approached her, carrying a large crystal dish on a tray. Mitch watched her hand each set of guests who’d signed up for the sex-theme tour an envelope. She spent a few minutes with each couple, chatting, putting them at ease with her jokes and natural warmth. Damn, she worked the room as easily as she’d worked his heart.
“You bet,” he said, his gaze still locked on the sweet sway of Belle’s hips as she moved between couples. “I’m a lot smarter this time.”
* * *
HER SMILE LARGE ENOUGH that she figured her cheeks would ache in the morning, Belle handed the second-to-last envelope to one of Mitch’s cousins and his very pregnant wife.
“I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for months,” the petite redhead told her as her husband tore into the envelope. “But when Jase told me about this little sideline, I’ll admit, I went into impatience overload.”
She leaned closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. “This last trimester has me so horny, Jase is going to have to go on early paternity leave to keep up with me.”
“I had no idea pregnancy had such a stimulating side effect,” Belle said, intrigued. Before she could decide if she wanted more details or not, Jase showed his wife the invitation. From the looks of it, they’d drawn the rose garden adventure. Pure fairy-tale fantasy, complete with a rose bower and fairy lights. Belle gave a silent sigh of relief. As horny as she seemed, Belle doubted a ride in a golf cart over a gopher-ravaged golf course at night was good foreplay for a pregnant lady.
With a giggle and a promise to chat the next day, the couple hurried out of the ballroom. Belle smiled and gave a rueful shake of her head. She felt like a madam sending her couples off for a night of decadent debauchery.
This whole evening was incredible. She loved Mitch’s family. Fun, easygoing and interesting, they’d all welcomed her as if the wedding fiasco six years ago had never happened. Well, all except that one weird guy who’d tried to get her to agree to meet him for a private talk when she’d left the dais.
One last envelope to go. She had no idea what the sexual treat hidden in the heavy card stock was, but she couldn’t wait to find out. She saw Sierra across the room holding court among the single guys, including Larry, and headed that way.
She’d made it halfway when she came face-to-face with her worst nightmare. Belle’s vision wavered as fury hit. The woman who’d ruined her wedding. Belle wanted to scratch her eyes out.
Pleasant and distant, she told herself. This wasn’t the time or place to tell Mitch’s stepsister what a nasty, rotten bitch she was. Belle clenched her teeth so tightly she thought they’d crack and forced a smile on her face.
“Well, well,” drawled the stocky brunette. “I’d heard you were in charge of this little sexcapade, but I thought it was the family’s idea of a joke. What kind of kinky things did you have to do to con Mitch into trusting you?”
“Lena,” Belle said, her voice pure ice in an attempt to smother the fiery anger. “I’m surprised to see you here. You have an odd habit of showing up at Mitch’s celebrations with an eye toward ruining them.”
The other woman gave her a toothy grin and looked around the room with a disdainful shrug that shifted her blue beaded evening dress in unattractive ways.
“This party is already doomed. Why would I waste energy?”
“Doomed, is it?” Unable to help herself, Belle stepped forward until she was close enough to smell Lena’s oversweet perfume. “Why would you say that?”
Lena’s brown eyes narrowed and she flipped her hair over her shoulder with a look of disgust. “It’s a no-brainer, isn’t it? You’re in charge.” She arched her brow. “Things are bound to be unfinished. Did you plan to escape before or after the champagne runs dry?”
Belle hissed.
“Ladies, dessert is being served,” Sierra said, her tone dulcet. The hand on Belle’s waist squeezed in warning. “Lena, why don’t you go on in? I’m afraid I need Belle’s help for just a second.”
After a ten-second stare-down, the woman shrugged and left. It was all Belle could do to keep herself from going after her.
“Well, this is a fine turnaround,” Sierra said with a tense laugh as Lena flounced away. “You looking like you were going to kick her ass and me being the voice of reason.”
“Scary,” Belle agreed as