His Sister's Wedding Read Online Free PDF Page A

men, planting her hand on Luke's chest
     to keep him back.
    "He's old enough to get married, but he needs his big sister to protect him?" Luke
     jeered, shoving Lillie aside.
    "Luke, stop!" Melanie shrieked, pulling him back.
    "What the hell are you doing?" Luke furiously demanded of his sister. "You're here
     with him doing God-knows-what when you should be in class?"
    "We were making love," Melanie said defiantly. "That's what people in love do."
    "Melanie," Lillie protested, trying to keep the angry girl from throwing fuel on the
     fire.
    "Have you lost your mind?" her brother asked. "Are you giving everything up for this
     punk?"
    "He's not a punk," Melanie said, her voice as heated as Luke's. "And I'm not missing
     my lab. It's been rescheduled."
    Lillie stood watching the two siblings, relieved that Luke seemed to have abandoned
     his attempt to kill Scott. So far, Melanie seemed to be holding her own. Lillie understood
     the depth of their commitment to each other, but she had to admit, finding her brother
     and Melanie this way was disconcerting.
    "I've been to your dorm," Luke said, the emotion on his face more than anger. Lillie
     thought she saw contempt there and beneath it, disappointment. "Are you living with
     him now?"
    "I love Scott," Melanie declared. "We're going to be married. There's no point in
     living apart."
    "Dammit, Mel. You're too young. You don't really know this kid. Don't throw yourself
     away for an infatuation." There was no missing the plea in Luke's voice.
    Melanie paused for a moment, the defiance in her eyes giving way to entreaty. "I love
     him, Luke. I'm not going to change my mind. I know how you feel about all this, but
     I have to do what's right for me."
    His gaze locked on her face, Luke stood in the tiny living room as if absorbing a
     body blow.
    "Please don't keep fighting me on this." Tears thickened Melanie's voice. "Help Lillie
     with the wedding. You don't have to like it right now. Just do it for me."
    "You won't even think about reconsidering?" Luke shot back in a low tone.
    "No," she said, her face both determined and anxious.
    "Okay," Luke said slowly, his voice grim. "On one condition. You move back to the
     dorm for now. You're not married yet."
    Melanie glanced at Scott, who nodded briefly.
    "All right," she agreed. "I guess we can stand it for four months."
    "Good," her brother said, "I'll help you pack."
    *   *   *
    The cab ride back to the airport was thick with silence. Lillie didn't try to comfort
     Luke, knowing how bitter was his disappointment and how much he blamed her for not
     putting pressure on Scott. Truthfully, the kids had handled themselves pretty well
     without her help.
    Lillie followed Luke onto the plane and took her seat next to him, unable to keep
     herself from thinking about how he'd talked to his sister. Those moments in Scott's
     living room had revealed one thing. Luke wasn't out to stop this wedding just because
     he wanted to control Melanie. He genuinely cared for her and sincerely thought that
     her marrying Scott would hurt her.
    Darn it, Lillie found herself feeling sympathy for him, despite his arrogant assumption
     that he knew what was better for everyone else. She could imagine how hard it would
     be to watch Scott do something that seemed self-destructive.
    Shifting in her seat, Lillie resisted this new insight into the man next to her. Not
     being able to paint him as macho and over-controlling shifted her assessment of Luke.
     Maybe he was capable of more tenderness than she'd thought.
    Unfortunately, it was clear he hated that vulnerability.
    Lillie settled herself for a long silent flight home.
    *   *   *
    "So we want the scarlet and cream ribbons," Lillie made a note on her pad, "with the
     sea shells and red roses." She smiled at the young woman who sat across the wicker
     table with her mother. "Good. Anything else you can think of?"
    A knock thundered at the door of the screen porch. Lillie glanced up, her gaze