Page 22 (1/2)
Chapter One
A relaxing, six-day mountain retreat at the exclusive Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado, followed by her best friend’s wedding—what could possibly go wrong?
Julie Piper tipped her cha animatedly around her She’d selected the resort’s tasteful Osprey Lounge as the venue for Kady’s bachelorette party and if her friends’ rapidly increasing inebriation served as any sign, it had been a darn good choice Predinner drinks, a light e a success Now she could sit back and enjoy the delicious buzz working its way through her syste since she allowed herself to relax, but there was so with three best friends who’d borne witness to four years’ worth of triue
Kady, the first of thee Julie to be thethe eclectic arnered a reputation as the planner The izer Barbie Not exactly a flattering nickname, but apt nonetheless She s people happy was her top priority
If her sht shatter on occasion, well then she supposed even the ceiling in Barbie’s Dreaain
Through an avalanche of email and hysterical phone calls between Kady in Colorado and herself in Atlanta, the wedding had been planned down to the tiniest of details Ask her anything about floral arrangements or canapés and she could dish for days As she watched Kady show off her ring to the tray-carrying waitress, s fro and preparation The end result never disappointed
Regan, her sorority sister and current New York City headhunter, leaned across the table toward Kady, artfully highlighted hair falling in a wave beside her face “So does Colton know he’s endary Tri Delt who once rode a lect to mention it?”
“Oh, I told him” Kady sniffed proudly “He asked to see pictures”
Regan saluted with her glass “Now there’s a ers”
“I see a turn on that bull, Julie,” Kady pointed out
“I ht,” Christine said on Julie’s left, saving her froht the with me to torture you”
Kady’s ative Journalist Even in those days you were never without your camera”
Christine brushed her bright-red hair over her shoulder, looking quietly pleased “Always prepared”
“I shudder to think what photographic blackan winced “I seeht I scaled the Chi Oa sorority house to steal their mascot off the roof”
Julie nodded sagely “M between you and the Lord but a smile”
“That’s right I was butt-ass naked” Regan flounced back in her chair and shrugged “Hey, I didn’t hear any complaints from below”
As they all groaned over Regan’s state horribly out of place, a young woue familiarity about her tipped Julie off “Kady, is that Colton’s sister?”
Kady craned her neck to look toward the bar “Ooh, yes Julie, can you go get her?”
Julie had already left the table and was halfway across the roo her request She flashed hers when the other girl auto pity on her, Juliescare you off, Sophie Brooks That’s just hoe do things in the South Cory? They have the most delicious crab cakes I just about died when I bit into mine”
Sophie’s gaze was fastened on Julie’s mouth as if she couldn’t believe a person could say so hed She was used to that look “Uh, thank you No, I’m
not hungry” She cracked a nervous little s”
Julie took her ar to fit right in”
The young woman looked doubtful as they approached the table, but as soon as introductions were ne in her hand, the boisterous conversation swelled once htly, even if she looked like a spectator at a tennisto follow their banter
Julie waited until everyone had becoerie choices before she inconspicuously left the table She floated past the restroo kitchen, and slipped out onto the deserted back patio she’d spied earlier, inhaling the cleanthanks to a last-round running to get the party set up in time A breather was definitely in order As soon as the patio door closed behind her, she yanked the clip out of her hair, letting her long blond hair tumble down around her shoulders Alone in the darkness, she allowed her ramrod posture to deflate, the tension to ease from her shoulders
She inched her fingers along her scalp, ’s et one vital detail and disappoint everyone Over ood, her eyes closed auto past her lips
“You call that a moan?”
Chapter Two
From his position in the shadows, Reed Laatched the blonde spin around on a gasp When he finally got a good look at her face, it took every ounce of his willpower to retain his casual lean against the stone building Fucking gorgeous She’d walked out of the restaurant onto the deserted patio,herself in a way that would put a porn star to shas to perfection, he’d been more than happy to let her put on a private show just for hih on those sexy thighs and he’d felt an annoying stab of guilt Noished he’d just gone inside the da Wished he hadn’t made her turn around
Because noasn’t going anywhere Not until he got an up-close look
“I’ that oozed old ht I was out here all alone”