Read Online Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus - Free Book Online Page A

preservation made the commercial area feelmore like a small English village and less like the large American city it really was.
    Just before he reached Anne’s office, he paused and drew in a deep breath.
Lord, again I ask, please help me to keep my word to my employer without having to lie to this woman. And please help me to overcome the growing attraction I feel for her
.
    8
    Anne’s skin tingled when George Laurence—and only George Laurence—entered her office.
He’s engaged, he’s engaged, he’s engaged.
…“Good afternoon, Mr. Laurence.”
    “Good afternoon, Ms. Hawthorne.” Today he wore a light blue button-down with black dress pants. The multicolored tie looked expensive.
    “Is Courtney running late?”
    “She is in New York. Shopping. She asked me to come in her stead and begin work on the events with you.”
    She swallowed hard. Working alone with George Laurence.
God, what have I done so terribly wrong that You’re punishing me like this?
    Sharp pain shot through Anne’s left temple as she looked down at the paperwork on her desk. She knew better than to skip meals, but she’d been so busy this afternoon that lunchtime had completely passed her by.
    She motioned for George to have a seat at the small round conference table beyond the sofa and wing chairs, biting back a smile when he waited until she sat before he did. She moved the vase of purple tulips aside and placed the file on the table facing him. “Here’s the adjusted contract. Negotiated items are printed in blue ink. Items that incur an additional consultant fee are in green.”
    He read through the detailed list of services to be provided. “You label and stuff the invitations yourself?” He looked up at her without raising his head.
    Bedroom eyes, grandmother would have called the cinnamon-colored orbs burning holes into Anne’s self-consciousness. He was quite a handsome man, in spite of his being
engaged
.
    “Yes. I’m also the copywriter, and I will design the programs for the ceremony, as well as other services.”
    “We can strike the invitations for the engagement party from the list. I will take care of those myself.” He pulled a black metallic pen out of his shirt pocket and crossed through the line item.
    He would do it himself? Was the budget monster rearing its head? “I’ll remove that from the final version, then.” Her stomach churned, and her head throbbed. She knew if she didn’t get something to eat soon, she’d be in serious danger of passing out.
    Before she could stop herself, she asked, “I know this will sound like an odd question, seeing that it’s after three thirty, but have you had lunch yet?”
    An audible rumble answered her question before he could speak. “No, I have not had lunch yet.”
    She couldn’t be certain, but she thought he might have actually blushed. She suppressed her smile. “Would you be interested in walking over to The Wharf with me? I need to talk to the owners about the date for the rehearsal dinner, as it was one of the restaurants on the list Miss Landry e-mailed me yesterday. While we’re there, you and I can discuss the contract and some other paperwork I’ll need you to fill out.”
    As they walked across the park in the middle of Town Square, she found herself glad George was just a bit taller than she. Being full-figured was bad enough, but towering over men made her even more uncomfortable. She hadn’t met a man who didn’t find her height intimidating until she’d met Cliff Ballantine in eleventh grade….
    No. She wasn’t going to go down that road right now. She was trying to stay positive. “How long have you lived in the United States, Mr. Laurence?”
    “Five years.”
    “And do you like it?”
    “I’m not overly fond of Los Angeles or New York. Montana is very nice, as is New Mexico. Alaska was beautiful. Las Vegas is garish and noisy. And I find your city charming. I’ve been to many other places. Each was unique in its own way.”
    His