Excerpt 2, more to come tomorrow!
Charlie shook his head. "You just haven't met the right woman to love yet."
"I meet lots of women." Kane grinned. "Love them, too."
Charlie frowned. "I mean the forever kind of love. The kind I had with your mother."
And with his second wife.
And with what's her name. Belle.
Forever was a joke. And love--the kind his dad was talking about--was nothing more than a pretty word for convenient sex and companionship.
A white van pulled through the gate and honked its horn.
Charlie turned toward the sound. "They're here."
"Great." Kane was hoping "they" would be a no-show.
A woman with white hair and a beaming smile drove. She waved. Her passenger held a cell phone to her ear. She wore dark, round sunglasses that hid much of her face.
The van stopped. The driver door opened. The older woman, wearing brown pants and a colorful jacket, slid out gracefully. "Good morning." She greeted Charlie with a handshake. The woman stepped toward Kane, extending her arm. "You must be Kane."
He shook her hand, noting her warmth and strong grip. She was different from his mother and his ex-stepmother. Older. Maybe even older than his father. That surprised Kane. "You must be Belle."
"I am." Her voice sounded like honey. Deep south honey. Slow and sweet. "I appreciate you flying Serena to Seattle."
Of course she did, especially with his father picking up all the associated flight and fuel costs.
"Kane's happy to do it," Charlie answered. "Aren't you, son?"
Kane nodded. He would be very happy once the next four days were behind him and he'd be flying away for good.
"Well, we'd better get busy then." Belle opened the van doors and pulled out a box. "We have boxes to load. Brochures, favor samples and portfolios. Plus linens, flower arrangements, a cake and gowns."
Belle's eagerness to help surprised Kane. "O-kay."
"You still have to meet Serena James, our wedding dress designer," Belle said. "She's finishing up a phone call. No doubt talking to Rupert?"
Kane bit. "Rupert?"
"Her boyfriend." Belle's ever present smile widened. "The two are practically engaged."
So much for a little romance in Seattle. Ring on the finger or not, Kane didn't mess around with another man's girl.
The passenger door opened. He focused on the woman exiting the van. She was, in a word, stunning…
Back to newsletter list
