Oughta Be a Movie: a Sugar-&-Spice romantic comedy Read Online Free PDF

dad had thrown her out of his house. But the next week he’d joined AA.
    When he’d been dry for three months, he took his first three sobriety coins and went to her house, giving them to her and asking for a second chance. That was nine months ago. Tonight his dad planned to give her his one-year coin and an engagement ring.
    “Plans still go?”
    His dad opened his jacket and pulled the corner of a small velvet pouch out of his inside pocket. “Yep.”
    Ben was slow in responding, distracted when Chase stopped Ali as she neared the table where they’d been sitting earlier. “And she’ll say yes?”
    “Maybe. No guarantee, but I hope…”
    When his dad’s voice trailed off, Ben turned his full attention back to the conversation. Ed was looking across the room to where Ali was laughing at something Chase had said. Then Chase gave her a hug. Ed turned back to Ben then glanced again at Ali. “Son, some things are so important you just have to take that chance.”
    “Yeah. But easier said than done.”
    “It’s an old saw, but not many things that matter are easy.”
    Ali picked up her bag and headed toward the elevator, stopping to talk to Bree. Ben knew he was almost being rude, but he wanted to intercept her before she headed upstairs. “Listen, I’ve gotta go right now. Are we still on for five tomorrow?”
    His dad took another few seconds to look at Ali moving toward the doors leading out to the hotel lobby. “Five’s still good for me.” He inclined his head toward the lobby doors and smiled. “Go.”
    “Good luck tonight. I’m betting on she-said-yes.”
    Ben got to the doors one step ahead of Ali. She was deep in thought and seemed surprised to see him. “You don’t have to go upstairs with me. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
    “I think escorting the maid of honor falls within the best man’s duties. Besides what kind of date would I be if I left you wandering the hotel corridors alone?”
    She rolled her eyes as he pushed the elevator call button. Didn’t say a word as they stepped in the elevator, just pushed the button for the third floor.
    He prodded. “Penny for your thoughts.”
    “Overpriced. Save your money.”
    He wanted to know what was going through that busy mind but didn’t know how to pry without being obvious. So he let the silence string out. As they stepped out on her floor, she gestured to the end of the hall.
    “Next to last door on the right.”
    “Me too.”
    She looked surprised.
    “On the fourth floor. Right over you.”
    The innuendo wasn’t lost on her. She was fumbling when she reached into a large, slouchy, sequined bag and felt around for the keys, not finding what she was looking for. “Good grief, how stup—” She stopped and looked at him.
    Ben tried not to smile as he watched the emotions flit across her face. Strike three. Reaching into the bag one more time, she pulled out two keys. Her hand was shaking as she tried to get the key in the lock. He took the keys from her and opened the door.
    She didn’t look at him as she grabbed up a small duffle bag and went into the bathroom, but as she came out, she couldn’t avoid him any longer. He held up three fingers, and her cheeks turned the color of her rosy pink dress.
    “You know what that means.”
    “I, I…I was going to say ‘How…how stupendously frustrating it would be if I couldn’t find the keys.”
    Ben raised his eyebrows then let the grin spread across his face. “Nice try. That’s three each for the put downs and a bonus for trying to weasel out of it. I’m no math whiz, but sounds like you’ve got ten coming.”
    She stood as still as one of the rocks she used to collect, but it was easy to read her shallow breaths and expanding pupils. She liked the idea, but her hands were trembling. She didn’t want to like it. Or she didn’t know what to make of the sexy game. Or the idea of being spanked scared her a little. His money was on all three.
    Her voice was a little shaky when she