No Time for Romance

by Raine English

  No Time for Romance

  No Brides Club, Book 8

  Raine English

  © 2019, Raine English

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Cover Design by RockSolidBookDesign.com

  Proofread by Alice Shepherd

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Sweet Promise Press

  PO Box 72

  Brighton, MI 48116

  To fans of second-chance romance.

  Never stop believing that love is worth another try.

  Contents

  Publisher’s Note

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  What’s Next?

  You May Also Like

  More from Sweet Promise Press

  More from Raine English

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

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  Prologue

  Brooklyn, New York

  Emilia Sullivan looked up at the night sky full of brilliant, twinkling stars and began counting them. “I lost my place at thirty-seven,” she said with a laugh.

  “You did better than me. I gave up at twenty.” Chase Christianson flashed her a dazzling smile that never failed to melt her heart. “Are you cold?” he asked, slipping off his leather jacket and draping it over her shoulders without waiting for an answer.

  Although still August, it felt more like fall. Usually, she looked forward to the change in season. This year, however, she shuddered inwardly at the thought, her mind a crazy mixture of hope and fear. Hope that her future would be bright and fear that it wouldn’t include Chase. “I don’t want you to go,” she said in a small, frightened voice. Never in a million years had she imagined that she’d date someone like him—handsome, sweet, and oh so romantic.

  His dark eyes studied her face. “Don’t worry, Emmy. I won’t be gone long, and I’ll be back to visit lots. I promise. Besides, the Culinary Institute is only a two-year program, and you have two more years of high school, anyway.”

  “A lot can happen in two years,” she said glumly. Like meet someone else who’ll make you forget all about me.

  His steady gaze held hers. “Maybe this will help prove I’m coming back.” He reached into his jean’s pocket and pulled out a gold ring with three little diamonds.

  “What’s that?” Her voice quivered when she spoke.

  “What do you think?” He slipped it on her finger. “It’s a promise ring. I’m going to marry you someday, Emmy.”

  She flung her arms around his neck, pulling him so close his warm breath touched her cheek. “And I’ll wait, however long it takes.”

  His kiss was soft at first, but then he smothered her lips with demanding mastery, sealing their vow and chasing away any lingering doubts. They were soul mates. She was sure of it. And nothing would keep them apart.

  1

  Emilia pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she checked the event schedule for May. Their busiest time of year had begun. Panic tightened her chest, but that was nothing new. It happened every spring. Being New York City’s number one wedding planner was a daunting responsibility and maintaining that spot was even more difficult. There were a million other businesses out there waiting to take the coveted spot. And there were a million things that could go wrong. Somehow, though, for the past three years Happily Ever After maintained their sterling reputation for providing every bride a spectacular fairy tale wedding, despite the chaos that went on behind the scenes.

  A quick knock on her door made her glance up, and a moment later, Elizabeth, Emilia’s twin sister, came strolling in. She had her long, silky auburn hair pulled back in a high ponytail and a sweatshirt tied around her slim waist, making her look more like a high school student than a woman of twenty-eight. But it was her taut face that attracted Emilia’s attention. “Oh, no. What’s wrong? Don’t tell me there’s a problem with the Keebler wedding.”

  “Not as far as I know, but I’m heading over to the venue now, just to be sure. That’s why I’m dressed like this.”

  “Then what is it, Lizzie?”

  Her sister chewed her lip as she twisted the end of her ponytail around her finger. “Abby’s Catering canceled.”

  Emilia’s newly waxed brows shot up. “Weren’t they doing Kinsley’s reception?”

  Lizzy cleared her throat. “Yep.”

  Her mouth went dry, and a lump formed in her throat. She swallowed hard before saying, “But it’s only two weeks away. Where are we going to find another caterer on such short notice?” Emilia dropped her glasses on the desk and massaged her temples, hoping that might help to ward off the migraine she felt about to come on.

  A glazed look of despair spread over her sister’s pretty face. “I don’t know, but we have to find one. We can’t let Kinsley down.”

  That was a no brainer. Not only did Kinsley King run one of the top real estate brokerages in the city and know everyone who was someone, but she had helped get their business up and running. Without her recommendations, it would’ve taken them a lot longer to become successful. They couldn’t afford to mess up her wedding. “Why did Abby’s cancel?” Emilia asked as she opened on her computer a list of caterers they’d used in the past.

  Lizzy slumped onto the overstuffed chair on the other side of the desk. “Apparently, they double-booked.”

  She looked across at her sister. “So they canceled us? Who was the other client?”

  “Abby’s brother-in-law.”

  “Come on!” Emilia slammed her palm on the desk. “That wasn’t double-booked. Sounds like a last-minute wedding they slipped in on our day.”

  “I’m sure that’s what happened.”

  Emilia printed out two copies of the list, handing one to her sister. “I’ll take the top
half. You take the bottom. We don’t stop calling until we find someone.”

  “That could take all night,” her sister moaned, “and I have a date with Ron.”

  Emilia pursed her lips. Lizzy went through men like most women changed shoes. “And it’s Thursday. I have a date with the No Brides Club.”

  Lizzy scrunched up her nose. “I don’t know what you have against marriage.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Okay, maybe you’ve had more than your share of rotten apples, but if you stop looking, you’ll never find the good one at the bottom of the barrel.”

  “My barrel's empty.”

  Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Nonsense. Just refill it. That’s what I do.”

  “I’ve noticed. Who’s Ron, by the way?”

  Lizzy’s face brightened. “A musician. A six-foot-two hunk of creative genius who’s making me dinner tonight.”

  “And he cooks too?”

  “So he claims, and I can’t wait to find out.”

  “Then you’d better get working on that list.”

  Emilia watched her sister sashay from the room before picking up the phone. An hour later, she’d made the last call, and not one caterer was able to do Kinsley’s wedding. Her misery was so acute that it caused physical pain in her stomach. She put her head down on the desk, folding her hands over it.

  “Guess you didn’t have any luck?” Lizzy asked.

  Emilia looked up, not having heard her come in. “Nope. Did you?”

  “Not with the list.”

  She groaned. “What are we going to do? I’m having dinner with Kinsley tonight, and she’s sure to ask how things are going.”

  “At the Briarwood Tavern?”

  “Yeah, she has someone interested in joining the club that she wants to introduce to us all.” Kinsley and a group of her friends had started the No Brides Club back when they were all single, hard-working career women with no time for romance. Fast forward a few years, and all were either married, or about to be, and more than happy to hand over the reins to a new batch of ladies who’d sworn off marriage.

  “Well, be sure to tell her Naturally Delicious will be catering her wedding.”

  Emilia jumped up. “What? But I thought you said—”

  “I said,” Lizzy interrupted, “I didn’t have luck with the list. I didn’t say I hadn’t found a caterer.”

  “Then how did you do it?”

  “Ron.”

  “Ron’s a caterer? I thought you’d said he was a musician?”

  Lizzy giggled. “He is. I called him to ask if he’d pick up Newton at doggie daycare and watch him until I see him later. I won’t have time, I’ve still got to run to the Keebler’s venue, and you’ve got to meet your never gettin’ married gang.”

  It was Emilia’s turn to interrupt. “You’re having someone you barely know pick up our dog?”

  Lizzy folded her arms across her chest. “Yeah, it’s not like he’s going to steal him.”

  “You never know.”

  “I’m sure if Ron wanted a dog, he could walk into any shelter and find a mutt just as cute as the one we got. He doesn’t need to steal Newt.”

  “But Newton is special.” The corners of Emilia’s mouth twitched, and she could barely contain her laughter.

  “Glad to know you’re teasing,” Lizzy said with a huff.

  “So Ron recommended, what’s the name—Naturally…”

  “Delicious. And yes, a club he played at used them and the food was fabulous. All organic. Very healthy.”

  “Kins would love that, but if they’re so good, why do they have an opening, when no one else did?”

  “Always the skeptic, sis. Might do you good to look on the bright side for once.”

  “I’m just worried about our reputation. That’s all.”

  “Well, to put your mind at ease, it’s a new business. Remember when we started? We had plenty of openings that first year.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure they’ll be hungry to do a fantastic job. Maybe this will all work out for the better.”

  Lizzy grinned. “That positive outlook suits you. Try to keep it going. Look, I gotta go. I’ll see you sometime tonight. Don’t wait up.” Before she exited the office, she spun around. “I almost forgot. I told them you’d meet the owner here tonight at eight.”

  “Tonight? Great. I’ll have to gobble my food, race back, and then fight indigestion the whole rest of the night.”

  “Whatever it takes. Isn’t that our motto?”

  “See you later, Lizzy.”

  Emilia turned off the computer, then quickly straightened up her desk. Her sister called her a neat freak. She liked to think of it as inheriting Mom’s attention to detail. Edie Sullivan had never worked outside the home. Her job had been making sure her family was extremely well cared for. It was her choice to do that, and selfishly, Emilia was glad she had. Growing up, dinners were always homemade. The refrigerator was full of their favorite foods. And the house meticulously clean. Her parents were happy and madly in love, and that translated into two well-adjusted children.

  Emilia took after her mom in a lot of ways. Along with being organized and a good cook, she also kept the apartment she shared with Lizzy tidy. It was a good thing, too, because her sister was the polar opposite. She had a habit of leaving her dirty clothes on the floor and apparently didn’t mind stepping over them. About the only thing Emilia didn’t inherit from her mom was her luck in the love department. Seemed, Lizzy got that in spades. With a sigh, she slung her purse strap over her shoulder and then locked up the office.

  There was no need to call a cab. The Briarwood Tavern was a short walk, and Emilia enjoyed the trek through the lovely Tribeca neighborhood. She’d always loved the area, having visited her Uncle Sam there many times as a child. Sam was her dad’s older brother and a very successful investment banker. He’d introduced them to Kinsley at one of his lavish cocktail parties. The timing was perfect, since they’d needed a broker to help them find an apartment, and both sisters had agreed Tribeca is where they wanted to live. Kins found them a beautiful place in her building on North Moore Street and even helped them acquire space for their new business, just a few blocks away. Life was good. But the hole in her heart from having lost her true love wouldn’t go away. Her thoughts shifted back to high school as she spun the little gold ring with the three diamond chips around her pinkie. Maybe it was time to put the past in the past where it belonged. Those were Lizzie’s words, and she’d harped them at Emilia more times than she could remember. Now seemed as good a time as any to take her sister up on her advice, so without another moment’s hesitation, she slipped the ring off her finger and popped it in her purse.

  As she walked the cobblestone streets, she gazed at the beautiful buildings along the way, enjoying the peaceful setting. A sharp contrast to the craziness of Manhattan, where she spent a good part of the week.

  The Briarwood catered to a Wall Street crowd and was usually packed. Tonight was no exception. She had to maneuver through the crowded bar to get to their usual table in the dining room. The group was already there. Marnie Bates, a TV producer and business partner of Georgie Price, one of the original No Brides Club members, moved over so Emilia could sit beside her on the tufted leather banquette.

  “Sorry, I’m late. An emergency came up at work that I had to deal with.”

  Her friend smiled. “No worries. I only just got here myself. Everything’s okay, I hope.”

  “I think so, but I’ll find out for sure soon enough.” Hopefully, Kinsley wouldn’t be too upset when she found out a new caterer had been booked.

  Emilia had just ordered a drink when the gorgeous blonde arrived with an attractive young woman at her side. Kinsley introduced Molly to the group, explaining that she was an up-and-coming actress who’d just landed a sweet role on Broadway.

  A bit of jealousy stirred inside Emilia. She’d spent the better part of seven years trying to break into the theater scene. There’d been a couple of prom
ising callbacks while in college, but nothing had panned out, and the three years after graduation had been lean, to say the least. She waited tables and auditioned, while Lizzy worked as a wedding planner at Manhattan’s Brides Are Us. But their lives changed drastically when their father, a well-known attorney, decided they’d struggled long enough and offered to set them up in business. If Blake Sullivan, a hard-nosed, you-need-to-make-it-on-your-own kind of guy was willing to do that, then it was time for Emmy to set her passion for music aside to become an entrepreneur and help make Lizzy’s dream come true. They opened up Happily Ever After, and Emilia never looked back, except for times like now, when someone’s success in the arts was brought up.

  Pushing any regrets aside, she asked Kinsley, before the statuesque beauty sat down if they could talk in private for a moment.

  Kinsley’s dark eyes opened wide. “Sure, but please don’t tell me there’s a problem with my wedding.”

  Emilia’s cheeks grew warm. “A minor hiccup that’s been resolved. Why don’t we go to the rooftop bar?” It was still chilly enough that most patrons preferred to be inside, giving them the privacy Emilia wanted.

  She grabbed the glass of wine a waiter set down in front of her and led the way. As predicted, the outside bar was nearly empty. Emilia chose a table near the railing with a spectacular view of the city.

  After Kinsley ordered a cocktail, she remarked, “I hate being kept in suspense. What’s going on?”