Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes Read Online Free PDF

breeze ruffled his dark hair. He wore faded blue jeans and a T-shirt that read
Motes Construction
across the front. Whitney thumped him between his broad shoulder blades, trying to draw his attention, but he ignored her. He picked Nita up in his arms and spun her around.
    “Are you ready to take the plunge, Miss James?” He never used her married name. It was as if he wanted to forget that part of her life had ever happened. He didn't mind that she had children, he just didn't like thinking about her being married to another man.
    “I guess I am, Mr. Motes,” she said, kissing him lightly, thinking she must be one of the luckiest brides alive to have a husband as young and handsome as he was.
    “Motes,” Whitney screeched. “What kind of a stupid name is that?”
    He set Nita on her feet and kissed her hungrily. Whitney shot her a murderous look and stalked past them toward the house. He was still kissing Nita when the door slammed, hard, behind them.
    He looked up then. “What's wrong with her?” he said.
    She put her hands on both sides of his face and gave him a little shake. “She's gotten too big for tickling.”
    “Does anyone ever get too big for tickling?” he said, pinching her side.
    “Stop that,” she said. He'd cut his hair and it lay neatly against the nape of his neck. He'd always worn it long before, shoulder length, like a pirate or a Creek warrior, and she'd liked that, but this was nice, too. “Did Lavonne call?”
    “She did. She said they'd deliver the tables and chairs on Friday morning.”
    “I sure hope it doesn't rain.”
    “The Weather Channel says Saturday will be clear and sunny.”
    Nita looked beyond him to the yard littered with wire and tools and dog toys. A rusty patio table with four chairs and a sagging umbrella sat under a chinaberry tree. “Just remember it was your idea to have a wedding. It was your idea to have it in the backyard.”
    “Hey.” He put his finger under her chin and lifted it gently. “It's gonna be okay. You have to have a little faith, is all.”
    She smiled but her throat felt tight. “I'm sorry,” she said. “It's just prenuptial jitters.”
    “Everything will be fine. You'll see.” He dropped his head to nuzzle her neck but Nita protested. She put her hand on his chest and stared at him until he stopped grinning.
    “I'm happy,” she said. “I'm happy and I don't want to jinx it. I don't want anything to change.”
    He shook his head slowly. “It's not gonna change, baby, it's only gonna get better.”
    She put her hand up to his cheek. “Promise?” she said softly.
    He grinned lazily, tightening his arms around her. “I promise, Mrs. Motes,” he said, leaning to bite her earlobe.
    L AVONNE FINISHED THE 941 REPORTS AND WENT OUT FRONT TO relieve Little Moses so he could take a cigarette break. The lunch crowdhad thinned considerably, rain was bad for tourism, and the new girl, Maureen, had no trouble handling the few customers that remained. Lavonne took out her checklist and went down the column carefully. She had ordered the chicken and the beef for Nita's wedding barbecue, and the tables and chairs were set to be delivered on Friday. Nita was expecting around seventy-five guests and she had insisted on a simple menu and red-checked tablecloths because she had had the fancy wedding before, and look how well that turned out. Everything was on schedule and Lavonne was glad because Eadie was arriving tomorrow and she seemed to be in a hard-drinking kind of mood. God only knew how much work she'd get done once Eadie got here.
    The bell on the front door rang and Lavonne looked up. “Hello,” she said. “Can I help you?”
    He pushed the hood of his rain jacket back and wiped his brow, smiling apologetically. “Sorry,” he said. “I don't mean to drip water all over your freshly waxed floor.”
    She shrugged. “That's what mops are for.” He had been in before, his face looked familiar.
    “It always takes me a minute to decide,”