Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,49
make enough to show up the other schools in the district?” he teased.
Instead of a smile, she narrowed her gaze, studying him for a few moments as if ready to give him a diagnosis. “Hopefully. Thank you for taking her. I’ll bring her home so you can go.”
He frowned, not understanding the cold vibe between them. What had he missed during the two-hour dance? Was she mad he hadn’t come to talk to her? “Sure. Hey, I didn’t come over because none of the men did, and I thought it was some type of unspoken agreement. We stay on our side, you stay on yours. Was I wrong?”
“Hmm? No, we do that so the girls really experience the night with their escorts. Kids tend to run back to their moms, so we try to discourage it.”
Okay, so that wasn’t it. “Did you have a good time?”
She ducked her head and began packing up tins of cakes and brownies. “Sure, these things are all the same. You can take off, you know. I’ll text you over the weekend if anything comes up about the wedding.”
WTF?
He hesitated, feeling awkward, while she ignored him and deliberately turned to talk to some of the other women.
He tried to think of something to say, but his mind went blank. He slowly turned away, dismissed, and said another goodbye to Zoe. He trudged out of the school cafeteria with his shiny, tight shoes and tie and wondered what he’d done wrong.
“How was the dance?” Avery asked, opening her laptop.
Bella avoided Gabe’s gaze and focused on the stack of notes in front of her. He’d texted her multiple times over the weekend, but she’d only responded to the ones regarding work. She hadn’t been ready to answer anything on the personal front, still simmering. If he’d actually had a date with Marlaine the same week he kissed her, she’d been completely wrong about him.
She kept her voice cool and calm, refusing to show she was upset. “Great. Zoe had a wonderful time.”
“Carter really appreciates you stepping in last minute,” Avery said to him. “He was sick most of the weekend.”
Gabe gave a curt nod. “Glad he’s feeling better.”
Bella noticed Avery biting her lip and glancing back and forth between them. The tension in the room ran tight and thick. “Okay. Did I miss something? You’re both acting weird. Is the wedding finally giving you a breakdown?”
Taylor came in, pink hair swinging, a bounce in her step. Everyone watched as she slid into her seat, propped her knees up on the opposite chair, and sipped her coffee. Her nose ring flashed in the light. “Hey.”
“Where’s your stuff?” Avery asked.
“Why do you look happy?” Bella asked.
Taylor shrugged. “I had a good weekend. I can take notes on my phone—I have a light week before the madness of spring comes. Any other questions?”
Gabe grunted.
“I guess we’re ready to start. Let’s make this a great morning, people!” Avery announced with her usual enthusiasm. “Why don’t you give us an update on Dr. Seuss?”
Bella waited for Gabe to take the lead, but he remained silent. “Go ahead,” she said, motioning for him to start.
His voice was ice-cold. “Maybe you should be the one to say. Because it seems to me I’ve been completely in the dark. I don’t know what’s going on.”
She flinched but refused to back down. She’d been completely professional this whole weekend with their communications. It was his fault if he expected her to be all warm and fuzzy after finding out he was steadily seducing all the women in Cape May while pretending she was the only one who interested him. “Fine. We have two weeks left and remain on point. Good communications with all vendors. Cake, desserts, and favors done. Gabe is handling all the family’s reservations at hotels and various activities. I’m finalizing the menu and place settings. DJ, bartender, photographer, and justice of the peace all confirmed. Are you still watching Zoe for me that weekend? I’ll be gone Friday night and not home till late Saturday.”
“Yes, no problem,” Avery said. “Have you been able to agree on the right way to present this wedding to the press?”
“We’re in agreement,” Gabe said curtly.
Taylor whistled. “Man, you guys are pissed at each other. What’s up?”
Bella sucked in a breath, and her gaze swung to his. Male temper and frustration simmered in his dark eyes. He slouched in his chair, moodily tapping his index finger against the edge of the table, regarding her in silence.