Weddings often turned people's minds toward marriage. Alexandra Udinov had been thinking over her big day for so long that she did not need any help.

Her best friend Nikita was finally marrying her long time beau Michael this evening. After losing both their spouses to poor health problems it was only natural that they'd find each other. Whereas most people wanted to get married in the church, Nikita and Michael chose an outside venue. Marriage matches, at least those that proved to be successful, were always based upon analogous upbringings, shared ethical and spiritual values, and mutual likes and dislikes.

Alex made her way up the driveway to Michael's house and to the chosen venue. She was a little early as always but 'better early than late' she always said. Nathan was always quite the looker but when her eyes saw Sean that evening there was no arguing his handsomeness. Alex snorted suddenly at her naiveté. She was sure she appeared ridiculous to him.

Head-in-the-clouds, hoping for a future marriage, and practically begging him to help her? Thinking about it was degrading, infuriating even. She was no delicate, easily beaten down girl she told herself. They had both agreed to drop hints about their 'new relationship' and she would do just that. When everyone heard about Miss Alex's new beau scandal was sure to erupt, or at least astounding gossip.

She was jolted from her thoughts as Sean appeared and started talking. "I beg your pardon?" she asked only hearing half of what he said.

"I said you look quite lovely this evening Miss Udinov" he said while giving his trademark smile sure to make any lady swoon.

Luckily for Alex she was not just 'any lady'. "Please at least drop the formality some today or I feel I shall kill myself. After all my new beau can certainly call me Miss Alex with my permission. It's bad enough I have to refer to you as Mr. Pierce until you are formally introduced" she told him bluntly.

"No I'm afraid you dying just won't due. Then I will have no best friend, or boss, and I would have to mourn over the loss of my new girlfriend. Maybe you can die in a few years when I'm less busy" he teased.

She hit him playfully and ran. He chased after her and was just about to get her when Nikita and Michael found them.

"Glad to see you two are having fun" Nikita exclaimed.

Alex did not reply, only gave her a big hug and Sean and Michael did the manly equivalent.

"We have something to ask you two" Michael told them.

"Will you be our man and woman of honor? We weren't going to have them again but we decided it just wouldn't feel right without you two."

"We would love to!" Alex happily answered for both of them and Sean nodded in agreement.

"Don't get mad at us for this one little favor we need to ask you then. Even though you look gorgeous Alex and Sean looks stunning, we'll need you to change. We bought a maid of honor dress and suit and we would really like you two to wear it."

"Fine but I'm keeping the suit" Sean only half joked.

"It's not orange is it? You know I detest orange" Alex told Nikita.

Nikita and Michael handed them their new outfits and lead them to their dressing rooms to talk and get dressed.

Sean had to admit the suit was impeccably made and very much to his liking. Single breasted, with three buttons, a peaked lapel, and matching trousers all in a lovely charcoal color. He knew Alex would be in a lovely shade of purple when he was handed the necktie and pocket square.

The fashionable silhouette was that of a confident woman, with full low chest and curvy hips. In this lovely purple dress Nikita had picked out Alex would be just that. Unlike her usual muslin dresses, this was made of a lovely silk like material and was a bright rich purple-pinkish color. Knowing how much Alex hated hats Nikita opted to let her wear a bright white orchid in her hair which brought even more attention to her gorgeous face.

"With you looking this lovely your plan shouldn't be hard at all. Sean will be all over you and Nathaniel will fall at your feet" Nikita told her. It was with Nikita's help that the plan got formulated at all. Unbeknownst to Alex, though, Nikita had another way she wanted the plan to work out.

"Go show Sean how stunning you look" she pushed her out the door as she knew Michael would be doing the same. Now for her and Michael's escape and for Alex and Sean to be alone. "Michael! Sonya called and said there is a problem with the ice sculpture. We have to go meet her since the wedding starts in four hours!" she yelled down the steps so he could hear.

"Coming" was all he said as he made his way to the front door and to his soon to be wife.

"We're counting on your two to finish setting the tables and getting the guests seated" Nikita commanded as Alex started coming down the steps.

Sean had just exited the bedroom he was using to change in when his eyes caught sight of Alex. He had always found her attractive but she was his best friend so he never took the thought any farther. Right now his mind slipped much farther as he imagined her lips pressed to his and him slowly ridding her of this lovely new dress.

Shaking himself out of this strange trance he managed to tell her his opinion as her eyes silently asked. "You look…just wow. Now I see why purple is your favorite color" he choked out then whistled.

She smiled as she looked over his appearance. "You're looking dapper as always except for one little thing" she critiqued.

He inhaled a quick breath as she reached for his tie. He didn't even bother tying it because it always came out lopsided. She seemed to be a master as she tied a wide, symmetrical, triangular, Windsor knot. The close proximity of her body in this dress was going to be the death of him.

Little did he know she was feeling quite overwhelmed right now too. He was her best friend and interaction was usually so easy but lately she started looking at him as more than a friend. 'It's just to get Nathan to marry me' she tried to convince herself.

They went off then to instruct all the help on what to do. Sean oversaw the bar preparations while Alex made sure the tables were the epitome of perfection. Seeing her boss around everyone made Sean admire her even more. She was not a fragile idiot but a beautiful woman with a great mind for business.

She knew he was watching her from afar and the notion made her heartbeat quicken. What was going on with her lately? With Nathan there was no spark, no chemistry, no longing glances, only companionship.

Her inner turmoil caused her to snap a bit harshly at one of the hired hands as he dropped a plate. "We need to be 100% careful and not screw anything up. Michael and Nikita are in real true love and most people don't ever find that. If even one thing goes wrong I will hunt you all down myself!"

Her words were edgy yet dripped with affection and good wishes. He looked into her eyes and felt a sense of pride…and unfathomable sense of pride and a new feeling too hard to describe or name.

"Let's go make sure all of the marriage documents are taken care of" he told her as he took her arm and led her inside. As soon as they were inside the safety of Michael's office and away from prying eyes he pushed her back against the desk. It was not until that moment he realized he planned to kiss her. He knew though he could not.

He tried to step away but she grabbed his arm. "Sean, why did you stop?"

"I think I'm getting a little too confused on what is part of our plan to make Nathan jealous and what is…um…genuine. Plus I do not know if I could stop myself if something started."

"I trust you. Think of it as practice. We don't want our first public kiss to be sloppy and look fake."

That was all the encouragement he needed He had intended for a gentle touch with little passion but something erupted between the two. She kissed him back with equal if not more strength. He took a much needed breath before deepening the kiss. Her hands tangled themselves in his hair while he grabbed her hips and pulled her closer.

That's all it took to make him inappropriately hard and she gasped in pure pleasure as she felt him grind against her. He stopped upon feeling her too close for comfort. He jerked away immediately and apologized.

"I'm sorry Alex that shouldn't have happened…I lost control."

"I'm not sorry. Now we will be able to control ourselves more in public so that doesn't happen. Besides, it was beyond anything I'd imagined" she admitted.

"Hasn't Nathaniel ever kissed you like that?"

"No not ever like that."

A knock at the door interrupted as they heard Nikita's voice. "What are you two doing? Stop making plans or canoodling or whatever you are doing. We have a wedding to finish."

They both turned guilty and straightened out their appearances.

Seeing Nikita with her back away from them they smiled at each other but the situation was not as funny as it should have been.