Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

had twins during their
ceremony for crying out loud. You’re stale news, Joce .”
He tried to laugh but it was tough to do when her misery over Hudson Grace was
like a knife slicing into his chest.
    “They took Simon to Disney World for their honeymoon. It was
her idea—Michael’s. She wanted the kid to have fun.” Jocelyn picked forlornly
at a piece of cinnamon bun. “I wouldn’t have done that. I would’ve made Hudson
get a babysitter for the kid and booked tickets to New York or Montreal for our
honeymoon. I thought he was a playboy. I had him wrong. Completely—totally— wrong .”
    “Yeah well,” Jeremy said without enthusiasm, “don’t beat yourself up about it. You followed your heart and that’s
brave. So ... good for you.” He raised his coffee mug
in salute.
    Jocelyn twisted and gave him a searching look. The firelight
danced over her hair. “Is that why you did it? You were following your heart?”
    He sat up. “What did I do? You seem to think I know what you’re
talking about or why you’re here. I don’t. What happened?”
    She reached behind her to drag the newspaper over. Jocelyn
flipped the pages to the Classifieds, folded the paper in half and handed
Jeremy the section.
    His eye was drawn to the announcement. “We’re engaged?” he
said stupidly.
    “You’re going to have to do better than that. Look—you
screwed up. We’ve all been there. But you’re going to have to tell people you
put this in the paper or I’m going to look like the saddest loser in town. I’m
truly pissed with you, but I kind of get how the whole doomed love thing sucks
and can make a person crazy.”
    Jeremy jumped to his feet, slopping hot coffee on his
sweatshirt. “Crazy, sure—I understand crazy—but not delusional ! I didn’t put that ad in the paper; you’re an idiot for
thinking I would. April Fools’ Day, Jocelyn? Did you even read this before you
flipped out and assumed it was me? I’m going to look like the loser in this—not
you!”
    “April Fools’ Day?” Jocelyn frowned
and read the announcement again. “Oh God, I didn’t even notice that. Oh, I get
it. You’d have to be a fool to marry me. Hah. Someone has a warped sense of
humor. But that doesn’t prove it wasn’t you who’s behind this.”
    Jeremy forgot he was in love with her, forgot how she made
him feel whenever he was around her. Jeremy crouched beside her, paper in hand.
His lips felt numb. “It says here the parents of Jeremy Marks announce the engagement. Mr. and Mrs. Marks.”
    “Yeah. So what’s your point? Are
you’re trying to blame your parents for this?”
    “I don’t have parents .
There’s only my dad and he wouldn’t put a notice in the paper that mentioned
his wife since she’s been dead for
twenty-one years. My mom is dead. I wouldn’t put something like this in the paper.
And I sure as hell want to know who did.”

 

Chapter 4: Sleuths and Suspects

 
    ANDREA SULKED through the story meeting even though Trevor
had apologized for his behavior. Jason looked fairly miserable and Shelby didn’t
know what the hell was going on. Her staff had left the office as friends and
returned as combatants.
    Shelby closed her laptop and got to her feet. They weren’t
paying attention anyway. “I’ve got an appointment with the Sheriff. Jason, you’re
in charge. Find out who placed the ad so we have a name to give Jocelyn when
she shows up and then offer her the usual bells and whistles to apologize.”
    “It’s not an appointment when it’s your husband you’re
meeting, boss. It’s just lunch.”
    Boy, Andrea was really pushing her luck today with the
snarky remarks, Shelby thought as she rushed out of the door to meet Sawyer.
Publishing the Gazette was like
running a kindergarten these days.
    Jason waited until the boss was gone to pull out his
notebook. “Snap out of it, you two. Whatever’s going on, get over it. Jocelyn
isn’t going to let this mistake go without a fight so we’d better