The Engagement Embargo: A Meet Me at the Altar Novel Read online

  “No, I agree with Jared,” Alex chimed in. “Did you do this so we’d lay off pushing you into finding someone to take home with you?”

  “I didn’t…”

  “I know we pushed you a little hard last week,” Tyler interrupted. “But we’re just looking out for you. It’s time for you to move on after the whole…you know…Tracy fiasco, and considering your folks are hell-bent on you not dating, there’s no harm with a little recreational sex.” He grinned. “Hell, you certainly had your pick last weekend. I can’t believe you didn’t take one of them home!”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t take more than one of them home,” Jared said with a snicker. “That redhead and her friend seemed more than willing to take care of you.”

  Ugh…he didn’t need the reminder.

  It had taken two showers to get the smell of her perfume off of him.

  So yeah…he didn’t hook up with anyone last weekend, and if Skye had just given him a chance to explain, she would know that.

  “Look,” Alex said, pointing at him. “He’s frowning. Probably regretting letting them get away!” There was a round of laughter, but Elliott didn’t join in.

  “We’re not going to let you get away with that crap tonight,” Jared said with a huge grin. “You are definitely going home with someone tonight. This whole carrying the torch for Tracy ends now.”

  “I’m not holding a torch for anyone,” he murmured and was relieved when their first few appetizers arrived. They each grabbed what they wanted and Elliott hoped they’d move on from the topic of his sex life.

  “If you’re not holding a torch,” Tyler questioned, “then what was the deal last weekend? I can’t remember the last time you showed such a lack of interest in women.”

  How the hell could he explain that he had plenty of interest in women–it just so happened that his interest was heavily focused on one particular woman? There was no way he was going to tell any of them he slept with Skye because they wouldn’t be able to keep it to themselves.

  Although…

  He let out a dramatic sigh. “Okay, look…I wasn’t interested because…I’ve sort of been hooking up with someone already and it’s completely casual and not a big deal so…”

  Three pairs of eyes stared at him until he started to squirm.

  “Um…”

  “Why wouldn’t you say anything?” Tyler asked. “Who is she?” And he seemed genuinely giddy with curiosity.

  Without missing a beat, he said, “Someone from work.” He shrugged. “Like I said, super casual…super secret…”

  “Good for you!” Jared said, saluting him with his beer.

  “But if it’s casual, that means you can still…”

  This time he held up a hand to stop him. “Nuh-uh. That is not my style–even when it’s casual. She’s not looking for anything serious and obviously I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I’m looking for anything with anyone else so…back off.”

  Before anyone could comment, Josie strolled up to the table with a big smile, and Elliott couldn’t help but glance behind her to see if Skye was with her.

  She wasn’t.

  “Well, well, well…it looks like you guys couldn’t wait a little longer to order, huh?” she said as she slid into the booth. “I hope we’re getting more wings.”

  Immediately, conversation started around him–his sister had that effect on people–and Elliott found himself to be mildly disappointed that she showed up alone.

  “Leanna and Skye not coming?” he asked casually.

  “They are,” Josie replied, snagging a wing. “Leanna had to pick Skye up so they should be here any minute.”

  A slow smile played at his lips, but he hid it behind his drink.

  But when he spotted Skye walking toward the table a few minutes later, he knew he was grinning like an idiot and did his best to tone it down.

  Turns out, it wasn’t that hard because she shot him a hard glare before turning and smiling at everyone but him.

  Chapter 10

  Sometimes you don’t know how much something means to you until it’s taken away.

  Unknown

  “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this,” Skye said to Leanna for the tenth time. Now they were practically at the table and her nerves were getting the best of her.

  “It’s for your own good. You tried something, it failed, and it’s over. Unfortunately, Elliott is Josie’s brother and, therefore, always going to be in your life. You need to get used to hanging out with him again as just friends.”

  It all sounded perfectly logical, but her stupid heart still hadn’t gotten the memo.

  Everyone moved to make room for them, and somehow Skye ended up wedged between Elliott and Jared. She’d met him a few times before and he was an IT guy or something. “Hey, Jared. How are you?”

  “Good,” he said with a warm smile. “Glad you ladies decided to join us tonight.”

  Somehow she doubted that, but she smiled nonetheless. “I haven’t been here in years, but I seriously used to love playing Skee-ball. Do they still have them back in the game room?”

  “They do and you’re on!” he told her, playfully nudging her shoulder, which caused her to bump Elliott’s arm. “I happen to be the king of Skee-ball!”

  She heard Elliott’s snort but refused to turn and acknowledge it.

  Their waitress came by and brought more plates and took all of their orders for more food and drinks. It was a great distraction and as soon as she was gone, conversations started up all around.

  Unfortunately, they all started up with other people, leaving Skye and Elliott to talk to each other.

  Awesome.

  “So,” he began after a few awkward moments. “How was your week?”

  She shrugged. “It was a little quiet, thankfully. This is an off week for us and as much as I hate to feel good about it, sometimes we need it to sort of refresh and regroup.”

  He nodded. “I get that.”

  Her stomach growled and she reached for a mozzarella stick and nibbled on it because she had no idea what else to say.

  Then she felt Elliott’s arm move to rest behind her along the top of the booth. He then leaned in close so he was practically whispering in her ear.

  “I’m really glad you came out tonight. I wanted to talk to you, but I wasn’t sure you would want to talk with me.”

  Sadly, neither did she, even though they were sitting ridiculously close and talking right now. If she turned her head, they would practically be kissing, so she focused on her mozzarella stick while he continued to talk.

  “We got interrupted on Monday and I think you jumped to the wrong conclusions,” he explained. “I did come here last weekend and the guys definitely were encouraging me to…you know…get back on the bike, for lack of a better phrase, but…nothing happened.”

  Now she did turn her head and they bumped noses.

  Skye jumped back a little and banged into Jared, and he took that to mean that she wanted to talk to him.

  Ugh…

  For five minutes she listened to him talk about the rec basketball league he was on and she seriously had to fight the urge to yawn. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she put her hand on his arm and gave him her most endearing smile.

  “Hey, I hate to be a bother, but I need to go to the ladies’ room,” she said sweetly. “I hate making you move, but…this is the downside to booths, right?”

  “No worries,” he said, sliding out of the way for her, and after thanking him, she quickly made her way through the crowd and outside to the party deck for some air. Right now, she just needed a minute to herself without being sandwiched next to Elliott and listening to uninspiring conversation.

  She felt someone move in close behind her. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  Turning, she put a smile on and…froze.

  “Elliott, what are you doing out here?” she asked as her eyes went wide. Looking beyond him, she frowned. “Don’t you think it looks a little suspi
cious for us both to get up to use the bathroom?”

  “I told them I was going to see about getting pitchers of beer for the table,” he said, leaning in close and giving her a playful tap on her nose. “And if we’re being technical, you’re not in the bathroom.”

  Taking a small step back, she groaned. “I just…needed some air.” Maybe it was rude of her, but she walked away and found a quiet corner because she still felt a little claustrophobic. Of course he followed, and she knew they couldn’t stay out here forever. Eventually she was going to have to go back to the table, and so did he.

  But as he moved in close to her once again, all Skye could think about was how she didn’t want to go back to the table. Hell, she didn’t even want to go back inside. Elliott effectively kept her moving until she was literally backed into a corner, and it was the least claustrophobic she had felt all night.

  Swallowing hard, her eyes slowly traveled up the length of him–from his dark khakis to the black polo shirt, up over his strong stubbled jaw, kissable lips, and eyes that were equally devouring her. “We should probably…”

  She never got to finish.

  One strong hand wrapped around her nape and hauled her in close before his lips crashed down on hers. And dammit, it was a sexy as hell move and she loved every second of it. Skye gripped the front of his shirt to keep him close even though she didn’t think he needed the help.

  She loved the way he kissed–loved how soft his lips were and how hard and muscular everything else was on him. Right now, she wanted to climb him like a tree and wrap her legs around him and then hold on for the ride! One kiss blended into the next and they were wet and needy and full of so much promise that she didn’t know how she was going to survive the rest of the night.

  As if reading her thoughts, Elliott abruptly ended the kiss and stared down at her. “Tell everyone you’re not feeling well and let’s get out of here,” he was breathless and his voice was gruff and deep and sexy and made her knees weak.

  “I…I don’t know if they’ll believe me…”

  He looked around and took her by the hand before leading her back inside. By the front entrance he said, “Stay here,” and then he stalked back toward their table. There was no way for her to know what he was saying or to guarantee Josie or Leanna weren’t going to come running to her aid, but a minute later, he was back. Once again he took her hand in his and led her out the door and she practically had to run to keep up.

  “Elliott, slow down,” she said with a laugh, and they were in his car a minute later. He hadn’t said a word to her and she was curious about what he’d told everyone. They drove for almost ten minutes in total silence and she couldn’t take it anymore. “What did you say in there?”

  “I told them you got sick in the ladies’ room and I was taking you home,” he said firmly, his eyes never leaving the road. “Leanna got up and wanted to make sure you were okay, but my sister whined a little about being left alone and since I had it under control…”

  “Wow. Nice to know Josie was concerned,” she muttered.

  “She definitely was but I sort of left no room for argument and she said something about how you saved my ass last time so now it was my turn…or something like that.”

  Now that made her feel better.

  Her phone dinged with an incoming text and when Skye pulled it out of her purse, she saw it was from Leanna.

  * * *

  Leanna: I hope you’re really not sick and you and Elliott were just making a hasty escape to make up! :)

  * * *

  Leanna: But if you really are sick, I hope you feel better and call me if you need anything!

  * * *

  Skye: Not sick at all. Everything’s good and I promise to call you tomorrow!

  * * *

  Smiling, she slid her phone back into her purse.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, that was just Lea making sure I’m okay and asking me to call her if I need anything.” There was no way she was admitting that Leanna knew what they were doing–not only tonight, but in general. “She’s a worrier and sort of like the mom of our little group, so I knew she was going to check up on me. If I hadn’t responded, she probably would have shown up at the house at some point tonight to make sure I wasn’t feverish or hadn’t fallen down and hit my head.” She laughed softly. “She’s good like that.”

  He nodded. “What about my sister? What does she do in a situation like this? You know, if you were really sick?”

  “That’s easy–she’d tell me to stay the hell away from her because she didn’t want to get sick and then she’d call in an order from any one of my favorite restaurants and have food delivered. She’s nurturing in her own way.”

  “I’m finding out all kinds of things about Josie tonight and it’s starting to freak me out.”

  That was…odd. “Like what?”

  But he was already shaking his head and before she could push him on it, she noticed they were pulling into her driveway. He parked and shut off the car but made no move to get out.

  “Elliott…”

  He had a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and was staring down at it. “We are going to talk tonight, Skylar. I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings like what we had on Monday.”

  Well drat. She was really looking forward to them picking right up where they left off on the party deck, but it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.

  Talk about a mood killer.

  Then he released the wheel and turned his head to look at her. It was dark in the car and the only light came from her front porch so he was completely in shadows. “We’re going to talk but…not right now.” Reaching out, he caressed her cheek. “Right now, I want to get you inside and carry you right up to your bedroom. It’s probably not the smartest thing to do considering we still have so much to discuss, but…I don’t even know how I haven’t pounced on you right here in the driveway. I’m holding on by a thread here.”

  Her breath came out as part laugh, part relief. “Thank God! I thought I was the only one feeling like that.”

  “Let’s go inside then,” he said, and before the words were fully out of his mouth, they were climbing from the car and running for the front door. It was the first time all week that she felt light and happy and full of anticipation.

  And it was only the beginning.

  Skye swore she’d never felt as clumsy as she did trying to open her own front door, but when she finally managed to stumble through, it was all worth it. Elliott kicked the door shut and pressed her up against it as he kissed her again–slow and deep and oh-so-wet. If all he did was kiss her tonight, it would almost be worth it.

  Almost.

  He had her caged in against the door like he had back at Flanagan’s and now she could climb up him exactly as she wanted to. Looping her arms around his shoulders, she gave a little hop and Elliott immediately reached down and cupped her bottom and lifted her. After that, they were obscenely close and all Skye could imagine was how awesome it would be if they were naked like this.

  Maybe…

  They were on the move before she could even attempt to tell him what she wanted, but it was all good because a minute later they were in her bedroom, on her bed, and Elliott’s hands were sliding under her top to take it off.

  They could try the whole door thing another time.

  It was fast and frantic and over way too soon, but Elliott was more than okay with it because the sight of Skylar naked never failed to make him wild.

  And tonight was no exception.

  It was risky to leave their friends the way they had, and normally he was too cautious to do anything like that, but kissing her out on the deck was like hitting the launch button. There was no way he was going to get through several hours with their friends when all he wanted was to get her alone and into bed.

  She was breathless beneath him and there was a primitive side to him that really enjoyed knowing he was the one that did that to her. Her skin
was flushed and he saw several spots where he had been a little too enthusiastic and bit or sucked too hard, but other than that, she was perfect.

  Carefully, he rolled off of her but made sure he pulled her in close while they both cooled down.

  He’d meant what he said earlier–tonight they were going to talk–and he knew it needed to be sooner rather than later.

  One hand gently skimmed up and down her arm as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Elliott knew that when the person you were sleeping with was just someone casual you didn’t cuddle like this, but he pushed that thought aside.

  “So,” he began quietly.

  “So,” she repeated. Her own hand was softly scratching his chest and it felt good to the point of being distracting, but he knew he had to ignore it for at least a little while.

  “Okay, I think we both need to acknowledge that this new part of our relationship is not over yet.”

  Skye nodded but didn’t comment.

  “And I know this is casual and neither of us are looking for anything deeper or anything like that, but I’m sure you’ll agree that we need to keep this exclusive.”

  Another nod.

  “Of course, if you were to meet someone who you…you know…wanted a more committed relationship with, I wouldn’t stop you,” he went on, hating the words even as they came out of his mouth. “But at that point we’d agree that this was over. Right?”

  When she nodded a third time, Elliott reached down and tipped her head up so he could see her face. “Feel free to jump in with some words of your own, Skye,” he teased lightly.

  Beside him, she shifted slightly before tangling her legs with his and snuggling closer.

  He seriously loved when she did that.

  “Everything you’re saying is what I want too,” she said, but…she didn’t sound all that happy about it.