Read Online Mother of the Bride by Lynn Michaels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn Michaels
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
Ads: Link
tossed her goggles, her gloves and the wicket on the bench where she kept her gardening tools. She hung the leaf blower between two nails driven into the back wall and watched the cord swing from the handle. Make a nifty noose. Or maybe she could bend the wicket into a garrote. She couldn't decide which one Angus Munroe deserved more for barging into her life—hanging or strangling.
She'd liked him better when he was just a picture cut out of a magazine, a goal she could strive for and a face she could dream about. In person he was arrogant and hidebound and she didn't like him. Good thing, since she was sure he didn't like her, either.
Cydney hadn't felt this hurt and disappointed since the photographer from People asked her to stay behind him so she wouldn't accidentally end up in one of the pictures. Tears pricked her eyes but she blinked them away. She heard a slam in the driveway, drew a breath and walked back to the open overhead door.
Her mother's silver Lincoln Town Car sat behind her truck. Georgette and Bebe were already in the backyard with Aldo and his uncle, a nest of shopping bags at their feet. Bebe held the other bouquet Cydney had last seen on the trunk ofhis car. Daisies, she could see, as her niece peeled back one corner of the paper.
Georgette smiled and held out her hand to Angus Munroe. He said something that made her laugh but Cydney was too far away to hear. Bebe looked up at him from the daisies cupped in her hands, a dazzling you-like-me, you-really-like- me smile on her face.
Few men could withstand Bebe's innocently devastating smile, but Angus Munroe just stood looking at her. Like he was trying to decide what to make of her, Cydney thought. Or maybe, her little voice suggested, what to do about her.
“Uh-oh,” Cydney muttered, frowning as she watched Aldo pick up Bebe's packages and lead her toward the house.
She waded gracefully along beside him despite the leaves and the air boot on her right ankle. Angus Munroe offered Georgette his arm, picked up her packages and escorted her toward the patio, limping just a little on his right foot. Aldo opened the French doors and helped Bebe up the step into the dining room. Angus Munroe did the same for Georgette and shut the door behind them.
Cydney stood in the open garage door, her hands clenched into fists. Why hadn't he stayed in Crooked Possum? He could've remained her secret fantasy then, and no harm done. She wished she could just stay out here in the garage, but she couldn't. For Bebe's sake she had to play gracious hostess and serve him dinner. Good thing her mother made the chicken and noodles before she took Bebe shopping. The way Cydney's day was going, she'd probably poison him.
Maybe you'll get lucky, her little voice said. Maybe he'll choke on a chicken bone.
If he did, she could save him—she knew the Heimlich maneuver. He might not like her, but he'd owe her one. The stuff of great blackmail if he continued to be difficult about the wedding.
Why was he being difficult? This morning he'd said he couldn't care less about Aldo's money. So if the fifteen million dollars wasn't the problem, what was? Why hadn't she thought to ask him? And why was she just standing here? She neededto change, set the table and fawn and fuss over Angus Munroe before he rethought the idea of suing her. Cydney shut and locked the overhead door and headed for the house.
Angus Munroe was already tucked up on the couch, his right foot on a cushion on her coffee table and an ice bag on his ankle. Her mother stood beside him holding another ice bag and a glass of water. Cydney didn't see Bebe and Aldo and didn't stop to look for them. She hurried to her bedroom, shut the door and stripped off her clothes, hopped into the shower in her bathroom and thought about drowning herself.
Too bad she hadn't thought of it before Angus Munroe found her talking to pictures of him. It might not have kept Bebe from hitting him and cracking his nose, or Aldo from
She'd liked him better when he was just a picture cut out of a magazine, a goal she could strive for and a face she could dream about. In person he was arrogant and hidebound and she didn't like him. Good thing, since she was sure he didn't like her, either.
Cydney hadn't felt this hurt and disappointed since the photographer from People asked her to stay behind him so she wouldn't accidentally end up in one of the pictures. Tears pricked her eyes but she blinked them away. She heard a slam in the driveway, drew a breath and walked back to the open overhead door.
Her mother's silver Lincoln Town Car sat behind her truck. Georgette and Bebe were already in the backyard with Aldo and his uncle, a nest of shopping bags at their feet. Bebe held the other bouquet Cydney had last seen on the trunk ofhis car. Daisies, she could see, as her niece peeled back one corner of the paper.
Georgette smiled and held out her hand to Angus Munroe. He said something that made her laugh but Cydney was too far away to hear. Bebe looked up at him from the daisies cupped in her hands, a dazzling you-like-me, you-really-like- me smile on her face.
Few men could withstand Bebe's innocently devastating smile, but Angus Munroe just stood looking at her. Like he was trying to decide what to make of her, Cydney thought. Or maybe, her little voice suggested, what to do about her.
“Uh-oh,” Cydney muttered, frowning as she watched Aldo pick up Bebe's packages and lead her toward the house.
She waded gracefully along beside him despite the leaves and the air boot on her right ankle. Angus Munroe offered Georgette his arm, picked up her packages and escorted her toward the patio, limping just a little on his right foot. Aldo opened the French doors and helped Bebe up the step into the dining room. Angus Munroe did the same for Georgette and shut the door behind them.
Cydney stood in the open garage door, her hands clenched into fists. Why hadn't he stayed in Crooked Possum? He could've remained her secret fantasy then, and no harm done. She wished she could just stay out here in the garage, but she couldn't. For Bebe's sake she had to play gracious hostess and serve him dinner. Good thing her mother made the chicken and noodles before she took Bebe shopping. The way Cydney's day was going, she'd probably poison him.
Maybe you'll get lucky, her little voice said. Maybe he'll choke on a chicken bone.
If he did, she could save him—she knew the Heimlich maneuver. He might not like her, but he'd owe her one. The stuff of great blackmail if he continued to be difficult about the wedding.
Why was he being difficult? This morning he'd said he couldn't care less about Aldo's money. So if the fifteen million dollars wasn't the problem, what was? Why hadn't she thought to ask him? And why was she just standing here? She neededto change, set the table and fawn and fuss over Angus Munroe before he rethought the idea of suing her. Cydney shut and locked the overhead door and headed for the house.
Angus Munroe was already tucked up on the couch, his right foot on a cushion on her coffee table and an ice bag on his ankle. Her mother stood beside him holding another ice bag and a glass of water. Cydney didn't see Bebe and Aldo and didn't stop to look for them. She hurried to her bedroom, shut the door and stripped off her clothes, hopped into the shower in her bathroom and thought about drowning herself.
Too bad she hadn't thought of it before Angus Munroe found her talking to pictures of him. It might not have kept Bebe from hitting him and cracking his nose, or Aldo from
Similar Books
