Read Online Love and Other Surprises by Robin Wells - Free Book Online Page B

vision.”
    “You’re probably right about that.” A radiant smile lit Lauren’s face. “Oh, Ali, I’m so happy!” She twirled around, holding out her hand and admiring her wedding ring.
    “No one deserves it more,” Ali said warmly.
    Lauren gave her a quick hug, then reached for the clothes-hanger holding her floral dress. “I’d better hurry and get dressed. I don’t want to keep my groom waiting—and I want to throw the bouquet before the guests start leaving.” She gave Ali a stern look. “I fully expect you to catch it, you know.”
    Ali shook her head and laughed. “You don’t give up, do you?”
    They emerged five minutes later. Lauren’s mother bustled over and directed them to the dance floor, where the orchestra leader was announcing that the bride was about to throw her bouquet. Ali spotted Matt standing by the bandstand and was surprised at the surge of pleasure that shot through her. She’d halfway suspected he’d left after their dance.
    Ali dutifully joined the throng of young women crowding to vie for the bouquet in front of the bandstand. Lauren caught her eye and smiled.
    The orchestra played a drum roll. Lauren turned her back, drew back her arm and tossed.
    Instead of heading toward the eager crowd of attendants waiting to catch it, the bouquet veered into the crowd of onlookers and sailed directly at Matt. He flung up his hand to avoid being hit in the face and reflexively caught the bouquet.
    Matt’s first response was to glance at Ali to see if she were somehow responsible, but she looked as surprised as he felt. Matt suddenly realized the crowd was roaring with laughter, and decided his only course of action was to ham it up. He carried the bouquet through the crowd and presented it to Lauren with a snappy salute.
    “I believe you misfired, madam,” he told her. The crowd laughed heartily.
    The band began another drum roll and Lauren tried again. This time the bouquet headed straight to Ali.
    “Oh! Look who’s going to be next!” someone shouted.
    “Maybe this means she’s going to marry the guy who caught it first,” another voice said.
    Matt watched a blush creep up Ali’s cheeks as she found herself the center of attention. She was shy! The realization generated a protective urge in him and he began to head toward her. From all the things Robert had told him about Ali, it had never occurred to Matt that she might be bashful. It was beginning to look like there were a lot of things about Ali that Robert had neglected to tell him.
    Matt soon realized that the crowd was moving toward the front door and Ali was being swept along with it. Justin and Lauren were evidently ready to leave.
    Someone handed Matt a small packet of birdseed as he followed the herd outside. He found Ali on the outskirts of the crowd and sidled up beside her. “Good catch,” he remarked.
    She returned his smile. “You, too. In fact, this belongs to you.” She held out the bouquet. “Since you caught it first, looks like you’ll be the next to walk the aisle.”
    Matt shook his head. “I’d rather walk the plank.”
    Ali looked up at him curiously. “What do you have against marriage?”
    Matt thrust a hand into his pocket, wishing he’d never broached the subject. “It’s not for me. I tried it once, and I make a point of never making the same mistake twice.”
    “Once bitten, twice shy?”
    “More like once nuked, twice determined to never let it happen again.”
    Ali grinned. “I guess that means there’s no special woman in your life.”
    He shook his head, suddenly consumed with curiosity about her own romantic status. He tried to adopt an offhanded manner. “How about you? Did you leave someone special in Dallas?”
    “No.”
    He should have hoped she had a fiance tucked away somewhere, that she’d come to Hillsboro after a lovers’ spat and would leave again as soon as they kissed and made up. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have to worry about keeping an eye on her. But