The Engagement Embargo
Page 25
“So much for relaxing,” he muttered and slowly drove out of the garage. It wasn’t until he was out on the highway that he forced himself to forget about who was following him and why. Turning on the radio, Brody let himself indulge in some loud music from his youth. A little Foo Fighters was exactly what he needed to clear his head. By the time he turned onto the long, tree-lined drive of his childhood home, he felt like he just might survive the weekend.
Then he spotted the long line of trucks and vans lining the driveway–caterers, electricians, florists, linen rentals, tents…his shoulders tenses and he had to remind himself that he could be in the house and up in his wing in just another few minutes. Being that he wasn’t part of the bridal party, none of this chaos had anything to do with him.
So he parked his car and grabbed his satchel before getting out. He waved to his father as he walked toward the house, and once inside, he kissed his mother on the cheek while she talked to the florist about her displeasure over the color of the flowers.
Just another day in the King household…
He was halfway up the grand staircase when his little brother and groom-to-be came jogging down toward him.
“Hey, Brody! You made it!” They met on the landing and Travis gave him a brisk hug. “I was afraid we were going to have to send someone to force you to leave the office!”
Brody knew he was teasing, but it still was enough to make him have to roll his shoulder and force himself not to negatively respond.
With a smile, he shrugged. “Well, Dad came in and walked out with me so…” They both laughed. “So where are you off to?”
“Oh, Charlene’s down at tent and doesn’t like the lights they’re installing. I’m going to go see what we can do about it.”
“They’re just…” he started but noticed his brother’s glance hardening and simply bit his tongue. “They’re just doing their job,” he corrected mildly. “If they don’t have anything they can swap out, maybe see if the florist or someone has something that can dress them up.”
Travis’s jaw dropped slightly before he smiled. “Wow, thanks, bro. I never would have thought of that!” Then with a clap on the shoulder, he took off down the rest of the stairs and Brody was blessedly by himself.
Jogging up the stairs to the third floor where his rooms were, he whistled. Once in his suite, he shut the door and placed his satchel down on the coffee table in his sitting area. Loosening his tie, he wondered what he should do with himself. There was no way he was going to go down to the tent or risk running into anyone who might want his input on anything. The brief conversation with Travis was enough.
“So now what?” Yanking his tie off, he tossed it onto the sofa before unbuttoning his shirt. Walking over to the French doors that led out to his balcony, he looked out over the property and sighed.
People. Everywhere.
At least…over on the east side of the property. To the west, there was one trailer set up all by itself, but other than that, it was nothing but acres of green grass, a paved path his parents used to get to the tennis court, the lake, and the nine-hole golf course.
It was also a great spot for jogging.
The thought of going for a run put a smile on his face because it would be a great way to let off steam, relax, and stay out of everyone’s way.
And that last one was for everyone’s benefit; not just his.
Plus, it was a way of keeping his word about not going to the gym but still getting his training time in.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Brody stripped down to his boxer briefs and rummaged through his chest of drawer to find a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and some socks. Next he pulled a pair of wireless earbuds out before pulling up a playlist on his Apple phone. Sneakers were in the closet and once he was dressed, he spent a few minutes stretching before heading down the back stairs that led directly to the kitchen. Once there, he maneuvered through the crowd working there, grabbed a bottle of water and made his way out the door.
After that, it was pure bliss.
The sky was still blue, the temperature was in the sixties, and the best part was that no one was around.
He started out walking across the yard–around the pool, the pool house, and the large outdoor kitchen. Once he passed them, he started with a light jog and within a few minutes, he had a great eight-minute mile pace going. Brody had been a runner since middle school. He’d been an all-star on the track team, and normally he only managed to get his runs while on a treadmill. Being outside was a total game changer and he made a mental not to himself start getting up earlier so he could get a run in before work.
But for this weekend, he knew he was going to utilize this path as much as humanly possible.
Music played, the perfectly manicured scenery passed him by, and by the time he was approaching the house, he had a good sweat going on and felt invigorated. If it was a little warmer, he would consider going for a dip in the pool and doing some laps, but he’d have to settle for a shower and possibly a few minutes in the sauna or something.
While he walked around to cool down, he drank the rest of his water and looked over at the lone trailer, frowning.
Why was it on this side of the yard? Why wouldn’t it get placed with all the rest? What other unnecessary attraction was being added to this spectacle?
“Brody? There you are,” his mother called as she walked outside and spotted him. “We were wondering where you were.”
Sylvia King may be the mother of three grown men, but she didn’t look a day over forty.
Which is what she told her plastic surgeon every time she saw him.
“I’m not late for anything, am I?”
“No, of course not, sweetheart. Dinner’s in an hour and no one knew where to find you. We’re having Italian tonight. Lasagna. I know it’s one of your favorites.” She looked up at him with a big smile and he couldn’t help but smile back.
“I guess it’s a good thing I went for a run, huh? Now I can have two helpings,” he said, winking at her.
“Oh, stop. You could eat a whole tray of it and not worry. Run or no run.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Oh, and we have some very decadent dessert! Charlene ordered some tiramisu and a New York cheesecake, and I had Mrs. Grayson make her famous chocolate lava cake. You know how I love something sweet after we have Italian.”
Brody made a face. “You know sweets aren’t my thing, Mom, but you enjoy them. Actually, you can have my dessert.”
Shaking her head, she made a tsking sound. “I don’t know how my own son doesn’t eat dessert. It’s not right!” It was a conversation they had all the time and he knew she was teasing. “Just know that I love you anyway.” She went to hug him but pulled back. “But you really should shower first so…go.”
Kissing her cheek, he grinned. “I’m on it. See you in an hour!”
* * *
Get your copy of with this cake here:
https://www.chasing-romance.com/with-this-cake
And keep up with the meet me at the altar series here:
https://www.chasing-romance.com/meet-me-at-the-altar-series
Also by Samantha Chase
The Magnolia Sound Series:
Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In Case You Didn’t Know
All the Befores
And Then One Day
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Last Beautiful Girl
The Way the Story Goes
* * *
Meet Me at the Altar:
The Engagement Embargo
With this Cake
You May Kiss the Groomsman
* * *
The Enchanted Bridal Series:
The Wedding Season
Friday Night Brides
The Bridal Squad
Glam Squad & Groomsmen
Bride & Seek
* * *
The RoadTripping Series:
Drive Me
Crazy
Wrong Turn
Test Drive
Head Over Wheels
* * *
The Montgomery Brothers Series:
Wait for Me
Trust in Me
Stay with Me
More of Me
Return to You
Meant for You
I’ll Be There
Until There Was Us
Suddenly Mine
A Dash of Christmas
* * *
The Shaughnessy Brothers Series:
Made for Us
Love Walks In
Always My Girl
This is Our Song
Sky Full of Stars
Holiday Spice
Tangled Up in You
* * *
Band on the Run Series:
One More Kiss
One More Promise
One More Moment
* * *
The Christmas Cottage Series:
The Christmas Cottage
Ever After
* * *
Silver Bell Falls Series:
Christmas in Silver Bell Falls
Christmas On Pointe
A Very Married Christmas
A Christmas Rescue
Christmas Inn Love
The Christmas Plan
* * *
Life, Love & Babies Series:
The Baby Arrangement
Baby, Be Mine
Baby, I’m Yours
* * *
Preston’s Mill Series:
Roommating
Speed Dating
Complicating
* * *
The Protectors Series:
Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister
Protecting the Enemy
Protecting the Girl Next Door
Protecting the Movie Star
* * *
7 Brides for 7 Soldiers
Ford
* * *
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes
Logan
* * *
Standalone Novels:
Jordan’s Return
Catering to the CEO
In the Eye of the Storm
A Touch of Heaven
Moonlight in Winter Park
Waiting for Midnight
Mistletoe Between Friends
Snowflake Inn
Wildest Dreams (currently unavailable)
Going My Way (currently unavailable)
Going to Be Yours (currently unavailable)
About Samantha Chase
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than sixty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
* * *
Where to Find Me:
Website: www.chasing-romance.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SamanthaChaseFanClub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthachaseromance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034673493228089/
Sign up for my mailing list and get exclusive content and chances to win members-only prizes!
https://www.chasing-romance.com/newsletter