Love and Other Surprises by Robin Wells

cut.”
    Her breasts were at eye level, and the temperature in the room suddenly seemed to soar. Not knowing where to look, he closed his eyes as she touched his hair.
    “Ouch!” he winced.
    “Sorry.” Her voice was soft, and she stroked his head apologetically, sending a tingle down his spine. “It doesn’t look too bad—it’s just a little cut. I think it’s already stopped bleeding. Let me clean it up a bit.”
    Matt watched her pour something onto a cottonball and turn back toward him. “This will probably hurt a little,” she warned.
    She pulled his head against her breast, holding his face with one hand while she dabbed at the cut with the other. The pleasure of it far outweighed the slight discomfort. He sat perfectly still, barely daring to breathe, reveling in the feel of her cool palm on one cheek and her warm, firm breast on the other. He could hear her heart beat through the soft fabric of her sweater. He was fighting a powerful urge to reach out and pull her onto his lap, where a much stronger pain was developing.
    Ali released his head and stepped back. “There. How does that feel?”
    Terrible. We should go lie down until it goes away,
he thought wildly.
    “Fine,” he said. Even to his ears, his voice sounded unusually husky. He made an effort to clear his throat and ended up coughing.
    Ali eyed him with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe we should get your head X-rayed.”
    We should definitely get it examined.
What was he doing, thinking things like this about Robert’s little sister? He must have knocked all the sense out his head with that fall.
    Matt hauled himself to his feet. He needed to get out of here. Fast.
    “Tm fine,” he repeated. “Thanks for the first aid. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better be going.”
    Ali watched him stride from the bathroom. Only when she heard the back door close did she draw a deep breath.
    She placed a hand protectively on her chest, precisely at the spot where his head had nestled against her. She could still feel the warmth of it imprinted on her breast. Something about touching him had rattled her down to her toenails. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Matt must have heard it. At the same time, she was filled with an unaccustomed languor that made her feel like she was moving in slow motion.
    Ali opened the drawer and began putting away the medical supplies. Lauren’s none-too-subtle suggestions about Matt had made her jumpy around him, that was all, she decided. It hadn’t helped that the bathroom was unabashedly sensuous.
    Well, she needed to get a grip on her emotions if she were going to work around Matt, she told herself sternly. Maybe increased exposure to him would make her immune to him. After all, what was that old saying?
Familiarity breeds contempt.
    So far, all familiarity seemed to be breeding was spontaneous combustion.
    Giving herself a mental shake, Ali left the room, firmly closing the door behind her. If only she could close the door on her thoughts about Matt as easily!

Chapter Five
     
    If the parking lot was any indication, the wedding reception was already in full swing by the time Matt arrived at the Hillsboro Country Club. Good, he thought. He’d deliberately dawdled after the ceremony, not wanting to be among the first to arrive. He hated making small talk; by arriving late, maybe he could put in an appearance, congratulate Justin, and leave with a minimal amount of schmoozing. He was surprised to find a parking space right by the front door and maneuvered his Toyota Camry into it, hoping it was an omen that he could get in and out of the reception quickly.
    Walking into the ballroom, Matt accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and leaned against the wall. He watched the dancers glide around the floor to a Harry Connick, Jr. ballad and looked around for the bride and groom. Justin and Lauren were swaying together in the corner. They appeared too wrapped up in each other to know who