Happy Ever After Read Online Free PDF Page A

night out. And she got huffy about that . I can’t win.”
    “Stop trying to.”
    “But she’s my sister, Parker. It’s my wedding.” Tears sparkled as emotion trembled in Sherry’s voice.
    And this, Parker thought, had been throughout the entire process, the most cheerful, delightful, and flexible of brides.
    Damn if she’d see a moment of it spoiled for her.
    “I’ll speak with her.”
    “But—”
    “Sherry.” Parker laid a hand over hers. “Trust me.”
    “Okay.” Sherry sucked in a breath, blew it out as she blinked back the tears. “Sorry. I’m an idiot.”
    “You’re not.” To emphasize it, Parker gave Sherry’s hand a quick, firm squeeze. “Let me say, because I know a lot of idiots, you just don’t make the cut. So, do me a favor and put this out of your mind for now. Just put it aside and concentrate on how good things are, and how wonderful they will be.”
    “You’re right. I knew you’d make me feel better.”
    “That’s what I’m here for.” Under the table, Parker turned her wrist to check the time. She could spare another ten minutes.
    “So, you’re all set on your spa and salon dates, your final fittings?”
    The ten eked to nearly fifteen, but she’d built time in to cushion the trip back home for the early-evening consult. Even the rain that splattered as she walked back to the car didn’t worry her.
    She had plenty of time to drive home, freshen up, grab the files, check on the refreshments, and run through the client data with her partners. But to save time, she plugged in her phone and used the voice controls to contact Laurel.
    “Icing at Vows.”
    “Hey, I’m on my way in. Are we set?”
    “Coffee, tea, champagne, simple yet fabulous hors d’oeuvres, chocolates. Emma’s already switched the flowers.We all have—or will have—our sample albums. Wow, is that thunder?”
    “Yeah, it just opened up.” Parker shot a glance to the angry boil of clouds. “I’ll be home in about twenty. Bye.”
    The storm roared through, wild and vicious, and she thought just how much she’d have enjoyed it if she’d been inside. Soon would be, she thought, but adjusted her speed cautiously as rain hurled against the windshield.
    She rolled along the road toward home, going over details about the new clients in her head.
    It happened fast, all in a rain-washed blur.
    The dog—deer?—raced across the road. The oncoming car swerved to avoid it, fishtailed. Parker eased off the gas, tapped her brakes, even as her heart leveled again when the animal cleared the road.
    But the oncoming car fishtailed again, straight at her.
    Once again her heart flipped. With no choice, she cut the wheel hard to avoid the collision. Her car skidded, bucked onto the shoulder of the road. Her rear end shimmied around while the car jolted side to side.The oncoming car nipped by her.
    And just kept going.
    She sat, her hands glued to the wheel, her knees shaking, and her heart a drumbeat in her ears.
    “Okay,” she breathed. “I’m okay. Not hurt. I’m not hurt.”
    Since she wanted to stay that way, she ordered herself to steer the car fully onto the shoulder until the shaking stopped. Someone else could come along and broadside her.
    The best she could manage was a thumping limp.
    Flat tire, she thought and closed her eyes. Perfect.
    Grabbing her fold-up umbrella from the glove box, she got out to survey the damage.
    “Oh, not a flat,” she muttered. “A flat’s just not good enough. Two . Two goddamn shredded tires.” She rolled her eyes to the heavens, which, she noted bitterly, were already clearing.
    She found the faint shimmer of a rainbow arching in a miserly glint of sun personally insulting under the circumstances.
    She would, almost certainly, be late for the consult, but she wouldn’t arrive soaking wet.
    Bright side.
    She climbed back in, called for roadside assistance. Because her hands still shook, she opted to wait another few minutes before calling home.
    She’d just say she