leo showing his ego and being more than a little bit arrogant and saying that Danni’s small business is just one of many imitators trying to ride his coattails. Um, yeah, that would make me totally ticked off.

  Also, if you’ve ever met me, you might be thinking, “Kathy, you’re not that bold.” You’re totally right, but in my mind I am. And Danni is a lot bolder than I am. She’s got one year to make her small business work or she’s going to have to go back to being a lawyer, something she’s good at and pays the bills but doesn’t really love. So, when she sees Leo at the wedding, she’s not holding back.

  If you’ve been following the Destination Wedding series you know a few Bisset-family skeletons have come out of the closet, so Leo is glad for the distraction of Danni—not only her boldness in calling him on his arrogance but also the fact that she’s smoking hot. Just what he needs for the weekend.

  I hope you enjoy returning to Adler and Nick’s wedding and Nantucket.

  Happy reading!

  Katherine

  Katherine Garbera

  The One from the Wedding

  Katherine Garbera is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 120 books. She started her career twenty-five years ago at Harlequin Desire writing about strong alpha heroes and feisty heroines and crafting stories that resonate with emotional impact and strong sensuality. She’s a Florida girl who has traveled the US, calling different states her home before crossing the pond to settle in the midlands of the UK, where she lives with her husband and a spoiled miniature dachshund. Find her on the web at www.katherinegarbera.com.

  Books by Katherine Garbera

  Harlequin Desire

  One Night

  One Night with His Ex

  One Night, Two Secrets

  One Night to Risk It All

  Her One Night Proposal

  Destination Wedding

  The Wedding Dare

  The One from the Wedding

  Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or katherinegarbera.com, for more titles.

  You can also find Katherine Garbera on Facebook, along with other Harlequin Desire authors, at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors!

  To Courtney and Lucas.

  I have always felt so lucky to be your mom

  and never more so as I’ve seen the adults

  you’ve become. Love you.

  As always thanks to my girl gang, the Zombie Belles—Eve, Nancy, Lenora, Janet and Denise. I feel so blessed to

  have you in my life, and love that you always have my back

  and know that I always have yours.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Excerpt from Playing by the Marriage Rules by Fiona Brand

  One

  “I can’t believe you told that magazine my start-up was just trying to ride your coattails.”

  It was a sunny Friday in June, the first big day of his maternal cousin Adler Osborn’s televised Nantucket wedding weekend. Well, the first public day; Leo and his family had been on Nantucket for two days now. Two very eventful days, in which an explosive revelation involving Leo’s father and the groom’s mother had nearly derailed the entire wedding.

  They’d all convened at today’s golf scramble and were keeping up a brave front. But Leo’s mom looked like she’d aged ten years overnight. His bubbly cousin, the bride-to-be, was forcing her smile and looked like she was ready to snap. He’d been hoping today’s round of golf would be a relief from the pressure they’d all been under.

  Seeing as how he’d been assigned to play with an upstart business competitor whom he’d dissed in an interview not more than a month ago, he guessed that wasn’t going to be the case. He knew that Adler had commissioned Danni Eldridge to make the bridesmaids’ jewelry instead of him because they were friends from school. But Adler had then asked Leo to supply the grooms’ gifts. His line of handcrafted leather goods fit the bill perfectly.

  He had no idea what Danni looked like before this moment. Her online accounts simply had her name and an old-fashioned Singer sewing machine logo for a profile picture. Seeing her now, he wouldn’t say she was classically beautiful but something about her made him take notice. She was to be the fourth in their team for the scramble so he wanted to smooth things over.

  Leo had never met someone he couldn’t charm. He put his hand over his heart and gave the woman a humble look. “Please accept my most profound apology. Sometimes I get a little cranky when I’m bombarded with questions from journalists and just answer off the cuff. I never would have said it if we’d had the chance to meet before. Can we please start over?”

  She watched him with dark brown eyes, and he had a feeling that his apology wasn’t really soothing her ire. He didn’t blame her at all. If someone had said that about his business, he’d never have forgiven them.

  “I guess we should. Otherwise this foursome is going to be pretty awkward,” she said with a genuine and sincere smile. “I’m Danni Eldridge. I’m at the wedding because I designed the bridesmaids’ jewelry and Adler is a friend of mine.”

  “Leo Bisset. Adler’s my cousin,” he said, offering his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  They shook, and he couldn’t help but notice how delicate her hand felt in his. Her nails were manicured but in a subtle shade. Not the latest trendy nail color that he’d seen all over his social feed from followers and influencers. Her perfume was subtle and reminded him of sunshine and days spent at the beach. She pulled her hand away and then turned to the golf cart where his brother and mom were waiting.

  “So I’m going to be the only one in this group who doesn’t know everyone,” she said. “Tell me what I need to know.”

  “What do you want to know?” Leo asked. “My brother Logan is very competitive, but I’m slightly better than he is, and my mom is the nicest woman I know. She’ll keep Logan in line if he acts up.”

  Danni smiled and shook her head. “Who’s going to keep you in line?”

  He winked at her. “No one can, unfortunately. But I’ll try to be on my best behavior to make up for that horrible thing I said.”

  “You think that will work?” she asked.

  “Not really, but I’m hoping you’ll give me a break since you know I’m trying,” he said. He’d found that honesty was always the best way to make up with anyone he’d offended. He had to admit this wasn’t the first time he’d said something that had upset a woman he was attracted to. He wasn’t really concerned about smaller businesses moving into the classic luxury lifestyle marketplace. He had always believed that a rising tide raised all ships, and he was captaining a big old fleet of luxury yachts, so he felt secure.

  “Do you just do jewelry? I wonder why that journalist brought you up in the Q and A.”

  She shook her head. “I make nautical-themed bracelets and watchbands. Some people have said the quality and craftsmanship is on par with yours.”

  He doubted that. He had a crew of highly skilled workers who had been with him since the beginning. He’d always known he couldn’t be the heir to the throne at Bisset Industries, an American multinational corporation involved in the manufacturing, refining and distribution of petroleum, chemicals, energy, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper, chemical technology equipment, ranching, finance, commodities trading and investing—that was going to his older brother Logan. So Leo had struck out and made his own way from the ground up. He’d taken the time to learn how to make the leather goods that he’d first sold at craft fairs and then in a thriving mail-order business that he’d grown from his online followers and n
ow sold in a flagship store in the Hamptons. Leo had grown the company into a lifestyle brand that had gone global. He’d worked hard for everything he had, and while he appreciated that Danni thought her product was as nice as his, he doubted that she was hand-making every item. Many small crafters relied on imports and cheaply made designs.

  “Are you wearing your product?” he asked, glancing down at her wrist and noticing the metal-and-grosgrain-ribbon bracelet that had a small D charm with an anchor wrapped around it.

  “I am,” she said, holding up her wrist.

  He noticed how small and delicate her bones were, but then he looked more closely at the bracelet and saw how well-made it was. “May I?”

  She unclasped it and handed it over to him. He had to admit that it was on par with if not better than some of the ones he carried in his store. But making one nice bracelet wasn’t the same as manufacturing a large quantity of high-quality goods. He handed it back to her.

  “I like it. I can only guess that I hadn’t seen your product when I made my remark,” he said. “Hopefully while we’re playing, I can show you that I’m not the arrogant guy you must believe me to be.”

  “We’ll see. I did hear you challenging your brother, and you sounded pretty arrogant.”

  “That’s not fair. Logan was being...well, Logan,” Leo said. “Do you have siblings?”

  “Yes,” she said. “An older brother and sister.”

  “Then you know what I mean. They can be very trying,” he said.

  She laughed. “I have to agree. It’s just funny to think of Logan Bisset as a pesky older brother.”

  “Trust me, he is very...pesky,” Leo said. “But I, on the other hand, am pretty charming.”

  “Pretty charming? I assume you’re talking about me,” Logan said as he rejoined them.

  “Hardly,” Leo said, turning to give his brother a wolfish smile before turning to Danni. “Shall we get the game started?”

  “Yes,” she said, walking toward the golf cart.

  He watched her go, thinking, for the first time since he’d arrived on Nantucket, he was going to have an interesting time.

  * * *

  Danni had deliberately put her name in with Leo’s for the golf scramble, but she was a bit surprised and intimidated to be playing with his mother and brother, as well. The Bisset family were pretty much American royalty, and for a small-town girl, being in their presence was a bit heady. But this was the world she aspired to and what she was aiming for in her own life. So, she tucked one of the curls that she’d tried to tame into submission in a low ponytail back behind her ear and lined up her shot.

  The golf course was built near the beach, and most of the holes offered a view of the ocean. The sun was shining, and it was a perfect summer day. She knew that Adler had been worried about summer storms ruining the events she and Nick Williams had planned for their destination wedding. But Danni thought the elements were cooperating.

  But apparently there were storm clouds gathering between the bride’s and groom’s families. Nick was the CEO of Williams, Inc. They were Bisset Industries’ biggest competition, often going after the same contracts. The rivalry was pretty fierce and frequently made the headlines.

  Danni had heard some rumblings at the golf clubhouse before everyone had arrived that there was some scandal brewing about the groom. Something about how August Bisset was actually Nick’s father as a result of a secret affair with Cora Williams decades ago.

  Had Danni even heard that right? While Adler wasn’t related to her uncle by blood, the discovery that Nick was August’s son had to put an incredible strain on the wedding couple. Danni hoped that whatever was going on, Nick and Adler could find their way through the crisis.

  She teed up her first shot. Everything she knew about golf she’d learned from her dad at the golf course near their home. He was a big one for taking his time and using everything as a teachable moment. Danni had always been impatient, though, and now she was struggling to remember what he’d said. Swing from the hips? Keep her hips steady?

  Mainly she just hoped she’d actually hit the ball and, fingers crossed, get it into the hole.

  She took a deep breath and held it until she couldn’t wait any longer. Then she drew back the club to swing...and missed. Ugh, she was so horrible at sports.

  “Want some help?” Leo asked, coming up next to her. “I play regularly so I’ve gotten pretty good, but before that I was a mess.”

  She doubted he’d ever been a mess at anything but appreciated him pretending he had been.

  “I’d love some tips. My dad said something about my hips—either swing through them or keep them steady...honestly, I can’t remember, and the more I concentrate, the worse I’m getting,” she admitted.

  He smiled. “I know the feeling. Here’s the thing—this is just for fun, so relax. I’m not a pro, but I keep my arms straight...like this,” he said, moving behind her and adjusting her hands on the club. “When you swing, bring the club back straight and then turn your body in the direction you want the ball to go.”

  She was trying to concentrate, but honestly, he was wrapped around her like a big warm hug, and he smelled good. Like one of those luxury stores she and her mom had liked to duck into for a little pretend shopping when Danni was growing up and her parents were working for the public defender’s office. She closed her eyes for a second, and it was almost like he was embracing her instead of showing her how to hit the golf ball.

  “Got it?” he asked.

  She smiled her thanks and then shook her head. She was here to collect intel on a competitor but also maybe pick up some advice, not start falling for his pretty blue eyes, athletic frame and grace. And he was being very generous and kind to her. He’d welcomed her as if they were old friends. Instead of reacting to her catty remark, he’d apologized...to be fair, she definitely thought he owed her one, but it had been sincere, and he’d been very nice since then.

  “If I miss again, it’s down to user error and nothing to do with your lesson,” she said.

  “You won’t miss,” he said. “I’m pretty sure this time you’re going to connect and send that ball flying.”

  She wished she had his confidence.

  Wait a second. She should have his confidence. It wouldn’t hurt. She remembered her grandmother saying that if she thought she couldn’t, then she wouldn’t.

  Danni widened her stance as she’d seen Leo do on his last putt and then set up her shot. She took a deep breath, and this time, instead of holding it, she kept breathing naturally as she swung. She hit the ball. She was so excited she turned to Leo with a squeal, not even looking where the ball went.

  “I hit it!”

  “You did. Good job,” he said. “You’ll be better than me in no time.”

  She tipped her head to the side. “Let’s not get carried away. I think we all know that I’d have to spend most of the next few years on the course every day to get to your level. But I’ll settle for at least getting the ball down the green and in the hole.”

  “I think you’ll be able to do that,” Leo said. “Are you this determined in every part of your life?”

  “I am,” she said. “Also, I’m ridiculously stubborn.”

  “I can see that. I also picked up a bit of temper. I mean, I thought you might hurt the ball if you didn’t hit it.”

  She could see he was teasing her, and she liked it. He was funny, and that was unexpected. She wasn’t sure what she’d thought Leo would be like in person. Arrogant and cocky—definitely. But beyond that, she hadn’t considered that he’d be so...well, human. “I wouldn’t have wanted to maim it.”

  He threw his head back and laughed, and for a minute Danni forgot she was trying to get business information from him and use him for his connections. She realized that she enjoyed being around him and wanted their time together to continue—something she knew would never happen. They came from two different worlds, and her brief foray into his was just that. Brief.

  She needed to remember who she was and why she was here. Men like Leo didn’t fall for women like her, and besides, she hadn’t come here this weekend for romance. She was here for business.