Read Online Bringing Home a Bachelor by Karen Kendall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Karen Kendall
Tags: All The Groom's Men
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grateful sip. She drank most of the coffee before she finally slid the note out and read it. In neat but bold lettering it said:
Dear Melinda,
Last night was incredible…a wonderful surprise to find out that the little girl next door has grown up to be all sexy woman. I can’t wait to see you at breakfast. In the meantime, how about some coffee?
Pete
She picked up the rose and smelled it; inhaled the deep, sweet floral velvet of its petals. She read the note again. He did have nice manners—he’d been sweet and thoughtful without making her feel cheap.
She picked up the envelope to slide the note back into it, and something fell out onto the tray—the tiny, perfect sand dollar she’d found on the beach and tucked into her cleavage. Another unexpected touch.
Mel had planned to get her things together and go home, skipping the breakfast, but now she hesitated.
Slinking out of here like a dog with its tail between its legs smacked of shame, and she had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Nothing.
She and Pete were two consenting adults and they’d known each other for a long time. So what if it had been a booty call? They happened all the time.
And while she really didn’t want to see her mother, she refused to run away and by doing so, validate Jocelyn’s hurtful comments. So she had another cup of Pete’s complimentary coffee, then ratcheted up her chin and headed for the shower.
* * *
F ORTY - FIVE MINUTES LATER , Melinda stepped out onto the bay-front terrace where Playa Bella had set up the wedding breakfast. She wore a navy sundress with white polka-dots, some freshwater pearls around her neck, and white kitten-heels. She’d left her hair down.
While the coffee had helped clear her head, she was definitely feeling the effects of too much champagne the night before. Still, she greeted Aunt Mildred with a smile and a kiss on the cheek, and then chatted with some of the other guests.
Kylie, Melinda and Mark’s very young aunt—and Melinda’s good friend—looked even more hungover than she was. And somehow sheepish, with an angry edge.
“Hey, Kylie,” Mel said, as she gave her a hug. Her aunt was only a couple of years older than she was, a tall, statuesque blonde. Mel would have been in awe of her model good-looks, but since she saw her practically every weekend in a scruffy plaid bathrobe, unshaven legs and mangy flip-flops, she hadn’t been intimidated by her in years.
“Hi, honey.” Kylie seemed distant and wary, and scanned the crowd like a secret service agent, her usually warm, hazel eyes narrowed and cold.
“Looking for someone?” Mel asked, scanning people herself for any sign of Pete.
“More like avoiding someone,” Kylie said cryptically.
“Who?”
“A complete jerk.”
Mel’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t know any had been invited, except for maybe my mother.”
Kylie’s lips twitched. “On the outs with Joss again? Sorry.”
Mel grimaced. “Yeah. So who’s got you so pissed off?”
“Nobody.” Kylie might be all woman on the exterior, but emotionally she functioned more like a guy. She was a great listener, but shared only when forced to.
Hmm.
Hadn’t Mark said Kylie had been gone from the reception, too? Had she hooked up with someone? It wasn’t like her, if so. Mel would try grilling her, but not in front of all their relatives.
She once again searched the guests for Pete.
Most of the younger generation seemed to be missing in action and were probably still asleep. Mel didn’t spot a single groomsman other than…there he was.
He was dressed in khaki pants and a polo shirt, his hair still damp from the shower. He was giving some instructions to the servers near the buffet, serious for a moment, then nodding and smiling, clapping the shoulder of a young guy dressed in the kitchen uniform of a white cotton jacket.
He must have sensed her gaze upon him, because he turned and smiled at her. Mel experienced a curious sensation. Her heart seemed to
Dear Melinda,
Last night was incredible…a wonderful surprise to find out that the little girl next door has grown up to be all sexy woman. I can’t wait to see you at breakfast. In the meantime, how about some coffee?
Pete
She picked up the rose and smelled it; inhaled the deep, sweet floral velvet of its petals. She read the note again. He did have nice manners—he’d been sweet and thoughtful without making her feel cheap.
She picked up the envelope to slide the note back into it, and something fell out onto the tray—the tiny, perfect sand dollar she’d found on the beach and tucked into her cleavage. Another unexpected touch.
Mel had planned to get her things together and go home, skipping the breakfast, but now she hesitated.
Slinking out of here like a dog with its tail between its legs smacked of shame, and she had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Nothing.
She and Pete were two consenting adults and they’d known each other for a long time. So what if it had been a booty call? They happened all the time.
And while she really didn’t want to see her mother, she refused to run away and by doing so, validate Jocelyn’s hurtful comments. So she had another cup of Pete’s complimentary coffee, then ratcheted up her chin and headed for the shower.
* * *
F ORTY - FIVE MINUTES LATER , Melinda stepped out onto the bay-front terrace where Playa Bella had set up the wedding breakfast. She wore a navy sundress with white polka-dots, some freshwater pearls around her neck, and white kitten-heels. She’d left her hair down.
While the coffee had helped clear her head, she was definitely feeling the effects of too much champagne the night before. Still, she greeted Aunt Mildred with a smile and a kiss on the cheek, and then chatted with some of the other guests.
Kylie, Melinda and Mark’s very young aunt—and Melinda’s good friend—looked even more hungover than she was. And somehow sheepish, with an angry edge.
“Hey, Kylie,” Mel said, as she gave her a hug. Her aunt was only a couple of years older than she was, a tall, statuesque blonde. Mel would have been in awe of her model good-looks, but since she saw her practically every weekend in a scruffy plaid bathrobe, unshaven legs and mangy flip-flops, she hadn’t been intimidated by her in years.
“Hi, honey.” Kylie seemed distant and wary, and scanned the crowd like a secret service agent, her usually warm, hazel eyes narrowed and cold.
“Looking for someone?” Mel asked, scanning people herself for any sign of Pete.
“More like avoiding someone,” Kylie said cryptically.
“Who?”
“A complete jerk.”
Mel’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t know any had been invited, except for maybe my mother.”
Kylie’s lips twitched. “On the outs with Joss again? Sorry.”
Mel grimaced. “Yeah. So who’s got you so pissed off?”
“Nobody.” Kylie might be all woman on the exterior, but emotionally she functioned more like a guy. She was a great listener, but shared only when forced to.
Hmm.
Hadn’t Mark said Kylie had been gone from the reception, too? Had she hooked up with someone? It wasn’t like her, if so. Mel would try grilling her, but not in front of all their relatives.
She once again searched the guests for Pete.
Most of the younger generation seemed to be missing in action and were probably still asleep. Mel didn’t spot a single groomsman other than…there he was.
He was dressed in khaki pants and a polo shirt, his hair still damp from the shower. He was giving some instructions to the servers near the buffet, serious for a moment, then nodding and smiling, clapping the shoulder of a young guy dressed in the kitchen uniform of a white cotton jacket.
He must have sensed her gaze upon him, because he turned and smiled at her. Mel experienced a curious sensation. Her heart seemed to
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