Read Online Have Husband, Need Honeymoon by Rita Herron - Free Book Online Page A

spark of anger in her eyes, but he didn’t understand why. Was she angry he’d embarrassed her in front of her fiancé?
    “I’m glad to be able to help my daughter,” Alison’s mother said, sounding sincere. “Let’s order and we’ll discuss details while we eat.”
    They spent an exorbitant amount of time studying the menu. Alison ordered chicken salad, her mother the Caesar salad, while Brady opted for a club sandwich. Then both women toyed with their napkins, straightening and making sure they were folded just right – all time-killers, he realized. He contemplated Janelle Hartwell’s return and wondered how it had affected Alison. Once upon a time, he would have asked her, but now…
    Ice clinked in Janelle’s tea as she squeezed lemon into it and stirred. “Now, tell me about yourself, Brady.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Alison told me you two met in high school. Are you the same age?”
    He shook his head. “No, I was a senior when she was a freshman.”
    “So you dated your senior year, then you went to college?”
    “Janelle—”
    Alison’s mother raised a hand. “I just want to get a feel for the whole situation. A divorce is a serious issue, you know.”
    “But we didn’t know we were still married until two days ago,” Alison protested.
    Janelle gestured toward them with uplifted hands.
    “But you loved each other when you said your vows?”
    Brady took a sip of his coffee, almost scalding his tongue. He hadn’t been prepared to discuss his feelings for Alison with her, much less her mother. “Well, yes.”
    Alison’s mother glanced at Alison, who nodded.
    “And you pronounced those vows in a church?”
    They both nodded.
    Janelle narrowed her eyes. “Brady, Alison said you consummated the marriage?”
    Heat climbed Brady’s neck. “Yes.”
    “Mother, I don’t understand. My goodness, you and Daddy got divorced, so why—”
    “I’m just clarifying things.” Janelle picked at her salad. “Now, it’s true you both thought the marriage had been annulled the day after the ceremony?”
    Again, they both nodded.
    “So you believed you were free to be with other people?”
    Brady swallowed, his jaw clenching as he looked at Alison. She squirmed and avoided eye contact.
    “True?” Alison’s mother asked. “Brady?”
    “Well, yeah,” Brady admitted.
    “Alison?”
    “I suppose so,” Alison said quietly, staring at her water glass as if she wanted to jump in it and drown.
    “And have either of you remarried during that time?”
    “No,” they both replied at once.
    “How about affairs? Have you been involved with other people?”
    Alison’s eyes flickered with anger. “Mother, I don’t think these questions are necessary.”
    “Adultery would constitute grounds for divorce,” Janelle said matter-of-factly.
    Alison squared her shoulders. “But we’re going to do an uncontested—”
    “Alison’s engaged,” Brady said, frowning over his sandwich.
    “What?” Alison’s fork clattered against the plate. “Who told you that?”
    “Vivica. She said that that Eberson guy—”
    “Emerson.” Alison gave him a venomous look. “And we’re not engaged.”
    “But Vivica—”
    “He proposed. I told him I needed time.”
    “But you’ve…” Brady waved his fork around. “You’ve been together.”
    Alison leaned over the table, her voice a low hiss. “We haven’t slept together!”
    Something evil unleashed itself in Brady: relief.
    Alison seemed to recognize the effect. Maybe because he was smiling.
    Retribution darkened her eyes. “So what about you, Brady?”
    “Me?”
    “Yes, you? How many women have you been with?”
    He should have known she’d turn the tables on him.
    He glanced at Janelle, surprised at the way she was watching them both, as if they were performing some kind of show and she had a front row seat.
    “Alison was honest,” Janelle said. “I think you owe her that much.”
    Brady threw down his napkin. “Oh, hell.” He hated to admit it.