Read Online One Real Man (Entangled Bliss) ) by Coleen Kwan - Free Book Online Page B

sank a little. Tyler was the jewelry maker whom her mother had treated shabbily, commissioning a necklace from her and then reneging on the arrangement. Paige had offered Tyler some compensation, but the fiery redhead had refused and stormed off. She wouldn’t be too friendly toward the Kerrigan family again.
    “Hello,” Paige replied, maintaining her calm facade while she waited for a scornful glare at the very least.
    But Tyler gave her a friendly nod and pointed to the tall, casually dressed man next to her. “This is my husband, Luke Maguire.”
    The name plus the obvious pride in Tyler’s voice prompted Paige’s memory, and she recalled that Luke Maguire was a famous author who’d even more famously walked away from his agent and a lucrative publishing deal because of artistic differences. He and Tyler made a good match. The author eyed Paige curiously as he, too, took a glass of champagne before other guests moved forward for their flutes. Paige had to endure a barrage of inquisitive stares, but just as the silent interrogation began to wear on her nerves, Owen told everyone to pipe down as Nate and Ally had pulled up outside the house.
    The room fell silent, and a moment later the doorbell rang. Owen disappeared to open the door, and seconds later footsteps sounded in the hallway. When Nate and Ally appeared at the doorway, the entire room erupted. “Surprise!”
    Nate started. Flabbergasted, he swung to Ally, who grinned broadly at him. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.” His face melted and he folded her into a bear hug as the guests surged forward.
    While everyone was wishing Nate well, Paige surreptitiously moved to the back of the room, still clutching her tray. She was the odd one out. She didn’t belong here. Her childhood home was now turned over to Owen and his friends, people who in the past had never come to this house as invited guests. People who weren’t rich like her parents, people more like most of Burronga. Everyone here was outside her social circle. Like Tyler, looking so bright and effervescent with her husband. Tyler was friends with Ally, she recalled, and the two were partners in Ally’s gift store. And over there was Ally’s sister, Jess, who had made the floral arrangements for Paige’s wedding. God, she didn’t need a reminder of that .
    And here was Owen with Nate and Ally walking up to her. “Paige? Do we have champagne for Nate and Ally?”
    Paige lifted the forgotten tray, her face feeling tight as the three approached her. With the memories of her wedding still choking her, she couldn’t think of anything to say.
    Nate nodded at her, his expression speculative. “Hello, Paige.”
    “Hello.” She tensed, waiting for him to mention Seth. Surely he would; they were cousins. Nate had helped Seth settle in Sydney, had gotten him started in stockbroking. Heavens, Nate had even persuaded Seth not to marry his first fiancée, Ally, who was standing between Nate and Owen. And then Nate had ended up falling in love with Ally, which must have caused him a few difficulties. Hopefully Ally hadn’t made it easy for him.
    Paige turned reluctantly to Ally. This was an awkward situation, meeting her ex-husband’s ex-fiancée. Did that make them members of the same group? The group of Seth-haters? Only, Paige doubted she’d have much in common with her. Ally had curly brown hair framing a fresh-scrubbed face. Like Nate, she wore denim jeans and a plain shirt, her only jewelry the wedding band and diamond on her left hand. She looked like an ad for wholesome country living, and suddenly Paige felt horribly overdressed in her swanky black clothes.
    “Hello, Ally,” she said, keeping her tone cool so she wouldn’t start squirming.
    Nate immediately put his arm around Ally’s waist, pulling her closer as if to protect her. Paige compressed her lips. Did he think she was such a cold snob his wife needed safeguarding?
    Ally grinned faintly. “Hi, Paige.” She seemed friendly