The Wedding Gift Read Online Free PDF Page A

shoulders, and her white sequined tank and clingy purple miniskirt left nothing to the imagination.
    She might as well wear a neon sign that said: Fuck Me Against the Wall!
    â€œLet’s go,” he said tautly, wondering how the hell he was supposed to eat dinner with his guts in a knot.
    Draping an arm over Jan’s shoulders, he gave Barbie a wave as they passed through the lobby. But out on the sidewalk he stepped away. Jan’s shoulders were too smooth, her strawberry scent too seductive.
    His job tonight was to keep her safe, not drool down her neck.
    And he’d have his work cut out for him. The restaurant was only a block from the inn, but they hadn’t covered half that distance before Tom, Dick, and Harry staggered toward them.
    Six bleary eyes locked on Jan—her legs, her chest, her miles of silky hair. A preview of the evening ahead, when shitloads of drunk, horny morons would read the sign on her forehead and believe she really meant it.
    Every muscle in Mick’s body tensed. Linking hands with her, he blistered the trio with a get-back glare, hoping they weren’t too fucked up to read the message he was sending: Brush against her, even breathe on her, and I’ll take you apart and stomp the bloody pieces into paste on this sidewalk.
    They got the point and single-filed past her without incident. But the knot in Mick’s stomach tied itself tighter.
    Keeping hold of her hand as they entered the restaurant, he cased the place. Fire exits? Two, with adequate signage. Assholes? None. An older crowd, well-heeled, and one hundred percent coupled-up.
    He rolled the kinks from his shoulders. A temporary reprieve.
    The hostess pointed them toward the patio bar, walled but spacious, with little white lights twined around
the palm trees growing up through the flagstone floor. Julie and Cody sat kitty-corner at a high-top, sipping drinks.
    Julie fell off her chair when she got a load of Jan. “Oh my God! You look amazing!” She smothered Jan in a hug.
    Mick glanced at Cody. The guy’s eyeballs were hanging out.
    He shot Mick a holy shit look . Mick did a helpless tell me about it shrug.
    The waitress appeared, and Cody ordered another microbrew. Jan tasted Julie’s margarita, licked her lips, giggled, and asked for one of her own.
    Mick grimly ordered a Coke. He’d need all his faculties tonight.
    â€œI love this,” Julie said, indicating Jan’s outfit.
    Jan blushed bright pink. It was probably the first time anyone had ever complimented her clothes. “I bought it this morning on the way to the airport.”
    â€œNot your usual style, and I mean that in a good way.” Julie’s smile took any sting out of it.
    â€œMy mother won’t like it.”
    No kidding, Mick thought. If it were up to her mother, Jan would still be playing with dolls.
    â€œWell, my mother will love it,” said Julie. Ellen Marone was the opposite of Jan’s mom. They’d married brothers, both of whom died too young. But that was the only thing they had in common. “She’ll want to know where you got it,” Julie said, “and if they have it in her size.”
    Jan smiled, heartbreakingly pleased.
    â€œAnd you.” Julie pointed a finger at Mick. “I saw the ceremony on TV. The mayor pinning that medal to your chest.”
    Cody clapped his shoulder. “You’re a hero, man. You ran in while everybody else was running out.”
    Heat climbed Mick’s neck. Why wouldn’t people quit talking about it? He did his job, fought the fire, helped the victims. End of story.
    Well, not quite the end, but nobody needed to know about the nightmares.
    Julie cocked a brow at him. “I heard the Gap called. I’m not surprised. You looked mighty gorgeous on that podium.”
    â€œLook who’s talking,” he said. Julie had the same fair-skinned, wholesome beauty that marked all the Marone girls, including her sister