Free The Heart Of The Game by Pamela Aares Page B

had been yes. But seeing her father walk Sabrina down the aisle made it all too real that her mother wouldn’t be at her own wedding.
    “Stealth isn’t required in this clamor,” Parker said. “I could sneak up on an owl in here.”
    She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Parker trying to sneak up on an owl.
    “I made a minor adjustment to the seating arrangements,” Parker whispered in her ear. He tilted his head toward the table where Cody sat with her sister Anastasia and two men Zoe didn’t know.
    “I suppose you didn’t get approval for this alteration from Alex’s mother.”
    “She wouldn’t notice if an earthquake rolled through here today, she’s so caught up in the joy of her triumphant event. Besides, compared to my mother, Alex’s mother is an angel.”
    Aunt Thea didn’t look like an angel. In her slate-blue silk gown with her hair coiffed just so, surrounded at the main table by her family and Kaz’s, she looked like a queen. A queen watching her beloved daughter with loving, misty eyes. Sabrina brushed her hand over her mother’s, and Zoe fought the wave of sadness threatening to overwhelm her.
    Parker squeezed her hand.
    “Zizi, you can’t change that she’s gone, but your mother wouldn’t want you shutting down your amazing spirit. None of us want that.”
    Though he was right, the thought of saying her vows and not having her mother there to share in the moment had hit her hard. Worse would be not having her mother to laugh with the children Zoe yearned to have, to seek advice from, to share challenges and delights... The wedding and gathering of the family had brought the reality crashing in. But this was Sabrina’s happy day; she couldn’t let such thoughts take hold. She wouldn’t.
    Parker squeezed her forearm. “I think you’ll have fun in spite of yourself.”
    She poked a finger to his ribs. “Stop reading my thoughts.”
    He grinned. “I’ll have to add mind reading to my list of charms.”
    Her concern to not ruin Sabrina’s happy day was the only force that made it possible to pull herself from the doldrums. She turned what she hoped wasn’t a wan smile to Parker.
    “I saw a help-wanted sign in the window of the psychic just outside of town,” she said, pushing back her roiling emotions. “You should apply.”
    Parker winked. “That psychic couldn’t take the competition. And besides, I’m off to ride the polo circuit in Argentina. You should come with me.” He nudged her and glanced over to where their Aunt Liliana sat entertaining a group of men gathered around her. “She would love to have you back.”
    “Don’t tempt me.”
    “But tempting people may truly be my strongest suit.”
    Parker’s playful spirit was irresistible.
    “I happen to be immune to temptation,” she said with the first laugh of the day that didn’t feel forced.
    The corner of his lips lifted. “We’ll see about that.” He crooked his arm, and she slid her hand to his elbow and let him lead her to the table.
    “I deliver to you one lady in need of diversion,” he said with a comical bow.
    Heat crept into her cheeks.
    Cody stood and pulled the chair beside him out for her. Perhaps she was imagining things but as he smiled at her, she felt that a bridge of light shot out from him. A bridge that some part of her wanted to walk across so she could enter the mysterious promise his energy seemed to conjure.
    “Aren’t we all ?” Anastasia said from her place across the table. She lifted a flute of sparkling champagne and held it out toward Zoe. “To diversion.”
    “I believe my work here is done,” Parker whispered to Zoe before he stepped away, grinning.
    Zoe raised her glass, acknowledging Anastasia’s toast.
    Cody leaned in and clinked his water glass against her champagne flute. “To diversion, then,” he said with a sexy smile that shouldn’t have stunned her.
    Her hands trembled as she lowered her eyes and set the champagne flute on the table. Her tumultuous