Here Comes the Groom Read Online Free PDF

your wedding invitation this morning.”
    This bloody joke was losing its humor fast. Jo hesitated. She didn’t want to explain in front of Chris who’d inspired her pact with Dan in the first place. “Thanks,”she said and retreated behind her menu. She’d tell Grant privately when she got the chance. “The chicken pie is particularly good.”
    “I always thought you and Dan belonged together,” continued Grant earnestly. “Even at school he was the one person you couldn’t man—” Realizing he was about to insult his boss, he picked up his menu. “The chicken pie you say?”
    Manage. Jo finished his sentence. As affable and easygoing as Dan was, he went his own way, not just with her but with everybody. And she’d never worked out how he did it. Which annoyed her. And made her laugh. The wedding invitation extended a long tradition.
    “So, Chris,” she changed the subject again, “how many kids do you have now?” He’d married six months after they’d broken up. Someone sweet and compliant.
    “Two and another on the way.” Proudly, he pulled out pictures of his girls and became a much nicer man. “I remember you always wanted three yourself. You and Dan planning a family?”
    “Still under discussion.” Maybe a bathroom break would kill this subject. “Would you two excuse me for a minute?”
    Ten minutes later as Jo returned through the lunch-time crowd, she heard a familiar drawl. Abruptly, she stopped. For a moment she couldn’t see him, then a gap opened around the bar and Dan came into view, talking to the manager, Anton.
    The desert sun had tanned his skin and lightened his hair to the streaked gold it used to be when they were kids. You could tell he’d been away from civilization awhile—his hair flopped over one eyebrow and curledover the collar of his flannel shirt. Jo became conscious of a deep thankfulness.
    Steve and Lee’s deaths had destroyed her belief that Dan’s crack troop was invincible. Even now the memory closed her throat. And they’d come so close to losing him, too. But now she would never have to worry for him again. Never have to dread the daily news feeds. She forgave him for making their private joke so public.
    Anton gesticulated to make a point and a beer bottle toppled off the counter. Dan caught it, looked up and smiled at her with all the old lazy affection. Of course he’d known she was there. Even in the dimly lit bar, his eyes were piercing.
    “Here comes my bride.”
    “Great joke.” She stepped into his hug. “Really hilarious.”
    His arms tightened. “I told you I’d find you a husband.”
    Jo pulled back.
    Dan’s eyes gleamed. “Miss me?”
    “No.” She broke free only to be pulled into Anton’s embrace.
    “Congratulations, Jo. Sheesh, you’re a dark horse. Why the hell didn’t you tell your old gang?”
    “Because it’s a joke.”
    Dan pulled a beer mat out of his jean pocket and handed it to Anton. “I have a contract.”
    “Give me that!”
    Fending her off, Anton read it with a grin, then returned it to Dan. “Looks legal to me.”
    “If it makes you feel better, Swannie—” Dan repocketed it “—I’d warmed to the idea anyway.”
    “Gee, thanks.” Jo relaxed. “What are you doing here?”
    “Paying the deposit for the wedding breakfast.”
    “You always did like to labor a joke, Jansen. You know I mean in New Zealand. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home today?”
    “I wanted the element of surprise.” Under gold-tipped lashes, eyes as blue as the Mediterranean sparkled. Oh, yes, she’d missed him. “You know, Jo, it’s kinda humiliating that you’re the only one not taking me seriously here. I’ve already had a dozen RSVPs. Speaking of which…” He held out his hand to someone behind her. “Grant, hey, buddy. And Chris. Long time no see.”
    Jo shifted uneasily as the men exchanged handshakes. She wanted Dan to concede the joke, just not right now.
    “You guys here on business?” Dan looked at