Read Online Here Comes the Groom by Karina Bliss - Free Book Online Page A

Jo’s attention. “Does that mean not helping him outside work, too?”
    Her headache started coming back. “What do you mean?”
    “We met for coffee yesterday and I gave him details of the florist, baker and photographer I’m using for my wedding.” Delwyn waved a sheet of pink notepaper. “He was doing the rounds this morning.”
    “Is that the list?” Jo snatched it away from her. “I’m on my cell if anyone needs me.”
    At the baker’s she learned that Dan was torn between angel food cake and traditional fruitcake; at the florist’sthat he couldn’t decide between white roses and ivy or red roses and baby’s breath. The photographer said she’d just missed her fiancé, but she’d catch him at Baxter’s Department Store. “He’s setting up a gift registry.”
    She hoped Dan wasn’t anywhere near blenders, knives or glassware. She finally tracked him down in the furniture section where he was testing a king-size bed.
    “Great timing,” he approved. “I need a second opinion. I’m thinking too bouncy.”
    Jo picked up a pillow and hurled it at him. “Quit making a spectacle of us.”
    Catching it, Dan propped the pillow behind his head. “I wasn’t the one who took our private life into print.”
    “My ad was designed to save you further humiliation by making a joke of it, but it seems you’re determined to suffer.”
    “If I’m going to be left, it has to be at the altar.” He rolled off the bed. “So, Grant tells me CommLink made an offer for the Chronicle. ”
    Jo felt her jaw drop. “What were you doing with Grant?”
    “Having a quiet drink with an old school friend. If my bride won’t spend time with me, I’ve got to hang out with someone.”
    “I can’t believe Grant breached confidentiality.”
    “Well, he was pretty hammered at the time,” Dan confided. “You know he can’t hold his liquor.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “You got him drunk.”
    “If you won’t tell me what’s going on, what choice did I have?” he said reasonably.
    “What else did he say?”
    “That he hates his boss. Is it true, you invited an offer?”
    “I was curious to know what the paper was worth.”
    “So you’re not serious about selling?”
    Jo shook her head. “Keep that quiet, though. I’m still working out the best way to say no.” She added pointedly, “Some people aren’t always good at listening.”
    Dan grinned, then lay down on another bed. “This one’s got memory foam, which will apparently mould to our bodies.”
    “Your body,” she corrected. “I have a bed.”
    “A single bed,” he dismissed. “I’m talking marital.” He took all the legitimacy out of the word, made it wicked.
    Jo put her hands on her hips. “Dan, I’m losing patience.”
    “ You’re losing patience?” She found herself lying on the mattress, his weight on top of her. “Are you really going to make me wait until the wedding night?”
    Jo tried to wiggle free. “There isn’t going to be a wedding night because there isn’t going to be a wedding.” Effortlessly Dan held her pinned and she gave up the undignified struggle and craned her neck to see where the sales assistant was. Engrossed on the phone, thank God. “What the hell’s gotten into you?” she demanded. “The old Dan would never have done this.”
    “More fool him,” he said and lowered his head to kiss her. Jo froze.
    “You folks okay here?”
    Pushing free, Jo scrambled off the bed and straightened her tailored shirt with the gathered bust.
    On the bed, Dan put his hands behind his head. “We’lltake it…unless there’s one in a larger size? We like a big playground don’t we, honey? And that leaves plenty of room for the kids.”
    Jo turned to the mirror and concentrated on raking a hand through her disheveled curls.
    Sensing it wasn’t in his best interests, the salesman didn’t press her. “Let me go see if we have a super-king in the storeroom.”
    When he’d hurried away, she crossed to the bed and