showdown at the church, so be it. No matter what, nothing was going to stop her dream of security and having a family.
Tessa consulted her list. "Wedding gown. Bernard's Bridals is two blocks over and one down."
When Gabe didn't move, she prompted him. "Hello?"
He blinked, shaking his head. "Two blocks over and one down," he parroted. Even though he was right beside her, his mind seemed miles away.
They entered the bridal store, where he dropped into a chair outside the fitting room. Leaning back, he stretched out long, hard-muscled legs, his arms crossed over his chest. While she waited for the clerk, Tessa wandered over to a nearby evening-wear display.
"Here you are, Miss Beaumont." The clerk returned, bearing her Victorian lace gown. "Oh, and Mrs. Winters selected something special for you last week. I brought it along for your approval." The clerk held up a filmy pink negligee, so sheer Tessa could see through the fabric to the store beyond.
The clerk draped the nightgown against Tessa. "Lucille is right. This hot little number will turn any man from teddy bear to tiger. Your husband won't be able to keep his hands off you."
All the blood drained from Tessa's face. Light-headed and queasy, she groped for the dress rack to steady herself.
A strangled cough burst out of Gabe. He surged to his feet. "I'll be outside." He rushed out of the shop like his pants were on fire.
The clerk zipped her dress into a garment bag. Tessa declined the provocative negligee and joined Gabe. He was pacing the sidewalk. Though the temperature hovered near a pleasant sixty degrees, sweat beaded his forehead and upper lip.
"Are you all right?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" he snapped, wiping his face on his sleeve. "All this froufrou girly sh…crap is getting on my nerves, that's all."
This man had robbed her bank with cool control, played chicken with speeding police cars and calmly dispatched a gun-toting giant. But he was falling apart while running errands?
Enlightenment belatedly dawned. "I'd forgotten. When you kidnapped me, you mentioned marriage being akin to prison. Your phobia must be nearly as bad as mine to the ocean."
"Uncomfortable, yeah," he muttered. "But I've never unraveled before."
She looked at his grim face, then her watch. Only an hour until the rehearsal. "Let's grab some sandwiches and head for the park. We can eat and relax before the rehearsal."
"Don't change your plans on my account," he growled. "I'm a big boy, I can hack it."
"I'm a little frazzled and could use some fresh air myself. It's a beautiful day." She slipped her arm through his. "Daffy's Deli is right up the street. They make a killer pastrami sub."
He covered her hand with his, giving her fingers a squeeze. "Careful. I might start to think you actually like me."
She liked him all right. More than she wanted to admit. She squelched the disturbing thought as she stashed her wedding gown in the car. They strolled down the block, arm in arm. "Stay out from under my desk and we'll get along fine."
He stopped so suddenly, she stumbled, and he had to catch her. He pointed at a boutique window. "That's perfect for you."
Tessa stared at a mannequin wearing an amber crepe sheath and matching jacket. "Too bright and too short." And the form-fitting cut would reveal way too much of the body underneath.
He snorted. "Give me a break. The skirt hits two inches above the knee." He tugged her hand. "That aged whiskey color exactly matches your eyes. Try it on."
"No." But she wanted to. The dress was beautiful.
He wiggled his impudent brows. "It's on me. A wedding gift." He pointed at the mannequin's feet. "Including footwear. Aren't those Italian?"
She groaned inwardly. Buttery brown leather pumps, exquisitely crafted. How could any sane woman resist those shoes?
"And a purse, too. You're on your way to your wedding rehearsal. Don't you want to knock 'em dead?"
Lucille would disapprove. But maybe the snappy outfit would inspire a spark of interest in her fiancé's eyes. "You should be a used-car salesman. I have a perfectly good suit in the car, but who can resist this temptation?"
"If only you found me that irresistible all the time." He chuckled.
Truth be told, the longer she knew him, the harder he was to resist. In every way. Their gazes met. Held. As if he'd read her mind, heat flared in his eyes. A short, awkward silence ticked by until she jerked her gaze back to the dress. What was the matter with her? She