Read Online The Unexpected Honeymoon by Barbara Wallace - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t know how to say no.”
    â€œSo did you go by yourself?”
    â€œNo. I sat home and stuffed my face full of cream cheese brownies while wearing my prom dress.” She could still see herself, mascara streaking her face, crumbs spilling onto her lap. Such a pathetic scene. The memory left her sick to her stomach.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œIt was eight years ago,” she said, shrugging. “Anyway, I had the telephone in my hand to cancel this trip when I saw the picture of my wedding gown I stuck on my mirror and I said, ‘screw it.’ I wasn’t sitting home again. At least here I can sit around and stare at palm trees
    â€œPlus I had nonrefundable airline tickets,” she added, seeking to lighten the moment. There was only so much pathos a woman could take.
    Across the table, Carlos choked on his drink.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œThe part about the airline ticket. Jorge suggested that very same reason this morning.”
    â€œYou and he were talking about me?”
    â€œI talk about a lot of my guests.”
    â€œOh.” She felt a tiny thrill anyway. “Jorge...That’s the man who arrived with you this morning, right?”
    Carlos nodded. “My cousin.”
    â€œI wondered when I heard you two had the same last name. I figured you were either related or Chavez is the Mexican version of Smith.”
    â€œWe came here together about six weeks ago, shortly after the general manager left.”
    â€œI thought you lost your wedding coordinator.”
    â€œWe lost both,” he said in a sharp tone. “They ran off together.”
    â€œOh, my gosh, you’re kidding. My friend Delilah just married our boss. They fell in love on a business trip.”
    â€œI doubt your friend’s relationship and this one are the quite same. Unless your boss also left a wife and an infant son behind.”
    Oh.
“I didn’t realize. The poor woman.” Larissa’s heart went out to her. “And here I thought Tom blindsided me.”
    â€œI’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. That was inconsiderate of me.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay.” At least now, she understood his comments from this morning. “You were right, when you said it’s better I found out before the wedding.
    â€œFunny thing is, I didn’t stop to think there might have been a wife when you said they ran off. I assumed they were soul mates.”
    â€œMore like partners in crime,” he said, signaling for the waiter.
    â€œOr both.”
    â€œYou’re joking.”
    â€œLook, I’m not saying they were right or even that they’re nice people, but love is unpredictable. The heart wants what the heart wants.”
    â€œYou’re far more generous than I am. Considering your own story, I would have thought you’d be far more bitter.”
    The waiter arrived to clear their plates. Grateful for the interruption, Larissa watched silently as a copper hand lifted away her half-eaten plate. Carlos’s comment tapped a can of worms she wasn’t ready to deal with yet, including the fact she had yet to feel any real heartache over Tom’s leaving.
    â€œWhat’s done is done, right?” she said, when it was once again the two of them. It was the best answer she could muster at the moment. Everything else required deeper explanation, such as accepting that maybe Tom hadn’t been the man of her dreams after all. “We can’t go back and change the past.”
    â€œUnfortunately, we cannot.”
    Sharpness coated his words, reminding her, too late, that he’d lost his wife. Now it was Larissa’s turn to regret her words. She opened her mouth to apologize, only to be stopped by a couple rushing the table.
    â€œWe’re sorry to interrupt your dinner, Señor Chavez,” the man said.
    â€œIt’s my fault. Paul told me about the vow renewal and I was so excited, I had to