Free A Pregnancy Scandal by Kat Cantrell Page B

probably it. The difficulty of pushing back his emotions was messing him up. But it was only fair to Alex that he didn’t spend the day dwelling on Gina. What else was he supposed to do but shut down everything inside?
    â€œSure. But you have to tell me if you need to stop. I’d rather not make our wedding memorable for the wrong reason.”
    Looked like he would get to dance with his new wife after all. It shouldn’t have been a big deal. He could pretend his internal turmoil had Gina’s name all over it, but this dance suddenly meant something to him.
    He led Alex to the dance floor, threading through the crowd of onlookers, and honestly, he couldn’t pick out one single face he recognized. They all blurred together as he took his wife into his arms and held her close, swaying slowly. She nestled into his arms, closer than appropriate for the style of music. It was supposed to be a ballroom dance that would impress and dazzle. Alex had worried she wouldn’t be able to perform. He’d waved her concerns aside.
    Right at this moment, he didn’t care what anyone thought of either of their dancing abilities. This was their wedding. Like Alex had said. They should enjoy it regardless of the compromises that had led them here, and he planned to.
    He spread his hand against the silk at her back and breathed in the scent of sugary pears. It was the same fruity flavor Alex had worn the night they’d made love, and the rub of her body against his woke up the memories in a hurry. Who was he kidding? What had led them here was a completely illogical attraction.
    Pulling back a bit, he watched her as something unfolded in her expression. Her color had come back, flooding her cheeks gorgeously. Gone was the slightly glassy sheen to her eyes that had been there since the ceremony.
    In its place was something wholly affecting. Wholly sensual.
    Her grip on his waist tightened as awareness bled through them both. There was no mistaking the rising heat in her gaze, in her bated breath, radiating from her touch. And there was no way for her to misinterpret his body’s reaction to it all, not with how closely she pressed against him.
    â€œYou look stunning,” he commented hoarsely, pleased his voice had worked at all.
    Her smile lanced through him. “Thanks. I wanted to. For you. It took me a long time to find a dress that wasn’t too fancy but was classy enough for your crowd.”
    â€œSweetheart, in that dress, no one here is classy enough for you .”
    She laughed softly. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Senator Edgewood.”
    â€œReally? That’s the most interesting statement you’ve made all day, Mrs. Edgewood.”
    He wanted to roll that name around on his tongue some more. He didn’t want it to be strange. There’d been a time when he’d been sure there would never be another Mrs. Edgewood in his life. A time when he’d cried out against the reality of having to find one.
    His search had ended with the woman in his arms. He couldn’t have done this with someone who had romantic expectations and stars in her eyes. Or worse, a true wife of convenience who fit his criteria to the letter and had as much personality as the paper their agreement was written on.
    The real question though—whether he could do this with Alex—remained to be seen.
    Her brows lifted a touch. “Oh, yeah? That was better than ‘I do’?”
    â€œThey were both great,” he amended as he swung Alex around with a little more gusto since she seemed to have fully recovered.
    The evening was looking up. A real wedding night would make all the doubt and difficulties worth it. Solidify their partnership. Give them a chance to bond over their decisions.
    The crowd applauded as the number ended and other couples streamed onto the dance floor.
    â€œIs it time to leave yet?” he echoed and drew the laugh from her he was hoping for. “I have