Be Mine, Sweetheart (Something Borrowed)
Page 1
Sweetheart, California’s Something Borrowed provides celebrity weddings with bridesmaids and groomsmen for hire . . . but once in a while what’s purely business becomes the best kind of personal.
RULE #3: DON’T MIX BUSINESS WITH MIXED DRINKS
Kelly Barrow, the founder of Something Borrowed, didn’t get the happily ever after she counted on, but she considers herself fortunate anyway. After all, she has a thriving business and a loving family and friends. Yet ten years after her heartbreak, surrounded by couples in love, she knows it’s time to move on—and the gorgeous actor who hires her for his sister’s wedding seems like the perfect opportunity. There’s just one problem. Her best friend and legal counsel, Christian Ryan, keeps getting in her way . . .
Chris has been a shoulder to lean on since they were kids, and Kelly never expected him to interfere in her dating life. She doesn’t realize that over the years, Chris’s feelings have grown beyond friendship. The timing just never seemed right—until now. And as the two of them work through the wedding’s inevitable surprises and disasters, Kelly begins to wonder if she’s been looking for love in the exact wrong place . . .
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Praise for Codi Gary’s Something Borrowed Series
Kiss Me, Sweetheart
“Winning…A delightfully romantic read.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars Top Pick
Don’t Call Me Sweetheart
“Don’t Call Me Sweetheart is packed with laugh-out loud moments balanced by emotion that rings true.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars Top Pick
“Gary’s novel will delight romance lovers who appreciate a strong heroine going after what she wants.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Flirty, fun, and fabulous!”
—Bestselling author Candis Terry
“Fun, lighthearted, and full of emotion. You can’t help but smile while reading Codi Gary.”
—K.M. Jackson, author of Insert Groom Here
“Codi Gary is the queen of romance. She’ll make you fall head over heels.”
—T.J. Kline, author of the Healing Harts series
“Don’t Call Me Sweetheart is a charming romance that will leave you saying ‘I do, I do’ to author Codi Gary.”
—Leah Marie Brown, author of the It Girls Series
Books by Codi Gary
The Something Borrowed Series
Don’t Call Me Sweetheart
Kiss Me, Sweetheart
Be Mine, Sweetheart
The Rock Canyon, Idaho Series
The Trouble with Sexy
Things Good Girls Don’t Do
Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars
Bad Girls Don’t Marry Marines
Return of the Bad Girl
Bad for Me
Good Girls Don’t Kiss and Tell
Good at Being Bad
The Loco, Texas Series
Crazy for You
Make Me Crazy
I Want Crazy
The Men in Uniform Series
I Need a Hero
One Lucky Hero
Hero of Mine
Holding Out for a Hero
The Standalones
How to Be a Heartbreaker
Bear Mountain Rescue
Hot Winter Nights
Sexy Summer Flings
Copyright
Lyrical Press books are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2018 by Codi Gary
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund- raising, and educational or institutional use.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager:
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Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
LYRICAL PRESS Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.
First Electronic Edition: August 2018
eISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0233-4
eISBN-10: 11-5161-0233-9
First Print Edition: August 2018
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0234-1
ISBN-10: 11-5161-0234-7
Printed in the United States of America
Be Mine, Sweetheart
Something Borrowed
Codi Gary
LYRICAL SHINE
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the amazing women and men who serve in our military. They spend months away from their homes and families, bravely putting their lives on the line. If no one has told you today, thank you.
Chapter 1
Kelly Barrow stared down at the court papers on her mahogany desk, completely flabbergasted. Her company and personal attorney, Christian Ryan, sat across from her in one of the black leather guest chairs. It was Monday morning in mid-May, and Kelly was tempted to open the blinds on her two office windows and let the sun in. Maybe it would shine a new light onto the terrible words mocking her from the white sheets of paper.
When she looked up at him, she could tell he was fighting a grin.
“This is a joke, right?” she asked.
Chris shook his head. “No joke. I received them this morning.”
“Who in the hell sues someone for”—she read the amount again, and scoffed—“thirty-two dollars and seventeen cents?”
“Apparently, Wesley James, who didn’t appreciate you walking out on a date with him.”
“I didn’t walk out! I told him that I had a work emergency and had to go!”
Chris shrugged his broad shoulders. “Guess he didn’t believe you because he is suing you for the cost of your dinner and your ticket to…Pirates of the Caribbean.”
This was one of the reasons why she hadn’t dated in eleven years. Men were absolute idiots.
“Can you just take care of this? Send him a check or whatever so he will go away.”
“Not that simple, Kel,” Chris said. “The man wants a formal apology and for you to be his date for his sister’s wedding.”
Kelly looked down at the papers again and sure enough, that was what it said.
In bold print.
“Why would he want me to be his date if I pissed him off so bad he had to file a lawsuit against me?”
Chris shrugged. “The guy must be hard up. I can’t think of a single reason he’d want to take you…oh wait.” He ticked off his fingers as he spoke. “There’s the fact that you’re beautiful, intelligent, and will no doubt make whatever ex-girlfriend he’s afraid of bumping into insanely jealous.”
Kelly stuck her tongue out at him, but he jus
t laughed at her childishness. She’d known Chris since eighth grade, when he’d walked up to her for his friend, Ray Jackson and told her Ray liked her. Chris had approached the subject with a smooth, charming air that he’d carried over into adulthood. It was part of the reason he made such an amazing lawyer.
She’d been floored at first and told him that if his friend wanted to talk to her, he should do it himself. She’d topped off that set down with a toss of her ponytail before spinning on her heels and heading for math class.
Later that day, on the way to the buses, Ray had finally approached her, with Chris in tow. The two of them had been opposites in appearance. Ray hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet and was five feet eight inches, with dark skin and obsidian eyes. He had wide shoulders that cut into a V to his waist, well-muscled even at fourteen. His hair was shaved close to his head and his smile was wide and engaging, with a hint of shyness she’d been drawn to.
Chris had been tall and gangly. His long hair reached his shoulders and was pale yellow with streaks of gold. Light blue eyes were hidden behind Buddy Holly frames, and perched atop a slim nose. His full lips had been quirked into a smirk as he stood behind Ray, his hands in his jean pockets.
Ray asked if she wanted to grab some ice cream with them at the Sweetheart Creamery and she’d said sure. Although the walk to the ice cream shop had been a bit awkward, Ray had told a corny joke about cats. It broke the ice and she’d laughed. They’d gone inside, swapping spoonsful of ice cream and teacher horror stories. They’d left the creamery and while Chris had gone into the gas station to get them all slushies, Ray had slipped his hand into hers. She still remembered the warmth, the butterflies in that first experience. It was something that could never be duplicated.
After that moment, it had been the three of them together; Ray and her as a couple and Chris as their dear friend.
Then high school had ended, and Chris had gone away to college while Ray had joined the military. Kelly had gotten a job at the local bridal boutique and stayed right there in Sweetheart, California. She’d missed them dreadfully, and when Ray had come home on his first leave and asked her to marry him, she’d said yes. They’d started making plans for when his four years were up. She was already taking courses at Consumes River College in business, and when Ray got out, he would get his degree, too. They’d get jobs, get married, and eventually have four kids. The plan was to be happy and in love forever.
Only Ray had never come home. He’d been killed in action just before his twenty-second birthday, and Kelly had been a mess. Her parents. Her friends. No one could bring her out of her misery.
Until Chris had come back to town and sat on the bed next to her prone form. At first, he’d been patient and understanding. Bringing her favorite movies and treats, trying to get her to talk to him. When she still wouldn’t acknowledge him though, he’d lost his temper. He’d grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him.
“You aren’t the only one who loved Ray, and he wouldn’t want you behaving like this. You’re so wrapped up in your own grief that you don’t give a shit about anyone else who may be hurting.”
She’d come out of her depression enough to slap him, and the rush of emotions that followed had her pummeling his chest, screaming and cursing at him. Chris had wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight until she stopped fighting. When the dam broke, she just wailed. Sobbing her heartbreak all the while he cried into the crook of her neck. It had been Chris’s tears that had been the key to fully waking her up. They’d held each other close as their grief had spilled out, Ray’s death binding them in their mutual loss.
After Ray’s funeral, Chris had gone back to Stanford, but they’d stayed close. It had actually been Chris who had told her that her idea of starting a bridesmaid-for-hire company wasn’t such a bad one. They’d spend hours on the phone drafting her business plan together, laughing and arguing. She’d gotten her loan because of him.
When he’d finished law school, she’d begged him to come back.
And now, here they were, still friends. Poring over a frivolous lawsuit ten years later.
Kelly shot Chris a pleading look. “I don’t really have to go out with him again, do I?”
Chris laughed, throwing back his head, and Kelly studied him. At thirteen, Chris had been a towheaded kid, beanpole thin with glasses. As a man, his white-blond hair had darkened to a rich gold, and he wore contacts over his light blue eyes. Kelly wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Chris had become a handsome guy; it just didn’t matter. He would always be Chris. Ray’s best friend, and then hers.
“No, Kelly. I’ll handle it.”
She winked at him. “Thanks, C. What would I do without you?”
“Continue to date losers?”
“Ha ha,” she said. “So funny.”
“What did prompt you to go out with this guy?” Chris asked. “He must have had some game.”
Kelly shifted in her chair awkwardly, embarrassed to tell him that she had joined an online dating site, but she didn’t lie to Chris.
“I wouldn’t really say that. I signed up on LastFirstKiss.com and that guy was one of the top matches the website spit out.”
Chris arched one of his golden eyebrows and pointed to the complaint on her desk. “Seriously? This guy is the best online dating has to offer?”
“Apparently. When he contacted me, and I saw his profile, it all looked good. He had a steady job, he was attractive…”
She trailed off, and he waved he hand for her to go on. “So, what happened?”
She grimaced. “He lied on his profile.”
“Shocker,” he deadpanned. “What did he say? That he was six two instead of five two?”
Kelly scowled at him. “I’m sorry, I’m looking for Chris? My fantastic, supportive best friend?”
Chris shot her a sheepish grin. “Apologies. Your S.B.F. is back.”
Kelly hesitated for a moment, studying his face to make sure he was done being a punk. When she was satisfied he would keep his sarcasm to himself, she continued.
“He lied about everything, including what he liked to do for fun! At dinner, I asked him where he liked to go dancing and he said he only put that on there because girls liked that! I could have let that go, but he was a complete douchenozzle to the waiter at the restaurant. The kid took our order, and came by to let us know that the kitchen was backed up. All he did was ask if we wanted a complimentary appetizer while we waited, and Wesley went off. I was so embarrassed and would have taken off right after that, but he left the waiter a note of apology and a nice tip, so I thought, fine. Maybe he just had a bad reaction to low blood sugar.”
“I take it that wasn’t the case?” Chris asked.
“Nope. We got to the movie and he didn’t even ask what I wanted to see, just told me he’d bought the tickets online ahead of time. I pointed out that I might have already seen the movie he picked and basically, it didn’t matter because it was the only thing he wanted to see. I was grinding my teeth by this point. The final straw though was when he put salt on the popcorn I bought after I told him I didn’t like salt on my popcorn.”
“How’d he do that? Didn’t you have control of the container?”
“I did, until I asked him to hold it while I went to the little girls’ room. We sat down in the theater, I took one bite and almost ralphed.”
“What’d he say when you called him out on it?” he asked.
“I didn’t. I handed it to him and asked if he wanted it because I wasn’t hungry anymore. Frankly, after that, I was relieved when Veronica called me and pulled me out of the movie. The way he chewed popcorn was just…disgusting. Plus, between his selfish tendencies and mood swings, I was a little freaked.”
Chris chuckled. “Ah, Kel, I love you.”
“I know.”
They shared a smile over the desk. Since the first time they’d
watched a Star Wars marathon in high school, Chris and she had done the Han Solo and Princess Leia bit. It used to drive Ray crazy, not because he was jealous, but because he hated Star Wars. That had never stopped them, though.
“Speaking of business, have you talked to Dustin Kent about his brother’s estimate for restoring Buzzard Gulch? It seems kind of high, don’t you think?” Chris asked.
Buzzard Gulch was her friend and former employee, Marley Stevenson’s baby. She’d convinced Kelly that they could turn the old ghost town into a premier wedding venue. They’d brought Dustin Kent into the project because he held the deed to the land and was one of the biggest investors. Rylie Templeton had a stake in the deal, because Marley had convinced Kelly that having company bakers, florists, and other wedding vendors would bring in more revenue. Rylie had been an asset as a bridesmaid and now, as the exclusive wedding cake maker, was essential to Something Borrowed’s future.
“I’m going to talk to him, but honestly, I think he’s being generous with us. Building materials and permits are not cheap.”
Chris sat forward in his chair, a solemn expression on his face. “Still, I don’t want you getting in too deep. Especially if you’re going to find a trophy husband; you gotta be able to make it rain.”
“Shut up.” At his grin, Kelly leaned her head back in the chair and groaned. “Ugh, I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been dating since LFO was cool and it was only ever with one guy. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Then don’t. No one says you have to date.”
No one had to say it. Her own mind had been demanding it for almost a year, but even before that, it had been a struggle. For eleven years, she’d created beautiful, perfect memories for brides and grooms. The first few had been the most painful, always imagining what it would have looked like on Ray’s and her wedding day. After about five years, the pain had lessened, replaced by the ever-growing jealousy of others’ good fortune. She still loved what she did, but there was an envy to it now. Kelly had even created a secret Pinterest page with ideas for her own special day, when or if she ever had one.