by Ellie Hall
Without warning, Ellery jerked Beckett around by his arm and pointed at the jumbotron that featured Camdyn and David standing close together.
“That little cheat,” Ellery seethed as Beckett tried to make sense of what was going on. He wasn’t sure if she was referring to Camdyn or David.
Before Beckett had time to work up a good jealous rage, everything became clear when Camdyn placed her hands on David’s chest and shoved him backward. The crowd hushed as David marched right back over to her. It was at that moment that the videographer decided to turn on the sound.
“You’ve changed so much, and I want to give us another shot,” David said, even though Camdyn looked mad enough to cause him bodily harm.
“You are so delusional,” Camdyn said. “The only shot I want with you is a right hook to your jaw.”
“I get why you’re angry with the way I broke things off,” David said, taking a step forward. “But look how much you’ve improved since we broke up?”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I know I gave you some harsh criticism.” David looked Camdyn over. “But you look incredible, and I can tell you took it to heart.”
Fire shot out of Camdyn’s eyes, and she looked ready to throat punch David if he took one step closer.
Beckett should probably go intervene, but Camdyn was holding her own. Besides, he was enjoying the show too much. Ellery, however, had left his side. He had a feeling David’s two-timing ways were about to be exposed.
The wedding guests had all gathered around the big screen, including the bride and groom. David hadn’t made too many friends, so that was another added bonus to keep watching as the sexy, blonde firecracker gave him a dressing down.
Mrs. Jessup, however, was losing her mind, trying to get people to look away. She wanted everything back on track. Gina was frantically tapping on her earpiece, demanding the videographer cease filming.
“Let me make myself very clear,” Camdyn said, advancing on David. “I do not want you back.”
David’s eyes widened slightly when Camdyn continued to encroach on his space. He tried backing up but there was a table directly behind him that impeded his retreat.
“And I may live in a fantasy world, but that’s my job. And I’m good at it, which you might have realized if you had ever bothered to read any of my work.” David’s mouth opened, but Camdyn held up her hand. “I’m done here, David. Don’t contact me. Don’t ask about me. Don’t even think about me.”
She turned and started to walk away but then whirled back around. “Oh, and just so you know, there is nothing wrong with my libido.”
That got a loud cheer from the viewing audience. Camdyn had a tiny smirk on her face as she walked toward the exit. Whoever was filming panned the camera from David and then to Camdyn.
Beckett was on his way to find Camdyn when a hush fell over the wedding party. He looked back over his shoulder to see that Ellery had arrived on the scene. Cutting a glare directly at the camera, Ellery leaned over and whispered in Camdyn’s ear. The two women zeroed in on the cameraman, and seconds later, the screen went blank.
The crowd groaned in protest but quickly recovered when the music started back up. Beckett heard the wedding planner’s voice invite the bride and groom out on the dance floor. Before exiting the covered pavilion, Beckett shrugged out of the suit coat, draping it across the back of a chair. He loosened the tie around his neck, unfastening the top two buttons of the white dress shirt.
Not sure where Camdyn was, he headed in the direction of loud voices, assuming it was Ellery and David. From his peripheral vision, Beckett caught sight of someone moving quickly, and somehow he knew it was Camdyn.
Since she was heading toward the house, he cut across the yard and was waiting for her by the door when she finally arrived. Although her face was slightly pale, he was relieved that she wasn’t crying.
“Are you running away from me?” he asked, trying to coax a smile out of her.
“Don’t you want me to?” she asked, a hint of her sass back in her voice.
Pushing away from the wall, he closed the distance between them. “Never,” Beckett said, his voice low and filled with more emotion than he’d intended.
“Never?” she repeated in disbelief. “Not even after my debut on reality TV?”
Beckett chuckled, finally close enough to pull her into his arms. “Your debut was epic,” he said, sliding his hands around to the curve of her lower back. “It was actually pretty hot.”
That finally earned him a smile. “I can’t believe I told David and everyone else all that stuff.”
“Like I said, epic,” Beckett said, recalling her parting shot about her libido. He knew there was a story there, but they would have plenty of time to talk. Right now, he just wanted to kiss her. Lowering his head, he sealed his lips over hers and gave her a slow, sensual kiss that ended far too soon when a boisterous group of wedding guests invaded their privacy as they walked by.
Beckett knew that it was going to be a long night of partying, and he didn’t want to stick around for all the wedding shenanigans bound to take place.
“Are you as ready to get out of here as I am?” Beckett asked.
Camdyn lifted a questioning brow. “To go where?”
“How do you feel about crashing Nikki and Jeff’s vacation?”
“You want to go to Hilton Head?” she asked with a lilt in her voice that let him know she liked the idea.
“Yeah, it’s not even ten and the drive is less than an hour.” Letting go of her, Beckett took her hand and led her toward the door. “Let’s do it.”
Camdyn only took a few steps before tugging on his hand. “But what about your parents?”
“They won’t care, and I know there’s plenty of room.”
“But we’re together.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “I mean, I think we’re together?”
Beckett felt bad that he’d waited so long to tell her that he wanted them to date. While that conversation needed more time than they had right now, he wanted her to know how he felt.
“Camdyn, we are definitely together.” He pulled her to him and gave her a quick kiss. “And I want you all to myself, so you’ll have to delete your online dating profile.”
“I don’t even have one,” she said with a laugh.
Unable to resist her, he pulled at her bottom lip before kissing her fully on the mouth. This time they weren’t interrupted, giving Beckett plenty of time to kiss her thoroughly and taste the peppermint on her tongue.
“By the way,” he said, reluctantly ending the kiss, “we need to modify your rules.”
“Maybe a few.” Camdyn kissed him briefly before taking him by the hand and leading him inside the house. “But that reminds me,” she said as they climbed the stairs to their rooms. “I never showed you our matching shirts.”
“That’s right,” he said, hoping it wasn’t some girly shirt with a sea turtle or pineapple. Those were very popular in Savannah. “Am I going to hate it?”
“No, I think it will become your new favorite shirt,” she said, running down the hall until she came to her room. “Stay out here, and I’ll be right back.”
Beckett only had to wait a few seconds before Camdyn returned to the hallway with a sack from a gift shop. “Are you going to make me close my eyes?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Nah,” he said with a laugh as he opened the bag. He relaxed the second he saw the shirt was black. It got even better when he pulled it out and recognized part of the design was of a pirate.
Camdyn’s eyes were brimming with amusement as he held the shirt by the top, shaking it out and seeing the words, ‘Surrender the Bootie’ written in a fancy scroll underneath a pirate.
Beckett’s lips twisted into a wry grin when he met her blue gaze that simmered with mischief and heat. “You’re right,” he said as he stalked toward her, backing her against the wall and giving her no place to go. “It is definitely my new favorite shirt.”<
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“I thought you might like it,” she said as her lips curved into a sexy smile that made his blood turn into molten lava.
“Like it?” Beckett said, kissing the corner of her mouth. “I love it.”
Pulling Camdyn close, Beckett took possession of her lips, softly at first, then with more intensity when she wrapped her arms around him and pressed closer. Everything around him faded except for Camdyn. Her touch, her sweet scent and her nearness.
He loved having her in his arms. Loved her smile and hearing her laugh. And he loved kissing her. That’s when Beckett knew he was in love with her. Although Camdyn had yet to say, ‘I love you,’ out loud, he was getting pretty good at reading lips. And her lips were telling him that she loved him too.
Connect with Cindy Roland Anderson
Bestselling author Cindy Roland Anderson loves romance, laughter, and happily ever after! She writes clean, contemporary romance with a combination of humor, romantic tension, and a lot of swoony kisses. Cindy loves spending time with her family, reading, and baking—not cooking, there is a difference! And she loves chocolate…probably a little too much.
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Secret Wedding Date
Taylor Hart
Her best friend's wedding might bring her face to face with her old nemesis, but it doesn't mean she has to help him find a date! And it really doesn't mean she has to forgive him for what he did to her. No way she's ever doing that!
1
“What's the big deal about me coming to every second of this wedding?”
Izzy Snow gazed at Snow Valley Lake and tried not to chew her boyfriend’s head off. “Brian, I asked you to come to my best friend's wedding with me three months ago, that's why it's a big deal.”
He inhaled deeply, but didn’t answer right away.
Izzy’s best friend, Tess Browne, was getting married. Not just her best friend, her best friend since kindergarten. They were ten years out of high school, but she and Tess still spoke once or twice a week on the phone. “I love Tess, but it’s hard for me to be back in Snow Valley around all of my old friends and still be single. I’d really like your support the next few days. Plus, I’m staying with Tess’ family in their huge lake house and it’s beautiful,” Izzy said. “I want to share this whole experience with you.”
“I’ve been to Snow Valley before,” Brian said absently. Even through the phone, she could tell he was bored with this conversation.
“You haven’t met all my friends or spent time on the lake.” Warmth filled her as she stared at the mountains reflected in the clear waters. “I spent most of my childhood at the Browne Lake Mansion. The water is clear, and … it’s just such a fun place.”
“I’ve got a big case and you know I’m close to making partner.”
Instant irritation replaced any magic she’d been feeling. “Never mind. Making partner is all you seem to be able to talk about.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. You should get it, Izzy,” Brian said, his tone laced with sarcasm. “You have a job that completely consumes you at times. Like last night when you wouldn’t even stop by after work.”
Emotion stuck inside her throat. “We lost Michael yesterday.” A mixture of anger and pain stabbed her in the heart. “How dare you?”
“I’m sorry.”
She tried to push away her raw emotions. She was an oncology nurse in Billings, Montana and losing patients was part of her job, but Michael had been so young.
Brian’s tone softened. “Look, I feel bad about Michael, I do. But, we really needed to talk. We have decisions to make and you keep putting me off.”
“He was eight. Michael was eight years old and I loved the little guy.” She wiped away the tears that were falling down her cheeks. “Dang you, Brian. Why did you bring this up right now? I’m trying to be happy and I want to make this wedding fun for Tess. It took every ounce of will for me to get up, put on a happy face, and make the two-hour drive to Snow Valley. Plus, I have a lot of responsibilities these next few days. I could use your help.”
“You know things like this case pop up and it’s important.”
This fight wasn’t really about the wedding or Michael. “Whatever,” she said, her tone still calm, even though it hurt that he could break his promise so easily. “ Do you even care that you committed to come to this wedding three months ago?”
“Are you forgetting the question I asked you last week that you still haven't given me a straight answer to?”
Bam. The real issue. “I gave you a straight answer. I'm not moving in with you. Frankly, I’m tired of talking about it.”
“No. No. No. You haven’t given me a real reason why you won’t move in with me.”
“Yes, I have. I don’t live with people before marriage.” She collapsed onto the couch and sucked in a deep breath.
“Izzy, you know I love you. I can't even remember how many times I've told you that I love you. Isn’t that a commitment?”
She didn’t respond.
“I hate it when you ignore me.”
“I’m not ignoring you. But anything I say disappoints you, so I think we should quit talking about it.”
Brian scoffed. “You keep going back to this marriage thing, and it just doesn't make sense to me. I'm sorry. I've witnessed the fallout from my own parents’ divorce. I make a lot of money handling divorces, so why would I risk subjecting myself or the woman I love to such a thing?”
Brian had a way of turning things around and making them sound good. It was exhausting. “I need to get off the phone and find Tess.”
“Izzy, why won’t you just be with me at least? I mean, we could try that, even if you won’t move in.”
Frustration flowed through her. “I have told you. I don’t believe in sex before marriage, either.”
“Don't give me that.” He disregarded her words as if he was arguing in court. “Tell me something valid.”
“Brian—”
“Don’t lecture me on this archaic belief in a God who somehow cares if people sleep together before marriage. That is incredibly outdated.”
Izzy squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her fingers next to her temple. She was starting to get a headache. “Brian, just tell me; are you coming to the wedding or not?”
“You know, I think you're right, we should stop talking because whatever I say is going to disappoint you.”
He was such a jerk. In fact, the word she wanted to say to describe him was way worse than “jerk”. “Goodbye then.”
“Izzy, wait.”
She didn’t know why, but she waited.
“Just tell me that I can send the moving company over to your apartment and move your things into my penthouse suite. I can have it done while you're gone to Snow Valley.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I told you why.”
“I need an answer that I can work with.”
Anger flashed through her. “Fine. You want an answer you can work with?”
“I think I deserve one.”
“Okay, how about the fact I caught you kissing your secretary last week.”
He let out a loud, sardonic laugh. “Oh, no. I was not kissing her, Izzy. I told you I was helping her with her contact. She has dry eyes. And she kissed me out of the blue. I had no idea she was going to do that. She’s fired now. I fired her. Are you happy about that?”
She balked. “No, I’m not happy anyone is fired. And, don’t lie to me.”
“Hey, I thought you forgave me after I brought you those flowers.”
She stood and moved closer to the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the lake. Tears filled her eyes, again, and she wiped them away angrily. She didn’t want to break things off with Brian right before this wedding, she didn’t want to be the single, loser at the wedding. “I have to go.” She pressed end on the call.
For a long time, she just stood there, taking
in deep breaths to calm herself.
Papers rustled behind her. “Truly, Izz, I want to kill myself after listening to that nonsense. Do you put up with that all the time?”
Startled, she turned around. “What are you doing here?”
Oliver Browne moved from behind the library shelves and strode toward her. The man who had broken her heart ten years ago. Her best friend’s older brother. The boy she’d crushed on her whole life.
He snorted and moved to her side. “I was going to call out to you, but then you got on the phone with that jerk face and … well, I couldn’t interrupt. I didn't want to stop you in the middle of that crap show.”
Humiliation burned through her. This could not be happening. “How dare you?” Old anger, the kind she’d put into a drawer and vowed never to open again bubbled to the surface. She shook a finger at him. “How dare you! You should have left when you heard me talking.”
Oliver's face was sober. “I think it's a good thing I was here to witness what a loser you’re dating.”
She glared at him. “That’s not for you to judge.”
He cocked an eyebrow and gave her a sweeping look from top to bottom, then focused on her eyes. “Maybe not, but I am judging.”
She held his gaze and all kinds of emotions fired through her. Unable to stop herself, she noted how sexy he looked. He sported a short beard, just the right length. His blue eyes were still piercingly bright, and the way he smelled. Oh gosh, he smelled like the wind blowing off the water. She forced herself to focus. “You had no right to listen to my conversation.”
He looked at her the same way his father looked at people when he was unhappy with them. His father was a huge business tycoon who owned a large national chain of sporting goods stores. Mr. Browne was a man to be reckoned with. “Izzy. Why do you let that guy talk to you like that?”