Read Online Be My Hero by Nell Dixon - Free Book Online

plant air kisses on her cheeks.
    â€œHello, Karen. What can we do for you today?”
    The woman opened her bag and produced her journal of wedding plans. “I had a thought about the wedding favours. Sugared almonds are so passé, and I wondered if handmade chocolate truffles might be better.”
    â€œFine. I’m sure that won’t be a problem.” She waited for Karen to work her way through the usual list of alterations, but Karen returned the book to her bag.
    â€œI saw Evan Davies the other day.” Karen smiled at her. “You and he were rather close at one time, weren’t you?”
    Nathalie pinned a smile to her face. Karen had always been nosy. “Evan’s an old friend. It’ll be nice to have him back in town.”
    â€œYou know he was married to Laurel Hunter?” Karen delivered the information with the air of someone who had uncovered a state secret.
    Tension built in Nathalie’s jaw as she tried to keep her smile in place. “Oh yes, I believe it’s common knowledge.” She wasn’t certain it was, but knew it would wipe the smirk off Karen’s immaculately made-up face if it looked like she didn’t have the inside track.
    â€œHe has custody of the child, doesn’t he? It’s a very strange affair, in my opinion. The mother nearly always gets custody.” Karen sniffed.
    â€œI’m sure the courts have their reasons for Polly being in Evan’s care.” Nathalie glanced around to look for Gemma, hoping she might come to the rescue. She had, however, disappeared back into the storeroom.
    â€œHave you seen them, then?” Karen fingered the edge of a diamante-spangled veil with ill-disguised interest.
    â€œEvan came to Nate’s wedding reception.” Nathalie itched to smack Karen’s pointy-nailed fingers away from the delicate lace.
    â€œI didn’t realise you’d stayed in touch. Didn’t he disappear and leave you in the lurch before?”
    â€œYou shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Like I said, we’re old friends.” She had no intention of letting on that she hadn’t even known Evan would be at the reception. Karen was one of the biggest gossipmongers in town.
    â€œWell, when you see him next, remember me to him, won’t you? Perhaps you could bring him to my wedding rehearsal?”
    Nathalie thought she would rather stick forks in her eyeballs, but she continued to smile at her customer. “If I see him, I’ll ask.” She crossed her fingers surreptitiously behind her back.
    â€œMarvellous, darling. Well, I’d better be getting along.” Karen hitched her bag onto her shoulder and patted her auburn hair into place.
    â€œI’ll sort out the wedding favours for you and call to confirm.”
    She looked blank for a moment. “Oh yes, of course. That’ll be super. Bye, then.” The shop door closed behind Karen. Nathalie’s shoulders sagged with relief.
    â€œIs it safe to come out?” Gemma slipped back through the curtains.
    â€œYes, she’s gone.”
    â€œHere’s a fresh coffee. I thought you’d need it.”
    â€œI need a brandy after I’ve seen her.” Nathalie accepted the mug with a grateful sigh.
    â€œWhat did she want this time?”
    â€œI’m not quite sure. She said she wanted to change the wedding favours, but she was more intent on trying to dig up information on Evan. Oh, and she wants me to invite him to her wedding rehearsal.” Nathalie pulled a face.
    Gemma looked baffled. “Why?”
    Nathalie shrugged. “I told you Evan’s ex-wife is Laurel Hunter? Well, Karen likes to think she’s the queen bee of every social event in town, doesn’t she? You can bet she’d be on to the press like lightning if Evan went to the rehearsal, just so she could make the society column.”
    â€œKaren’s whole wedding is one big drama. No one else would turn