by Regina Duke
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
Regina's Books
Regina's Bio
JUNE BRIDE
Now and Forever Romance
by
Regina Duke
June Bride
Copyright © 2016 Linda White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from Regina Duke.
Published by Linda White
United States of America
Electronic Edition: June 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9971469-0-5
This book is a work of fiction and all characters exist solely in the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any references to places, events or locales are used in a fictitious manner.
Digital formatting by StevieDeInk, [email protected]
Edited by Marian Kelly, RavensGateEditing.com
Cover design by StevieDeInk
Cover photo © sergiophoto / Fotolia
Meredith Oakley’s dream of a perfect future is destroyed when a slinky redhead steals her fiancé. She returns to California, searching for the happiness of her college years, and rediscovers more than she expected.
Former classmate Christopher Dann is still there and still in love, and when he sees Meredith coming, he knows he has to do everything right to claim her as his bride. Will he finally capture Meredith’s heart? Find out in this sweet, wholesome romance from USA Today Bestselling Author Regina Duke.
CHAPTER 1
Friday, June 5th
“Who are you?” Meredith Oakley stared at herself in the motel mirror and waited for an answer. She still had the same short dark hair as the day before. She had the same russet brown eyes and flawless skin, with its natural tan. But yesterday, she’d had a good-paying job and a future, and this morning she was two thousand miles away, driving a rental car, reading want ads, and wondering who stole her life.
She knew who, and the thought of Sienna sent an angry flush to her cheeks. That red-headed hussy had pranced into the boss’s office—Meredith’s fiancé’s office—a month ago, wearing skin-tight white pants and a clingy low-cut blouse that would have been at home on “Dancing with the Stars,” and began ripping Meredith’s neat and ordered life to shreds.
First, her “imminent” promotion got postponed to “maybe next year.” Next, Dwayne, her boss-cum-fiancé, began canceling dates. Two of her best subordinates were transferred out from under her and assigned to Sienna. Then, seven days ago, she’d seen them having dinner together at Chez Nous, the restaurant she and Dwayne had lovingly called their special place. Sienna was wearing practically nothing, using her thick red waves of hair to keep her bare back warm. Her dress would have been illegal on a woman with short hair. Dwayne never saw Meredith. His eyes were glued to Sienna’s décolletage, which was deep enough to hide a poisoned apple in. But the wicked witch saw her, and the expression on her face said it all. She might as well have stood up and shouted, “Too bad, Meredith. I win, you clean-cut wholesome loser, you!”
That was last Friday night. On Monday morning, after stewing all weekend—a stew made of tears and shredded photos of tall, dark, slithery Dwayne, washed down with “Americone Dream” ice cream—she’d marched into his office to demand an explanation. She got one, but it was nonverbal. Sienna’s plump behind was perched on the boss’s desk, and he was bending to kiss her, one hand caressing her perfect hair.
Meredith screamed. She didn’t remember it that way, but four other people in the outer office said she definitely screamed. Meredith felt it was more of an outraged roar. Either way, the whole office saw her take off her engagement ring and hurl it across the room, then grab her purse from her desk and storm out of the building.
It was Wednesday before she was able to clean out her desk. Her cubicle neighbor, Teresa, let her in after hours. She pinned her resignation to Dwayne’s door, and as she carried a box of her personal possessions to the car, her friend said, “I left a little surprise on Sienna’s desk.” Once they were in the car, she showed Meredith the photo she’d taken of it. She’d put a banner up that read “Home-wrecking Ho.”
Meredith had protested. “We weren’t living together.”
“I know. It’s the thought that counts.”
“They’ll blame me for that.”
“You’re right. Want me to go back and take it down?”
“No freaking way.”
Now, in her motel room, she felt like she was living a scene out of The Body Snatchers. She was tempted to check under the bed for an empty pod. Being taken over by a pod meant losing all feeling, and the pod-person who stared back at her from the mirror certainly qualified in that regard. Yesterday, she’d been running on adrenaline, buying a last-minute airline ticket and packing all her clothes. She’d left a ton of other stuff behind, but took her iPhone and MacBook with her. Now here she was in California. She’d woken up with no job, no prospects, and no emotion of any kind. Like a pod-person.
She’d gone to school at UC Davis, so when she decided to run, it was the first destination that came to mind. It was the last place she’d been happy. At least, prior to the false and deceptive happiness of her boss-scum-ex. The only memorabilia she’d packed was her college yearbook. She planned to reconnect with old friends on Facebook and start networking. Her dorm sisters, the Dorm Storm Twelve, would be her first contacts. But not right now. That sort of action took motivation, and she had none. Instead, she decided to drive around the campus and see if she could retrieve anything that felt like a real live emotion. Because she felt dead inside.
The rental car was clean and new, but it was gray. Colorless, just like Meredith’s heart. She pointed it toward campus and tried to remember how she’d managed to shower and dress that morning. More proof that she was a pod-person. Did the replacements come out of the pods naked? She couldn’t quite remember. At least she’d put on clothes—black jeans and a form-fitting black tee shirt. Gray car and black clothes, both matching her mood.
The tree-lined streets and California sunshine tried to lift her spirits. On the seat beside her was her yearbook. She pulled over in front of a row of stores that she remembered from school, old buildings filled with young entrepreneurs. Books, used clothes, a retro music store that was promoting the purity of vinyl in the window, and a gym. No, wait. It looked like the gym had a new owner. She craned her neck to read the sign out front.
“Dann’s Gym. That’s different.” She squinted at the smaller print on the big front windows. “Tae-Kwon-Do.” As she studied the storefront, a stream of mothers and kids in white uniforms headed for the entrance. “Must be time for class,” she mumbled. Then she frowned. Didn’t she know a Dann from college?
She opened the yearbook and flipped through it. There she was, and there was her best friend, Allison, and a whole page of pictures of their Dorm Storm group. Bossy blond Clarissa the Organizer stared at the camera with the certainty of a woman in charge. None of their group had pledged a sorority, and that initial bond had united them until, four years later, they were basically their own private club. She ran her fingers fondly over the autographs and messages. What was she looking for? Oh, right. Dann.
Dann, Dann, wherefore art thou, handsome man? The phrase just popped into her head,
and then it came to her. He’d been in her Shakespeare class, and he was indeed handsome in a clean-cut, cheerful way. He was shorter than the other guys in class, but half of them were basketball players. She figured he was about five foot nine. With a cute smile, she thought. His sandy blond hair was always trimmed, and his eyes were emerald green.
She found him in a series of photos highlighting different sports. She flipped the page to a close up and inhaled with surprise. Cute didn’t even come close! He was adorable.
The sight of his open, friendly face almost brought a smile to hers, but the grayness of her heart nipped it in the bud. She flipped slowly through the book, wondering how she’d lost touch in Michigan. Why had she gone back there? Ah, yes. The security of relatives. She’d gone back for a post-grad visit, applied for a job on a whim, got it, and that was that. Of course, the fact that the man who interviewed her had shown more than a businesslike interest in her had influenced her decision. And see where that got her? Jilted and unemployed.
She revisited all the photos that she and her dorm sisters were in. There were quite a few because two of the girls in their group had worked on the yearbook, so they had an in. As she reviewed the happy snapshots, she realized that Dann was always in the background! Odd. She hadn’t noticed that before. But there he was, again and again. Broad shoulders for his height, and always wearing a school sweatshirt. Well, it looked like he’d translated his martial arts training into a business.
Christopher Dann! That was it. But her girl friends had called him Danny. Danny, Danny, loves our Annie!
Meredith felt a laugh bubble up inside. Her last name was Oakley, and on the first day of class, Chris had asked her if she was related to Annie Oakley. He always sat next to her. He always had a smile and something nice to say. And her dorm sisters had come up with that little chant. They even teased her about having a stalker.
But he hadn’t been creepy or anything. He was sweet. Never knew how to dress himself, but hey, nobody’s perfect. She laughed again. It was a short, harsh sound, born of a painful thought. Her scummy ex had been everything a woman was supposed to long for. He was tall, with fashionably shaggy hair, a square jaw, and tailored clothes. He was also ten years older than Meredith.
Maybe she should find someone closer to her own age.
She had a wild thought. Why not begin her trip down memory lane right here? She grabbed her bag and her yearbook. She had a sudden urge to ask about the price of martial arts classes. And inside, she felt a small glimmer of excitement. It was the first positive feeling she’d had in a week.
CHAPTER 2
Two of the mothers approached the sign-in desk.
“Chris, there’s a non-student parked in the best spot out front. Can’t you paint ‘Dann parking only’ on the curb?”
Chris glanced toward the front window but didn’t recognize the gray car. “What a great idea! But I don’t think the city would let me do that. Don’t worry, it’s probably someone trying to talk themselves into a tae-kwon-do class. Or out of one.”
The ladies laughed and shook their heads.
Chris stood up, retied his black belt, and clapped his hands. “All right, people, let’s start warming up. Karen is going to help us out today.”
Karen popped up from behind one of the students across the room to wave at everyone. She wasn’t much taller than the eight-year-olds she was assisting. She was a first-degree black belt and Chris was grateful for her assistance. If only she would stop flirting with him. He marveled that she was only three years younger than him, yet seemed like such a teenager.
Was I like that in school? Probably.
He moved to the front door and stared at the gray car, waiting for the driver to make a decision. He watched her get out and head for his door. And his heart thudded in his chest. That long, lean silhouette, that short dark hair, those legs that went on forever! It couldn’t be! But he would know that woman anywhere. Annie Oakley! It was Annie Meredith Oakley, the woman of his dreams, and she was walking straight toward him.
Instead of opening the door, he turned and hotfooted it back to the sign-in desk. He didn’t want her to see his face until he’d had a moment to organize it. Did he look like a love-starved pup? Would she even remember him? This was crazy. He caught a glimpse of himself in the wall of mirrors at the back of the gym and froze.
She was standing right there, not two feet behind him, with a book in her arms. Just like he’d seen her on the last day of class.
He cleared his throat and turned around. “Hello, what can I do for you?” That was so stupid!
Meredith laid the book on the counter. “Hi. Do you remember me? We took Shakespeare together.”
“Oh, right.” Chris pretended to search his memory. He snapped his fingers. “Meredith, isn’t it?”
She tilted her head to one side and pinned him with a look that screamed, You’ve got to be kidding.
“Okay, okay.” He surrendered and offered an impish smile. “Of course I remember you. It’s great to see you again.” Where did you disappear to? I looked everywhere!
Meredith dropped her gaze to the book. As if she’d heard his mental question, she said, “I got a job in Michigan.” She paused. “It didn’t work out. So I thought I’d come back to Davis and try to reconnect with some old friends.” She glanced around the room. The class had started. “These kids are adorable. This is a really bad time, isn’t it?”
“No, no, not at all. Well, actually, yes, it’s my busiest morning. But don’t go. I mean, don’t disappear. I mean…” He stopped himself before he was irretrievably embarrassed.
Meredith smiled. “You made that Shakespeare class so much fun,” she said. “I loved the way you did the old English with the Scottish burr. Drove our professor nuts.”
Chris grinned. “I learned it off a recording of Shakespeare as it was originally pronounced. Did you know all those verses actually rhymed back in the day?”
Meredith started to speak, then cut herself off. She seemed to be looking for something more to say.
Chris grabbed a plastic chair. “Please, sit.” Please, please, please.
“Well, all right. If I’m not interrupting your class.”
“I’m just going to tell Karen she’s in charge for a while.”
Meredith had barely sat down, but she stood up again when he mentioned his assistant. She looked suddenly uncomfortable. “Oh, maybe I should go.”
Chris’s heart fell. He looked down at himself and tugged at his uniform.
Meredith paused. “I’ve always wondered what those uniforms are called.”
“It’s a gi,” said Chris. “From the Japanese. It’s practically all I wear. I mean, you know, classes and all. Sorry, I’m babbling.”
Meredith covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Chris blurted, “I have other clothes. And if you’ll let me take you to dinner, I’ll prove it.”
Her eyes softened. “Will Karen be coming, too?”
Chris scratched his head. “Um, no, she has study group. I mean, she’s a student. I mean”—Good grief, I’m messing up the most important invitation of my life!—“Karen just helps out here.” He gave her his best full-on puppy-dog expression.
This time, Meredith giggled. Only a tiny one, but Chris felt like he’d just won an Olympic medal.
“Is that a yes? Great! Shall I pick you up? Oh wait, my car’s in the shop. Um, um…”
Meredith came to the rescue. “What time are you done here?”
“Six. Six-fifteen. I have to shove them out the door after class.”
“I’ll come pick you up,” said Meredith. She reached out and touched his cheek. “It’s so good to see you again.” Then she left.
Chris wasn’t sure how long he stood there, staring after her, but Karen’s voice finally got through.
“How are you going to be in two places at once? Don’t you already have a date tonight?”
CHAPTER 3
Meredith marveled at her own courage all the way ar
ound campus. She drove without paying attention to where she was going, and she ended up in front of her old dorm. Parking was at a premium, and she had no parking permit, so she sat there for a few seconds, taking a mental snapshot of the building. She located her old window on the third floor. She and her dorm sisters had taken a history of film class and fallen in love with W. C. Fields. They’d used half the window to display a huge black-and-white poster of him, cigar and all, staring into the camera with his trademark leer. She was tickled to see that it was still there. Evidently the current residents had decided it was cool enough to keep.
Someone honked behind her. She waved and drove on. Now she needed something to do for the rest of the day. She went down her mental list. Check out the campus. (Nothing had changed.) See her old dorm. (Done.) Touch base with old friends.
Well, Chris was a start, and he’d certainly seemed thrilled to see her. He didn’t look much different, but then, it had only been thirteen months since their last class together. Those bright emerald-green eyes, that mobile face with the cheeks you just wanted to squeeze every time you saw them…. Even his sandy blond hair was combed the same way, parted on the side and perfectly styled, except for one curl that could never be tamed. And his taste in clothes hadn’t changed either.
She laughed out loud, and it felt great.
Even Chris’s martial arts wardrobe was a good thing. He was completely different from her rotten ex. All sweet and cheerful. Not brooding and checking himself in every mirror they passed. She was definitely looking forward to dinner. But she needed something to do in between.
June in California was a lot nicer than June in Michigan, where hot-and-muggy was practically all one word. The weather was obviously trying to seduce her back to the west coast. She found a tree-filled park not far from campus and settled at a picnic table with her computer and her Hotspot. She might as well begin looking for her dorm sisters. The sooner she made connections, the better off she’d be because they had all promised that they would help each other find work and have each other’s backs. She’d kept in touch for the first few months after moving, but Dwayne had wanted her to focus on him, and as a result, she’d lost track of her friends.