Substitute Bride Page 11

  Camden shrugged. “So?”

  “So?”

  “Yeah. So what? You married her to get the money.”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, that was part of it.”

  “So what’s the problem? You got the money, right?”

  Shifting from one foot to the other, Kevin said, “I don’t have it yet, but it’s a done deal. It’s just that…”

  “It’s just that what?”

  “Come on, Camden. You can’t be that dense.”

  Camden’s eyebrows rose as he continued to stare at Kevin, his expression remaining serious.

  Okay. This was awkward. Kevin rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s complicated, alright? I did get married for the money.”

  “Which you’re getting.”

  “But I… I like being alone with Alex. We do more than watch games on TV and talk sports.” He gave his friend a pointed look and hoped his friend would get it.

  Camden’s eyebrows furrowed. “Are you saying you don’t want me to come here?”

  “Yes. Well, I mean, not entirely. I’m just saying I don’t want you over as often. Alex and I need time to ourselves to be a married couple.”

  “Huh.”

  Kevin frowned at the surprised tone in his friend’s voice. “Huh?”

  “Yeah. Huh. I didn’t even think you were aware that Alex was a woman.”

  He laughed. “Of course I’m aware she’s a woman.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve been inside that apartment, Kevin. I didn’t see anything that would indicate you know she’s a woman. I’ve known you since high school, and every time you went out with someone, you brought her flowers, candy, or some girlie trinket as a token of your affection. You even got that Lisa chick a large teddy bear because she wanted something cuddly and cute to hold at night.”

  He rolled his eyes. “What’s your point?”

  “My point is I’m not the one who needs a clue. You are. Alex is short for Alexandra. If you want me to leave you two alone so you can be romantic, then I need to know you can be romantic with her. Now do you get it?”

  Kevin studied his friend. “So all this time when you’ve been coming over here…?”

  “Yes, I’ve been trying to mentally kick you in the butt because your wife is a woman who needs actual romance in her life. And until I see an indicator that she’s no longer just a friend, I will keep coming over because when we were friends, it was no big deal to show up unannounced. So is she just a friend that you have a deal with to get money?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Then prove it.” Camden took a deep breath and smiled. “Now that my good deed is done, I can check out the car show.”

  As his friend turned and headed down the hallway, Kevin couldn’t help but grin. “Hey,” he called out.

  Camden glanced over his shoulder.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” Camden said.

  Kevin pulled out the two brochures on Maine. As romantic as a honeymoon was, it probably wasn’t enough. When he presented these to Alex, he’d have to bring something else with him, and he knew exactly what that something should be. Smiling, he headed for his car.

  ***

  Alex finished ringing up the elderly couple’s purchase when she heard someone enter the store. Glancing up, she noticed Trent and gave a slight wave before she handed the bowl of shells to the couple.

  “Thanks and come again,” she told them.

  As they left, Trent walked up to the counter and held up his folder. “I got a couple more emails and pictures from Sydney and Barb. Are you ready to go to lunch or should I wait?”

  “I can go in a few minutes.” Since no one else was in the store, she said, “Why don’t you show them to me now and we can talk about them over lunch?”

  He handed her the folder so she opened it up and took out the pictures and emails.

  “Does one look prettier to you than the other?” she asked, holding both pictures up so they were at his eye level.

  “Too bad Greg isn’t here. I was hoping he would be because he wouldn’t sugarcoat anything.”

  “Trent, this has to be your decision. You can’t let someone else tell you who to pick. It’s good that Greg’s not here. I like Greg and all, but you two have different tastes. I’m sure whichever he would have picked, you should pick the opposite. So just go with your gut. Which one do you want to kiss more?”

  “I don’t know. They’re both good looking.”

  She sighed and put the pictures down. “Fine. We’ll get to those later.”

  Sitting back in her chair, she gathered the four emails—two from each woman—and read them. Trent was probably the most orderly and detailed person she’d ever met, so she figured the woman he married should be that way as well.

  When she put the emails down, she looked at the pictures again. “If it was me, I’d go with Sydney.”

  “Really?” He inspected her picture. “Why?”

  The door opened and she looked up from the pictures, shocked to see Kevin holding a bouquet of red roses and a wrapped box. When Kevin’s gaze fell on Trent, he stormed over to the counter and dumped the flowers and gift on it.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked Trent.

  Alex’s eyes grew wide. She couldn’t remember ever hearing Kevin sound that annoyed before. Well, except for the incident in Chemistry when his partner blew up their experiment on purpose.

  Trent looked at him and smiled. “Hey, Calvin.”

  “It’s Kevin! And what are you doing here with my wife?”

  Alex blinked in surprise. “Uh, Kevin?”

  “Not now, Alex,” Kevin said before turning back to Trent. “In case you haven’t noticed, she’s wearing a wedding ring. A wedding ring I gave her. That means you’re no longer going out with her.”

  Trent gave an amused smile and crossed his arms. “Oh?”

  It took Alex a moment to realize Kevin was jealous of her. Delighted, she wanted to jump up and cheer, but she managed to remain seated and waited to hear what Kevin would say next.

  “Maybe you don’t think this marriage means anything,” Kevin continued, “but it does.”

  Trent yawned. “Which is why until Tammy ditched you, you were engaged to her.”

  “Tammy didn’t ditch me. I ditched her.”

  Laughing, he rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I heard.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you heard. I thought about it and decided I wanted to marry Alex instead.”

  “That is so lame.”

  Kevin grunted. “I don’t care what you think. Look, Alex is my wife and I love her, so back off, alright?”

  Alex gasped in surprise.

  “Sure, you love her like a friend,” Trent said, sounding bored.

  “No, I don’t! I love her more than that.”

  “Oh Kevin! Really?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he told her and then turned his attention back to Trent. “So back off and find someone else.”

  Too excited to sit anymore, Alex jumped out of her chair and ran over to Kevin so she could hug him. “I love you too, Kevin.”

  Kevin wrapped his arms protectively around her and smiled smugly at Trent. “See? She’s not interested in you anyway.”

  “Did you really bring me flowers?” she asked as she picked up the roses and smelled them.

  “And a couple of things I thought you might like,” Kevin said.

  Remembering the gift, she unwrapped it and saw he had brought her two brochures for their trip to Maine and a crystal lighthouse with a small flower in the front of it.

  “I figure you always loved lighthouses, and every time you look at it, you’ll think of our honeymoon.”

  “Aw, that is so sweet!” She clutched the roses and lighthouse to her chest and grinned. “These are lovely, Kevin.”

  “Yeah, they really are,” Trent chimed in.

  Kevin grimaced. “What are you still doing here?”


  Trent laughed and collected the emails and pictures. “I came to cash in on a favor. Alex said she’d help me pick a good woman to marry.” He showed Kevin the pictures. “You got an opinion?”

  Kevin pointed to one.

  “Sydney it is. Thanks, guys.” Trent put the items back into the folder.

  Giving him a wary glance, Kevin asked Alex, “So he wasn’t hitting on you?”

  Alex giggled. “No.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” Trent said, chuckling. “And I never was, but I’ll let Alex explain all that if she wants.” He closed the folder. “Thanks, Alex. I’d invite both of you to lunch, but as they say, ‘Three’s a crowd’. I won’t bug you again.” Patting Kevin on the back, he added, “Congratulations.”

  After Trent left, Kevin breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness he’s gone.”

  She laughed and kissed him. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m all yours.”

  “Good.” He smiled and kissed her back. “I’m all yours too.”

  “Even better.”

  This time when the door opened, her boss walked in. “What is this?” her boss demanded, motioning to the flowers and gift in Alex’s arms. “I can’t believe you came in here with things you bought somewhere else.” With a wry grin, she added, “Get on out of here and enjoy the rest of the day.”

  “You mean it?” Alex asked.

  “Go before I change my mind,” her boss replied.

  “Anything you say.” Alex collected her purse and the things Kevin brought her and hurried him out the door. “See you tomorrow,” she called out to her boss as they left. Looking up at Kevin, she said, “You know you’re on the hook for buying something next time you go in there.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured that.” Putting his arm around her shoulders, he smiled. “It’s worth it though. Hey, you want to catch some lunch before we head home? I want to plan our honeymoon.”

  “Definitely.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  At the end of April, Alex and Kevin attended the graduation ceremony. Once they moved their tassels to the right side, they joined their families and friends in the Civic Center. Alex hugged her mom and dad while Kevin’s parents congratulated him.

  “I’m so proud of you,” her mother said, cupping Alex’s face in her hands. “One minute you’re a baby and the next you’re an adult. Where did the time go?”

  Alex rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Mom, you had twenty-two years to prepare for this moment.”

  “That’s not a long time to a mother. Time goes too fast. I wish I could bring you home from the hospital and hold you in my arms.”

  “Don’t worry. Someday soon I’ll have a baby, and you can hold one again.”

  Her mother gasped. “Alex, are you-?”

  “No,” Alex quickly replied before her mother got too excited. “Not yet. I’m just saying a year or two down the road, you’ll be a grandmother. I’d like to get my business going first, okay?”

  Her mother sighed. “I guess that’s not too long to wait.”

  Alex took her mom’s hands and brought them down. “No, it’s not. I love you, Mom.”

  She hugged her again and then released her. “I’ll stop smothering you now. Go on and talk to your friends.”

  Alex thanked her and went over to Nita and Greg. “We did it!”

  Nita laughed as she wiped tears from her eyes. “You know, I hate to admit it, but I’m actually going to miss going to school.”

  “Aren’t you going to graduate school?” Greg asked.

  She shrugged. “I’m thinking about it.”

  “Knowing you, you will,” Alex said. “What else are you going to do with that psychology degree?”

  “I’m glad to be done,” Greg replied and tossed his hat. “No more early mornings!”

  “You could get a job that requires you to go in early,” Nita said.

  He shook his head. “Not a chance. I’m not torturing myself that much to pay the bills. I’d rather work nights.”

  Camden walked over to them and groaned. “My dad takes forever to stop talking to people. I’m starving.”

  “You were eating when you got here,” Greg said. “Don’t you ever give your stomach a break?”

  Camden rolled his eyes. “I burn off energy fast, okay?”

  “Which is the only reason you’re not fat,” Nita added. “I swear, if it was me, I’d be a blimp.”

  Alex chuckled. “Seriously.”

  Kevin came up behind Alex and wrapped his arms around her waist. She squealed and he gave her a kiss on her neck before he turned his attention to the rest of the group. “Hey, are you all coming over to watch the baseball game?”

  Nita cringed. “Leave me out. Sports may be your thing, but it is not mine. I have better things to do, like shop for clothes.”

  “I’ll be there if you order a pizza,” Camden said, his eyebrows raised as he waited for Kevin’s answer.

  “You’re paying half,” Kevin told him. “You eat more than the rest of us combined.”

  “I’ll be there,” Greg said.

  “Hey,” Nita jabbed Alex in the side. “When are you two going on your honeymoon?”

  “Next week,” Kevin replied for Alex as he gave her waist a slight squeeze. “I can’t wait. Finally, I get to have her all to myself. No offense guys, but I want to be alone with her for longer than a day.”

  “You’re so cute,” Nita said. “But just so you know, she’s going with me for a girls’ night out before you go.”

  Alex smiled. “Sounds fun.”

  “As long as you don’t go looking at other guys,” Kevin said playfully.

  “No,” Nita replied. “I don’t need to look for guys. I got Jordan, remember? We’re just going to shop for some things to enhance your honeymoon.”

  Kevin grinned. “Really? In that case, take as long as you need.”

  Giggling, Alex patted Kevin’s cheek. “You should know by now there’s no one for me but you, sweetie.”

  “So are we going to watch that game and eat pizza?” Camden asked.

  “Yes,” Greg replied with a grin. “Anything to shut you up.”

  Laughing, the group got ready to leave the Civic Center.

  ***

  A week later in Maine, Alex took in the breathtaking view of the Portland Head Light House which sat upon a granite ledge that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. She had to admit that this particular scenic visit was the highlight of her honeymoon. Turning to Kevin, she said, “Florida has nothing like this.”

  He took her hand in his and smiled. “Want to move here?”

  “No way. I like playing outdoor sports all year round.”

  “There’s skiing, snowboarding—”

  She groaned and jabbed him in the side. “I only like to be outside when it’s warm and sunny. For real, Kevin. How long have you known me?”

  Laughing, he slipped his arm around her waist and led her down the walkway. “Hey, do you want to check out the museum?”

  “Might as well. We did come all the way up here. Afterwards, we need to pick up some souvenirs for our friends.”

  He sighed. “All I ever do is buy souvenirs.”

  “Yeah, but these are actually from another state.” She stopped walking and turned to him. “You know, if you didn’t bug me at work all the time, you wouldn’t have had to buy all those souvenirs.”

  “Yeah, but even when we were just friends, I couldn’t stay away from you, and it wasn’t like we were sharing an apartment or anything. We didn’t take any of the same classes after we finished the required courses. You worked Saturdays. On Sundays, we got together with the gang. How else was I supposed to get any time alone with you?”

  Pleased, she kissed him. “So you bought all those souvenirs to be with me?”

  “After the first dozen, my mom told me to stop giving her gifts, and I couldn’t pawn them off on my other relatives except at Christmas. It was awful. Those things kept piling up.”

  She giggled and cupped his f
ace in her hands. “If it makes you feel better, I liked it when you stopped by. Sometimes business was slow. You were a nice distraction.”

  “Really?” His forehead touched hers, and he pulled her closer to him. “Did you look forward to seeing me?”

  “Always.”

  “I love you, Alex.”

  “I love you too, Kevin.”

  His smile growing wide, he asked, “As more than a friend?”

  She kissed him again and nodded. “Much, much more.”

  He gave her a deeper and longer kiss. Content, she melted in his arms and let the rest of the world fade away.

  Across the Stars Series: Book 1

  Suddenly a Bride

  Rilo An comes from a world where there are no women, and what he longs for is a life mate: someone who will complete him, someone he can love who’ll love him back, someone who’ll ease the aching loneliness that haunts his life.

  So he leaves his world, takes on the Earth name Chris West, and makes a payment to Star Systems Unlimited for a life mate. When he bonds with her, he thinks life can’t get any better. Except she was married before, and memories of her deceased husband still linger around her home. Will he find a place in her heart or will he have to become like her first husband in order to get her love?

  Coming Late Winter 2013

  Across the Stars Series: Book 2

  Runaway Bride

  From the moment Mark Tanner saw Lexie Rogers, he knew she was destined to be his wife. There is only one problem: her fiancé. But she’s not married yet, and Mark knows that she’s better off with him. The problem is, he has to convince her.

  Lexie’s mother has planned out her life for her. Living in the shadows of her older sister who never pleased her mother, it’s been up to Lexie to be the daughter her sister never was. And now that includes marrying the man her mother selected for her. Then Mark comes along and turns her world upside down. Throwing caution to the wind, she elopes with Mark. But has she made the right choice? And can she still be the daughter who can make her mother happy?