Deceived 4 - The Wedding Read Online Free PDF Page B

worry, honey, I can manage a father daughter dance with the bride. I’m not that back woods.”
    As the conversation died down, a selection of exquisite French hors d'oeuvres arrived at the table and we all indulged in the culinary expertise of the kitchen of The Plaza Hotel. Salmon and trout tartar, with pressed caviar and tomatoes, was served, followed by tasty Porcini mushroom tartlets. I glanced down the table and saw Scott devouring them like he was bulking up for the next big game.
    “Scott, ” I said sharply, as he shoved another hors d’oeuvre in his mouth with his fingers. He gave me a palms-up up shrug and said, “What?” in the middle of a bite, clueless, as if he’d done nothing wrong.
    I tried to be more demur e and wanted to make sure I complimented Patrick’s dad for giving us such a magnificent dinner. I took a small bite and raised my voice slightly so Gerald would be sure to hear. Turning to Patrick I said, “Patrick, this is delicious. You have to try the salmon.” No sooner had the words come out of my mouth when I noticed an attractive woman, wearing a form fitting red dress and heels, walking toward our table. I laid down my fork as the, thirty something year old, blonde stopped right next to our table, clutching a small black designer purse under her arm.
    She stuck her chin out and cleared her voice. “Hello, everybody, so sorry to interrupt. I just need to speak with Patrick for a moment.”
    Patrick stared at the woman , baffled, and then his eyes narrowed and turned cold steel gray. He looked up at her, his gaze blazing holes in her and he lowered his voice. “Stephanie…what are you doing here? It’s been…years.” I turned my head and stared at him in disbelief. The chill in his voice was so cold icicles could have formed on every word.
    “It’s Steph, as you ought to remember. Can I just speak with you privately for a moment? I don’t think you want everyone to hear what I have to say.” She threw an equally cold glance back at Patrick.
    I leaned over to Ryan and whispered, “Who is she? If she knows Patrick, why haven’t I seen her before? I thought I’d met all his friends.”
    Ryan hesitated and shot a glance toward the woman and then Patrick. My mouth fell open and my heart sank. That glance was his way of checking with Patrick if he should tell me or back up Patrick. Damn him . Damn them both. It was so unfair. I was going to be his wife. There shouldn’t be any secrets. I pursed my lips together hard.
    Finally, Ryan whispered back, “They sort of…dated, back in high school. Prom king and queen. You know, typical high school stuff…and from what I know, Patrick hasn’t seen her for years. For a good reason too…that woman is one crazy bitch.”
    I furrowed my brow and bit my lip . This was not what I wanted to hear on the night of my rehearsal dinner. And why on Earth would an ex-girlfriend of Patrick’s show up here, at The Plaza Hotel?
    Patrick took his napkin from his lap and tossed it on the table as if he were about to get up, then he decided to stay put. “We have nothing to talk about…Steph.” He enunciated her name as if the word left a bitter taste in his mouth. “I’d appreciate it if you would just leave,” he said with a wave of his hand.
    She pouted . The bright red color of her lipstick protruded into the room. “Is that so? Well then, I’ll just say this out loud. I read in the newspaper that you’re getting married. I’m afraid that if you do that, you will be breaking the law.”
    There was a soft gasp in the room as Patrick rose to his feet. His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about, Steph? I think you should just go now, before you say something to embarrass yourself any further.”
    “Oh Patrick, Patrick, Patrick. You must have forgotten completely,” she chuckled, a dry and cynical sound, before pointing a manicured nail at me. “You can’t marry this woman. You see, you are already married