Sweetheart Deal Read Online Free PDF Page A

before the word action filled the air.
    Sister Number Three, Body, who shared Anastasia’s flawless figure, but little of her composure, seemed to freeze. She remained that way for both takes of everyone introducing themselves.
    We’re Anastasia’s parents.
    I’m David, Phil’s friend.
    I’m Philip’s mother and this is his stepfather …
    â€œWho are we still missing?” The wedding planner asked, her accent somehow adding to and softening her authoritative edge.
    â€œNo one, now,” Philip said as a short, homely, balding man materialized from the footpath and joined the group.
    â€œEveryone, this is my pal Steve. He’ll be officiating.”
    â€œSorry folks,” he said. “I forgot to mention I was with the wedding party before I got caught up in a high-octane timeshare—”
    â€œ Atención !” Elena said, not allowing his arrival to disrupt the flow. “Bridesmaids to my left, groomsmen to my right. Immediate family, please be seated on the appropriate side of the aisle.” 10
    Anastasia and Philip gazed lovingly at each other while everyone fell in as requested.
    Elena scanned the group, giving each and every person a thorough twice-over .
    â€œSara,” she finally said, having (admirably) memorized everyone’s names.
    Body took a step forward.
    The other sisters seemed to nod as Elena pointed to blond handsome Dave, the groomsman, and paired them off together.
    â€œOf course,” Hair whispered under her breath.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I asked.
    Before she could answer, Elena called her given name (Susan), assigned her to Philip’s brother, and motioned for me to join best man Frank.
    Who I’d once thought was my best man.
    Once the pairing off was complete, we stepped into our familiar, time-honored roles, following the detailed processional instructions. “Ladies, walk slowly but to the beat of the music. Once Maddie takes her place, the music will change, everyone will stand, and Anastasia and her father will start down the aisle …”
    The cameras—one trained on Philip, the other on Anastasia—captured both perspectives of their final practice run, then veered onto me and then Frank, respectively, as I pretended to accept the bouquet for the ceremony run-through .
    And Frank glanced lovingly in my direction as though blissfully reliving our own trip down the aisle.
    I’d sworn to myself I wouldn’t cry another tear over the circumstances that obligated us to break our until death do us part vow, namely his cheating, but with the combination of palpable love between the soon-to - be-newlyweds and our faux reality, my eyes began to sting.
    â€œMarriage …” Face (Sally, by process of elimination) sighed. “If only it was half as romantic as the wedding.”
    I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to will away the sudden throb at my temples while Elena detailed the particulars of the service itself, introduced the couple as husband and wife, and instructed us to begin the recessional.
    The headache spread across my forehead. By the time Frank slipped his arm through mine and we made our way away from the marriage altar, I winced not only from the symbolism but from the sensation that my scalp was shrink-wrapped around my head.
    â€œYou two are as cute together as the bride and groom,” said an elderly woman who was part of the crowd gathered just out of disruption range to watch the wedding rehearsal shoot.
    â€œWe love you, Mr. and Mrs. Frugalicious!” said her companion, a red-haired woman I’d seen around the resort.
    â€œThat’s me!” Frank said, leaning in to give me a kiss on the lips for our fans. “Mr. Frugalicious.”

    â€œNo cameras?” A familiar voice asked from behind me as I headed for the suite to grab an Advil or three.
    I turned to find Alejandro leaning against the rails of a nearby footbridge, looking every bit as