Read Online Stranded in Paradise (The Blake Boys Book 13) by Rhonda Laurel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rhonda Laurel
Ads: Link
with the chatter whether she liked it or not.
“I know it will be a grand affair,” he said, “especially if you’re in charge of your sister’s special day.”
“Well, it’s Bo’s day too,” she replied.
“Men don’t care about that stuff. We just pray the woman we love will show up at the church and seal the deal so we can get on to more important things like the honeymoon. What does it mean for you to be on your own for the first time? I know the connection between twins is strong. My nephews taught me that. It must be quite an adjustment to share the person you’ve been closest to your whole life.”
“I guess it’s like getting a divorce, except there’s no custody battle and I’m gaining a pretty awesome brother-in-law and his clan.” She gave him a knowing look. So he wanted to talk? OK. It was time to turn the tables on Mister No-Time-for-Distractions. “Why did you get divorced?”
Jared was silent for a moment. “We grew apart.”
“Textbook answer.”
“Well—”
The bus stopped and Dave announced they were at the casino. Autumn glanced at Jared, who looked relieved at the interruption. In addition to gambling, there was a row of quaint shops in the area, so she opted for shopping.
“Good luck at the tables.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I insist.” He smiled.
Autumn glared at him. Jared didn’t know she was a professional shopper. He was going to need a full body massage by the time he got back to the hotel.
Jared had been perfectly content bumming around the island with his book in his hand and sipping on the occasional drink at the cabana bar. He’d even put his phone on vibrate for a whole afternoon. Things were going great until he went to the hotel bar to grab dinner and saw Autumn having dinner with some jock-type jerk. It didn’t make any sense to him, but it made him mad seeing her sitting there, having a good time. She looked breathtaking in a strapless coral dress and her hair in a ponytail. The chemistry between the both of them was undeniable the other night, so why was she out with this idiot? So what if he inferred he’d be avoiding her like the plague. She’d just moved on to the next guy without a second thought.
He saw her get her ticket for the tour earlier in the day and something in him felt compelled to get one too. He’d be around in case Mr. Sparkly Mouth got too handsy when he should have been looking at the scenery. Now he was following her around from shop to shop, schlepping her bags. She must have been getting everyone in the state of Texas a souvenir.
His cell phone rang. He looked for somewhere to set the bags down. A light rain earlier in the day on this side of the island had left the ground wet. He finally spotted a bench, but the phone stopped ringing. It was probably his friend Derek Popovich. He’d left him a message that morning responding to his question about the renovation of the Slap Shot bar. Autumn came strolling out of a pottery shop with yet another bag.
“Let me guess. Something else you just had to have.”
She smirked and put on her sunglasses. “I saw something that would go nice in Cassidy and Channing’s house.”
“Can you do me a favor and get my phone out of my pocket and retrieve that message? I’ve been waiting for a friend of mine to get back to me with final approval on some plans I sent him.”
“Sure.”
He smiled when she carefully eased her hand into his pants pocket, hoping she wouldn’t notice he was stiff as a board. She hit the voicemail app then put it on speaker for him. It wasn’t Derek returning his call. Jared froze when he heard Taylor’s voice.
“Hi, Jared, it’s your favorite ex-wife. I was just checking to see how the vacation was going. I know I said I’d give you some time, but I wanted to know if you’ve given any further thought to my proposal. Anyway—” He dropped the bags and took the phone out of her hands and disconnected
“I know it will be a grand affair,” he said, “especially if you’re in charge of your sister’s special day.”
“Well, it’s Bo’s day too,” she replied.
“Men don’t care about that stuff. We just pray the woman we love will show up at the church and seal the deal so we can get on to more important things like the honeymoon. What does it mean for you to be on your own for the first time? I know the connection between twins is strong. My nephews taught me that. It must be quite an adjustment to share the person you’ve been closest to your whole life.”
“I guess it’s like getting a divorce, except there’s no custody battle and I’m gaining a pretty awesome brother-in-law and his clan.” She gave him a knowing look. So he wanted to talk? OK. It was time to turn the tables on Mister No-Time-for-Distractions. “Why did you get divorced?”
Jared was silent for a moment. “We grew apart.”
“Textbook answer.”
“Well—”
The bus stopped and Dave announced they were at the casino. Autumn glanced at Jared, who looked relieved at the interruption. In addition to gambling, there was a row of quaint shops in the area, so she opted for shopping.
“Good luck at the tables.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I insist.” He smiled.
Autumn glared at him. Jared didn’t know she was a professional shopper. He was going to need a full body massage by the time he got back to the hotel.
Jared had been perfectly content bumming around the island with his book in his hand and sipping on the occasional drink at the cabana bar. He’d even put his phone on vibrate for a whole afternoon. Things were going great until he went to the hotel bar to grab dinner and saw Autumn having dinner with some jock-type jerk. It didn’t make any sense to him, but it made him mad seeing her sitting there, having a good time. She looked breathtaking in a strapless coral dress and her hair in a ponytail. The chemistry between the both of them was undeniable the other night, so why was she out with this idiot? So what if he inferred he’d be avoiding her like the plague. She’d just moved on to the next guy without a second thought.
He saw her get her ticket for the tour earlier in the day and something in him felt compelled to get one too. He’d be around in case Mr. Sparkly Mouth got too handsy when he should have been looking at the scenery. Now he was following her around from shop to shop, schlepping her bags. She must have been getting everyone in the state of Texas a souvenir.
His cell phone rang. He looked for somewhere to set the bags down. A light rain earlier in the day on this side of the island had left the ground wet. He finally spotted a bench, but the phone stopped ringing. It was probably his friend Derek Popovich. He’d left him a message that morning responding to his question about the renovation of the Slap Shot bar. Autumn came strolling out of a pottery shop with yet another bag.
“Let me guess. Something else you just had to have.”
She smirked and put on her sunglasses. “I saw something that would go nice in Cassidy and Channing’s house.”
“Can you do me a favor and get my phone out of my pocket and retrieve that message? I’ve been waiting for a friend of mine to get back to me with final approval on some plans I sent him.”
“Sure.”
He smiled when she carefully eased her hand into his pants pocket, hoping she wouldn’t notice he was stiff as a board. She hit the voicemail app then put it on speaker for him. It wasn’t Derek returning his call. Jared froze when he heard Taylor’s voice.
“Hi, Jared, it’s your favorite ex-wife. I was just checking to see how the vacation was going. I know I said I’d give you some time, but I wanted to know if you’ve given any further thought to my proposal. Anyway—” He dropped the bags and took the phone out of her hands and disconnected
Similar Books
