Read Online Last-Minute Bridesmaid by Nina Harrington - Free Book Online
Authors: Nina Harrington
Ads: Link
only knew how similar we are, Heath. And how very different.
Taking a deep breath, Kate sat back in her pedestal chair and scrubbed at her temples with the fingertips of both hands. But when she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the overflowing box of invoices and receipts which had built up over the past few weeks—okay, months—which she had promised Saskia that she would sort out the minute the bridesmaids’ dresses were finished.
No excuses. She had to face them. This was supposed to be her business and there was no way that she could afford an accountant, so it was her or relying on Saskia again. If only she knew...a business professional who might be willing to do her accounts for her.
Heath’s voice echoed across from the other side of the work table. She caught the words ‘margins’ and ‘discounts’ before he turned away.
Kate got to her feet and started pacing up and down in front of her desk, glancing at the paperwork piled inches high around the boxes and then looking up at Heath.
Her steps slowed then speeded up again. Heath was a brilliant businessman—who was desperate for a replacement bridesmaid.
She was a hopeless businesswoman who was fairly desperate with her accounts.
Just looking at the boxes made her want to shove the whole lot back into the cupboard to join the others and get on with the exciting work on Leo’s ballet costumes.
This could be the chance that she had been looking for to finally prove to her parents that she was able to make a living doing what she loved and she was not wasting her life on foolish nonsense. Taking her income to the next level would certainly come in useful too.
But a weekend wedding with the Sheridans? Ouchy ouch ouch.
It took five circuits before she stopped and braced her legs.
It might just work.
‘Hey, handsome. Over here. I’ve had a thought.’
‘Shall I alert the media?’ he snorted and immediately coughed into his hand as she glared at him. ‘Sorry. Carry on. You’ve had a thought. Does that mean yes?’
‘Not so fast. I need to get a few things straight.’ Kate’s breath caught in her throat and she carried on pacing slowly up and down so that when she replied her words came out in one long stream.
‘I would just be there as a stand-in bridesmaid, right? Not a wedding date. You’ll fess up that Olivia is not simply delayed somewhere.’
‘Absolutely,’ Heath replied, the ice in his voice replaced by a warm edge and there was just the touch of a smile on his lips. ‘And I promise that the speeches will be short and the champagne chilled.’
Kate relaxed her shoulders. She had done it now. Might as well go the full distance. ‘How about dancing and frolics?’ she asked.
Heath stopped frowning and his eyebrows lifted. ‘As far as I know, there are no plans for dancing. Or frolics. This is my dad, remember. But Alice has friends in a symphony orchestra who are sending up some of the string section. It should be a very cultural event. And why are you groaning again?’
‘Promise me that you will never move into sales because you are doing a terrible job at selling this to me, Heath Sheridan.’ Kate jutted her chin out. ‘A cultural event? This is a wedding. You know, romance, fun, happiness.’
Then she sniffed and gave a small shoulder shrug. ‘Is it a church or civil service or both?’
‘The local village church.’
Kate nodded slowly. ‘Let me guess. The Jardines have lived in the village for generations and have their own pew in the ancient church and plaques on the wall. Am I right?’
‘How did you know that?’ he asked in a low voice. ‘Do you know the village?’
‘No. But I have been to a few like it. English tradition.’ Her gaze locked onto his totally confused and bemused face and she burst out laughing. ‘You really do not have a clue, do you? Oh dear.’
Heath replied by stepping closer so that their bodies were almost touching. She could practically hear his heart beating under
Taking a deep breath, Kate sat back in her pedestal chair and scrubbed at her temples with the fingertips of both hands. But when she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the overflowing box of invoices and receipts which had built up over the past few weeks—okay, months—which she had promised Saskia that she would sort out the minute the bridesmaids’ dresses were finished.
No excuses. She had to face them. This was supposed to be her business and there was no way that she could afford an accountant, so it was her or relying on Saskia again. If only she knew...a business professional who might be willing to do her accounts for her.
Heath’s voice echoed across from the other side of the work table. She caught the words ‘margins’ and ‘discounts’ before he turned away.
Kate got to her feet and started pacing up and down in front of her desk, glancing at the paperwork piled inches high around the boxes and then looking up at Heath.
Her steps slowed then speeded up again. Heath was a brilliant businessman—who was desperate for a replacement bridesmaid.
She was a hopeless businesswoman who was fairly desperate with her accounts.
Just looking at the boxes made her want to shove the whole lot back into the cupboard to join the others and get on with the exciting work on Leo’s ballet costumes.
This could be the chance that she had been looking for to finally prove to her parents that she was able to make a living doing what she loved and she was not wasting her life on foolish nonsense. Taking her income to the next level would certainly come in useful too.
But a weekend wedding with the Sheridans? Ouchy ouch ouch.
It took five circuits before she stopped and braced her legs.
It might just work.
‘Hey, handsome. Over here. I’ve had a thought.’
‘Shall I alert the media?’ he snorted and immediately coughed into his hand as she glared at him. ‘Sorry. Carry on. You’ve had a thought. Does that mean yes?’
‘Not so fast. I need to get a few things straight.’ Kate’s breath caught in her throat and she carried on pacing slowly up and down so that when she replied her words came out in one long stream.
‘I would just be there as a stand-in bridesmaid, right? Not a wedding date. You’ll fess up that Olivia is not simply delayed somewhere.’
‘Absolutely,’ Heath replied, the ice in his voice replaced by a warm edge and there was just the touch of a smile on his lips. ‘And I promise that the speeches will be short and the champagne chilled.’
Kate relaxed her shoulders. She had done it now. Might as well go the full distance. ‘How about dancing and frolics?’ she asked.
Heath stopped frowning and his eyebrows lifted. ‘As far as I know, there are no plans for dancing. Or frolics. This is my dad, remember. But Alice has friends in a symphony orchestra who are sending up some of the string section. It should be a very cultural event. And why are you groaning again?’
‘Promise me that you will never move into sales because you are doing a terrible job at selling this to me, Heath Sheridan.’ Kate jutted her chin out. ‘A cultural event? This is a wedding. You know, romance, fun, happiness.’
Then she sniffed and gave a small shoulder shrug. ‘Is it a church or civil service or both?’
‘The local village church.’
Kate nodded slowly. ‘Let me guess. The Jardines have lived in the village for generations and have their own pew in the ancient church and plaques on the wall. Am I right?’
‘How did you know that?’ he asked in a low voice. ‘Do you know the village?’
‘No. But I have been to a few like it. English tradition.’ Her gaze locked onto his totally confused and bemused face and she burst out laughing. ‘You really do not have a clue, do you? Oh dear.’
Heath replied by stepping closer so that their bodies were almost touching. She could practically hear his heart beating under
Similar Books
