Sisters in Bloom
Page 31
“Kaylie, I let you make most of the decisions, and you won on the dress decision. You were worried about Chelsea and Camille forgetting the dresses, or something happening to them, and practically demanded that Max be in charge.”
“She’s Chaz’s work wife. She gets everything done perfectly,” Kaylie said with a wave of her hand.
“Work wife? Whatever. Listen, whether you like it or not, Lacy is our blood relative,” Danica said carefully.
Kaylie pointed at Danica. “Half. If even that. I mean, how do we know she’s really his? We don’t know this Madeline woman. Maybe she’s a slut. I mean, she has to be to break up a marriage, right?”
Chaz had heard this from Kaylie dozens of times. He pushed back from the table. “Do you mind if I go lie down for a bit? I’m beat.”
Kaylie touched his thigh. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, babe. I’m fine. I’m just gonna rest a bit so that I’m awake when your family arrives.”
So, Chaz has learned the art of escape.
They kissed, and Kaylie turned back to Danica and Blake. “Sorry. He’s been working a lot.”
Danica had given up her therapy license almost three years earlier, when she’d realized her feelings for her new client—Blake—were not therapist-client appropriate. Even now, so many years later, she still could not ignore the therapist’s voice inside her head. Danica tried to hold back the worry that nipped at her nerves, but as she watched Kaylie suck down another drink, the words tumbled out.
“Kaylie, is something wrong between you and Chaz?”
“What? No, of course not. Why?”
Danica shrugged, trying to downplay her concern. “He just seemed to take off awfully fast when we started talking about Dad.”
Kaylie rolled her eyes.
There’s the old Kaylie.
“He thinks I’m being childish about the girl.”
Danica saw the pleading in her eyes; Support me. Tell me I’m right. She’d decided, after almost turning down Blake’s proposal because of her sister’s relationship drama, that she would play things straight from then on. She was done putting her own feelings aside in order to save Kaylie’s from being hurt. Danica was sticking to her guns and allowing her true feelings to be known; she was determined to no longer placate Kaylie’s needy side—too much. Her relationship with Lacy, however, was excluded from that straightforward deal. That subject had to be handled with kid gloves.
“Well…” Danica said.
Blake kissed her cheek and stood. “I’m gonna check out the gift shop. I’ll meet you back at the hotel?”
“Sure.” She watched him lazily, sexily saunter away, his thick, muscular back swaying with each step, and her favorite pair of jeans hugging his—
“What are you, fifteen?”
Danica hadn’t realized she was licking her lips until Kaylie’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She snapped her attention back to Kaylie. “What?” Oh God. I’ve turned into one of those sex-crazed girls. She made a mental note to tame her libido. At least in public.
“You look at him like he’s a Chippendales dancer and you’re made of one-dollar bills.” Kaylie crinkled her nose, like she was disgusted at the thought.
“Don’t you look at Chaz like that sometimes?”
Kaylie shrugged. “I guess. But once you have kids, you kind of put all that stuff aside.”
Uh-oh. “Kaylie, now that the guys are gone, can we talk about Dad and Lacy? Just you and me?” She’d tried to bring up her father at least once each month since the twins were born, and each time, Kaylie had refused to discuss him. Danica had to try, just one last time.
“Why do you do this? Why do you feel the need to ruin a perfectly beautiful day? Isn’t it bad enough that he’s coming to the wedding?”
No need to beat me over the head with a stick. Lesson learned.
***
To continue reading, be sure to pick up the next
LOVE IN BLOOM RELEASE:
SISTERS IN WHITE, Snow Sisters, Book Three
Expected publication date November 9, 2013
***
Watch for the full LOVE IN BLOOM series:
Sisters in Love, September 9, 2013
Sisters in Bloom, September 9, 2013
Sisters in White, November 9, 2013
Lovers at Heart, December 9, 2013
Destined to Love, January 9, 2014
Friendship on Fire, February 9, 2014
Sea of Love, March 9, 2014
Bursting with Love, April 9, 2014
Hearts at Play, May 9, 2013
Acknowledgments
As I wrote Sisters in Bloom and lived with Kaylie, Danica, and each of their friends and family members (even if only in my mind), I realized that the number of people I would need and want to thank has grown significantly, reaching far back into my childhood and extending through my forty-something years. If you have interacted with me in any way, you’ve touched my life and inspired me. Since that would take too many pages to print, I would like to send a worldwide, heartfelt thank you and virtual hug to those who have touched my life, and if you have interacted with me in any way—via email, telephone, social media, or in person—you have touched my life.
To all of the generous bloggers, authors, readers, and reviewers who have supported my efforts, I toss you virtual chocolate kisses. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.
All of the members of Team Pay-It-Forward, the staff of the World Literary Café, my sisters from the Women’s Nest, and friends from around the world, thank you for your continual, unwavering, and fervent support.
My editorial staff deserves a gold medal for their patience, keen eyes, and inspiration. Kristen Weber, Penina Lopez, and Colleen Albert, I am indebted to you for helping me to refine my writing and giving my readers the quality they deserve. No one likes to be caught “peaking” when they should be “peeking.”
A special thank you goes to Melissa Ann Rich, who came up with the name of Danica’s youth center, No Limitz. It’s perfect, and I hope you feel that my writing did the name justice.
Writing would not be possible if not for the incredible support of my family (nuclear and extended). I love you to the moon and back—and you’d better send Jess with me or I might lose my way.
Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa hosts Aspiring Authors contests for children, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.
Visit Melissa on her website, chat with her on The Women's Nest, or social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.
Melissa’s books are available on Amazon.
www.MelissaFoster.com