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Category:
Young Adult/Teen
Publisher: Books We Love
ISBN-10: B00KZMRUII
Pages: 112
Copyright: June 13, 2014
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Isn’t every teen embarrassed by their family at some time? Lacy Gingham’s family members are middle class eccentrics and Eric Vanderhorst’s are staid upper crust. When they meet at an out-of-state wedding, she reinvents her family and he downplays his, thinking they’ll never meet again.
Lacy Gingham invented the ideal family and life she’d always wanted instead of the pervo group she was born into, and a week later, Ric who’s to die for, shows up in her hometown looking for her. Unless she goes underground, she’ll have to give it up and expose him to the Ginghams. Ha! She assumes he lives in Chicago, site of the wedding, and she tells him she’s from California. But when Ric discovers Lacy lives an hour away from him in Indiana, he sets out to learn the truth. He really, really likes her, but why did she lie?
Excerpt
A knock sounded at the door and I looked at Ade who shrugged and after looking through the tiny peephole, I opened the door.
“Courtesy gift from the bridal couple. My deepest apologies for missing you when we were setting up.” An elderly uniformed bellman, hanging his head like he was totally devastated, handed me a basket
The bellman crossed the hall, knocked, and repeated his apology while proffering another basket, and as he shuffled off, my gaze locked with the most amazing emerald eyes I’d ever seen. Not everyday, ordinary green, they sparkled like gems, and the thick, dark lashes that shielded them actually curled, and so did the guy’s hair. Need I say more?
He smiled and raised a hand. “I guess you were overlooked too.”
My tongue felt like an inner tube that had inflated and filled my mouth. I nodded.
“Erik with a ‘k’. Rik for short.” He crossed the hall with his free hand outstretched. “You must be here for the wedding.”
I nodded. “Lacy.” My voice sounded normal although when he took my hand in his, I was sure he could feel the rush of blood and pounding in my veins
“Pretty name for a pretty girl,” he said.
I gulped. My first name had popped out and it was too late to change it, but I wouldn’t make the same mistake with Gingham. Aware that Ade was behind me, I took a step sideward and gestured. “This is Adrienne.”
“And this is Chip.” Rik, who was unbelievably suave, looked over his shoulder at a guy standing in the doorway of their room and jerked his head our way.
Chip, who was kinda cute but not devastating, crossed the hall. “Are you two related to the wedding couple?” Rik asked.
“The bride’s mother and mine have been best friends since college,” Adrienne said. “How about you?”
“The bride is distant relation of ours, but I still haven’t figured out what or how.” Rik’s chuckle was warm and friendly, and his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed. Did he really think I was pretty? And did her really like my name?
Chip sighed. “Natalie is my cousin on my mother’s side, and Rik and I are cousins on Dad’s side, so he and Nat aren’t really related.”
“That’s distant. Right?” A dimple flickered in Rik’s cheek. I love dimples.
“The clerk at the reservation desk said they hadn’t planned to use this wing for wedding guests, but someone screwed up and gave away rooms meant for wedding attendees,” Chip said. “That’s why we’re in a separate wing and the same must go for you.”
“Which means a couple of unsuspecting travelers are sitting in our rooms,” Rik said, “chowing down on fruit, wondering where it came from, and thinking how lucky they are, until the late night revelry begins and keeps them awake.” He wiggled his trim hips. “Party, party,” he chanted, and I chuckled. He was a fun guy.
“Where are the rest of the wedding guests staying?” Ade asked.
“The south wing of this floor and members of the wedding party are in the wing directly above them.”
“My dad seemed glad not to be stuck next to Rik and me,” Chip said, looking soulful, and I wondered why anyone would want the room next to his parent.
Ade was smiling.“Mine weren’t happy, but I am. The adjoining rooms they wanted would have cramped our style.”
“I hear you.” Rik switched the heavy fruit basket to the other hand, locking his eyes with mine. “Let’s plan to meet up later. Okay?”
I smiled and nodded and when Adrienne shut our door behind us, I threw myself down on the carpet and waved my arms and legs like kids do in the snow, chanting, “Yes. Yes. Yes."
Making plush angels seemed appropriate, having just met a guy from heaven.
***
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