Switched At The Altar

And he wanted her for himself.

Disgusted with himself, Alex cut a glance to Desiree. He took in the sight of those tempting lips. She’d wanted him to kiss her, still wanted him to kiss her, judging by the dazed heat that lingered in her eyes. And heaven help him, he’d almost given in to the urge to do so, and would have, in fact, had it not been for the cat.

Alex clenched his jaw. For both his sake and Kevin’s, he couldn’t let his brother marry this woman, he told himself again. To do so would be a disaster. Somehow he had to find a way to prevent that from happening, because, despite her denials, he suspected her sights were set on his brother.

He could use himself as bait, a voice inside him whispered. He was rich, decent looking and wasn’t without charm when the occasion called for it. Over the years he’d become adept at engaging in mutually satisfying relationships with women that never led to marriage. Why not do the same with Desiree? If he did, surely Kevin would see how wrong the woman was for him.

Alex frowned. The danger was he hadn’t been thinking of Kevin or of saving his brother from Desiree’s clutches when he’d almost kissed her. The truth was he hadn’t been thinking at all.

The cat abandoned her dance around his legs and jumped up to the credenza beside him, where it proceeded to nuzzle his arm, leaving a trail of black fur along the sleeve of his gray suit jacket. “Friend of yours?” Alex asked as he returned the cat to the floor only to have it promptly resume its perch beside him. Giving up, Alex moved out of the creature’s path as his eyes started to fill again.

“That’s Maggie,” Desiree told him. Abandoning the chair, she walked over to the credenza and stooped down to face the cat. “Where have you been, you naughty girl? I was worried about you. I looked everywhere for you last night.”

The cat meowed in response and licked at Desiree’s outstretched fingers a moment before jumping down to the floor and heading straight for him. Alex’s nose started to twitch as she brushed against his pant leg again.

“Maggie, what a shameless little flirt you are. Leave Alex alone and come back here.”

The cat ignored Desiree and started in on the other leg of his suit trousers. Her silky black fur clung to the Armani like a magnet. Stepping over the cat, he removed himself as her rubbing post by walking over to the desk. The stubborn little fur ball trotted right behind him. The stinging in his eyes worsened. Alex blinked several times and reached for the handkerchief in his back pocket to wipe at his tearing eyes. “What’s with this cat, anyway?”

“She likes men,” Desiree offered by way of explanation.

Like mistress, like cat, Alex thought silently as his eyes continued to water and burn. His nose twitched again. Despite his efforts to control it, Alex gave in to the inevitable and sneezed.

“Bless you,” Desiree said. Walking over to the desk, she pulled open a drawer and withdrew a box of tissues. She shoved the box toward him.

“Thanks.” Alex stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket and snatched a handful of the tissues just before the next round of sneezing hit him.

After several moments the worst of the allergy attack was over. He wiped at his eyes again and watched as Desiree stooped down and retrieved Maggie. “Come on, sweetie. I think you’re making poor Alex sneeze.” She nuzzled the furry creature, heedless of the black fur it left clinging to her white shorts and blouse.

Alex stared at those long, slender fingers as she stroked the cat. Silently cursing himself, he tried to block out thoughts of what it would be like to have her fingers stroking him the same way.

Her hand went still at the sound of a tap on the door, and Alex breathed a prayer of thanks.

The tap sounded a second time. “Hey, Des. You in there?” The minister—minus his collar and robe—stuck his head in the door.

“Right here, Charlie.”

The fellow stepped inside, then he looked from Desiree to him and back to Desiree again. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

“You weren’t. Mr. Stone and I were already finished our discussion. What’s up?”

“That real estate lady, Miss Marilee, you know, the one with the fancy hats? She just called and said she’s on her way over. She wants to pick up the key to the cottage. Says she’s got a real hot prospect coming with her who might rent the place from you.”

Alex didn’t miss the look of hope that came into Desiree’s eyes as she slid open a desk drawer and removed a ring with a gold-colored key.

“Well, let’s hope Miss Marilee’s right.”

“Want me to wait out front for her and give her the key?” Charlie offered.

“Thanks, but I’ll do it. You go on home.”With the cat in her arms, Desiree started for the door.

“Ms. Mason. Desiree—” Alex began, only to sneeze again when she walked past him with the cat.

“Bless you.”

“You getting sick?” Charlie asked. “Nothing worse than a summer cold.”

“I don’t believe that’s a cold he’s suffering from, Charlie,” she said, pausing as the other man opened the door for her. “I have a strong suspicion that Mr. Stone here is allergic to cats,” she said as she cuddled the ball of black fur in her arms.

“Pets,” he corrected before sneezing again. “I’m allergic to pets period. It’s the animal fur. And quit calling me Mr. Stone. My name’s Alex.”

The corners of her lips curved upward. “Well in that case, Alex, I’m sure you really don’t want to spend any more time at Magnolia House than you already have.”

Alex narrowed his still-tearing eyes. “I think I can manage to survive one little cat.” That is, he could if he got some antihistamine tablets.

“Oh, but I wasn’t referring to Maggie. I meant the rest of my little four-legged family.”

“The rest?” he asked suspiciously, not liking the Cheshire Cat grin spreading across her lips.

“Uh-hmm. At last count, I believe there were thirteen of them.”

“Thirteen! Nobody has thirteen cats!”

“Oh, but they’re not all cats. Although I admit, several of them are Maggie’s adorable siblings. I also have three dogs, a squirrel, a rabbit and—”

“Stop!” Alex held up his hand, his eyes filling again at just the thought of being subjected to all those animals—and the resulting bout of sneezing and weeping eyes.

She released a squirming Maggie, and the cat scooted out the door. “When you get back to Boston, you might want to see an allergist about some medication. Looks like you’ve got a bit of a rash starting on the side of your face.”

Alex’s hand went up to the right side of his face instinctively. He hadn’t broken out with hives since he was a kid. At the twitch of her lips, he let his hand fall back to his side.

“And don’t you worry. When Kevin gets back, I’ll be sure to tell him that you came by.” With a smug look on her face, she slipped out the door.

Frowning, Alex noted the seductive sway of her hips as she made her way down the hall with Maggie trotting at her heels.

“She’s not kidding, you know.”

Alex jerked his attention back to Charlie, the minister, who leaned against the doorway, an intent look on his face. “What was that?”

The older man folded his arms across his chest and gave him a measuring look. “I said she’s not kidding about all those pets, so if you are allergic, you might want to take her advice and put some distance between you and this place.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

The other guy shrugged. “Suit yourself. But if you hang around here you’re liable to run into more than a few of Desiree’s critters. She’s got herself a whole mess of them. Cats, dogs, even a squirrel just like she said. Doesn’t matter what it is, if the creature shows up here on her property, the next thing you know, she’s given the thing a name and made it a part of her family.”

“She sounds like a veterinarian’s dream.”

Charlie’s lips kicked up in a half smile. “Yeah. I suspect she is.”