Read Online BEAUTY AND THE BEST MAN by Maureen Child - Free Book Online Page A

they were together, Matt had found a way to touch her, be close to her. Even when they were arguing, which was most of the time, there was a sexual tension humming between them that wound tighter and tighter. Naturally, inevitably, that tension exploded one night after the four of them had gone dancing. By the time Evan and Angie had left to go home, Matt and Kayla had been ready to tear each other’s hair out.
    Of course, she remembered, they’d ended up tearing each other’s clothes off instead, but Angie didn’t need to know that.
    Just like she didn’t need to know that that one explosive night with Matt Hollis was still haunting Kayla’s dreams.
    As was the fact that a few days later, he had left for the California offices of Lassiter Media where he had stayed for the past nine months. Now he was back for the wedding and to smooth out some local Lassiter Media business and Kayla really didn’t want to see him again. Well, she did, but she didn’t.
    It was all very complex.
    But she couldn’t very well say any of that to Angie. “He’s just not my favorite person, okay?”
    “I’m getting that. But the wedding’s two weeks away now so can you just pretend you don’t hate his guts for now?” Angie lifted her coffee cup in a salute. “Once Evan and I are off on our honeymoon, Matt will go back to the L.A. office and you two can return to avoiding each other, okay?”
    “I didn’t say I hate his guts,” Kayla muttered. This would be so much easier if she did hate him.
    Instead, like a complete crazy person, she still wanted him. In spite of everything—including the fact that after their one unbelievable night together there had been... nothing. He hadn’t called. Probably hadn’t given her a second thought. Oh, she had known that he would be moving to California, but he hadn’t even bothered to say thanks for the good time. And now he was back. However briefly. For the sake of her pride, she was going to have to pretend that nothing had happened between them.
    Oh, the next couple of weeks were going to be so much fun!
    “Enough about Matt,” Kayla said abruptly, not wanting to give him any more of her time. “What’s going on with you and Evan?”
    Angie shrugged. “Wedding stuff. You know. Counting down to the big day, so we’re both really busy.” She checked the slim, gold watch on her wrist, took a quick, last sip of coffee and set the cup down. “Evan’s great. We’re great. Look, I’m sorry, sweetie, but I have to run. I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.”
    Frowning slightly, Kayla said, “Okay, sure. Are you still coming to the showing tonight?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it. I know you’ve been working for weeks to set this up.” Angelica slid out of the booth, grabbed her brown leather bag and smiled. “We’ll be there. All of us.”
    Kayla went still. “ All? ”
    Angie winked at her. “Me, Evan and Matt.”
    Kayla’s stomach did a quick, discomfiting twist that she really didn’t want to think about. “Why are you punishing me?”
    “Because it’s so much fun!” Angie grinned and added, “Besides, after the showing, Evan wants to go and listen to a new band he heard about for the reception.”
    “I thought you already chose the band.”
    “I did.” Angie wrinkled her nose. “Evan wants something different.”
    “Getting kind of last minute, isn’t it?”
    “Really feels that way.” She checked her watch again and started walking. “Gotta go. See you later.”
    Kayla watched her friend hurry from the diner and couldn’t help thinking that more and more often lately, her lunches with Angie were cut short by business. Angie had always been the heir apparent to Lassiter Media and had devoted herself to helping the company grow and expand. But ever since her father J.D. Lassiter’s health had taken a serious downturn a few months ago, Angie’s devotion had pretty much taken over her life. She’d been splitting her