Special Order Groom. Tina Leonard

was going up in smoke.” Bess frowned. “You know why she fainted, don’t you?”

      Martin and Elle swiveled to stare at her.

      “Because Mitch had been kissing her.”

      “Oh, my.” Elle perked up. “Did he tell you that?”

      “He didn’t have to. I could tell by the way she stayed away from him as if he were dog poo. And then when I asked him, he all but admitted it. So I had to tell him to leave her alone. If her father were here, I’m sure he’d do the same.” After a moment of self-righteous silence, Bess paused to look up. “He would, wouldn’t he?”

      The threesome was very still.

      “I hope I did the right thing,” she murmured. “We did agree that keeping them apart was the proper route.”

      “Yes, we did.” Martin nodded.

      “We certainly thought we were acting in her best interest,” Elle agreed.

      They were quiet again for a moment.

      “You know, I’ve got a sudden hankering for a drive,” Bess said. “I need some fresh air.”

      Martin snapped his fingers. “I forgot to give Crystal her gag gift, didn’t I? We could just run it over to her house while we’re out for our drive.”

      Elle raised her eyebrows. “You didn’t buy her a gag gift.”

      His shoulders slumped. “No, I didn’t.”

      “Never mind,” Bess said, suddenly energized. “We’ll just run these pretty posies of Mitch’s by her house. The more I think about it,” she said, lifting the salmon-and-white garden roses from the vase, “I’m positive she didn’t mean to leave without his gift!”

      “MITCH!” CRYSTAL EXCLAIMED after getting out of her car. “What are you doing here?”

      He stood on her porch, holding a bottle of something that looked suspiciously like champagne. “Waiting for you, princess.”

      “Oh, please. That line won’t get you in the door.” She walked up to him, eyeing the bottle with unease. “What do you want?”

      “To talk to you.” He held up the champagne to ward off her protests. “Talk only.”

      “We don’t require champagne to talk.” She’d had a glass of champagne at her party. Somehow it didn’t seem wise to combine more bubbly with heartbreak, no matter how much her every sense called out to give in and enjoy Mitch’s very exciting kisses.

      “You’re right.” He smiled, and her resistance registered a devastating crack. “But Crystal, I would really like the chance to speak to you.”

      She had to step closer to the front door so that she could mentally distance herself from temptation. “I…I have to work tomorrow. And I’ve celebrated enough, thank you.”

      “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about your birthday as much as I’m trying to bribe you.”

      “Bribe me?”

      “Unfortunately, yes.” He sighed. “I won’t deny I enjoyed kissing you tonight, Crystal. But when I went over to your folks’ house, your mother gave me a stern lecture about staying away from you. I realized she was right.”

      Crystal was totally amazed. “I would have thought my mother would push you into my life.”

      He shook his head. “Quite the opposite. She made me realize how inconsiderate I was to…force my attention on you. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I’m sorry.”

      With a jolt of astonishment, Crystal knew she didn’t want Mitch to regret kissing her. In fact, just seeing him on her porch had given her a delicious sense of shivery pleasure. Not that she would allow herself to fall for him again, but the thought that he might still feel something from the past the same way she did was tantalizing. “So, if you’re not here to ravish me into a champagne haze, why are you here?”

      “Do you mind if I come in? It’s something I’d rather discuss somewhere other than your porch.”

      No way was she falling for this. Once he was inside her house, she might never get him out. He was still inside her heart, refusing to leave. “How about if I meet you later this week at the coffee shop?”

      For once the smile left his face. “Crystal, look. I promised your mother I wouldn’t pursue you. I won’t. I would like to share your birthday with you, I won’t deny that. But I really need a favor from you.”

      This from the man who’d dashed over to make certain she was only faint and not suffering a medical trauma. She sighed. “Can we agree on fifteen minutes, then? I really have to get up early in the morning.”

      Mitch nodded, handing her the champagne. “I’ll set my watch. It’s got an alarm guaranteed to bring police running if I’m not gone.”

      Rolling her eyes, Crystal unlocked the door. Three large bodies whistled through the opening, furry heads with enthusiastic tongues licking both her and Mitch, tails whipping their legs.

      “No wonder you don’t want a man,” he observed. “You have your own ‘honey I’m home’ greeting squad.”

      “Sit, Thor.” She pushed down a giant Great Dane that looked more horse than dog. “Sit, Igor. No, Nip. No nibbling on Mitch’s trouser leg.” The rest of the roll call was averted as she shooed the canine crew toward the back door.