Cupcakes & Chardonnay Read Online Free PDF Page B

then disappear, though his smile remained fixed in place. When she had moved to California, this was what she had assumed her relationship with Daryle would lead to. Now here she was, walking straight toward him, wedding music wafting on the breeze, and her heart was completely, utterly empty.
    Daryle let a quiet sigh of relief escape when Suzanne finally took her place beside him, and Brent stepped back. There had been a moment there when he'd been certain she was about to turn around and run back down the aisle. He'd seen the hesitation in her step.
    "You look gorgeous," he said. She rewarded him with a quick, wry smile. He took her hand as they turned to face Reverend Whittaker.
    Daryle barely heard anything Reverend Whittaker said. The feel of Suzanne's soft hand in his was too great a distraction. The sensation running from his palm all the way up his arm was like the warmth one felt from that first sip of a really great wine. It slipped down your throat and spread out into every nerve ending in your body, warming your skin and your soul.
    He heard someone saying "I do" and realized that it was his own lips moving, uttering those momentous words. Years ago, he had thought he would one day say them to Suzanne. Despite what she believed, his intentions regarding her had always been good. Better than she would probably ever give him credit for.
    "You may kiss the bride."
    It took those words to jolt him back into the moment. He could see the apprehension in Suzanne's eyes, as if this was the moment she had not been waiting for. But they had to put on the show—for his mother and for all of Napa. He lowered his lips onto hers, slid his hands around to the small of her back and pulled her closer. He gave her a longer, deeper kiss than was necessary. She struggled beneath his embrace.
    "Pretend this is real, for the sake of the guests," he muttered against her teeth.
    "This is a business arrangement, Mr. Catterton," she replied, pulling away and smiling sweetly.  The guests aahed, then began to titter when he pulled her back.
    "Contract starts tomorrow," she said, barely moving her lips.
    "Contract started when you said, 'I do.'"
    Finally, he released her lips and let her step back. They turned to face their guests. The string quartet launched into a joyous version of Copland's "Simple Gifts." When he took her hand, he rubbed at her wedding band with his thumb. She tried to pull her hand away but that only made him grip it tighter. They stepped down into the aisle. He was beaming, he could feel it.
    They passed his mother first, in her wheelchair. She was glowing in a way he hadn't seen her do in months. The chemotherapy was hard on her spirits. But today, dressed in an impeccable day suit, her face made up perfectly as she used to do, her headscarf hidden away beneath a hat, he could almost push the heartbreaking reality of her illness from his mind.
    He was surprised to find himself feeling so happy today. He hadn't expected to, given the artificial nature of the event. He supposed it was just the pomp and circumstance of a wedding that was taking him over. It was hard not to feel good at a wedding, right? Though clearly Suzanne was doing her best to play the role of mail-order bride.
    Whatever. She's getting what she wants and I'm getting what I want. On Monday, Iris Vineyards would be his.
    Suzanne was grateful for Brent's presence as the afternoon wore on. He managed to stay just a step or two away from her as she mingled, and was introduced to guests and old family friends of the Cattertons. If it hadn't been for Brent's steady support, she probably would have bolted by now. She had hoped that once she'd said "I do," her mind would have been put to ease about the wisdom of this. But it wasn't. One minute, her heart soared at all she would be able to do with The Cupcakery. The next, she felt cheap and disappointed in herself.
    And what was the story with that kiss? An hour later, thinking about it still made her face