Free ANightatTheCavern by Anna Alexander

out?”
    “Because,” her fingers tightened around the pen, causing the
plastic to crack, “it’s six days before your wedding and orders for this
weekend have already been filled. It may be hard to believe, Megan, but you’re
not the only one getting married this weekend.”
    “Well I’m the only one that matters!”
    “Girls, stop this shouting.” Eloise put her arm around her
youngest daughter. “Darling, you must stay calm. You don’t want to pop a blood
vessel before your big day, and, Mandy Pandy, stop antagonizing your sister.
She’s under enough pressure as it is. Go to your little computer and find us
those napkin rings.”
    “I’m not promising anything.” Miranda marched away from her
family before she did something childish, like throw a glass at the wall. While
the crunch of crystal against drywall would have been oh so satisfying, it
wasn’t worth having the destruction come out of her paycheck.
    As she walked toward her desk, she heard her mother trying
to placate her sister. “Don’t mind her, Megan princess. You know how jealous
she must feel about you marrying a successful doctor and she has no one. Show
some compassion.”
    “What do you want me to do, Mother? I made sure to invite
Bryant’s single fraternity brothers. If she can’t land one of those men, she’s
hopeless.”
    Indignation burned the back of Miranda’s throat but she
refused to acknowledge the irritation. Their pity was stupid and misplaced. She
didn’t need a man in her life to be happy, and she certainly didn’t need her
sister and mother trying to set her up. She was perfectly capable of finding a
man on her own, if she so wanted.
    Like Jorges.
    Tears welled up at the thought of his name. Had she been
insane to leave him all alone in that big bed, looking sexy and sated with the
curve of his butt and golden expanse of his back peeking out from beneath the
rumpled sheets?
    Nope. That move had been completely logical.
    As she had stood there staring over him like a creepy
stalker eyeing the weak and tasty, she knew the worst thing she could do was
wake him and face the horrible morning after. To have his sexy smile turn
indulgent as he patted her on the head and said farewell would have been a
butter knife to the heart. He probably forgot all about her before she left the
nightclub.
    For one night, she’d been bold and sexy and Jorges had given
her that power. It was a gift she’d always treasure. No, it was better to leave
first and not risk tarnishing her perfect memories.
    Of course, as is wont to happen to all best-laid plans, that
idea was obliterated to smithereens as she walked to the main part of the
showroom where her desk was located and spotted Jorges near the front window
display. His arms were folded across his black cotton-covered chest and a
contemplative frown marred his brow. The moment her heels skidded to a stop on
the concrete floor he lifted his gaze in her direction.
    “Hey.” He smiled and gestured to the table. “Who put this
together?”
    “I—” She coughed and tried again. “I did.”
    “Really? It’s fantastic. I would have never put together
that bright orange with that shade of blue. And the stone platters are an
excellent touch.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You know, I’ve been working on a project for a restaurant
in Madrid and haven’t found my inspiration. May I use your ideas?”
    “What? Uh, sure.”
    He liked her design? A highly sought-after designer wanted
her design? Really? But even as the warmth of his compliment stroked her ego,
his unexpected appearance caught her completely off-guard and before she could
control herself she blurted, “What are you doing here?”
    His gaze narrowed as his lips pressed into a firm line. “You
didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye.”
    “Oh, well.” Heat raced across her face. “I didn’t, um, know.
I—I didn’t want to make things weird. The entire night was a first for me and
I’m not exactly up with the