Read Online Can't Buy Me Love by Beth K. Vogt - Free Book Online

totally off budget for a wedding dress—and you’re only going to wear it for one day. One day.”
    Rows and rows of red numbers marched through his head—an endless line of debt.
    Why couldn’t she understand what she’d done? How careless choices like this affected someone for years?
    â€œYou’re the one who kept telling me how important our wedding was! You’re the one who insisted on a destination wedding in Manhattan—wanting to get married in the same church your parents and grandparents did.”
    â€œIt’s called tradition, Bellamy. What would you spend my parents’ money on? Getting married in some little country church and having a backyard barbecue for a reception?”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?” Bellamy stumbled back a few steps, as if Reid had physically pushed her. “When did you become such a snob, Reid Stanton?”
    â€œI am not a snob—I just care about family. And tradition. And—”
    â€œAnd money. It’s becoming apparent you care more about money than you do about me.”
    â€œI am not the one who spent over twenty thousand dollars on a wedding gown—”
    â€œStop saying that! I told you what I did so we could talk about it—not so you could keep tossing my decision in my face!” Bellamy threw her engagement ring so that it hit Reid’s chest.
    Reid caught the ring against his shearling sheepskin coat. “Hey! Have you forgotten this ring is a family heirloom?”
    â€œI’m sorry—how could I forget how valuable it is?”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant and you know it.” When he stepped toward Bellamy, she backed away. “What is wrong with you?”
    â€œIt’s become very clear to me that we’ve both made bad decisions.” She sniffed, looking away from him for a moment before continuing. “You said you can’t trust me . . . that you don’t know what I might do after we get married. . . . You want to . . . to give me an allowance like I’m some sort of child!”
    â€œBellamy, you misunderstood me—”
    â€œI didn’t. I-I thought you were some kind of Prince Charming, Reid. But now I realize you’re nothing but a money-obsessed m-miser.”
    Reid stood silent. Better for him to be quiet—anything he said only seemed to make things worse.
    â€œI’ll pay my parents back every cent I spent on the dresses.” Bellamy wrapped her arms around her waist. “And I’ll pay your parents back, too.”
    â€œBellamy, please calm down.”
    â€œCalm down? Oh, I’m calm, Reid Stanton. You have no idea how calm I am.”
    â€œThis whole conversation is ridiculous—”
    â€œOh, now I’m ridiculous. Really, it’s a wonder you ever proposed to me.”
    â€œStop putting words in my mouth.”
    â€œFine.” Bellamy twisted on her heel and marched back toward her parents’ home.
    How had this day gone so wrong? First his fiancée confessed to spending the cost of a car on a wedding gown—and then she threw her engagement ring in his face.
    There was no redeeming this day. He’d start over in the morning.
    He ran to catch up to Bellamy. “Let me walk you home—”
    â€œNo. I mean, no, thank you .” Bellamy never even looked at him. Never slowed down. “I can walk myself home from here.”

SEVEN

    T he busier the Monday, the better.
    At least when Mondays were this hectic, she didn’t have to talk to either of the receptionists. Bellamy could check the schedule, get the next dog to be groomed, and get down to bathing, trimming nails, and cutting fur. And repeat. Repeat. Repeat—until five o’clock.
    She kept up a steady stream of nonsense with whatever dog she was working with. Idle chatter. Comforting croons if the “client” was nervous, like Tilda, Mrs. Wilson’s grande dame longhaired