This was not how he had intended to talk about the bet. He pressed his hand on her shoulder, and she stopped being so jittery. "I came here with you. What she said is her grasping atstraws."
Belle turned right into his muscles. He didn'tbudge.
She licked herlips. "What?"
Her blue eyes had no internal mask. He knew where he stood with her. He reached down and took her handsinhis.
"She wants my money, Belle. Don't let Jennifer or anyone else interferewithus."
She swallowed. "She's your ex. Peter, if you want to bewithher..."
Huh? His heart beat so fast in his chest. Had she not heard aboutthebet?
He squeezed her hand. "That's not it at all. You're the first woman in a long time that has challenged me. Please stay,Belle."
The elevator dinged. She stayed still and stared at it. "Areyousure?"
Her fingers laced with his feltright. "Yes."
She turned to face him, and her eyes were wide. "There are no hard feelings, Peter. If you want to go back to her,I'llwalkaway."
He held his breath and stared at her. Belle's openness blew every other woman out oftheway.
He swallowed. "Absolutelynot."
She turned and they slowly walked hand in hand to the nurse's station. "Why did your friends bet you to go outwithme?"
Adrenaline raced. He should have told her the truth. Coming from Jennifer, it sounded worse. His heart whisperedto tell the truth. He ran his hand throughhishair.
"I don't know their intentions. The moment we spoke, I never thought about the bet or why everagain."
She stared at his profile until he turned toward her. "Why did youforget?"
She'd never believe him, but he had to somehow explain why he was drawn to her. "You were too real andhonest."
A blush stained her cheeks."I'mnotthat."
"You don't have aprice."
"I thought we allhadone."
"I can't figure yours out." They turned the corner. If he didn't fix this situation, he could lose her. He didn't even look at the nurse's station. He needed her to talk. "Why did you come last minute to thewedding?"
Belle covered her lips for a minute. "Why doyouask?"
He was right. Somethinghad happened. He held his breath as he said, "You were so guarded at the rehearsal dinner, and I know you didn't RSVP even after Colt and Vicki sent the last minute plane ticket. You walked in without anannouncement."
She pressed her lips together and avoided his gaze. "So the bet was about keeping me occupied, so I didn't ruin anything for anyone? Was the plea of friendship from Coltand Vicki out ofguilt?"
Whatever brought her here didn't matter as long as she forgave him. He pressed his lips together and kept the conversation going. "Belle, I called off the bet because youfascinatedme."
"Again withthatword."
She slowed down and tugged his arm. He stopped and gazed at her. She flipped a piece of hair behindherear.
"Peter, perhaps it's bestif we say from now on that we'refriends."
He massaged his scratchy chin. If he could help her, he would. It would be his way of paying her back for that stupid bet he hadinitiallymade.
